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Tires – The Replacement Dilemma

June 20, 2016 by

The honeymoon’s over with your “new” car when it’s original tires start showing serious wear and you need to worry about replacing them.  Where the rubber meets the road is a famous expression for a reason…so you know that getting new tires is a serious task.  But where should you get them?  There’s really just 5 basic choices:

  1. Car Dealer – where you actually bought the car from in the first place
  2. National Chain Tire Store
  3. Online Tire Retailer
  4. Big Box Chain Retailer like Costco or Walmart
  5. Independent Local Tire Dealer or your Local Mechanic

Getting some unbiased, objective advice…even professionally done research is always a good idea.  Consumer Reports is a famous place for getting exactly that.  Here are some tips to help you weed through the 5 types of tire sellers…and about 10 of the most well known manufacturers to guide you through the process of making a good choice.

 

Some may feel safe with the idea that sticking with the exact same tire that came with the new car as purchased from the dealer.  But often, switching to a different tire brand can be a wise choice.  It’s a whole subject worth discussing separately, so stay tuned!

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Hidden Dangers for Drivers Using New Hands-free Tech

May 25, 2016 by

Think you’ve got it all under control while using in-car hands free technologies?  While driving, how often to you use voice commands to?:

  1. Dial your cell phone?
  2. Play or change music being played?
  3. Create & send Text Messages?

Research from the the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety proves that Mental Distraction from the above activities can linger and impair your focus and reaction times…for as long as 27 seconds AFTER you’ve seemingly completed each task…each and every time you engage one of these tasks.  Cognitive Distraction…the scientific term, impacts driving performance…even if your eyes are on the road…and your hands are on the wheel…as a result of using hands-free technologies in your vehicle.

“The lasting effects of mental distraction pose a hidden and pervasive danger that would likely come as a surprise to most drivers…The results indicate that motorists could miss stop signs, pedestrians and other vehicles while the mind is readjusting to the task of driving.” ~ Peter Kissinger – President and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Ten vehicles from model year 2015…and three (3) different brands of smart phones were compared in the AAA study. The bottom line: ALL systems studied were found to increase mental distraction to potentially unsafe levels.  A 5-point scale was utilized by researchers to quantify the level of distraction.  A rating of two (2) or more on the 5-point scale is considered potentially dangerous when driving.

“The massive increase in voice-activated technologies in cars and phones represents a growing safety problem for drivers,” … “We are concerned that these new systems may invite driver distraction, even as overwhelming scientific evidence concludes that hands-free is not risk free.” ~ Marshall Doney – AAA’s President & CEO

Previous AAA Foundation research established that a category 1 mental distraction is about the same as listening to the radio or an audio book. A category 2 distraction is about the same as talking on the phone, while category 3 is equivalent to sending voice-activated texts on a perfect, error-free system. Category 4 is similar to updating social media while driving, while category 5 corresponds to a highly-challenging, scientific test designed to overload a driver’s attention.

“Developers should aim to reduce mental distractions by designing systems that are no more demanding than listening to the radio or an audiobook,” continued Doney. “Given that the impairing effects of distraction may last much longer than people realize, AAA advises consumers to use caution when interacting with these technologies while behind the wheel.”

Dr. David Strayer and Dr. Joel Cooper of the University of Utah conducted the research. A total of 257 drivers ages 21-70 participated in the study of 2015 model-year vehicles, while 65 additional drivers ages 21-68 tested the three phone systems.

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Top 10 Priciest Vehicles to Get Insured

March 21, 2016 by

Let’s work this Top 10 List…Letterman style…and kill you with suspense:

10. Porsche 911 Carrera GT3 RS – The second of two Porsches on this list…this one coming in at a cool $3,212 per year to insure.

9. Audi RS7 Quattro Prestige – average cost at about $3,229 per year to insure. Believe it or not…this is the only Audi on this list. Drivers should note that letting your teen drive your car can dramatically raise rates: A survey by InsuranceQuotes.com found that adding a 16-year-old to the average married couple’s insurance nearly doubles the cost. And letting them drive a sports car might drive that cost even higher.


