You don’t slide into your car and expect to be in an accident or get lost. Yet, most drivers face these and other emergencies at least once in their driving careers. Prepare for anything with a stocked emergency kit and a few essential supplies.

Tire Repair Kit

Tires aren’t made to last forever. Be prepared for a dreaded flat when you stock a tire repair kit. It includes an inflated spare tire, a jack or lift, a torque wrench and a tarp that covers the ground as you change the tire. Flares are also a good idea since they warn passing drivers that you’re broken down. Of course, if you can’t pull safely off to the side of the road or can’t see to change the tire, call for help.

Battery Charger

Every car uses a battery. When it’s properly charged, you’re able to drive until your car runs out of fuel, but a dead battery will leave you stuck along the side of the road. You’ve probably used jumper cables to revive a dead battery before. That requires another vehicle, though, an impossible feat if you’re stuck on a back road late at night. A better alternative is to carry a battery charger that you can charge at home and carry with you for up to a month before it needs recharged. You can also program in the number to your local service shop for when you need a car battery replacement.

Overnight Bag

Even if you’re not stranded overnight, an overnight bag comes in handy. If you happen to get stuck changing a tire in the rain, need to camp out in your car for a few hours or have an accident, the contents of your overnight bag could mean the difference between being cold and wet for hours and nice and dry. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by HarperMac11+ on May 13, 2013 | Leave a Comment

Missing your next car servicing could result in brake failure

One of the many bad things that come out of a recession is that motorists miss out on their car servicing schedule. They think that they are saving money by missing out the servicing, without realising that the longer they leave the service out , then the condition of their car is generally deteriorating.

The longer you leave things the worse you car will get. This is not a scaremongering exercise, but the wisdom of nearly 40 years experience in the motor trade. It is common sense that your car is a machine made of millions of moving parts, that have many of these parts made of perishable materials, they will perish and eventually rot if the car is not looked after.

The most dangerous parts that can rot and perish are some of your brake parts, particularly thinks like brake pipes and brake rubber hoses. If these parts are left you will find yourself in big trouble if they fail in use and you loose your brake fluid. The most common problem though that we find is a perennial problem due to lack of car servicing , and that is worn out brake pads. Drivers pull in to the garage horrified at the noise coming from the front of (usually) of their car.<!–more–>

Almost 100% of these people have not had car servicing in the past 12 months

And this is the main cause of the problem. Because their brakes had not been checked over in the past 12 months the pads were worn down to metal and the noise was the pads scraping and grinding against the metal discs. This also usually means that the discs require replacements as well as the pads. A service would have advised pads and the discs would not have needed changing saving the driver about £100 depending on the make of car.

Another good point is to have your car serviced at a Unipart Car Care Centre (UCCC). The reason why is because if you have had your brakes repaired in say Halifax in West Yorkshire, and a problem arose whilst you were on holiday say in Devon, then you can call your nearest Unipart garage who will repair your car under warranty if it is found that the parts or workmanship were found to be faulty, this is a nationwide guarantee.

Also the Unipart centre will always fit parts that conform with the original parts specification, giving you peace of mind that the parts will be of quality standard.

This article was written by Eric Roberts on behalf of www.pellonautocentre.com one of the Norths leading Auto centres and a member of UCCC.

Image source 

Written by dave+ on May 13, 2013 | Leave a Comment

Car insurance providers are not that friendly to young drivers. Being young who can be carefree while on the road, teen drivers are considered a risk and as such, they normally have to deal with high insurance premiums. Their rates can even be twice as that of experienced drivers.

Image: carefulteendriver

Additionally, they are only allowed to use certain cars. What this means is they may not have the chance to drive their dream car while they have not reached the legal age of 21.

The average car insurance for teen drivers depends on various factors such as his family, driving record and credit score. Each provider utilizes its own system in calculating the basic rates.

Parents, on their part, can choose only the car they can afford. It’s a good idea to explain to your young driver about the car insurance issue and accompany them in selecting the right car.

Based on carinsurance.com’s data, there are certain quality vehicles that are cheap to insure and can be used by teens. The low insurance premium these cars can avail of is based primarily on their top of the line safety features. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Guest Blogger+ on April 23, 2013 | Leave a Comment

Some may be more exotic, but there’s no vacation more classic than the great American road trip. In a car culture like America’s, setting out on the open road by yourself, with the family or with a few friends is a coming-of-age adventure. The destination may not even be the primary goal; all those memorable road-side stops, running jokes and heart-to-heart talks are what really make a road trip great. But the good times can quickly turn bad if you don’t put safety first.

