5 Defensive Driving Strategies To Be A Safer, Smarter Driver – Smart Drive Test

Learn how to become a safer, smarter driver with these 5 excellent defensive driving strategies – watch the video. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Checklist
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10 Signs Your’re a Good Driver – Bladed Angel

We’ve talked about 10 Signs that make you a bad driver, let’s talk about 10 Signs that make you a Good Driver! If you haven’t seen the opposite video to this one, make sure to check it out at the end of this video! Anyways, let’s get started! Always using Turn Signals and Changing Lanes Early is the first one…I’m and tired of MF’s not signaling before a turn and causing us all to almost rear end each other. Another favorite of mine is when people in slower vehicles like commercial trucks or Semis will occasionally ride to one side on the dotted yellows to allow traffic behind to see if they can do an overtake…y’all the real homies. Also anyone who uses slow car pulloffs or slow traffic turnouts on mountain roads, you guys are the real OG’s.  See More

CHP Tips – The Move Over, Slow Down Law – California Hightway Patrol

Are you familiar with the “Move Over, Slow Down” law? We’re here to help explain what this means to help make our roads a little safer.

 

Responder Safety.com New Slow Down Move Over PSA – CVVFA 

Respondersafety.com is proud to present a new free public service announcement, Slow Down Move Over. The PSA was made possible by a cooperative agreement with the United States Fire Administration in the Department of Homeland Security. Funding was provided by the Office of Justice Programs at the US Department of Justice.

The PSA was filmed starring real responders who like many of our readers risk their lives daily helping others on the roadways. The location of the production was in Delaware City Delaware the home of Firefighter/ EMT Michelle Smith who lost her life when she was struck by a vehicle as she administered care to an accident victim. MORE
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Slow Down, Move Over – Ohio Department of Transportation

Each day roadside workers, first responders, and public servants work hard to protect and serve our communities. Help protect those protecting you.

 

Slow Down, Move Over Awareness: Washington State Patrol

It may not seem dangerous from your perspective, but please remember we’re only a door away from you on the side of the roadway. As we help get you home safe, please slow down and move over when you see emergency lights. We want to get home safely too. Focus of Effort Patrols are taking place October 18-20, 2017.

Less daylight hours means Winter is coming soon.   To SEE and BE SEEN becomes more critical to your safety during this season of reduced visibility. IOW, be sure to check your vehicle’s lights and wipers.

 

“The days are getting shorter, so it is a good time to check that your vehicle’s wipers and lighting are working properly because the chance of an accident increases if you can’t see or be seen,” ~ Nathan Perrine – Executive Director – Car Care Council

“From the driver’s seat you may not notice a light that isn’t working, so check all of your car’s lights and replace those that are out. Also, be sure to inspect and replace wiper blades so you can see clearly when wet weather hits.”

The wiper system keeps excessive water, snow and dirt from building up on the windshield, maintaining clear visibility. Many factors can accelerate the replacement interval of wipers, including operating conditions (winter conditions are tough on wiper blades), frequency of use, material and type of wipers and sunny weather. In fact, wiper blades can deteriorate faster and need more frequent replacement in desert states.

Lights are normal wear items that require periodic inspection and replacement. The lighting system provides nighttime visibility; signals and alerts other drivers; and supplies light for viewing instruments and the vehicle’s interior. In addition to replacing dimming, rapidly blinking and non-functioning lights, the following tips can help keep you safe:

1. Should your headlights should be on? If in doubt, turn them ON! Lights not only help you see better in early twilight, they also make it easier for other drivers to see you.
2. Keep headlights, tail lights and signal lights CLEAN. External dirt and debris can dim operational lights from being seen by others.
3. Make sure that your headlights are properly aimed. Misaimed headlights blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.
4. Don’t overdrive your headlights; you should be able to stop inside the illuminated area, otherwise you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle.

 

More @CarCareCouncil

DIYer that wants to clean your fuel tank? Here are some credible auto repair resources to help out:

Car Care Tips – Fuel Tank Cleaning

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How to Clean Your Fuel Tank – Delphi

A simple, step by step process for cleaning your fuel tank. A safe and effective fuel pump repair job begins here.

