Elderly Drivers: Stop or Go?

Without so much as a tap on the brakes, my aunt whizzed through another stop sign.

"What are you doing?" I shrieked. "That was a stop sign."

"Oh," she replied rather offhandedly, "they just put those there so you'll look before you go into an intersection."

That was the day I stopped riding with my aunt but not the day she stopped driving. From then on, I had visions of an enormous pink Chevy leading a parade of cascading accidents. And I wasn't far from wrong.

She drove with what she knew to be the utmost caution. . . .never exceeding 30 miles per hour, even on I35! She expected, even demanded that traffic would give way to her like the seas parted for Moses. Sometimes, it did. But mostly, driving with her was a harrowing experience with no end in sight.

So, when do the elderly become a menace on the roads? And, what can you do when they refuse to give up the keys? Here are a few suggestions I've found.

Causes for Concern

Poor Vision - Cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration can reduce visual acuity and limit visual fields, so a yearly eye exam is imperative for the elderly driver. Ask the doctor about driving, and don't take the word of the elderly driver on the results of her exam.

Poor Hearing - Something as simple as a clogged ear passage can create a hearing loss. A doctor can identify the problem and offer solutions, so have elderly hearing checked yearly.

Poor Flexibility and Limited Range of Motion - Good drivers rely on looking out rear and side windows as well as checking rearview mirrors. When a driver lacks the ability to turn his head and shoulders to look outside, he may not see oncoming vehicles or obstacles traveling in the car's blindspot.

Reduced Reaction Time - As we age, we slow down, and reaction times diminish. Keeping extra space between the driver's and other cars can help reduce the likelihood of accidents, but there comes a time when reactions are too slow for road safety. Click here for a reaction time test that will show you graphically how far you travel after you see a red light!

How to Get (and Keep) the Keys

A few states, , require road tests for persons over 65 when their licenses are renewed. An additional sss states require vision tests with license renewals. Consider yourself fortunate if you live in one of these states because it may be that the state will refuse to renew the elder's license. If you live elsewhere, here are a few tricks to try.

Talk with your Elder about the Convenience of Mass Transit - Many mass transit authorities have special services and special fares for the elderly and disabled. Check with your local transit authority. And talk with your elder about how nice it is to be able to enjoy the scenery while someone else does the driving.

Give Your Elder a Refresher Course - Not only will a refresher course improve road awareness, it may help your elder earn a discount on his car insurance. Courses and informative pamphlets are available from the AARP, AAA, and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. You'll find links to these sites at the end of this article.

Report unsafe driving to your local Department of Public Safety. They may have additional help to offer you.

"Break" the Car - My teenagers unplugged a few vital wires when my father, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, refused to relinquish the keys. We knew his cognitive ability was far too impaired for him to recognize the problem, and he was always comforted when we said we'd have the car repaired "soon."

Remove the Keys - Distract your elder from finding "lost" keys by offering an immediate alternative way to go somewhere. While this may be the most unpleasant way to stop your elder from driving, remember that you are not only protecting him but all the rest of us as well.

And what happened to my aunt? She got a ticket from a wonderful traffic officer whom we all blessed on a daily basis! Fearing the loss of her auto insurance, she voluntarily gave up driving.

Web Resources

Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully is a free booklet you can read online.

AARP offers a refresher course for elderly drivers as well as a number of other helpful resources. See their site at http://www.aarp.org/55alive/.

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has a terrific new site, seniordrivers.org, that you shouldn't miss if you're a senior driver or have a senior driver in your family. Exercises, examples of perceptual loss due to aging, emergency tips, and much, much more - all free. Please don't miss it!

For more in depth information on elderly drivers, see the OLR research report.

About the Author:
copyright 2002, Phyllis Staff. Phyllis Staff, Ph.D. - Phyllis Staff is an experimental psychologist and the CEO of The Best Is Yet.Net, and the author of How to Find Great Senior Housing: A Roadmap for Elders and Those Who Love Them (2002).
pando19@yahoo.com
This article was posted on December 03, 2002
Article Source: articlecity

How Can I Improve My Driving Record?

Your driving record is one factor that your insurance company uses to determine your insurance rates. Of course, we all want a “clean” driving record so are rates will be very inexpensive. But how can you improve your driving record or what factors contribute to a poor driving record and ultimately cost you money?

Accidents. If you have accidents within a 3-year period or even a 5-year period, then you are going to have to pay more. Why? Obviously because you are costing the insurance company more in repairs. Have you heard of the new accident forgiveness program? You pay 5% or more extra and your insurance company forgives you of the accident and keeps your rates the same. But guess what? Most insurance companies do this anyway. Have 1 accident and if you are lucky and have a good history with them, then its all the same. Have 2 accidents in a 3 year period and you are in big trouble.