8. Land Rover Range Rover SV Autobiography Black LWB – hitting approximately $3,245 to insure annually…some savvy drivers recommend buying insurance at opportune times of the year. In fact…an InsuranceQuotes.com survey says that nationwide, car insurance varies by about 7.5% depending on what month you buy it in. December tends to be the cheapest month to buy insurance, while March is the most expensive.

7. BMW M6 Gran Coupe – While being the only BMW in the top 10, costing $3,309 to insure. Another discount strategy that drivers should also ask about is a more obscure one…discounts for those drive significantly fewer miles…or long time highly loyal customers of the insurance company for a long time…and those who own a home or who have a college degree or even higher education credentials.

6. Nissan GT-R Nismo – Appealing to the younger, sportier crowd…the Nismo averages about $3,476 a year to insure. Some of the more common car insurance discounts to ask about include: lowered rates for students who do well in school, people who have a home insurance policy with the same company, pay the entire bill upfront, are married and take a driver training course.

5. Porsche Panamera S Executive – As you might expect…the Porsche Panamera is one of two (2) models appearing on this list…commanding a cool $3,484 on average per year to insure. Many experts say that prudent drivers should get at least three insurance quotes from different companies (you can go on sites like CarInsurance.com, Insure.com and BestQuotes.com to do this) before selecting the best policy for the least cost.

…Want to see the remaining top 4?

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Coping With Heavy Traffic – 5 Defensive Driving Tips

January 15, 2016 by

Lower gas prices means more cars on the road…especially during commute hours. Unfortunately, that also means bigger chances of fatal crashes…according to a University of Alabama study.  The National Safety Council has created handy list of tips to help you stay alert and spot in advance…daily hazards that are avoidable.

  • Check your mirrors every three to five seconds while always scanning ahead for possible dangers.
  • Always give the right of way to fellow motorists, but be prepared to react to unexpected lane changes and turns.
  • Keep a safe distance between you and other vehicles…especially during heavy traffic…by reducing speed to give yourself sufficient response time
  • Be vigilant for signs of impaired, distracted and yes…aggressive driving.  Keeping calm under pressure is a valuable skill to develop…use techniques like deep breathing to keep focused.

Everyone wants to avoid accidents…and “Watch out for the other guy” is old expression that has merit.  Yet, we are all “the other guy” for other drivers.  Recognizing the top unsafe driving behaviors that lead to collisions is a valuable skill you can develop to recognize in others and yourself. Learning how to avoid each dangerous behavior naturally develops safer driving habits and collision avoidance techniques.

  1. Following too closely – California freeway drivers encounter this daily. Three seconds of distance between your own vehicle and the one ahead can make all the difference.  If you’re being tailgated…just maintain your speed and move over to let him or her pass if they wish. Never speed up to accommodate the tailgater!
  2. Driving too fast – Watch closely for both the posted speed limit and weather conditions. Remember, treacherous weather conditions override the posted speed limit. Slow down if rain, snow or icy conditions dictate.
  3. Violating right of way – Make sure you’re yielding properly and following all traffic signals and stop signs by driving at an appropriate speed to give yourself time to react and take a moment to scan intersections before entering them.

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Surviving the 3 Scariest Car Scenarios

November 23, 2015 by

Sometimes drivers don’t take precautionary advice as seriously as they should…until something unfortunate actually happens to them or someone they know.  The potential danger just doesn’t seem as real until drivers have some first hand experience that scares them and makes  think a little.   Since driving a car is a necessary daily event for many of us that has become commonplace, it’s perhaps easy to become desensitized to the variety and intensity of dangerous outcomes that can befall us whenever we get behind the wheel.

