Snow Approaches: 4 Winter Weather Checks for Your Car

by Anica Oaks on 2015/11/04 in Auto Care with Comments Off on Snow Approaches: 4 Winter Weather Checks for Your Car

Before winter weather and heavy snows hit, it is vital for automobile owners to check some things on their vehicles. By being prepared, drivers can prevent a breakdown in frigid temperatures. Many automobile products can be purchased ahead of time to fit into any budget.

Coolant and Windshield Washer Fluid Levels

Checking the fluid levels of the coolant and in the washer bottle is an important part of maintaining a vehicle for winter. Antifreeze may not sound important, but it is the fluid that keeps a vehicle cool. An automobile can overheat in the winter without proper coolant levels, which can lead to catastrophic engine failure.

Tires

Every driver should regularly check their tire pressure and the tread level on their tires. A low tire can not only cause more fuel to be consumed, but it can also cause a vehicle to slide on ice more easily. It is easier to get an under-inflated tire stuck in deep snow.

Restock Emergency Kit

The U.S. Government suggests that one of the most important things that drivers can do is to prepare their emergency road kit with items needed for snow and ice. Adding a bag of sand and salt to the car can help when getting stuck in the ice or heavy snow. A shovel, warm clothing, extra blankets, and food rations are other items that should always be in an emergency kit during the winter.

Hoses and Belts

Hoses and belts can easily rip or break from dry rot. The cold temperatures of winter make it more difficult for hoses and belts to maintain their shape because of contraction during freezing temperatures. Any hairline cracks, bulges, or weak spots will burst or rip when the temperatures drop and the snow flies.

Windshield Wipers

Every driver wants to maintain clear vision while they are driving. Regularly replacing windshield wipers by purchasing them at a local store (including with coupons for Sears.com) is a huge part of keeping a good view. Drivers should think about replacing their wipers every fall to make sure they have excellent visibility when the weather turns cold.

Battery

A car or truck battery is stressed to the max when the temperatures drop. The cold can zap the energy in a battery quicker than anything else. Drivers should always make sure the terminals are clean and free of corrosion before the snow hits.

Getting a vehicle ready for snowy weather is a simple process as long as the driver follows the above strategies. Keeping a car or truck prepared for winter is a crucial part of being safe. Many products can be purchased ahead of time like windshield wipers and coolant.

Do You Drive For Work? Steps You Can Take To Stay Safe On The Road

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/10/21 in Trucks with Comments Off on Do You Drive For Work? Steps You Can Take To Stay Safe On The Road

Ask any truck driver knows, driving for a living can take a toll on a person. Driving can be a dangerous job, and truck drivers must always be on their toes. If you drive for work or are thinking of doing so, there are steps you can take to stay safe on the road.

Get The Right License

The first thing that you must do is to make sure that you have the right license. Earn your commercial driver’s license from a school that belongs to an association like the Commercial Vehicle Training Association. You will be taught good habits and will learn how to keep yourself safe on the road. To get started, you can find out about the commercial licensing here.

Take Care Of Yourself

As a truck driver, you need to take care of yourself. Long hours on the open road can be taxing on the mind and body. It can be difficult to eat right on the road, but try to make sure that you do. Stopping at a grocery store, buying fresh foods, and storing them in your cooler is far healthier than eating at every greasy spoon along the way. Staying healthy is a key component in staying safe.

Get Enough Sleep

While you are at it, make sure that you are getting enough sleep. You may be tempted to push it through the night to make better time, but you put yourself and everyone on the road in danger when you do so. Stop to rest when you feel like you need to. Arriving at your destination safely is more important than arriving early.

Understand Your Truck

Any truck driver worth their salt knows their rig. Whether it is your own or a company-owned truck, you should have a close relationship with your vehicle. Know its parts, and know how it operates. Perform an inspection before every trip. Check your wheels, your brakes and lights. Make sure your truck is well-maintained. If it is a company-owned truck, be sure to follow the maintenance policies and procedures laid forth by your employer.