Speeding tickets or other traffic tickets. Statistically, if you get a ticket, then you are going to be involved in an accident sooner or later. In some states, you get points added to your driving record for these violations. Some are pretty hefty and some don’t have any points. If you accumulate too many points, then you will get your driver’s license revoked. So, you don’t want any points. If you get caught speeding, ask the officer if he could give you a hazardous driving or something that doesn’t have points tied to it. Insurance companies look at your points.

Credit Report. What? Your credit report? Yes, if you are a viable citizen and pay your bills, then your insurance rates will be lower in most cases. If you don’t pay all your bills on time and your credit rating is low, then you are statistically at a higher risk to the insurance company. I know it doesn’t sound fair, but it’s the truth.

I know the statistics and numbers game isn’t fun and you may think I’m making this all up, but insurance companies hire people with math degrees and have them predict outcomes to figure rates. They are called actuaries. They use statistics to protect the insurance company’s profits.

So what can you do? Don’t speed or get any tickets. Wear your seatbelt to avoid another ticket. Pay your bills on time. And as mom would say, “Be careful” and don’t have any accidents.

About the Author:
Stuart Simpson http://www.car-insurance-denver.com/
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

RVs and Driving in Heavy Winds

If you own an RV you know the driving in heavy winds can be very tricky and even if you do not drive an RV you may have seen some time in your life an RV tipped over and destroyed on a highway. Occasionally this happens in high winds. On my current motor home I have over 250,000 miles and this is my second motor home in five years.

During my tours around the United States of America I have been to every single state capitol building with a picture of my RV in front of it. Additionally I have been to every single city in the 48 Continental United States in the last five years with over 10,000 population. I have driven in high winds, through tropical storms and nearly been blown off the highway at least a half a dozen times.

The best thing to do when you know there are high winds is to pull off to the side of the road at perhaps a truck stop and park going into the wind so that you do not get blown over. It is also best to slow down when driving in high winds because this allows you for more correction time if you are starting to blow off the highway.

If you are moving forward very fast and you are blown off the highway you will move at that angle off the highway even faster. Please do not drive in heavy winds in your RV and if you do or if you were stuck driving in high winds find a safe place to park and park into the wind to protect your investment. Consider this in 2006.

About the Author:
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Article Submitted On: September 07, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Drive Away with a Good Deal

With interest rates at all-time lows, consumers are taking advantage of the long-term savings on big ticket items like cars. If you’re one of the many people who are planning to buy or lease a new car, make sure your finances are in order so the purchase process is hassle free.

First, do an honest assessment of your current financial situation. Can you really afford to buy or lease a new car, or does it make more sense to get as many miles as possible out of your current car? Despite low interest rates, a new car isn’t a bargain if it means you’ll be turning to credit cards to pay other bills. You know the details of your expenses and budget better than anyone else. Doing your homework before you shop will enable you to set a payment you can live with.

Once you can say for certain that new car payments fit within your budget, you need to turn your attention to your credit rating.

Lenders will use a report from one, two, or all three of the credit reporting agencies to assess your creditworthiness, so your first step should be reviewing your credit report(s) for accuracy and for any information that may hurt your chances of getting a loan. The information on the credit report can also affect the interest rate the lender will give you. The easiest way to get a copy of your credit report is from an online service like www.creditmatters.com.

If you find inaccuracies on your credit report, you should take steps to correct that information before you apply for a car loan. Look for obvious mistakes on your report, such as credit card accounts that aren’t yours and closed accounts that have not been used for more than seven years, but are still showing as open. You can dispute items that you feel are inaccurate with the credit reporting agency by following the directions included with your credit report.

If you have a large number of credit cards, you may want to consider canceling some of your accounts. Lenders may look at these open credit accounts as potential debt. Likewise, every time you apply for credit, lenders will more than likely request a copy of your credit report. Multiple inquiries from lenders or creditors can lower your credit rating, so minimize the number of inquiries to your report until you get your auto loan.

If your credit history isn’t as good as you’d like, there are no quick fixes, but time, as they say, is on your side. Many lenders focus on the past two or three years of your credit history, so with a plan and some patience, you can boost your credit rating. Take control of your credit by paying bills on time. Cancel any credit cards you aren’t using or minimize excessive amounts of available credit, which could tempt you to buy things you can’t really afford. Gather all your bills and draw up a budget that allows you to pay them off one at a time, focusing on the account with the highest interest rate first.

