Kansas City Shootings
April 12, 2014
Over the past month, approximately 20 shootings have been linked to a highway shooting spree in the Kansas City area. The shootings don’t appear to be targeted, however most have occurred near on and off rams where a shooter would be able to make a quick getaway. Police say that there’s also a possibility that the shooter(s) are on foot.
So far, only three people have received gunshot wounds, none of which were considered life-threatening. Drivers in the area should be careful and report suspicious activity. A $7,000 reward is being offered for any information that may lead to an arrest.
Downtown Driving Tips
April 12, 2014
A drive through downtown takes a certain presence-of-mind and careful nuance. There are tons of people, either on foot, bicycle, unicycle or skateboard, and they are all there to enjoy the downtown life. Therefore, safety is not on the top of their to-do lists. As a driver, it is your responsibility to share the road and avoid hitting all the people in your path. Here are a few tips to help guide you through the chaos of a downtown drive:
Slow your roll. By driving slow, you will be able to react in time and avoid running people over. Also, the chances of a person getting hit by a car dying is directly related to speed: 90% chance of death at 55 mph, 50% chance of death at 40 mph, and a 10% chance of death at 25 mph.
Yield the right-of-way to those walking. Always. Even if you think you’re right, it doesn’t matter. Pedestrians always have the right of way. After all, you can’t just run them over.
Take left turns carefully. This is a common mistake among downtown drivers, and can end in a serious injury. Always look for pedestrians when taking a left turn, because more than likely, the walk signal will be indicating it’s their turn to cross the street. Just like you are supposed to yield to oncoming traffic, you must also yield to oncoming pedestrians.
Look twice before taking a right on red. Yes, you can turn right if the light is red. However, first check to make sure no one is crossing the street.
Choosing the Right Teen Driving School
April 12, 2014
When on the hunt for a good teen driving school, there are many factors to consider. This post written over at fourhensandarooster.com talks about one driving school that has it all: excellent student-teacher ratios, lots of time behind the wheel, good instructors, vehicle maintenance lessons and even a class for the parents. Plus, it takes place at a race track! We should all be so lucky. See the full story here:
http://fourhensandarooster.com/teen-driving-solutions-school-must-teen-drivers/
The Dilemma Zone
April 10, 2014
We’ve all experienced it: that dilemma zone when a light turns yellow and you can’t decide whether to speed up or slow down. Will it be a long yellow, forcing you to stop early and look dumb as you sit motionless before the light turns red? Or, will it be a short yellow that turns red instantly? Unfortunately, there is no legislation mandating proper yellow light times. However, we do have a few tips to get you through the intersection safely.
1. If you can’t stop, then don’t. Most high speed intersections have long yellows to allow cars more stopping time. So, if you’re traveling over 55 mph and can’t possibly stop safely before the intersection, then chances are you are close enough to cruise through long before the light turns red.
2. Slow down gradually. Never slam on your brakes when you see a yellow light – that is always dangerous. Instead, slow down gradually, giving the people behind you plenty of time to react. Plus, if the light stays yellow longer than expected, you will still be slowly coming to a stop instead of sitting motionless waiting for the light to turn red.
3. Trust no one. If the light is yellow and you’re about to make a left turn, then do so. However, if there is oncoming traffic then don’t expect them to slow down, or even stop as the light turns red. Most drivers seem to think that yellow means “Hurry up and speed through the intersection!”.
30 Years Without an Accident: Driving Tips from a Pro
April 10, 2014
Ron Hawkins, Jr. has been a truck driver for thirty years. In all that time, he has never been involved in an accident. Considering that most of us don’t drive for a living and still get in the occasional fender bender, that record is pretty impressive. This trucker has seen it all: people texting while driving, shaving while driving, and even reading the newspaper while driving. He has shared the road with inexperienced and distracted drivers, as well as a few courteous drivers. In the Toledo Blade, Hawkins shares his experiences, as well as a lot of helpful tips to make us all safer drivers. See the full story here:
Essential Car Supplies
April 9, 2014
Spring is the season of the road trip. Whether you’re going cross-country, meandering through the wildflower back roads, or just heading to the beach, these must-have car supplies will keep you well-equipped for any situation.
