Driving Through El Nino
September 12, 2014
Rain is on the way! REJOICE!
As vast parts of the country suffer through prolonged drought, this year’s El Nino is a welcome cluster of storms. However, all this rainy weather is sure to pose some safety hazards as well.
Drive smart through El Nino by studying up on these tips and tricks:
Avoid Dangerous Travel. During severe weather and flooding, it’s best to not drive at all. However, many drivers have obligations that will force them onto the road in spite of present dangers.
Drive Slow. This is a no-brainer. Driving slow will not only help maintain traction and control on slippery roads, but also allow you to see hazards sooner.
Avoid Puddles. Puddles often form where roads have been damaged. A deep pothole will not only damage your tires, but also your engine. Water deeper than 6 inches will cause most vehicles to lose control and/or stall.
Turn Around Before Your Drown. If water is flowing over the road, then turn around. It only takes 6 inches to stall a vehicle, 1 foot to float it, and 2 feet to sweep it down the river or creek. This applies to trucks and SUV’s as well.
Be thankful for the much-needed rain brought by El Nino this year. And, be careful as you navigate your way through it!
Clean Air For Your Commute
September 2, 2014
Driving can be a dangerous endeavor. There are distracted drivers, drunk drivers, fatigued drivers, and road hazards on everyone’s daily commute. There are drive-thru’s and gas station foods with bacteria, salmonella and heart attack-inducing sugar-fat concoctions. And then, there’s the super-caffeinated drinks that can lead to heart problems, as well as risky sugar-highs and sugar-crashes. However, even if you survive all of these health hazards, there’s still one more potential health threat to contend with: air quality.
Whether you’re dealing with smog, cigarette smoke, chemical fumes or noxious smells, it’s important for drivers to be able to breath clean air on their daily drive. These common air pollutants can have long term effects on our health, including eye, nose and throat irritation, organ damage, and cancer. In the short term, drivers may notice headaches, fatigue, nausea and dizziness.
Many air pollutants can hang around for months or even years after your vehicle has been exposed to them. So, if you’re driving a vehicle that has been exposed to cleaning products, chemicals, cigarette smoke or smog, then you may want to consider cleaning the air inside your ride.
Luckily, there are a couple of products out there that will allow you to breath clean air every time you drive:
Portable Air Purifier Amaircare makes this travel-size air filter for use in vehicles. It is about the size of a small smoke alarm and hangs easily on the back of a car seat. It is effective in removing dust, pollen, cigarette smoke, bacteria, vehicle emissions, and other chemicals from the air.
Bamboo Charcoal This charcoal made from bamboo has amazing absorption properties. It is often sold in burlap bags, which allow air to pass through them and get filtered by the charcoal inside. Just like a charcoal water filter, this charcoal air filter removes impurities from the air. It also helps maintain humidity levels, absorbing moisture in high humidity environments and releasing moisture when humidity is low. Small bags such as these can be purchased to hang from your rear view mirror.
Besides dramatically improving the air quality and increasing your lifespan, having clean air can do wonders for your vehicle’s scent. These air purifiers are great at removing odors from old food, moldy drinks, dirty clothes, smoke, pets and other stinky contaminants.
Keeping your vehicle fresh will help you live a healthier life, and besides that, it will also help you maintain that Blue Book value if you ever plan to sell in the future.
Parents Justify Texting While Driving and DUI
August 26, 2014
We understand that being a parent is hard work. Parents can be forgiven for occasional mistakes – such as that time they dropped you on your head as an infant. However, a recent survey conducted by Liberty Mutual reveals that parents are teaching their teens some terrible driving habits, such as texting while driving and driving under the influence.
Here are the surprising results:
- 88% of teens said their parents used a mobile device while at the wheel
- 58% said their parents texted while driving
- 42% said they have asked parents to stop text-messaging while operating a vehicle
- 18% said they have tried to get them to stop driving while high on weed
- 16% said the adults drove with kids in the car after having at least one alcoholic beverage
- 40% of teens who asked their parents to stop risky driving behaviors said their parents either ignore them or justify their actions!
Teens get the #DriveSafe message. They are constantly told not to drink and drive, text and drive, talk and drive, drive distracted, or drive while high. They are barraged with a million messages at school, at driver’s ed, on social media and at home. They are targeted by PR campaigns that create TV commercials, radio commercials, online ads, billboards, publicity stunts and teen-oriented events. However, when they see their own parents ignoring these messages or justifying their own risky behaviors, what are teen drivers expected to think?
Parents are the greatest influence on their children’s driving habits. Whether they know it or not, kids pick up their driving behaviors from mom and dad at a very young age. They notice when they drive with one hand, turn without blinkers, tailgate, speed and run through stop signs. Teenagers whose parents drive recklessly are more likely to be bad drivers themselves. That’s why it’s a shame to see that so many parents are driving distracted, and that any parents are driving while under the influence.