Having a co-signer may make it easier to obtain a loan if your credit is not perfect. But before you ask a friend or family member to co-sign, be sure you both understand what that entails. A co-signer is guaranteeing this debt. If the borrower does not pay, the co-signer may have to pay up to the full amount of the debt, and if he or she can’t pay in full, their credit rating will be adversely affected. Additionally, late payments will go on both credit reports.

Even though you would never put your co-signer in this position on purpose, consider what would happen if you lost your job, for example. Are you willing to risk your relationship with your co-signer for a new car?

Buying a new car should be fun and exciting -- you get to pick the make, model, color, and options. Arming yourself with the facts ahead of time will help take the hassle out of car buying and put a smile on your face as you drive off the lot knowing you got a good deal.

For more information on taking control of your credit rating, visit www.creditmatters.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content
Circulated by Article Emporium

Defensive Driving Tips On Vehicle Lane Changes

Lane changes can be one of the easiest maneuvers with a vehicle, and can be one of the hardest maneuvers at the same time. Changing lanes requires processing information and making a safe decision well in advance to make the maneuver a simple and safe task. The faster your speed is, the faster you have to process information, which in turn makes it a little more difficult. There are important defensive driving procedures you must do, before making a lane change.

Look ahead and plan ahead. If you plan well in advance, the maneuver becomes a lot easier and safer. Checking your path ahead before you consider changing lanes is the number one priority. What traffic and pedestrians are doing ahead of you is the first step in processing information and making a decision. You must always check your path ahead for vehicle traffic changes, and controlled intersections that affect these changes.

There are many potential hazards that you should be looking for. You have to be looking ahead for vehicles slowing down and possibly stopping in front of you, and making sure you’re on the look out for pedestrians that may step off the curb up ahead. Also checking for vehicles that may possibly come out in front of you, or from another merging lane. A good indication of what traffic and pedestrians are going to do ahead of you would be motorist signaling ahead of you with a signal and or brake lights. If their signaling to turn, they have to slow down and possibly stop for other traffic or pedestrians, depending on circumstances where they are turning. All this information is important, because it affects everybody in motion.

While your checking your path ahead, you have to know what is happening behind you. If you use your rearview mirror all the time, you will always know what is happening around you. Using the rearview mirror, gives you a bigger picture than your side mirrors. Checking your rearview mirror should be done at a glance only. Your main concern is in front of you. When glancing at your rearview mirror, you should be glancing for traffic coming up faster than you, also vehicles signaling to change lanes behind you. They may be picking up speed to pass your vehicle.

In order to make a safe lane change, you have to either slow down to let traffic get by you, or speed up to stay ahead of traffic, without going over the speed limit. If you’re doing the same speed as traffic behind you, they won’t catch up to you, unless you start braking. If traffic is doing the same speed, you should accelerate slightly to maneuver over to the other lane, unless there is a good reason not to.

Once you know what is happening both ahead of you and behind your vehicle. The number three procedure is signaling to let traffic know your intentions on the direction you plan on maneuvering. The signaling procedure is for communicating to other drivers. If you signal and let other drivers know what you’re doing, they may slow down to let you make the safe lane change. Warning other vehicles of your intention to change lanes, include vehicles ahead of you and behind you.

Drivers negotiating to maneuver out in front of you may stay where they are, if they see your signal to move over, possibly into the lane that they want to maneuver into. People do not always do what there suppose to do, so anticipate the worst. Take nothing for granted! It may be a safer lane change beyond traffic waiting to come out, if you have time. You also have to consider not surprising the vehicles close to your vehicle by signaling as they approach the corner side of your vehicle. They may panic and brake, thinking you’re moving over sooner. Wait until they are beside your vehicle and your signal is out of their sight before you signal to warn other traffic behind your vehicle. This seems like a lot of info for just a signal, but communicating with other drivers are important in defensive driving.

After you have signaled and you know everything is clear ahead of you and behind. Take a quick glance over to your blind spot, and make sure there is nobody sitting along side your vehicle. Stay in your lane, if it is not safe. When you check your shoulder, it’s only supposed to be a glance. You still have one more important procedure before maneuvering into the other lane.

Recheck the lane ahead of you, just before you turn the steering wheel to make sure nobody is stopping or coming out into your path. Once you have glanced over your shoulder and looked forward, gradually maneuver over right away with a slight adjustment of the steering wheel. Only if it’s safe! You do not want to be maneuvering over, if there is a vehicle stopping in front of you, or coming out in front of your intended path. If you cannot make the maneuver right after the shoulder check, cancel everything and start over. The worst scenario would be traveling an extra block in town.

Do not make lane changes at intersections. Make sure lane changes are done before and after intersections. Intersections include any crossroad, side road, lane or street.