Driving for long-hours across the open road is as safe as you make it. While there are certainly things out of a driver’s control, there are many things that you do control. Make sure you have the right license, keep your rig maintained, and stay on top of your health. When you do these things, you make the road a safer place for yourself and every driver you share it with.

New Teen Driver At Home? Six Tips For Teaching Them Responsibility On The Road

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/10/19 in On the Road with Comments Off on New Teen Driver At Home? Six Tips For Teaching Them Responsibility On The Road

A driver’s license is a major rite of passage for a teenager. It is also a source of anxiety for parents. The following tips are designed to help your teen become a responsible driver and soothe your frayed nerves

Lead by Example

Your children learn life skills by modeling your behavior. This includes safe driving habits. Make sure you practice good behavior by buckling up, avoid using your cell phone, and staying focused and calm.

Encourage Financial Responsibility

Your teen is more likely to act responsibly if they have a financial stake in vehicle ownership. Encourage your new driver to contribute their own funds toward the purchase and maintenance of their vehicle. You can find used cars at an affordable price at places like the Autobank of Kansas City. Used cars have a much more reachable price tag for teens, and it can help them feel more responsible when they are helping to pay. You can also have them help pay for things like insurance, so they understand that driving is a privilege. 

Encourage Communication

It is a fact of life that young people will make mistakes. Make sure your teen knows they can count on you if they get into a situation they cannot handle. You can even establish a code word that signals that they need help if they are unable to speak freely. You can turn the situation into a teachable moment later when you can both discuss the issue calmly.

Set Boundaries

It is best to set realistic restrictions on your teen’s driving privileges during the first few months. For example, you can limit driving to daytime hours or require that they have an adult driver with them until you are comfortable with their skills. You should discuss these limitations with your teen ahead of time to avoid arguments later.

Create a Contract

Many parents have their young driver sign a contract before hitting the road. The contract should detail the rules that your teen is expected to follow regarding car use, maintenance, and safety. The contract should clearly state how you will monitor behavior, as well as the consequences for breaking the rules. You can even include a set of graduated privileges if your teen honors the agreement.

Discuss Road Hazards

Most parents discuss the dangers of drinking and driving with their kids. That is certainly important but does not cover many of the hazards faced by today’s teen drivers. Distractions from cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches cause thousands of accidents each year. Parents should discuss these issues with teens often. You may even want to disable vehicle features that make it easy to use electronic devices while driving.

Finally, it never hurts to enroll your teen in a professional driver’s education course. This may even earn you a discount on your insurance. You can instill good driving habits in your kids at a young age.

Road Trip Safety: Five Things You Can Do To Stay Safe On The Road

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/10/14 in On the Road with Comments Off on Road Trip Safety: Five Things You Can Do To Stay Safe On The Road

You and your friends have been planning your upcoming trip for weeks, if not months. You can’t wait to travel across the state, or even across the country, and you feel ready to see the sights and explore what Mother Nature has to offer. But you and your friends will also spend a lot of time in the car, and if you’re not careful, you may find yourself stranded on a little-traveled road. So what can you do to ensure your next trip goes as smoothly and safely as possible?

1. Go for a Tune-up

Even if your car seems in great shape now, little problems may quickly escalate into much larger issues during your extended journey. Take your car to a professional mechanic and have him or her inspect it from the top of its antenna down to the tread of its tires. Don’t forget to check the fluid levels, battery charge, and air filter as well.

Hold onto your records of all your repairs. If something does go wrong on the road, you can bring up the issue with your mechanic later.

2. Pack an Emergency Kit

Despite a thorough tune-up, you should always prepare for the worst. If you ever become involved in an accident or if poor road conditions force you off the road, make sure you have the following on hand:

  • Water
  • Snacks
  • Blankets
  • Flashlight
  • Jumper cables
  • Flares
  • Phone charger
  • First Aid kit

Feel free to expand your emergency kit to include personal items such as insulin and other medication.

3. Plan for Breaks

Although you and your friends want to arrive at your destination as quickly as possible, remember to include frequent rest stops, breaks, and naps in your itinerary. According to the AAA Foundation, those who sleep six to seven hours a night are twice as likely to crash as those who sleep eight hours or more.

