At times when you are on the road, you are bound to see police cars, ambulances or VIPs flashing blinkers and sirens meaning they are in a hurry. Well, they are always in a hurry to reach their point of destination and as a sign of courtesy, private and public vehicles know for a fact that they have to give way or clear the road to let them pass.

That is a common practice that is done anywhere in the world today and for sure, no one wants to get into trouble or be ticketed as an obstruction for refusing to give way. As a rational driver, emergency or not it would be wise to allow them to pass since you never know what could happen and may be held accountable in the end if the emergencies fail to reach their actual point of destination.

As far as having blinkers and sirens is concerned, there are some people who install them without licenses or permits. By doing so, you are placing yourself in a lot of trouble. In most countries, unless you are licensed or authorized to have such things installed on your car, it would be best to keep that thought clear.

These gadgets are normally restricted to the proper people commissioned to do them. It goes in hand with their work. Some use them for status symbol while others just want to feel powerful. They are used for a purpose. Do not install one unless you have the right to have them.

Written by Marcel on April 20, 2011 | Leave a Comment

Valentines Day may be over but it does not mean that we should stop spreading some love, so to speak. After all, we are still in the month of February, and it is widely acknowledged that this month is the “Love Month,” right? So what exactly do I mean by spreading some love through driving?

I was actually trying to point out techniques that will contribute to the wellbeing of the environment. You may think that your contribution may be so small and not really have an effect but that’s not true. Every little bit helps! Here are some tips by which you can use less fuel and have less emissions – and thus help the environment.

Drive with the windows UP as much as possible.
Sometimes, you just can’t help but put the windows down so that you can enjoy the feel of the cool air rushing all around you. That’s understandable – especially when you’re on a nice mountain road with an awesome view, right? However, if you really want to help and you can resist the call of the wind, I suggest that you put your windows up – this will minimize drag and make your fuel consumption go down.

Watch your speed.
Here is a little known fact: If you drive below 15 mph, your car creates the highest amount of pollution that it can create. Going up to about 60 mph will lessen your pollution emission to the minimum. And going beyond 60 mph increases the emissions again.

Don’t rev when you don’t need to.
Now this is more common knowledge. Revving and idling will cost you more in fuel and increase pollution as well. Avoid doing so and save yourself some money while you’re at it.

Written by Marcel on April 14, 2011 | 1 Comment

Driving is not that hard of a task but it can be made quite difficult – and dangerous – by various factors. Low light or driving at night is one of those things that can make driving a little bit more difficult than usual. Not only do some people have problems with low light but having the oncoming traffic flash their high beams on you aggravates the situation even more.

So how is your night vision? Do you think it can use some helping? Well here are some tips that could help you improve it.

Turn off your dome lights or other strong sources of light.
You might think that that does not make sense. However, if you already have low ambient light and you have other strong light sources, you might find it even harder to see the road. That is why you should not focus on bright light sources that will not aid you in seeing the road ahead. Same thing goes with looking at the lights of oncoming cars.

Take your time.
That is, let your eyes adjust to the night light. If you are in no particular hurry, don’t go rushing into the road. Instead, wait for it to become dark and let your eyes get used to the dark before driving off.

Keep one eye used to the dark.
That sounds funny, eh? What I mean is that if you go to a well lit place while on the road, try to keep your night vision for the other eye. You can do so by closing one eye while in the well lit place. You might look freaky but hey, it can help you a lot when you go back to the road.

Written by Marcel on March 31, 2011 | 1 Comment

How many times have you heard a motorist say “I never saw him!” after getting into a road accident? I bet that you have heard this excuse so many times you cannot even count. You might have even used this excuse yourself.

Let me tell you this, though, that line just doesn’t cut it. More often than not, when a motorist says he didn’t see the other vehicle, it is a case of not paying enough attention to the road and surroundings. Inattention is actually a general term that can involve one or more of the following:

• Sleepiness or drowsiness
• Daydreaming
• Distractions such as texting, talking to the passengers in the car, talking on the mobile phone, etc.
• Fatigue
• Etc.