Jumper cables. It’s not that hard to kill a battery. Some cars will light up when the door isn’t closed completely, some headlights don’t turn off automatically, and sometimes you leave the radio on a little too long. In any case, jump starting the vehicle back to life is easy enough, and usually there is a fellow motorist that is more than willing to help.
Spare tire. Never leave home without a spare tire. It’s much easier to change a tire when the blowout happens than to get stranded somewhere, walk or hitch a ride to the nearest tire store (which will probably rip you off), lug it back and then change it.
Tire Jack. Obviously, you can’t change a tire without a jack, so be sure to find the right tire jack for your vehicle and always have it packed in the trunk. This can also come in handy for getting your vehicle out of mud and deep sand.
Tire Gauge. Checking your tire pressure on long road trips can improve fuel efficiency and even prevent blowouts.
Flashlight. Keep a flashlight in the trunk (or where you can always find it) to use if you get a flat in the dark, or simply need to find your wallet in that black hole between the seats.
Cell Phone. Seriously, how did people survive before cell phones were invented?
Phone Charger. Don’t forget the phone charger for your vehicle. Life will suddenly become much more difficult without the ability to call for help if the car breaks down. Not to mention, you may want to meet up with friends, call ahead for pizza, make hotel reservations or check in with the folks.
Roadmap. Phones and GPS may be great navigation tools, but you should never put too much faith in technology. A good old fashioned map doesn’t need a power source or satellite signal to work, so you will always have a dependable resource for finding your way.
Windshield Scraper. If you’re heading up north then you may need a windshield scraper for ice and snow. A frozen windshield can really delay your travel time.
Proof of Insurance. Your license and proof of insurance should always be in the car when you drive.
Having these essential car supplies will keep you safe and self-sufficient on the road. So, pack smart and always be prepared. Happy travels.
Toyota Recalls
April 9, 2014
Toyota is recalling 6.4 million vehicles globally because of five separate issues: seat rails, steering columns, wipers and an engine starter glitch that poses a fire risk.
Though no crashes, injuries or fatalities have been linked to these issues, there have been two reports of fires linked to the engine starter problem. According to the carmaker, “Due to inefficiencies in the design of the starter motor relays, metallic particles might accumulate on the contacts within the relay.” If these particles enter the relay’s circuitry, then it could lead to a fire.
Car Tech Curbs Teen Drivers
April 9, 2014
Since 2009, Ford’s MyKey technology has allowed parents to set boundaries for their teen drivers. It was originally introduced in the Ford Taurus but is now available in a variety of Ford and Lincoln models. See the full story of one parent’s test drive here:
National Work Zone Awareness Week
April 8, 2014
This week is National Work Zone Awareness Week, and TxDOT is reminding drivers to be cautious when driving through work zones. Their “Be Safe. Drive Smart.” campaign aims to reduce driver and worker fatalities by reminding folks about the dangers of roadside work zones. See the full story here: http://www.thevindicator.com/news/article_6edadfc0-be54-11e3-a011-001a4bcf887a.html
How to Stop Texting While Driving? There’s an App for That.
April 8, 2014
Whether you want to control your own bad habit, or you want to ensure that your teen driver isn’t texting behind the wheel, there’s an app for that. In fact, there’s a few.
TXTShield is a password-protected app that shuts down a phone’s ability to text while the car is in motion. The minimum speed that shuts down the app can be set from 10 mph to 40 mph. When texting shuts down, incoming texts do not show up on the home screen and the app automatically sends a response to the person who texted, letting them know that they are driving and will respond later.
Text Limit is another option. This app shuts down the ability to text, call (except 911) and use the internet when the car reaches 30 mph to 60 mph, depending on what the parent or administrator sets as the minimum speed. It also allows control through a website, and sends location updates to the parent/administrator every 5 minutes.