Who’s the Most Aggressive Drivers – Men or Women?

Did you take a few seconds to consider it objectively and fairly? LOL…OK!  This comes from data collected by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety…and it may well confirm your biases.

Overall, younger male and female drivers tend to be more aggressive than older drivers. With everyday stress already compounded by the pandemic and now the holiday season, which can elevate tensions on the road, AAA urges motorists to keep their cool and avoid dangerous driving habits.


Nothing like a little levity in a stressful encounter.
 

Aggressive Driving Behaviors among Male and Female U.S. Drivers, 2019                                                                                                                                               

  Male Female
Drove 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway 52.0% 44.6%
Followed the vehicle in front closely to prevent another vehicle from merging 37.8% 29.3%
Made rude gesture/honked at another driver 35.4% 28%
Drove through a red light 32.2% 30.0%
Drove aggressively by switching lanes quickly and/or very close behind another car 31.5% 21.4%

 

“Speeding, red-light running, and cutting other drivers off can kill you, your passengers, and others sharing the road…Driving aggressively isn’t worth the risk. When you get behind the wheel, be patient, be kind, and obey traffic laws so everyone gets home safely.” ~ Jake Nelson, AAA Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy

 

AAA offers these tips to help drivers manage aggressive driving scenarios:

  • Don’t Offend: Never cause another driver to change their speed or direction. That means not forcing another driver to use their brakes or turn the steering wheel in response to something you have done.
  • Be Tolerant and Forgiving: The other driver may just be having a really bad day. Assume that it’s not personal.
  • Do Not Respond: Avoid eye contact, don’t make gestures, maintain space around your vehicle, and contact 9-1-1 if needed.

 

Read More

16 Car Specs You NEED to Know – CNET

Ever heard the expression: “Figures don’t lie…and liars don’t figure”.  It’s easy to feel confused or overwhelmed by statistics…especially when it comes to vehicles. Here’s 16 critical car specs explained in simple terms for max comprehension.

 

Some car specs make total sense…and some you can just largely ignore

Let’s jump right in:

  1. Zero to Sixty – zero to sixty is the holy grail of performance benchmarks it is obviously how fast a car can go from a standing stop to 60 miles an hour. the quickest it can do that either with a really good driver on a manual transmission or relying on its automatic transmission. The thing about 0-60 is you never do that (yourself)! How often in real life do you go from a standing stop to 60? Nonetheless it’s a good benchmark because it encompasses a lot of acceleration phases of a car. You see cars don’t accelerate as quickly through all ranges of speed. They may be quicker 15 to 23, then slow down a little bit 24 to 46 and then speed up again 46 to 60. It’s kind of a wavy curve. 0-60 captures all that in totality and gives you kind of one big lump number
  2. Horsepower – good grief they spent a lot of time screaming about this in car advertisements and specs don’t they? Horsepower has this arcane definition from way back in the day it’s the power you need to lift 550 pounds one foot off the ground in one second. There’s a time factor there because it expresses work. Horsepower is an even more peripheral number than 0 to 60 time you care about things like acceleration, feel, fuel economy, towing capacity…those things are all related to horsepower but they’re not expressed literally by the number.

More@CNET

Windshield Wipers 101 – AAA

AAA shows you how to remove and install new windshield wiper blades plus how to add windshield washer fluid.

 

Hi…I’m David Bennett with AAA.  As we’re all spending a lot more time at home nowadays, we thought it’d be a good idea to go over some basic car maintenance tips. So let’s look at your wiper blades the first thing you want to look at is whether or not they’re just laying down are they brittle are they torn they’re very easy to replace and really the easiest way to do that is to pop this cap off and then they slide straight down but you need to be careful that this doesn’t fall down and hit anything.

So one thing you want to think about with wiper blades is they’re not all the same size for each vehicle so on this vehicle we have two different size so you want to make sure that you measure them properly if not when you go to the auto parts store…look it up in the book and make sure you get the right size wiper blades for your specific vehicle.

So when you’re ready to put them on all you do is slide this in just like you took it off and then slide it up it locks into place and fold it down so one of the things that most people do is they forget about the rear windshield wiper. So you want to make sure that you replace this one as well. If you take a look at it you can see this one is really torn and worn very badly. So you want to go
ahead and have this replaced.