These things – and more – can cause a driver to be inattentive while on the move. As a driver, your primary responsibility is to be alert and to be able to see an accident coming and be able to avoid it. However, what normally happens is that when you are a seasoned driver, the task becomes automatic, making it highly likely that your mind will wander.

Think about it – as you get in your car later, try to focus only on driving. Think about nothing else. Just look at the road ahead of you, check your side mirrors and rearview mirrors. Think about using the blinkers when changing lanes, and so on. Try and see how long you can keep that up without thinking of any other thing. I bet that you won’t last 5 minutes without thinking of something else.

That is how easy it is to be inattentive while driving. But you and I know that paying attention can save your life and the lives of others. So, as you hit the road, do try to focus on your task. Leave your woolgathering or texting or whatever for later.

Written by Marcel on March 24, 2011 | Leave a Comment

This is not meant to be a pessimistic post. It is only meant to open your eyes to the reality that everyone faces out there while driving on the road.

When you drive, do you trust other drivers to drive well? Do you trust them to do the right things like follow the law and drive carefully? As noble as this kind of attitude may sound, it might not be the best route to take when driving. You see, having this kind of attitude is akin to trusting your life to a stranger.

If you think that everyone around you – all the other drivers – are going to drive wisely and safely and that they are going to obey the law, then it could be that you would become lax and less of a defensive driver. Things could be well and fine until the day that you meet that one driver who is not worthy of that trust. And all it takes is one – then you might end up at the hospital, or worse.

So how do you deal with this? It is simple – when it comes to driving, do not trust anybody. In other words, do not place the responsibility of driving safely in the hands of other people. What you should do instead is to make sure that you drive safely and properly AND always be on the lookout for drivers on the road who may not be practicing the right driving techniques. In this manner, you not only drive the right way but you also protect yourself – and your passengers – from potential danger due to other people’s irresponsibility.

Written by Marcel on March 20, 2011 | Leave a Comment

Just in case you have not noticed yet, the weather has been totally crazy this year. It has been going bonkers for quite some time now, but this year, weirdness of the weather has gone up to a whole new level. While your driving habits aren’t the only reason for the degradation of the environment, you know very well that your own little contribution can add up to the little contribution of others to make a huge impact on the planet. Here are some green driving tips that you can follow.

Buy fuel efficient tires.
Fuel efficient tires? Do those things really exist? Yes they do, but do they actually help save fuel? The good news is that there are tires that do help in saving fuel. One manufacturer, Firestone, has created a range of tires that are aimed to do exactly that. Just ask your local tire store for the details. If it is time for you to change tires, why not go for the ones that will save you money and help the environment in the long run?

Buy green batteries.
It should be pretty obvious that I am not talking about batteries that are color green. There are many chemicals found in the conventional batteries that are harmful to the environment. The good news is that there are batteries that are eco-friendly. Take a look at your options and go for the green ones.

Buy eco-friendly car polish.
If there is one thing that turns me off, it is a dirty car. A lot of people think the same way, and they go to great lengths to keep their cars clean and shiny. But car polish products can be harmful to the environment. Why not look for products that are safe in this regard?

Remember, every little bit goes a long long way.

Written by Marcel on February 28, 2011 | Leave a Comment

Yes, I know, this might sound like a no brainer to some people but you have to realize that I have encountered so many of my friends having this problem and being quite frustrated about not knowing what to do. So if you are like them, and you have been beat by the “not working” cigarette lighter in your car, then here is what you should do.

The first thing to do would be to determine the exact problem. If you cannot light a cigarette or you cannot charge your cell phone, you might not be getting power to the cigarette lighter. What you should do then is to get yourself a circuit tester.

What is a circuit tester, you might ask? It is a simple gadget that is used to determine if there is current flowing through a circuit. You can get one at any electronics store or even a hardware store. They come in various makes and models and you can get one for a really cheap price – you do not need the best model anyway.