Basic Car Maintenance

Part of planning for your road trip should include taking the car in for service to have the engine, battery, AC and tires checked. Also make sure you or an auto technician check the following:

• Fluid levels, including brake fluid, water coolant, window washer fluid and the gas tank
• Check lights, including headlights, fog lamps and brake lights
• Carry a few spare fuses. You don’t want to be stranded somewhere because you don’t have a 35-cent fuse on board
• Tire pressure
• Spare tire
• Make certain your jack and lug wrench that are compatible with your car and wheels

Basic Human Maintenance

Long hours in the car can be grueling, especially if you’re not accustomed to them. Taking good care of yourself and traveling companions is part of traveling safely. Don’t forget to bring: Read the rest of this entry »

Written by HarperMac11+ on April 16, 2013 | Leave a Comment

Being able to drive a car is considered a rite of passage for most teens. Each year, the number of teens who take driving lessons grows. This is not unusual as teens of today are more independent and are eager to drive a car by themselves when they reach the age of 16.

Additionally, many parents who can afford often give their children a car on their 16th birthday or when they graduate from high school. This has been a tradition for some families.

There are varied reasons that prompt these teenagers to drive a vehicle. These include a desire to go places, their parents want them to and peer pressure. A survey has found that 89 percent of these youngsters claim their parents had a major influence on how they drive.

Unfortunately, teenagers also make up the majority of people who get involved in car crashes each year. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that motor vehicle crashes are the top cause of deaths among U.S. teens. In 2010 alone, seven teens aged 16 to 19 got killed every day from motor vehicle injuries.

One of the main reasons for these car crashes is driving under the influence of alcohol. In 2011, for instance, CDC reported that nearly one million teens in high school drank alcohol and drove their vehicles. Other factors include failure to use seatbelts, speeding and getting distracted while driving.

Parents who want to see their children drive need to always ensure their safety. Constant reminder about the driving rules particularly about observing the required speed limit would help them avoid possible troubles when they’re out with friends. These reminders have to be given in a firm manner so your teens are always aware of their responsibilities while behind the wheel regardless of the time of day.

Source: CheapAutoInsurance.Org

Written by Guest Blogger+ on April 15, 2013 | Leave a Comment

I am not totally such where it originated from. However, mention that you are an advanced driver to someone and most often than not they will firstly accuse you of thinking you’re better than every other driver on the road – heaven forbid, even them! Then more often than not remind you that advanced driving is something flat cap wearing old men tend to enjoy doing, whilst of course driving their Volvo!

So from the start things don’t look good, do they? I guess the above paragraph maybe a little extreme, or is it? According to recent research 56% of people had this view. Maybe it’s a UK thing, as if you mention that you are an advanced driver in Canada it is more often than not welcomed with a more impressive response. I don’t have any statistics on this but there is a substantial difference.

Are British drivers too uptight?

Part of this negative thinking I think is down to British drivers being too uptight. For example a friend of mine drove a Lamborghini from Italy to the UK. He pulled up at the station in Italy and people looked, came over, took pictures etc…In the UK people pretended not to notice it. Why is this?

I think somewhere in our history the British driver has had a bad experience, and this has been passed down the generations to create a nation of uptight drivers!

Is safety uncool?

The only thing I can think of it that advanced driving is not cool because it promotes safety. I personally think wanting to become a safer driver is great but maybe this is a reason? Advanced driving institutions like The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has tried to some degree to get away from this image by building their advanced motorcyclist group and to also offer track days. Basically they are trying to get away from the flat cap image.

Is it about education?

I wonder if people actually took an advanced driving course they would think differently? In my experience this is indeed the case. However, most people don’t tend to do things unless they have an interest in driving, an interest in road safety or have to do a course as part of their job…

Maybe its time we started changing our perceptions?

Written by ali+ on April 14, 2013 | Leave a Comment

It can be the most difficult thing to do to keep calm when one figures in a vehicular accident.  The sudden adrenaline rush of driving a car in direct collision with another is a natural body reaction.  Granting that the accident is not that serious as to render the driver immobile or unconscious, drivers involved in an accident have a number of things to remember to help in assessing the situation and avoiding complications in the future.