Constantly planning well in advance and constantly using your mirrors, will help you become a better defensive driver.

I hope these defensive driving tips help your goal in becoming a safe driver.

For more information on this topic, please consult with a family member and a recognized Driving School on defensive driving techniques.

About the Author:
George Gabriel
Owned and operated a Driving School for several years. Taught over 2000 kids and adults how to drive. Now operating a Discount Tee Time site at www.golfanchor.net and a golf site at www.golfanchor.com
Article Source: http://www.articles411.com

What Do You Need For Safe Winter Driving?

Winter is slowly being felt and soon enough, we would be feeling the cold and crisp breeze along with a touch of snow. It is also very important that we do know just what we would need to make sure that when we go traveling and driving in our cars, we would be safe and sound even if we go to long distances. Buying quality Ford parts would also help. As well as purchasing the right kinds of Daewoo safety parts, safety features and equipment to help you out.

On this, Joe Wiesenfelder, the senior editor for Cars.com says, "Most consumers are familiar with four wheel drive and how that helps with driving in ice and snow. However, there are other technologies – like heated side mirrors and headlight washers that improve winter-driving visibility – that might be less familiar to consumers, but are also important safety options to consider."

One of the most common problems that we do encounter while driving through the winter season is taking control of our vehicles through slippery roads. It can even be quite a challenge especially when we try to make turns or try to make sudden stops. These can be dangerous but with the help of some features, our vehicles can surely be quite easy to control and could also give us additional safety.

Antilock brakes could help you out prevent your wheels from locking up or from skidding during winter driving. This vehicle feature and technology also allows you to steer even when you are halting suddenly. On the other hand, there also is the traction control system which has the capacity to feel if the vehicle's drive wheels actually start to slip. When it does, the traction control system also then reduces the power of your engine and then sends commands to the antilock braking system so that the power still goes through to your vehicle's wheels so that you can still maneuver your car to safety.

Other safety features you can use for your vehicle can also include the electronic stability system, a four wheel drive, all season or winter tires, and a winter transmission mode.


About the Author:
Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today.
Added: 22 Nov 2006
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/43664.html

Automotive Navigation System Making Driving Less Stressful

Driving has become a lot easier with the introduction of automotive navigation system. Now you do not have to worry while you drive because this system makes sure that you reach your desired destination without wandering aimlessly.

It was first designed by Honda in 1983 but an accelerometer was used along with to judge locations as GPS was not available then. The commonly used navigation systems today are Garmin Street Pilot, Navman iCN Series, Etak, Gizmondo, Hertz Neverlost, Nextel TeleNav, Tom Tom and Pioneer.

It is a navigation system which is used especially in automobiles and help in determining their position with the help of signals from satellites. Automotive navigation system uses the technology on GPS, though it differs from other GPS systems in using position data to locate the vehicle on the units map database.

The essential components of a navigation system are top view for the map with the map rotating like the automobile (the most important component), next curves birds eye-view, to ensure your safety; linear distance gauge, and distance numbers.

The navigation system uses a road data base that contains all the names and addresses of the particular area encoded as geographical coordinates. The information gets updated via the internet as one move from one place to another. Basically it contains a vector map of the area with the help of which it becomes easy to locate someone just by their name or address.

The database used in this system can be stored easily on a magnetic media like hard disk, on a read only memory which comes programmed form the factory or an optical media like CD or DVD. Mostly base map is stored permanently in the ROM and it is accordingly used to extract detailed information about the region in which the user is interested. A combination of all these can also be used.

The first GPS based automotive navigation system was claimed to be developed by Pioneer in 1990.This navigation system helps in finding the location of the vehicle, but in addition to that they offer several other advantages like they give information regarding nearby restaurants, gas stations or cash machine. They can be used to view your favorite TV show or DVD since they use LCD screens. SMS messaging and hands free talking is also possible on some of the advanced systems. These systems also keep one updated about the traffic jams and suggest alternative routes to avoid these jams.

The base maps are created by map vendors like Tele Atlas and NAVTEQ in a standard format GDF. But later they are changed in an optimized format by the electronics manufacturer, which are then used in the navigation system. The format used is uniformly proprietary; as there is no standard for satellite navigation maps.

The automotive navigation system provides excellent services and that is the reason that its demand is increasing all over the world.

About the Author:
George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including gas saving and blog site. If you want to read more about gps, click over to George GPS site.
Submitted on 2006-12-01
Article Source: http://www.articlesarea.com/

Defense Driving Tips From A Parked Position For The Novice Driver

Leaving a parked position can be quite the hazard, if your not sure of the proper procedure.