For some who do experience dangerous and horrific traumas, yet manage to survive them, it becomes a fervent mission to tell their story so others can avoid the same experience…and most importantly, avoid a life threatening outcome.  Kids and Cars founder Janette Fennell is an incredible example.   In 1995, she and her husband were carjacked, robbed and left in their trunk in an remote location.  Fortunately, they escaped, but didn’t discover that their infant son was unharmed until they arrived back home to find him sitting in his baby seat in the driveway.  Janette later founded the advocacy group Kids and Cars and successfully lobbied to get trunk releases required in all new vehicles.

Could something similar happen to you? Approximately 45,000 carjackings occur each year.

Carjacker In/Near Your Vehicle
The key to keeping yourself safe is to vigilantly scan your surroundings. People in parking lots tend to be arriving or leaving without much delay.  So someone just standing around for any period of time…uninvolved with getting in or out of a car…might be looking for a potential victim.  So don’t dally…quickly get in your vehicle and lock the doors.  But if someone is already in your car or about to confront you? Immediately comply and move away. Give them what they want and create as much distance between you and the intruder as possible.  If the car is stationery…get out…even if it’s in drive. If it’s moving, stop quickly and get out.

Car Trouble or Flat Tire at Night
Stay in your car and call for help!  Many people make the biggest mistake of getting out of their vehicle in the midst of or near traffic.  Traffic behind you will invariably begin to slow and stop. If an apparent good Samaritan or helpful stranger comes close… don’t open the door. Just talk to them through the window and ask them to call the police if you are unable to do so.

Car in Flashflood, Mudslide or Sinking in Water
Probably the most valuable things to have for this situation is a Life Hammer device.  It’s a small tool that makes it easier to break out windows and cut seat belts if needed…to help you escape a crashed or submerged vehicle.

One of the biggest challenges to overcome is that water will cause the power to go out and most modern cars have power locks and windows.  Trying to open the door while the car is filling up with water is almost impossible.  After it’s full, it may be too late.  The minute or so after a car lands in water, but is not yet submerged is when it’s easiest to escape and survive…according to researchers from the University of Manitoba. They recommend exiting through the side windows while the vehicle is still floating.  The key is to think and move quickly.

384 occupants die in motor vehicle crashes involving water submersion each year…according to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

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Car Safety’s Next New Technology: V2V

September 30, 2015 by

V2V is new technology that promises to solve limitations of current adaptive driving capabilites and offer a wider perspective on urban traffic challenges. It uses a small radio transmitters & receivers on each vehicle to broadcast information about its location, speed, and direction to other vehicles within several hundred yards. Unlike current radar, lidar, camera, and other sensors, it can know what oncoming vehicles are doing—or even those around corners and out of sight. The idea is to use this information to help electronic safety systems work more smoothly and safely.

graphic showing several vehicles interacting with V2V technology

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx was at Delphi Labs @ Silicon Valley earlier this year to announce a series of steps to speed life-saving technology innovations to America’s highways.  The Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will expedite its public time table for its proposed requirement of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication devices in new vehicles, and is working to accelerate testing necessary to ensure that V2V and vehicle-to-infrastructure transmissions are free from radio interference.

“The Department wants to speed the nation toward an era when vehicle safety isn’t just about surviving crashes; it’s about avoiding them. . .Connected, automated vehicles that can sense the environment around them and communicate with other vehicles and with infrastructure have the potential to revolutionize road safety and save thousands of lives.” ~ U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx

  • Accelerating the schedule of NHTSA’s proposal to require V2V equipment on new vehicles.
  • Developing an expedited test plan on interference with V2V signals.
  • Ensuring that the Department’s regulatory framework accelerates safety innovations.

The necessary hardware entails a small box containing a radio transmitter, receiver and as a microcomputer…all costing about $300.  Basically, they are tricked out versions of existing Wi-Fi systems currently used with desktop computers…but optimized for moving vehicles and having about a half mile range.