Cleaning the fuel tank is an essential part of a complete fuel repair. Before installing a new fuel pump, it’s critical to properly clean the gas tank. Debris in your gas tank will damage your new fuel pump. And the time it takes to clean out the debris – about an hour – is nothing compared to the time it takes to redo the entire job. So save yourself time, hassle and money — clean the tank before you replace your fuel pump.

*For your convenience, Delphi sells a Fuel Tank Cleaning Kit (FC01). Ask your distributor for more information. Delphi’s low-suds cleaning solution is specifically designed to easily treat and rinse up to a 40 gallon capacity fuel tank.

More @DelphiAutoParts
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How to Properly Clean the Inside and Outside of a Vehicle Fuel Tank – Airtex

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This video is about how to properly clean the inside and outside of an vehicle fuel tank. Airtex is committed to providing the most up-to-date, in-depth fuel pump replacement information that professional technicians need to diagnose, repair and install today’s complex fuel delivery systems. Airtex is the only U.S. automotive aftermarket manufacturer that designs and builds electrical AND mechanical fuel delivery system components, including modular reservoir assemblies, electric fuel pumps, mechanical fuel pumps and in-tank sender and hanger assemblies, for a full range of car, truck, fleet and specialty vehicles.

More @Airtex-ASC Performance Pumps

Forgetting what it’s like to be a pedestrian is easy for teens and new drivers.

 

Though it might seem harmless, this way of thinking can create risks. According to a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association, pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. have grown sharply in recent years, and are now at a 30-year high. As a new driver, your teen can make a big difference by keeping pedestrians in mind behind the wheel.

Here are 3 general areas of tips to help teens and new drivers think like a pedestrian and do his or her part to protect other road users.

Expect pedestrians
Many roads and communities are not designed with pedestrians in mind, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Teach your teen to always keep an eye out for runners, walkers and other pedestrians, even on roads where they are not expected.

This means going slow around curves, always signaling for turns, and being especially cautious in dark conditions or poor weather. Most pedestrians are killed at night outside of intersections, so your teen should never assume a road is clear without double-checking it.

Communicate clearly
When your teen does spot pedestrians, he or she needs to remember that not everyone on the read is a mind reader. Picture a pedestrian trying to cross a road: the person takes a step, stops; a driver accelerates for a moment, stops; the process repeats itself until everyone is frustrated. The more frustrating this situation is, the more dangerous it becomes. Clear communication, however, can avoid many of these problems.

Teach your teen to always signal for every turn, merge and lane change, and to “connect” with pedestrians whenever possible. This can mean making eye contact with them so they know that your teen sees them, and putting a hand up to signal that they can cross safely while your teen waits. The goal is to avoid confusion however possible, even if it means your teen has to wait a few extra seconds.

Empathize with pedestrians
Though it can be frustrating to wait for pedestrians to cross the road, your teen has to remember that he or she is often in a more comfortable position. Air conditioning and heating systems (even heated seats) make driving in bad weather tolerable. Pedestrians in these same conditions, however, are miserable.

Whenever your teen is annoyed by pedestrians, ask him or her to imagine if the roles were reversed. How would your teen feel getting honked at in the pouring rain? Or trying to guess if a driver sees him or her in the middle of a snowstorm? While these situations might frustrate drivers, they can be terrifying for pedestrians.

While personally escorting pedestrians across the street is unnecessay, but the more he or she remembers to think like one, the safer all road users will be.

More@NationalSafetyCouncil

Better to know how yourself, in case no one else is around. It can be alot easier to do than you might think. Changing a flat tire is a job most people don’t want to do, but it happens anyway…and someone has to do it.   This short video and a minute of reading can get you half way there.

Yes, roadside assistance coming to the rescue can be an easy way out.  But sometimes they don’t come as fast as you’d like.  So we’ll help you learn how to change a flat tire in less time than you probably think.

 

Changing a flat in 10 steps

1. Secure the car on a flat surface out of traffic; chock the wheel in the opposite corner.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel with the car’s lug wrench.
3. Place the car’s jack under the car where its label indicates.
4. Jack up enough to get the wheel an inch or two off the ground.
5. Finish loosening the lug nuts and remove the flat tire.
6. Put the spare tire on.
7. Thread the nuts on and tighten just enough to hold the wheel on without slop.
8. Lower the jack so the car is back on the ground.
9. Finish tightening the nuts with upper body strength on the lug wrench.
10. Collect the flat, wrench, jack and anything you used to chock the car.