Keep Calm

After the hit, it is important to keep calm to help yourself think more clearly.  Assess your physical condition and try to determine if it will be safer to get out of the car or to stay put.  This is probably the hardest thing to do under the circumstances but this is the most important.  Everything else depends on it.

Call for Help

Contact the police and relatives and inform them of your situation and your exact location.  Other important information to provide include your name and phone number so they can call back if necessary. It is important to keep emergency numbers on hand.  If it is possible or allowable to move the vehicle to a safer area where it will not block incoming traffic, then do so.  It has to be noted that there are certain circumstances where moving the vehicle is not advisable such as when there is a possibility that the vehicle will explode or in states where it is illegal to move vehicles involved in a crash.

Get Information

When you figure in an accident with another vehicle, it is important to get the other driver’s information as well as the owner’s information if the driver is not the owner.  Required information include name of the driver, name of owner, driver’s license number, address, phone number, insurance company, and the license plate number.

Take Note of Accident Details

While waiting for assistance, it would be best to write the details of the accident as you remember it so it would be easier to describe the surrounding circumstances of the incident to authorities.  It would be better if you can draw a sketch or take photographs, if possible.  Professional assistance may be required for major accidents since official reports are required by insurance companies.

Seek Help for Post-Traumatic Stress After the Accident

It is common for people who met an accident to feel some anxiety and stress after.  Talking with friends and relatives about the incident can help. For more serious cases, professional help must be sought.

Teresa is a researcher-writer who covers a wide range of topics in search of useful information.

Image: sareinak.org

Written by Teresa Martinez+ on March 31, 2013 | Leave a Comment

Parking lots are no safe zone for vehicle traffic. According to State Farm Insurance, about 20 percent of all motor vehicle accidents occur in parking lots. While these collisions might not be the deadly, brutal messes seen on highways, they can still cause significant damage to vehicles—not to mention the risks for passengers and pedestrians.

It might seem like basic common sense, but there are a lot of things to be mindful of when in driving in a parking lot. By understanding the risks and possibly unseen hazards present in a parking lot, you can save yourself the hassle, costs and annoyance related to this commonplace accident. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by HarperMac11+ on March 26, 2013 | Leave a Comment

It may be cliché to say that there’s a lot riding on your vehicle’s tires, but that doesn’t make the saying any less true. Proper tires are key to the handling of your vehicle, and when they wear down or blow on the road, they become a safety risk. Bad tires can also be detrimental to the other parts of your vehicle, increasing the importance of owners regularly checking their tires.

But while it’s important to recognize when it’s time to replace tires, it’s just as important that owners understand how to choose a new set. There’s a wide range of quality to be found in the tire market, and if you don’t know how to evaluate these options you could end up buying a set with a short lifespan and poor durability.

To help you navigate this process, here’s a quick guide to assessing your current tires, maximizing their lifespan and replacing them with the best set possible. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by HarperMac11+ on March 20, 2013 | Leave a Comment

Driving while carrying children passengers is subject to certain laws and requirements to ensure their safe transport.  Many tend to forget about this especially for short distance trips.  However, it is always best to safe than sorry.

A driver should not be reckless when he or she is by himself but even more so if there are children passengers in the car.  This is for the very simple reason that children who are generally unable to decide what is safe for them or not should not be put into a position that will place them at risk.  Adults are expected to take care of children including the manner they are transported from one destination to another.

Laws pertaining to the observance of child safety while in a vehicle have specific reasons for being passed.  The use of car seats, proper restraining attachments, use of seat-belts  and the recommended seating location of children in a vehicle all point  to one main goal.  This is the reduction of risk of physical harm if and when the vehicle carrying them figure in an accident.

It takes real understanding of the possible consequences of the failure to observe safety precautions.  Parents love their children but many are not aware of the risk they are putting their own children in the moment they relax on basic driving rules.  This usually happens when a child is brought along in a car just for a short distance ride when accident is the farthest thing in mind.  Parents can never be too careful though since accidents happen anywhere, anytime.

About the Author:

Teresa is a researcher-writer who covers a wide range of topics in search of useful information.

Image: motoringmojo.com

Written by Teresa Martinez+ on March 1, 2013 | Leave a Comment