For the last blue level we want to check is your windshield washer fluid that’s always designated by a blue cap. You can open it…look down see if you can see any and if you don’t just go ahead and top it off until it becomes visual at the top.

If you’re not comfortable using a free core you can always use a funnel.

 

More…

 

Best Hybrids to Buy – Roadshow’s Favorite Gasoline-Electric Vehicles

Availability and variety of hybrid vehicles on the market these days has grown more than you probably realize.  Virtually all will save you money at the pump, but they’re not all created equal. Here are some of the Roadshow crew’s favorite gasoline-electric vehicles: Smart buys from a variety of auto-makers.

Gas prices may be the lowest they’ve been in years but that doesn’t mean you should be flagrantly wasteful.

There are plenty of excellent hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles available today which all save loads of fuel and in no particular order here are some of the Roadshow team’s absolute favorites:

1) Toyota Highlander Hybrid – …a large and versatile 300 utility vehicle. This thing has an upscale interior plenty of high-tech goodies and loads of refinement. Of course it also delivers incredible fuel economy. The front drive model stickers at 36 miles per gallon combined that’s crazy for something that can seat up to eight people.

2) Honda Insight – Our next selection is not only thriftier than warren buffett a legendary cheapskate it’s also roomy inside has a primo cabin and looks like a normal car the Honda Insight is totally a stealth hybrid. It’ll get you better than 50 miles per gallon without even trying yeah nothing about it screams economy hypermiling or tree-hugging hippie that collects discarded dryer lint to spin into yarn for knitting eco-friendly clothing. No it’s not the fastest thing around but it still got plenty of giddyup for normal use. According to Honda, the Insights two motor hybrid drivetrain has a total system output of 150 1.5 horsepower and I’m not sure which half of the horse they’re counting but I do hope it’s the front.

3) Porsche Panamera – Now it’s time for a plug-in hybrid and a luxury model no less Porsche offers a couple different gasoline electric powered in its Panamera there’s the four hybrid and the Turbo S e-hybrid each powertrain is offered in the standard sedan, extended-length Panamera executive and even the sport Turismo wagon body styles because that’s not confusing. I guess the Germans just love complicating things of us kind of a spliff de vivre isn’t a secret haba. Anyway the less potent of these two power trains features a twin turbocharged v6 augmented by an electric motor. This package delivers 462 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The more muscular variant is built around a twin-turbo v8 that is also bolstered by a motor that set up gift chest 680 horses and 626 pounds of twist. In either case a 14 point one kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack provides an electrical only driving range of about 14 miles. As for fuel efficiency, expect
right around 50 mpg for each powertrain less than half that when running on only gasoline hey before moving on which Panamera body style is your favorite. I think I like the sport Turismo best but vote in the poll by hitting or clicking on the box somewhere near the top of the screen. Toyota is the automaker best known for building hybrids…but Ford has sold more than its share of gasoline electric vehicles as well.

Hear & See More

Bad Catalytic Converter? – How to Know When

The most important part of your vehicle’s exhaust system is its catalytic converter.  Why?  Because it’s purpose is to reduce smog and toxic tailpipe discharges by “converting” hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide into harmless nitrogen.

 

New laws were implemented in 1968 mandating a reduction of auto emissions in the U.S., thus making catalytic converters an integral part of all new vehicles.  They’re now utilized in virtually every automobile world wide.  Since catalytic converters can’t operate in the presence of lead, the introduction of catalytic converters also ended production of leaded gasoline.

The byproducts of a vehicle engine are:

  • Water
  • Nitrogen (only some)
  • Carbon dioxide

These molecules are similar to the chemical output of animals. In reality however, the internal combustion process within an engine has never been 100% effective because it creates leftover unburned hydrocarbons.

Prior to 1960, these emissions were just permitted to be set free into the air…but this was later determined to be a public environmental health danger.

If a catalytic converter is attached to the tailpipe of a vehicle, it rapidly dissolves a very large percentage of the leftover unburnt hydrocarbons, and the result is a much cleaner emission. But, because the catalytic converter needs to operate at a high speed to catch the unburnt hydrocarbons before it goes out of the tailpipe, this now puts a limit on how effective the oxidation procedure can be.

Carbon monoxide emissions of cars and trucks have become much cleaner over the past several years…because catalytic converters have advanced tremendously due to technology advances. The  real challenge however, has been the reduction of CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions.  The primary reason is because carbon dioxide cannot be dissolved into something less harmful. It’s an acknowledged greenhouse gas and it contributes to global warming.