To all you teen drivers out there: forgive your parents… but, keep bugging them about driving safely. Offer to drive after they’ve had a beer. Tell them to pull over and let you drive if that phone call or text message is important. Surprise your folks by being the smart and sober one, and let them learn from your good influence.
A Giant Drivers License Infographic
August 4, 2014
The fine folks at DMV Cheat Sheets have put together this big, giant infographic about every type of drivers license. Full of useful info, amazing facts, and answers to tons of questions, we think you’ll get a lot out of this fun fact-packed graphic.
Learn what your drivers license can do for you:
World’s Safest and Most Dangerous Places to Drive
July 11, 2014
This is a must-read for anyone with big dreams of cross-country road trips and overseas adventure touring. The list of international roads includes the most dangerous places to drive all over the world, as well as the safest. It’s a great read with highlights from Pennsylvania to India, Canada to Panama, and everywhere that’s anywhere in the world of dangerous drives and world-renowned safety.
5 Unusually Dangerous – and Especially Safe – Places to Drive
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 13
May 26, 2014
Lesson 13: Save Lives by Keeping the Roads Clean
Road debris is no big deal for people in cars and trucks, but it can result in a fatal crash when faced by unsuspecting bikers. Trash, gravel, and other common hazards can often be prevented by drivers who strive to keep the roads clean. So, take these tips to heart to save lives this riding season.
Keep gravel off the road by keeping your tires on the asphalt. Drifting into the shoulder can cause your tires to kick up gravel on the pavement, which can then cause traction issues for motorcyclists.
When hauling trash, yard trimmings or any household goods, be sure that everything is strapped down securely. Keep an eye on your load while driving to make sure that nothing comes loose during the move. A fallen cedar branch or lost bedside table could prove fatal for any bikers behind you.
Finally, drivers can keep the roads clean by following this age-old rule: DON’T BE A LITTERBUG! Keep your food, drinks, cigarette butts and other trash in the car until you reach a destination with a trash can.
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 12
May 23, 2014
Lesson 12: Play it safe, give bikers more space!
Welcome back for the 12th lesson in our Motorcycle Awareness Month series.
There are many reasons to give motorcyclists more space when following in traffic. For one, they can brake quicker. Motorcycles don’t have as much weight, so they tend to slow down at a much quicker pace than 4-wheeled vehicles. They also face more hazards, and are forced into situations that require quicker emergency braking more often. Road debris, distracted drivers, potholes and other traffic dangers are a constant threat when riding a motorcycle, so the possibility for fast deceleration is always there.
Motorcyclists also tend to notice and react to changes in traffic more quickly than drivers. Because they aren’t surrounded by four doors and a roof, they are more alert. Therefore, a biker may begin braking for a red light or stop sign long before other drivers even notice the intersection.
Since fender benders can result in a fatal injury when the collision involves a motorcycle, it is best to play it safe and allow plenty of following distance. So, don’t forget this most basic of motorcycle awareness lessons: Give motorcyclists more space!
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 11
May 22, 2014
Lesson 11: Roaring Engines Double as Warnings
For some drivers, it can be quite jarring to hear a motorcycle loudly rev up next to them in traffic. Sometimes bikers are simply showing off their engines, however, other times this loud noise can double as a warning when used in moving traffic.
Since many motorcycle horns aren’t nearly as loud as the engines they sit upon, motorcyclists sometimes rev up their engines to make enough noise for other drivers to know that they are there. This can be an effective technique when people in cars and trucks try to change lanes while the biker is in their blind spot.
So, if you hear an engine roar and a biker quickly ride past you, don’t be offended, and don’t take it as an invitation to drag race. This is simply a way of being noticed, and thereby avoiding getting run over by trucks and cars on the road.
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 10
May 21, 2014
Lesson 10: Why You Should Always Look Before Opening Your Door
Finding a place to park can be difficult at times, especially downtown where everyone wants to work & play. So when you finally find that coveted parking spot, carefully maneuvre into place with your parallel parking skills, and find your change for the meter, you may feel like it’s time to breathe a sigh of relief and rejoice in the conclusion of your downtown driving struggle. However, there is one last measure you must take before exiting the vehicle: CHECK FOR MOVING TRAFFIC BEFORE OPENING THE DOOR!
Opening your car door at the wrong time could cause serious damage if struck by another car or truck, and opening your car door when a motorcycle is passing by could cause serious injury or even death. So, prevent this unfortunate accident from happening by checking twice before exiting your vehicle.
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 9
May 19, 2014
Lesson 9: Motorcycle Clubs Are Not Criminal Gangs
Contrary to popular belief, motorcycle clubs (MC’s) are not criminal gangs. In fact, as a whole, the motorcycle community donates more to the needy than any law enforcement agency in the United States. Bikers giving to charities might not make a great plot for Sons of Anarchy, but it’s a lot closer to the truth than any TV show. So, look twice to save a life, because that biker might just be donating to a cause that could one day save you.