You are about to move forward from a parked position. Position you’re hands at ten o’clock and two o’clock on the steering wheel. If you let go of the steering wheel, you’re hands should continue to rest on the wheel. Some drivers prefer the 3 o’clock and the 9 o’clock position. If your driving an automatic, the right hand should not have to go too far to change gears, placing it back to the 2 position. The left hand should slide down the steering wheel without leaving the steering wheel to signal. Place your hand back to the ten position when you finished signaling. One hand on the wheel is not the safe way to drive a vehicle.

Now your ready to drive forward and you have done all the safety checks before you roll forward and signaled out of you’re parked position. Safety checks include checking your mirrors and shoulder depending on the direction your pulling out of. If you do not pull out right away after your checks, you will have to recheck again. Keep in mind that you are leaving a parked position and you are hardly moving. Traffic behind you can be moving fast. Check you're shoulder just before you think you are going to accelerate and glance a second time, after you have looked forward to check you're path ahead. Checking a second time gives you that option to go back to the brake, in case a vehicle comes around some corner and surprises you. Use you’re review mirror as much as possible to avoid this situation.

When you’re parked between two vehicles. Position you’re vehicle so you are clear of the vehicle in front of you, by inching back far enough. Position the nose of your vehicle forward, in a clearance position ahead of you. When you are on a wide roadway, you typically have a couple of feet without obstructing traffic and cyclists. Make sure you are not entering the nose of your vehicle into a potential hazard! Keep in mind the amount you turned the wheel. If you have cranked the wheel quite a bit. Make sure you do not end up on the other side of the road. To avoid this potential hazard, ease off the gas pedal when out of the parked position and gain control of direction by correcting the steering wheel position.

Reviewing the proper procedure of leaving a parked position from a curb.

1. Path ahead
2. Mirrors
3. Signal
4. Shoulder check
5. Path ahead
6. Recheck shoulder
7. Proceed when all is clear

The first thing you check is your path ahead to make sure it’s clear.

Check your mirrors to see if it’s safe behind you.

Signal to traffic behind to let them know your intentions. (Hand signal if you think other drivers can’t see you’re signal. Also bring you’re hand back in before you start to maneuver the vehicle out of the parked position.)

Glance over to your blind spot just in case another vehicle pulls out from across the road, just before you make the maneuver.

Recheck your path ahead and proceed forward with one more glance over you’re shoulder. Do not release the brake pedal until after you have looked forward. A pedestrian may have approached you’re vehicle while you were looking the other way.

I hope these defensive driving tips will help you in you’re goal in becoming a defensive driver. Have an expierenced driver, or a recognized defensive driving school help you for further instruction on this topic.

About the Author:
George Gabriel
Owned and operated a driving school for several years. Taught over 2000 kids and older people how to drive. Now operating a golf tee time site at http://www.golfanchor.net and a sister golf site at http://www.golfanchor.com.
This article was posted on October 10, 2005
Article Source: articlecity