Catalytic converters in consumer vehicles operate at a high temperature of around 750 degrees F or 400 degrees C.  Industrial use catalytic converters can often be larger than those utilized in consumer vehicles and also run at much higher temps.

Here are a few standard components of catalytic converters:

1) Heat exchanger
2) Catalytic bed – this takes the form of either a honeycombed ceramic or ceramic beads concealed in the catalyst.
3) A line burner

Read More

A message from All Pro Towing & Recovery on COVID-19

we're open sign - all pro towing recovery gilroy ca

To: Our Valued All Pro Towing & Recovery Customers

From: Your All Pro Towing & Recovery Team

The health and well-being of our customers and team members is our #1 priority. We are closely monitoring the evolution of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and taking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Some of the measures we have taken to ensure the health and safety of our customers and team members include:

  • Reducing the number of people visiting our shop by providing customers with scheduled appointment times and alternatives for dropping off their vehicles.
  • Whenever possible, we are limiting contact, including handshakes. We are also completing updates and providing communication to our customers by phone and email.
  • Like everyone, we have taken additional precautions and enhanced our cleaning process in our shop and among our Team Members.

We are taking this situation seriously and are committed to providing a safe environment for everyone who visits and works in our locations.

Sincerely,

Jerry Movrich

All Pro Towing & Recovery

we're open sign - all pro towing recovery gilroy ca

2020 Safest New Cars And Crossovers

New, even higher safety standards have been announced by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for awarding its Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ honors to 2020 models.

Only 64 of the 219 new models evaluated actually earned TSP ratings, and only 23 of those earned the TSP+ award, which is the industry’s most comprehensive crash-testing criteria and its most coveted safety award.

“We’re identifying what the real safety problems are from real-world crash data, and how to best protect occupants in a vehicle, or how to prevent a crash from happening,” ~ David Harkey – IIHS President 

The IIHS (a nonprofit) runs vehicles through six crash tests and assesses the functionality of headlights and automatic emergency braking to develop a safety rating. For 2020 TSP awards, IIHS added three new elements aimed at safeguarding pedestrians and vehicle occupants.

First, the passenger-side small overlap test that mimics the right side of a car hitting another car or pole must be rated “Good,” up from “Acceptable” last year.

Second, automatic emergency braking must be offered with pedestrian detection. From 2009 through 2018, pedestrian fatalities have spiked 53% yet traffic fatalities have increased by only 8%, according to the IIHS.

“Rewarding technology that protects people outside the vehicle is new territory for the TSP awards, but we believe vehicle manufacturers have an important role to play in protecting vulnerable road users,” Harkey said.

 

Read More

Brake Light Communications for Teens

How to Teach Your Teen Silent Brake Light Communication with Other Drivers.

Regardless of age…Safe driving is all about communication. Without actually speaking, you have to understand what other drivers are doing – or are about to do – and they must know the same about you. This kind of non-verbal interaction between drivers is crucial to preventing collisions and injuries, but it’s harder than you might think, especially for new drivers.


Teen drivers, after all, have plenty to focus on already. Remember, everything on the road is new for them and their inexperience means they may not have the skills to communicate properly yet.

Brake lights’ primary purpose is to help us communicate with fellow drivers. They exist exclusively to let other drivers know that your vehicle is slowing down and that they should do the same. The same applies to turn signals; their sole purpose is to help you communicate with other drivers. The catch is that we have to use them properly to get the safety benefits.

Are you prepared to help your teen use these tools to their full potential?

Sometimes teens have a bad habit of hard braking at the last minute. Your teen might argue that he or she is still able to come to a full stop in time, so it’s OK.  But this ignores all of the other drivers behind your teen. We all use brake lights to know whether traffic is slowing or continuing ahead of us, and sudden stops make it much harder for other drivers to react.

On your next practice drive, ask your teen to imagine driving without brake lights. How would that change the way we drive? Sure, we’d still have traffic lights and stop signs, but they can only tell us what traffic should be doing, not what it’s actually doing. You might plan to slow down for a changing traffic light, for example, but without brake lights, the driver behind you might assume you’re going to try and catch the light, and he or she might want to do the same.