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Heads Up Danger: Shattering Sunroofs

August 12, 2015 by

Exploding Sunroofs Prompt Federal Investigation – USAToday


Sunroofs are shattering across the country, injuring and scaring drivers. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation is underway to determine what’s responsible.

Read More – USAToday

 

Spontaneously Shattering Sunroofs Prompt Federal Investigation – ABC News


ABC World News
While waiting at a stop sign…all of a sudden we hear what sounded like a gunshot.  Wade Owens says his shattered while driving on the highway. “All the glass caves in…BOOM!  Plus, more stories online about drivers in shock. “My sunroof exploded in front of my eyes.”  Glass expert Mark Meshulam demonstrates what is it looks like when a sunroof shatters. Even pushing it down to simulate it falling on the driver. The cracks go at over 3,000 miles an hour so in an absolute instant this glass is completely broken. What’s going on?  Most are made of tempered glass for your safety breaking into smaller more rounded pieces instead of sharp dangerous shards but experts say that can lead to spontaneous shattering if there’s a manufacturing defect. The glass is constantly in tension and just like when you put a pin in a balloon it catastrophically breaks, the same thing happens with tempered glass.   “GMA Investigates” finding nearly 400 complaints in the national highway traffic safety administration’s database across all makes and models. NHTSA is telling us it’s reviewing the complaints and investigating certain Kia Sorentos. Kia is telling us it’s evaluating the performance of the panoramic sunroofs in the 2011 to 2013 vehicles but in their investigation have found only foreign objects such as rocks and gravel have been identified as the cause of sunroof breakage. Now, some auto safety experts are calling on NHTSA to create new safety standards for sunroofs. Like requiring them to be made of laminated glass like that used in windshields. Which when hit remain in place to protect the driver. You should not have to ride at risk worrying about whether your sunroof is going to explode over you.

For “Good Morning America,” Mara Schiavocampo, ABC News, New York.  > Read More – ABCNews

 

NHTSA Upgrades Investigation Into Shattering Kia Sorento Sunroofs – TheCarConnection

Back in October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into the 2011-2013 Kia Sorento after a string of complaints that the crossover’s sunroof imploded.
It doesn’t sound like things have gotten any better for the Georgia-built crossover. According to Automotive News, last year’s investigation has now been upgraded to an investigation for an engineering analysis, which it says is a “step in a process” that could eventually lead to a recall if the agency deems it necessary.

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Shattering Sunroofs: Audi Latest to Issue a Recall – NBCNews

by Paul A. Eisenstein

Sunroofs are intended to give you a clear view of the heavens above without the hassle – or cost – of buying a convertible. But few owners are likely to anticipate the problems that have so far snared at least three automakers, according to reports on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Audi is the latest manufacturer to order a recall because the sunroofs on several models can unexpectedly shatter – creating not only a crisis in a rainstorm but also the risk of an accident, warns NHTSA.

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Car Thieves Go High Tech

June 18, 2015 by

Q: What’s the most effective and efficient way for a thief to break into a car…with no broken glass, no alarm triggered and being able to remove any and all contents of the vehicle…even while being plainly visible on a crowded street…yet not even raise suspicion from passersby?

A: A magic wand??  Almost!  A magic box is actually a bit more accurate.

These perplexing break-ins had been getting the better of police and insurance companies for several years now…from the U.S. to Europe. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)  estimates that $1 billion dollars or more of items are stolen from parked cars every year…and it’s projected to steadily increase as keyless entry systems become the norm…enabling more and more thieves the opportunity to hack their way into vehicles.

Car makers have continued to advance developing technology that makes vehicles more secure against criminal theft and break ins.  Keyless entry systems is one such development in recent years.  But as technology for criminal deterrent has advanced…so have car thieves become more creative in creating their own technology to counter that of the car makers.  Most recently, they’ve figured out a way to amplify the signal sent by your car’s key fob to unlock the doors. Prior to that…sophisticated electronic “scanner boxes” that decipher the radio frequency (RF) codes that unlock newer cars built with remote keyless entry systems.