The Irish Driving Scene.An Instructors Perspective

The Driving Environment

Today's motoring environment is very different to that of thirty or even fifteen years ago for a number of key reasons and we will examine these to get an idea of the kind of skills needed to survive in today's world and stay accident free. For the first time in over one hundred and fifty years our population has exceeded 4 million and continues to increase steadily. Demographics The age of our population is quite unique and according to the 2002 census there are approximately 640,200 people in the 15 - 24 age bracket who are in, or approaching, the age at which they will want to drive. Lets be clear on this point …every person in today's Ireland will aspire to drive and own a car in this prosperity environment, for career, family and social reasons .In the past until you had the potential to be able to own a car it was quite common not to bother to learn to drive. Those that needed to get to work from a distance tended to rely on neighbours and friends or relatives to be the ever present chauffeur. It's very common today for an exodus from the city limits out to the open country to live, with huge numbers of houses, sorry mansions; being constructed at seemingly breakneck speed. The draw of the country air and the sweet sounds of birds in the morning seems to be an irresistible magnet for the city dweller. A car or three is taken for granted. Of course , we are a nation of keen gardeners now and the regular trip to the garden centre could not be undertaken by public transport because it doesn't exist in most rural areas. All of this means that we have a far greater number of cars and drivers on the road than thirty years ago and at different times of day due to many variations in working hours. So there is hardly a time when you are unlikely to meet another vehicle. Six am during the working week can be just as dangerous as five thirty rush hour. Learner Drivers Current numbers of learner Drivers are estimated at 350,000 and this continues to be swelled by the increase in our immigrant population, both expatriates and non-nationals setting up home here for the first time. The waiting list for a Driving Test has reached an all time high due mainly to these demographics, but also to the relatively small number of Driving Examiners . This situation is being addressed at the moment with the probability of an outside agency being drafted in to undertake a further 40,000 Driving Tests over the course of a year .While it is unfortunate that all drivers have to wait such a long time in order to sit their Test it is an opportunity for them to learn some very essential skills and to prepare well for the Test. It is very common for candidates to leave their lessons to the last moment which very often produces a negative result. Worse still, is the mistaken belief that the longer one is driving the greater chance of passing the Driving Test. Without professional lessons the chances of passing the Test are pretty remote; but more crucial will be the lack of basic skills leading to accidents which can and should be preventable .Passing the Driving Test, while certainly a milestone in a person's driving career, is only the beginning of a life -long process not the end. Professional Tuition Safe Driving for Life can be achieved, with the correct mind set and the knowledge that good basic driving skills are the foundation for the learning process and need to be provided by Professional Instructors and not relatives or friends. Practise with Mum or Dad is very useful but only in conjunction with proper Tuition. Being able to move a car down the road and perhaps change a gear or two and even steer out of trouble is not the level of skill needed to stay alive and is about as far from the required Driving Test standard as we are from the Moon.(about 250,000 miles, sorry 400,000Km at the last count).I am not suggesting that we need to drive a quarter of a million miles New Technology The development of technology over the last number of years has had a big impact on the driving environment both positive and negative. Better roads and road markings make the driving experience much more pleasurable especially on major thoroughfares; however despite the millions of Euro spent on the main road infrastructure, Irish country roads will probably remain as they have always been, difficult and full of danger for the novice or Tourist Driver. Legislation, most of which has emanated from Europe, has contributed to better maintained cars, that are more Eco-friendly and more easy to drive. Having said that, a car will quite easily go off and do its own thing if the driver has not got the ability to control it under all kinds of weather and road conditions. Cars are much better insulated than years ago so the impression of speed is nothing like what it was thirty or forty years ago when you really knew you were travelling at 70mph.Wind noise and vibration kept you alert and aware! Even small family cars today have the ability to travel at 100mph (or 156kph) without too much coaxing .Back then a much larger capacity engine of say 1500 cc had a top speed of around 75mph (120kph).This ease of speed gives new and novice drivers the opportunity to far exceed their capabilities without realising it . Employment In today's Ireland we have virtually full employment and many sectors are suffering from a lack of skilled employees, the commercial driving sector being one of many. More jobs and the need to get to those jobs on time has created a society that is flush with prosperity and awash with an ever increasing number of new cars on the road. The opportunities now being created for younger people with full Driving Licenses are many. Indeed most occupations now require you to have a full driving license and it certainly looks good on a C.V. especially if you are in the younger age bracket. So get to it all you young ones and don't leave it till later on in your career…. Do it now! Accidents Most of these new cars on the road are being piloted by Learner Drivers, a good proportion of whom, do not take driving lessons professionally. Unlike most of the rest of our European Neighbours, we do not yet have mandatory tuition for learner drivers, although it is being proposed. Therefore we have a situation whereby learner drivers can buy a car and just head off into the wide blue yonder without the necessary skills to control what is essentially a lethal weapon. Our Accident statistics bear out this point and it would be of great benefit to the whole community to see a reduction in these horrific figures Recent E.U. Directives have extended the scope of the Driving Test and not before time. There has to be at least a basic knowledge of instruments and equipment before you can pass the Driving Test today but there are still many areas of driving expertise that do not come within the remit of the Irish Driving Test. An emergency stop; country road driving; high speed carriageway experience and a greater emphasis on hazard perception would go a long way to improving standards on today's roads by being incorporated into the Driving Test.

About the Author:
Robin Piggott is the owner of Astral School of Motoring which is based in Limerick, Ireland.He has thirty five years of Driving Experience,and including teaching in-house.
http://www.astralmotoring.ie>; http://astralmotoring.blogspot.com
Submitted: 2005-07-04
Article Source: GoArticles

Headlights And How They Greatly Impact Your Night Time Driving Safety

Night time driving safety is a big concern lately as most accidents occur at night. Also, the severity of these accidents tends to be much more severe with more fatalities and severe injuries. Our vision field is much smaller at night and an improperly lit car or one with dim headlights can be very hard if not impossible to see. Night time greatly increases the impact of minor inconveniences like dim or cloudy headlights. Dimly lit or bad headlights limit our awareness, vision and even our ability and to react or even see is in front of us.

There are things we have no control over like non relective signs and under or overgrowth that partially covers signs, but there are major things like headlights that you can control and limit your risks when driving at night.

