Be Safe This Winter!

As winter months are approaching, it is important to remind ourselves how to drive safely in snow and ice.  Truth be told, your new car from Chattanooga Ford Dealers can be equipped with every gadget and safety gizmo in existence, but driving in snow and ice is always unpredictable.  There are some simple things you can do to keep your new car from San Diego Toyota Dealers in good working order for the winter months.  And if after reading these tips and you don’t feel comfortable driving in the snow, then don’t!

One of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do to winterize your car from Stamford Nissan Dealers has to do with your wipers and tires.  First, clean your windshield inside and outside, making sure to apply a Rain-X type solution to the outside to help the water bead up.  Opt for the tougher windshield wipers and fill your wiper fluid with fluid that won’t freeze.  Go to your local tire store and make sure you have 6/32-inch tread on the tires; typical tires have 10/32-inch tread, which is too shallow for snow.  Your safety is worth the extra money for snow tires! 

While driving, it is most helpful to be familiar with the area.  Some places around your town are slightly higher in elevation and are likely to freeze first.  Snow isn’t as dangerous to drive in as ice is.  Pay special attention while driving over bridges or though intersections, as these areas tend to get icy first.  Also, keep an eye out for shady spots because they will be icy until the sun hits them.  Hitting black ice is one of the scariest things drivers will encounter, and the best thing you can do is to remain calm.  Don’t over-correct your steering or you will crash once you are past the black ice. 

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Theft Prevention Tips!

Now that you have finally bought that new car from Hartford Chrysler Jeep that you've been wanting for the past few months, you will want to keep it safe.  Besides the usual routine maintenance, there are some easy to do tips and tricks to help prevent your car from being stolen.  It is estimated that approximately 1.2 million vehicles are stolen annually in the United States, and that statistic includes vehicles from Worcester Nissan and other dealerships.  So keep reading and pass on the advice to your friends.

The best advice to prevent theft of any vehicle, including the ones from New York Hyundai, are to park it in your secure garage at night.  Many of us store tons of other items in our garages besides our car, but when you purchased your home you likely didn't plan on using the garage to store old junk (like you are doing now).  So, clean it out and start protecting the second most valuable asset you will likely purchase in your lifetime.

Another simple thing you can do is to make sure there are no valuable items visible in your vehicle.  There is no reason to taunt thieves passing by your car.  Use the trunk, glove compartment, or the under the seat bins that many cars come with or you can purchase after-market.  Many vehicles these days come with some kind of anti-theft system already installed.  If your car is older or doesn't come with one, consider installing an alarm system. 

In case your vehicle does get stolen, it would have been in your best interest to make sure that your VIN (vehicle identification number) is written on the inside of your hood, trunk, and car battery.  These items are some of the first to be scrapped by thieves trying to make some extra money, but if the VIN is written on them, it might act as a deterrent so that your car will be in one piece when you get it back.  Lastly, make sure you park in a well-lit area and lock your doors each and every time you leave your vehicle unattended.

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Rollover Accident Prevention Tips.

There are so many things to take into consideration when you are purchasing a new vehicle.  Main topics of concern usually revolve around price, amenities, fuel economy, and safety.  That last one is a huge topic for the cars at Volvo Nashua; the Swedish auto maker has been known for making some of the safest vehicles on the roads, even before all the fancy technological advances were put into effect.  Safety ratings can be a huge selling point, especially for families or parents of teenage drivers.  One of the newest features to be rated by the crash test groups is how well a vehicle does in a rollover accident.  If you have an older car from Toyota Scion Salt Lake City, you won’t have a scale to compare how well your car does in crash tests.  The rollover test went into effect for 2010. 

People who drive a boxy steel beast from Dodge Chrysler Fort Worth may not be overly concerned with how their cars do in a rollover accident, but rollover crashes are some of the worst possible.  It is true that your type of vehicle is going to be the major indicator of safety during a rollover accident, more so than other types of collisions, it still isn’t the only thing to take into consideration.  Rollover accidents tend to involve just one vehicle and usually reflect some sort of environmental situation.  However, tall and narrow vehicles like SUVs will have higher centers of gravity than small cars, so they are more prone to rollover accidents. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration compiles data so that consumers have a trusted source for information.  They estimate that 75% of fatal rollover accidents happened in areas where the speed limit was set to be higher than 55 mph, and that 40% of the fatal rollovers happen when the driver is excessively speeding.  Another factor is drinking and driving; alcohol impairs your physical capabilities and motor skill judgment.  

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Senior Safety Tips.

Getting old is a part of life that is truly unavoidable.  Sure, you can do lots of things to help you look younger, but you can't stop the aging process.  Many Americans know a family member or friend who they feel might be a driving hazard, even if they are driving a vehicle from Miami Cascadia Dealers.  There are plenty of safe car choices at New York Ford Dealers for buyers to choose from.  It is estimated that senior citizens are involved in 6,000 auto accidents per year, and those are the fatal kind of accidents; fender benders aren't tallied by age.  It is normal to be scared of having your driving privileges taken away, but there are some things that we can do for our loved ones to make their driving experience safer for everyone. 