“It seems like we’ve come up with something new every week or two. Some kind of device or allegations about something that could open a car and or start a car,” Roger Morris – CCO – National Insurance Crime Bureau

Thieves can walk by with what literally appears to be a cigarette pack that somehow tricks keyless entry vehicles into sensing that the fob is in close proximity…by boosting its signal it emits to help hack into the system.  And yes…devices confiscated by Texas police were evidently modified from gadgets purchased on eBay.

So what, if anything, can you do to fight back against thieves?  When you lock your vehicle as you leave it…make sure to take your key or fob with you…NEVER leave either inside or even near the car AND…put them in any closable metal container…even a refrigerator.  Since metal blocks signals sent to or from the fob…it becomes disabled and more safe.

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Roadside Assistance Heroes

April 30, 2015 by

Warning Saves Lives in Houston Toll Road Crash Caught on Camera

A stranded motorist and a service vehicle were struck by a swerving SUV…but were unharmed thanks to an emergency warning relayed from an alert driver.


ABC Breaking US News | US News Videos

Sunday morning on the Westbrook tollway…an erratic driver caught one woman’s attention.  A silver Ford Expedition swerving all over the road… she reported it to the Tollroad Authority’s “Incident Command”…Alexa Barrick (dispatcher) took the call. [Vehicle traveling eastbound in southwest plaza].  “I cannot imagine what would’ve happened if she hadn’t taken time to actually give us a call…” said Barrick.  Because up head it was an instant response unit on the shoulder changing a flat tire another dispatcher warned him. [“Be advised sir…a vehicle is approaching you that is swerving all OVER the lane…he is about to get onto the shoulder…I need you to steer clear of the lane. “]   By then with cameras pointed..all the entire room could do was sit and watch. [“Ohh…God”]  With the warning from the roadside assistance worker,  the driver of the disabled vehicle and his three passengers were able to shield themselves the doors…far enough way.  [All units be advised…vehicle has just been struck]   The solid and sturdy tow truck instead took the impact keeping them safe. They could’ve been pinned between the two vehicles, you know, it would’ve caused serious injury if not death of one of one of now both of them. The driver of the expedition told deputies he had been up for more than 24 hours and was on his cell phone. You don’t I think now people think of cop a night that an attack that he had gone. Without the warning from the citizen it could’ve ended much differently now the dramatic video can serve as a lesson.  “You don’t mix the fatigue with…distractions.”

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Hands Free is Not Risk Free

March 24, 2015 by

April is Distracting Driving Awareness Month

Do you think using a hands-free device – whether it’s an earpiece or a dashboard infotainment system – is the safe way to drive and talk on the phone?

Eighty percent of American drivers believe hands-free devices are safer than using a handheld phone. But that is just not the case. More than 30 studies show hands-free devices are no safer because the brain remains distracted by the conversation. When talking on a cell phone, drivers can miss seeing up to half of what’s around them, such as traffic lights, stop signs and pedestrians.​

The Hands Free Myth

More than 30 studies show that using hands-free systems provide drivers no safety benefit. Even with both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road, your mind is distracted from the task of driving. Think about it, people have been driving stick shift for decades – the issue is not about keeping two hands on the wheel.  The National Safety Council (NSC) poll also found that 53 percent of respondents believe hands-free devices must be safe to use if they are built into vehicles.  Add to that many state laws requiring people to use hands-free, and it’s no wonder there’s confusion.

woman talking on cell phone standing beside her car

The results are in:

  1. Hands-free features in dashboards actually increase mental distraction*
  2. Using voice-to-text is more distracting than typing texts while driving**
  3. Drivers who text with their hands or voice (using speech-to-text systems) keep their eyes on the road less often and have reaction times twice as slow**

 

Take the Focused Driver Challenge and pledge to drive cell free.

 

Read More – National Safety Council

 

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