Per the National Institute for Traffic and Highway Safety, the number one reason for severe night time accidents and reduced driving safety is dim or cloudy and improperly lit headlights. If a headlight has ineffective or diminished light output, your night time driving safety is greatly at risk. According to a study by the University of Iowa, a 20 to 50% reduction in headlight out put leads to a 90% increase in the possibility of an accident occurring. In 1988 the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 90% of cars currently on the road have dim, cloudy or improperly lit headlights that greatly increase night time driving risks. Basically, 4 out of every 5 people driving at night are taking unnecessary risks by driving with ineffective headlights. This is a very unnecessary risk as it is easy to either replace or fix these headlights.

In the past the only option was to either replace a bad bulb and or the entire lens. Being that most dim headlights are not due to bad bulbs and are actually due to cloudy and worn headlight lenses, this became very expensive and for many cost prohibitive. 99% of all headlight lenses are made of plastic and the average replacement lens costs over $200 to replace and that does not include installation and aiming. Now there is a very cost effective alternative, the headlight restoration and cleaning kit. This headlight restoration and cleaning kit has made it so headlights that were once discarded could now be restored to new condition again. Driving safety is greatly increased and so is piece of mind. Numerous police and government agencies have reported huge safety increases with the use of this headlight restoration and cleaning kit and most even use it on their own vehicles.

About the Author:
David Maillie
For more great information, tips, safety and money saving products for your automobile please visit: Headlight cleaning and restoration kit and automotive safety articles
Article Submitted On: September 13, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Defensive Driving

There are many different aspects that are taught during defensive driving training.

They range from simple techniques, such as slowing down when approaching a stationary school bus, to more advanced techniques that teach the driver to control a vehicle that has started to lose control in slippery road conditions.

Defensive driving is not just for those people who have had a court order to attend a course after receiving a traffic offence. Defensive driving will benefit almost anyone who operates a motor vehicle.

Many defensive driving courses are held at local race tracks where the students are safe in the knowledge that there aren't any other road users to contend with.

The courses involve car handling skills, by driving through cones placed at varying spaces whilst approaching at various speeds.

Other tests involve sudden braking on slippery surfaces and cornering on equally slippery surfaces.

Drivers are also taught how to react when unusual events occur, such as a child running out onto the road to chase a ball.

Many defensive driving courses have specially modified vehicles that are designed to allow the occupants to experience the effects of lost driver control through a skid.

It is through this knowledge of how a car can lose control, and the specialist advice that they are taught that the driver learns to handle the situation if it occurs.

Defensive driving courses teach, first and foremost, how to avoid certain circumstances, and then secondly, if these circumstances are unavoidable, they teach the driver the best solution to handle the vehicle safely.

Good driving habits are also a priority in the courses with drivers taught to allow sufficient room between themselves and the cars they are following to stop safely in an emergency braking situation.

For anyone who is considering attending a defensive driving course, it is wise to check first with the local authorities for advice on which providers offer the best services.

About the Author:
Graeme Ramsey offers Defensive Driving Advice
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

A Look at Truck Tire Chains

Truck tire chains can be purchased for everything from a pickup truck to an 18-wheeler. Drivers can find a chain to fit just about any need, spanning every size and style, and desired performance.

Single highway truck chains are recommended for highway use on trucks, buses, and RVs. For trucks that see more off road action than highway time, single V-Bar reinforced traction chains are recommended. This type of chain is available for light trucks, heavy trucks, busses, and RVs.

Of course, studded truck tire chains are always a good choice for off-roading. Drivers should first make sure that studs are legal in their state. If they are, studded cross chains provide one of the best options for off-road traction. Single studded truck tire chains can be purchased in 6, 7, or 8 mm. Dual triple studded tire chains are also available in 6, 7, or 8 mm.

For dual tires that are more accustomed to highway driving, dual triple truck, bus, and RV chains are recommended. The V-Bar is also available for dual tires. For vehicles with minimal clearance between dual wheels, dual mount chains are built without a center chain.

Finally, wide base chains are available for vehicles that have minimal clearance between wide base tires. Whether driving a light truck, heavy duty truck, bus, or RV, truck tire chains are available for every condition.

About the author:
Elizabeth Morgan
Tire Chains Info provides detailed information about automatic, snow, tractor, truck, ATV, skidder, and snow blower tire chains, as well as tire chain rentals. Tire Chains Info is the sister site of Trailer Hitches Web.
Circulated by Article Emporium

Ford Expedition: The Ultimate Driving Experience

Making its public debut in 1997, the Ford Expedition was introduced to the automobile world as a full size sport utility vehicle that was crafted by the Ford Motor Company. It had its last redesign in 2003. It takes up the niche between the smaller Ford Explorer, and the halted Ford Excursion. The Ford Expedition offers a seating capacity of a maximum of nine passengers. It is also considered to be similar to the Lincoln Navigator. The Ford Expedition has become a popular vehicle because it cleanly reflects consumers' demand for a vehicle that has a family-friendly interior, lots of cargo space, and has a high towing capacity.