As a general rule, pull over and stretch your legs every few hours, even if you don’t feel tired or sleepy. Use the opportunity to snack, enjoy some fresh air, or take a quick nap.

If you have a strict schedule to keep, use your rest stop as a chance to switch drivers, so your driver always feels fresh and alert.

4. Familiarize Yourself with Local Weather and Roads

While your car’s GPS or your phone’s navigation app come in handy, you might not have the best signals out in the wild. As an extra precaution, bring along a physical map and carefully study any confusing roads or turns. Understand the local speed limits as well as any laws that may prohibit you from talking or texting on your phone while driving.

Furthermore, keep an eye on the skies. Just because weather looks nice when you started your trip doesn’t mean it will stay that way as you progress. If possible, search the web for traffic alerts or tune your radio to local weather stations.

4. Keep Insurance/Registration and Emergency Contact Information In Glove Box

The above tips will help you stay safe, no matter where you choose to travel. However, while you may do everything right to avoid collisions, you can’t always predict what other drivers will do. If you get in a collision, it’s important to have all updated paperwork for the other driver or police officer. If you get injured due to someone else’s neglect, be sure to talk to a personal injury attorney like Marc Johnston.

Road trips can be an exciting time when planned and prepared for. Taking extras steps can help you stay safe on the road and avoid collisions.

Lights in the Rear View: How to Manage a Traffic Violation with Grace

by Anica Oaks on 2015/10/13 in Auto Accident with Comments Off on Lights in the Rear View: How to Manage a Traffic Violation with Grace

You want to feel safe and comfortable in every decision you make, but everyone makes mistakes. Your most recent mistake has led to a traffic violation, and now you feel confused and lost. You never intended to do anything wrong, and the consequences looming in front of you seem unduly strict.

So what can you do to mitigate the consequences without stirring up further trouble?

Below, you’ll find a few strategies you can use to handle your traffic violation gracefully and effectively. Use this information to give yourself the best chance at reducing or even eliminating your legal burden.

1. Analyze the Codes and Laws that Deal with Your Violation

Before you do anything else, research the laws surrounding the traffic violation on your ticket. You need to know what consequences you face. You also need to know if the officer pulled you over for a legitimate reason. The officer may not have followed correct procedure, or he or she may have pulled you over for an action that didn’t quite merit a violation.

2. Hire a Defense Lawyer

Even if you don’t see anything that the officer did wrong, you can still contest the ticket and get a reduced or even dropped sentence. But to accomplish that goal, you will need legal assistance from a professional who knows more about the process than you do.

Hire a defense lawyer to look at the evidence and violation with a more practiced eye. He or she may find flaws that you couldn’t see on your own. Even if you were charged with a more severe infraction like driving-under-the-influence, DUI attorneys at Suhre & Associates and other specialty firms can give you sound legal advice.

3. Record All Details from the Circumstances Surrounding the Violation

Do you have pictures and written testimonies from the incident that led to your ticket? The police likely do, but you’ll do better in court if you have your own records of what happened. So, before you leave the incident scene, take pictures, talk to bystanders, and write down your version of what happened. You’ll need this information later when you build your defense.

But if you don’t have that information, a personal written testimony can still point your lawyer toward the best possible defense.

4. Find out What Devices the Responding Officer Used

Some devices, like certain breathalyzers, could have flaws that undermine the ticket you received. If you know what devices the responding officer used, your lawyer will investigate those devices to see if an error could have occurred. If an error could have led to the officer pulling you over, you may get out of the ticket. Your lawyer can tell you more.

5. Decide If You Should Contest the Violation or Pay Fines

Sometimes it is more graceful—not to mention easier—to pay the fines rather than fight your ticket. For example, if the officer didn’t make any mistakes and the ticket came from a legitimate violation, you might not profit from contesting. You might waste time and resources when you could have just paid the fines.

But before you decide to contest or pay fines, meet with your legal counsel. He or she will advise you on the right decision so you know what steps will take you towards the best outcome.

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