 

 

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Does your car need a brake job? – Roadshow

Some vehicles go alot farther on a set of brakes than other vehicles.  Your driving habits, your car’s weight and your local terrain all have an impact on longevity. Here’s how insert some objectivity when your repair shop tells you it’s time for new brakes, rotors etc.

Seems like every time the shop tells me I need brakes…I’d swear I just got them done a short time ago.  And since brake jobs are often preventive maintenance, your car may drive about the same as it did before the expensive work was done. Not very satisfying, and you may question whether you really need a brake job. In this video I’ll show you how to satisfy yourself that you do — or don’t — need the most common brake work: Pads and rotors.

For this quick diagnosis you merely need the skills to change a flat tire; There’s no need to remove any brake parts. Jack up and secure the car, then pull off one of the wheels where the brake work is needed (front or rear) and measure the thickness of the one brake pad and of its brake rotor, commonly called a disc. You can do this in about 2 minutes once the wheel is off.

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When This Happens, You Need to Change Your Car’s Brakes Fast – Scotty Kilmer

Fixing car brakes. How to fix bad brakes noise and sound. How to tell if your brakes are bad. How to tell if brake pads are worn. How to tell if brake booster is bad. How to tell if brake rotors are bad. How to tell if abs is bad. How to replace brakes. How brakes work in your car. Car braking system explained. How to prevent brake failure. DIY car repair with Scotty Kilmer, an auto mechanic for the last 50 years.
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Noisy Brakes: Common Causes and Possible Solutions | Allstate Insurance

Auto mechanic Eric Obrochta shares his tips for eliminating squeaks and squeals from your car’s brakes.

Once a year…pop the hood and take a look to make sure your battery is properly installed and is looking and acting healthy.  Don’t wait till it tells you first.

 

Here are some Warning Signs that it’s time to replace your car battery:

• Rotten egg smell – indicates an old or overcharged battery. Your battery is probably nearing the end of its functional life.
• Engine slow to turn over – Accessories failing, or performing at reduced capacity are other signs of an aging battery.
• Lights – are they Dim or flickering? If yes, it can mean a weakening battery and/or charging system.
• Battery’s last replacement date? If  you can’t remember… it’s probably been too long. The average battery life in today’s vehicles is typically 3-5 years, depending on geographic location.
• Bulging or cracking battery case –  Get a battery test from your trusted auto mechanic.

 

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Maybe you never realized how many people have put considerable thought into the BEST way to clean the inside of your vehicle’s windshield. Here’s to finding your best method!

Tips To Cleaning Inside Of Car Windshield – Dallas Paint Correction & Auto Detailing

Scott with Dallas Paint Correction  & Auto Detailing in Plano Texas shows tips to cleaning the inside of car windshield using Invisible Glass Reach & Clean Tool

Products Used: Invisible Glass 99031 Reach and Clean Tool Combo Kit – Window Wand Glass Cleaning Tool for Windshields, Invisible Glass Cleaner for Auto Glass, Clean and Reach Tool for Hard-to-Reach Places – https://amzn.to/2W6cDhC

 

How to Clean the Inside of Your Windshield, Even at Its Greasiest – Jalopnik

by Elizabeth Yuko on Lifehacker, shared by Erin Marquis to Jalopnik

It’s no secret that the outside of your vehicle’s windshield can get very dirty, very quickly. Having windshield wipers and fluid in place for on-the-go cleaning definitely helps, but sometimes, the smudges that are making it hard to see are coming from….inside the vehicle.

Read more…

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How to Clean Car Windows Streak Free: The Nature of Car Glass! – Wilson Auto Detailing

How do you clean car windows streak free? It seems impossible right? More than likely, that is because you need to understand the nature of automotive windows and glass! In this video, I share my professional tips on how to clean inside car windows without streaks, and I break down why streaks appear, and how to permanently get rid of them. Unfortunately in the detailing world, it is not what you do for your customer, but what you miss that normally gets highlighted and noticed, and car windows are no exception. If you cannot clean car windows properly, it feels like you might as well not detail the car at all! Follow along as I break down this complicated subject, and show how you can get superior results with just a little know how!
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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.

 

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