So, with the circuit tester handy, get the clip end of the tester and place it on the outer frame of the socket. You can even just hold it in place. Take the other end and then push it all the way until it touches the back of the socket. Take care NOT to make it touch the side because it will probably cause a short. The tester will then tell you if you have power or not. If you have power, then you might have blown a fuse, so you just need to replace that. If there is no power, first check that you have your ignition set to ON (duh). Otherwise, take it to the pros.

Written by Marcel on February 23, 2011 | Leave a Comment

Thinking back, I should have posted this before the previous article. You see, I saw a comment by one of our readers asking for posts on automatic transmission. That is why I am on a seemingly “automatic mode” right now. Anyhow, I realized that as simple as this topic may be – driving can’t get any simple than automatic, right? – it will still be useful for some.

So this is what you do to get started…

Once in the car, take a look at the two pedals on the floor in front of the driver’s seat. The pedal on the right is the accelerator and the pedal on the left is the brake. Unlike with the stick shift, you only have to use your right foot to man those two pedals.

Look to your right and get to know that gear shifter by heart. The automatic gear shifter will normally have settings with these labels: P, R, N, D, 2, and 1. P stands for park, R for reverse, N for neutral, D for drive, 2 for 2nd gear, and 1 for first gear.

Now you may be wondering what the gears are there for – it’s an automatic car right? the first and second gears are there in case you need them for bad weather conditions. Don’t diss them just yet – you will find them handy one of these days.

Now you’re ready to drive. Check that the gear box is set to P. Most cars will not start unless it is on P anyway, but just make sure. Step on the brake, and start the engine. Now shift the gear box to D or R, depending on whether you have to go forward or back up. Slowly ease up on the brake until the car begins to move. (If you’re used to driving manual, this first movement might be a bit surprising.) Put your right foot on the accelerator and go!

Written by Marcel on February 16, 2011 | 2 Comments

When it comes to improving a car’s performance, installing a lowered spring set is one of the most underappreciated upgrades – it can give you so many benefits for a relatively low cost, that you have simply no excuse for not getting a good kit installed in your car! And if you want to make sure you’re shopping for the brand that’s right for you, you should definitely try an Eibach lowering kit – with so many people talking about these beauties lately, they really have some products you should check out!

Eibach offer various products useful for lowering your car’s suspension – apart from the regular springs themselves, you can get complete Eibach lowering kits, which include shackles and coil springs, as well as leaf springs which can further make use of the vertical space beneath your car as efficiently as possible!

It’s important to pick the ones that are right for you when browsing through Eibach’s selection though – the company has developed a vast range of products so that they can suit mostly everyone’s needs, but this can also make shopping for them a complicated task for those who’re not experienced enough. Examine your car carefully so that you know what kinds of springs you need, and how much you’ll be able to take off its height through a new set.

Also, don’t forget the aspect of installation itself – even though Eibach make some stunning products, installing them will still be up to you – so you better know someone skilled you trust highly to do the job for you, otherwise you’re risking quite a lot.

Written by dave on February 14, 2011 | Leave a Comment

Drinking (alcoholic beverages at least) and driving are never a good mix. Everyone knows that. But has it ever occurred to you that eating and drinking non-alcoholic beverages while driving can be just as fatal?

Think about it, how often have you passed by a fast food’s drive through and eaten your meal while driving? The chances are that you have done this so many times you can’t even count! And why not? With the fast paced life that most of us live these days, there are instances wherein we can only grab a quick bite while on the road.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, however, this is not such a good idea. They recently conducted a study which showed that about 80% of all car accidents and 65% of near misses are due to motorists being distracted. So what’s new? Well this is what’s new – the drivers are distracted by their burgers and drinks! Instead of focusing their attention on the road, drivers involved in accidents are probably eating, the study says.

And if you think that drinking coffee makes you a better driver, you might want to think again. The study actually ranked the worst food and drink items that you can eat/drink while behind the wheel. Yep, coffee is one of them. Researchers say that the distraction stems from the potential spill each time you hit a bump or turn a curve. Same goes for that cheeseburger – the pickle might fall, forcing you to reach for it….

Bottom line? You might want to think twice before getting a Big Mac meal to go.

Written by Marcel on February 9, 2011 | 1 Comment