While we hope that all drivers are scanning the road and looking carefully at other vehicles, sometimes we make dangerous assumptions behind the wheel. Brake lights, however, make the situation much clearer. The driver behind might still be upset that you didn’t try to make the light, but a little bit of road rage is much better than a rear-end collision.

Eventually, your teen will learn to use brake lights to judge stopping and following distances, and you can explain how other drivers count on your teen’s lights in the same way. This will help your teen become a much better communicator on the road, all without saying a word.

Read More

Top 10 Best Resale Value Vehicles – Kelly Blue Book

For the first time, no cars are represented in the top 10 slots of this list…Trucks and SUVs only.  While the average new vehicle will be worth about 39% of its original sticker price after 60 months, these 10 vehicles will return an average of about 55% to their owners’ pockets. For a $35,000 vehicle that works out to a meaningful difference of about $5,700 over a five-year buy-own-sell ownership cycle. That’s why choosing a car with good resale value can often save you more money in the long run than chasing big rebates and other incentives.

6. 2019 Chevrolet Silverado

Resale value:

  • at 36 months: 59.8%
  • at 60 months: 53.7%

The second-best-selling vehicle in the country, the all-new Chevrolet Silverado combines capability, comfort and strong resale value.

7. 2019 Honda Ridgeline

Resale value:

  • at 36 months: 63.2%
  • at 60 months: 51.3%

The Honda Ridgeline mixes a more truck-like design with clever features, SUV amenities and excellent resale value.

8. 2019 Chevrolet Colorado

Resale value:

  • at 36 months: 59.0%
  • at 60 months: 50.9%

The Chevrolet Colorado midsize truck has a lot to offer, including best-in-class towing, available diesel power, and a consistent spot on KBB’s list of Top 10 resale values.

9. 2019 Ford F-series

Resale value:

  • at 36 months: 57.5%
  • at 60 months: 50.6%

The Ford F-150 F, -6.57% is the country’s best-selling vehicle, a resale value standout and has been named KBB’s Pickup Truck Best Buy five years in a row.

10. 2019 Porsche Macan

Resale value:

  • at 36 months: 65.0%
  • at 60 months: 50.0%

A blast to drive and even more tech-savvy than before, the recently updated Porsche Macan also offers impressive resale value.

Want to see the TOP 5 Resale Value Vehicles by KBB?

Read More

 

Ford Escape for 2020 – News, Reviews & Muse

2020 Ford Escape review: More competent and comfortable – CNET

Small crossover-SUVs have grown to be the automotive industry’s most important segment. And while the Ford Escape was one of the original entries into this segment, the current, third-generation model has grown a bit stale.

Thankfully, relief is on the way in the form of the 2020 Ford Escape. Redone from the ground up, the fourth-generation Escape sports a new look, the latest technology, efficient drivetrains and an improved chassis. The small segment may be more crowded than ever these days — can this 2020 Escape climb its way back to the top of the class?

Read More

2020 Ford Escape Review – First Drive – AutoGuide.com

The 2020 Ford Escape is lower, wider and longer than the outgoing model. Consequently, it should offer greater head-, shoulder- and hip-room in both rows of seats. Expect better dynamics and efficiency, plus scads of technology. This small crossover is the blue-oval’s second best-selling nameplate after the vaunted F-Series and given how hot utility vehicles are these days, the stakes are higher than ever. This 2020 model better be good, or the competition will happily help themselves to Ford’s slice of the market.

Read More

First drive: The 2020 Ford Escape you want is the Hybrid – AutoNews

by Martin Padgett

2020 Ford Escape

The 2020 Ford Escape may look like one compact crossover SUV, but like the English language, it’s really three different things wearing one trenchcoat. The 2020 Escape comes with a choice of four trim levels, three engines, two transmissions, and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Variety’s great, until it’s confusing: Among all those choices Ford will sell you a turbo-3 Escape with all-wheel drive, a front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid, or an all-wheel-drive turbo-4 Escape Titanium with all the trimmings. The test-drive pressure is real.

Read More

 

2020 Ford Escape | The Turbo Alternative – Alex on Autos

For 2020 Ford has completely redesigned their compact crossover to directly target the top-sellers in the segment. With a standard 1.5L turbo engine, the Escape gives us better performance and better fuel economy than most of the competition and the optional 2.0L turbo and the new 8-speed automatic make the Escape one of the best performing compact crossovers under $40,000.

 

 

UA-38874304-1