The first thing seniors need to do is go visit an eye doctor.  You certainly can't safely drive that new car from Dallas Cadillac Chevrolet Dealers if you can't see.  There are lots of corrective procedures that can be done, and usually it is as simple as updating the prescription.  Also, you may need special driving glasses.  Your current bifocal or trifocal glasses aren't always suited for driving needs.  After you are done at the eye doctor, check in with your primary care physician or pharmacist to see if any of your prescription medications can impair your ability to drive.

It is also true that we shrink a bit as we get older.  It may be necessary to get pedal extensions or even a booster seat so that senior drivers can safely drive their vehicle.  If you are in the market for a new car, don't jump right into the comfortable luxury cruisers.  It may be easier to get in and out of the taller new crossover type vehicles.  Plus, you usually sit higher and the smaller frame makes parking and maneuvering through traffic easy. 

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Car Safety For Babies;

If you have a baby with you in tow as you drive, there is nothing more important that your child's safety while driving. There are great safe vehicles for families which can be purchased from Cincinnati Used Cars dealerships throughout the country. Larger vehicles are safer for babies and small children and many vans that can be found at a Ford San Antonio or other dealership feature the latest in safety features for children.

Even some of the Volkswagen sedans sold at VW Dealer businesses are safe for young children. However, you will want to be sure that you follow defensive driving habits to greatly decrease your chance of an accident. If someone hits you, there is nothing you can do about that, but if you want to truly avoid the chance of an accident, you can empower yourself with defensive driving and other safety measures.

You will want to use car seats no matter how far you are driving. The seat should be appropriate for the child's age. Unrestrained children or infants are in great risk of serious injury or death in an accident. There are child passenger safety seat inspection offices throughout the United States which can help you learn how to buckle your child's safety belts in properly.

After you have installed the seat properly, be sure to check the buckle to make sure it is secure. Do not place children younger than 12 in a seat equipped with an airbag as airbag deployment may cause serious injuries to young children. Be sure to check your vehicle for movable objects, since movable objects are a source of potential injury during an accident. Objects in a vehicle become like projectiles in the case of an accident since they do not slow down with the vehicle. Large items should be secured and small items should be locked away or placed into storage.

How to Keep Your Car Secure;

With over 1.2 million cars stolen in the United States every year, it makes sense to know a bit about car safety and car theft prevention. Whether your car is a Peoria Volkswagen or a Birmingham Hyundai, you run the risk of having your car stolen if you are not aware of some of the dangers that can leave a vehicle more exposed to theft. Before buying a vehicle at a Winston-Salem Nissan Dealer, be sure to follow these basics to prevent your car from being stolen or vandalized.

Cars that are stolen are often broken down into pieces at chop shops and sold as individual parts or have their identification systems replaced, so it may be difficult to regain a vehicle once it has been stolen.

The most important step you can take to ensure that your car is not stolen is to install an alarm system. A modern car alarm system will keep many vandals and car thieves away from your vehicle. There are lower priced alarm systems that will sound an alarm for those on a budget, and there are also higher priced models that can alert owners of a threat.

Don't leave a vehicle running unattended with the doors open. That is just an open invitation for a car thief to steal it. Park in locations that are well lit at nighttime. The best location to park is one's own garage, however if this is not possible a well lit area close to one's home is the second best location.

All valuables and personal possessions should be taken out of a vehicle once it is left alone for an extended period of time, or they should be hidden inside of the vehicle. Cars are often broken into not to steal the car but valuable items left on the seats or in plain sight.

How to Avoid Driving Distractions;

If you just purchased a new car from a Chevrolet or other dealer during Jersey Chevy Specials, it is likely important to you that your car and yourself stay safe while on the road. Driving distractions are a common cause of at-fault accidents for drivers. Many accidents could be avoided each year if drivers were aware of what the most common dangerous driving distractions are, how to avoid them, and also how to deal with them. Knowing what these distractions are will help you keep your car far away from a Bradenton Chevrolet Service.

Bill Moore, president of MetLife Auto & Home said, "Safe driving is about focus. Many accidents could be avoided if the basic principles of defensive driving and driver attentiveness were observed."

The most dangerous situations or actions that increase the risk of an accident include: moving one's eyes away from the road, not being awake enough to drive, paying attention to another activity such as talking on a cell phone, texting, or eating, and attempting to read directions while driving.

The sad part is that all of these problems can be avoided and that many accidents could be prevented with just a few easy avoidance steps.

For using cell phones and texting, the best bet for a driver is to simply not talk on a cell phone while driving. If a cell phone must be used, it is advisable to have a hands free device such as a Bluetooth headset to allow one to control the vehicle with both hands. Driving with just one hand is simply dangerous and not necessary. Texting is absolutely one of the most dangerous activities one can do while driving simply because of the amount of attention required to send and type a text message. It should never be done while driving.

If you are feeling tired and are on a trip, the best option is to pull over and take a nap. Studies have shown that a person can fall asleep at the wheel if they are sleep deprived, even though they may have never fallen asleep while performing a task before. To prevent exhaustion while driving, it is important to get a full night's sleep before embarking on a short or long trip.

Eyes should always be kept on the road. If one has to move their eyes to check a mirror or blind spot, it should only be when there are no cars in close proximity, and it should only take a second or less. Moving one's eyes away from the road for other reasons should be minimized. Sightseeing is best performed on the ground instead of the riskier position of a vehicle.

Following just a few of these tips will help you stay safe and keep your car in prime condition for years by avoiding needless accidents.