The changes done to the Expedition on its last make over were noticeable and were quite substantial. Drivers of the Ford Expedition could drive behind the wheel in comfort without noticing fatigue. The ride and the handling of this vehicle had greatly improved, along with a more responsive steering and more stability on the open road. This kind of driving experience provided this vehicle a great shot at beating its competitors. What were added up for the Ford Expedition includes a power third-row seat that disappears with the press of a button thus leaving a large and perfectly flat cargo area. It also displays a new interior. Along with that, a new small center seat on the second row slides forward to give front-seat parents access to a small child. Safety has certainly not been misplaced for the Ford Expedition comes with an enhanced safety feature - a lower front bumper, an optional safety curtain specially designed to protect occupants in a roll over, adjustable pedals, a tire-pressure monitor, and advanced electronics that were crafted and designed so as to help assist the driver in maintaining control.

The Ford Expedition holds a choice of engines. The list includes the standard 4.6 liter V8 with 232 horsepower capability, and the 5.4 liter V8 that produces 291 horsepower. It has also been made available in two trim levels which are the XLT and the Eddie Bauer.

The changed Ford Expedition looks bigger and bolder than the first Expedition crafted. Giving this new one a well-planted stance is its track that has been widened to nearly two inches. It also gives a towering presence for its hood has been raised to a height of four inches more. Its bumpers are integrated more smoothly into the overall design. It also has door handles that are the full-grip kind that makes it easier for occupants to grab and take hold of them. As per the Ford Expedition's interior, it is entirely covered with a metallic satin finish. It also contains controls that are sturdy so as to provide an easy grip. Space is something that the Ford Expedition has a great luxury of. It contains roomy pockets in all four doors and these provide space for a 20-ounce bottle.

Auto Parts Corner has a vast array of well crafted Ford Expedition parts and other Ford parts. Customers can choose Ford auto parts from its online store.

Come next year, the Ford Expedition is going to undergo another make over and this time, it will be using the T1 platform that is also currently used by the Ford F-150 vehicles.

About the Author:
Tracy Dawson is a 29 year old researcher and writer from Dallas, Texas with extensive experience in writing auto-related articles and covering automotive related events. She is currently a contributing writer for a leading automotive e-zine.
Submitted: 2006-01-23
Article Source: Go Articles

Defensive Driving – A Way Of Life

Annually, more than 40,000 people lose their life in automobile accidents each year. Another two million suffer disabling injuries. These startling statistics are from the National Safety Council. The amount of casualties could be reduced if more people learned to drive defensively.

No matter how careful or a skilled driver you are, high speeds, impaired or careless drivers, and not using occupant restraints correctly or not at all, threatens each person on the road.

We have all heard the term to drive defensively. This means that you take responsibility for yourself and your actions and in addition, you are always aware of the other driver's actions.

Below are some driving tips from the National Safety Council to help reduce risks on the road.

Ø Do not start the engine without securing each passenger in the car, including children and pets. Safety belts save thousands of lives each year! Lock all doors.

Ø Remember that driving too fast or too slow can increase the likelihood of collisions.

Ø Do not kid yourself. If you plan to drink, designate a driver who will not drink. Alcohol is a factor in almost half of all fatal motor vehicle crashes.

Ø Be alert! If you notice that a car is straddling the centerline, weaving, making wide turns, stopping abruptly, or responding slowly to traffic signals, the driver may be impaired.

Ø Avoid an impaired driver by turning right at the nearest corner or exiting at the nearest exit. If it appears that an oncoming car is crossing into your lane, pull over to the roadside, sound the horn and flash your lights.

Ø Notify the police immediately after seeing a motorist who is driving suspiciously.

Ø Follow the rules of the road. Do not contest the "right of way" or try to race another car during a merge. Be respectful of other motorists.

Ø Do not follow too closely. Always use a "three-second following distance" or a "three-second plus following distance."

Ø While driving, be cautious, aware, and responsible.

Following these common sense suggestions, you will be sure to have a safer ride in your car, as well as the safety of others on the road.

About the Author:
David Chandle
For more information about defensive driving, visit http://www.defensivedrivinginfoguide.com
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Safe Driving in Dallas

My Mom came to the Dallas area in the early 1900s in a covered wagon. She was a small child at this time. I don't imagine my grandparents experiencing many traffic problems due to congestion and irate drivers at that time. Things have changed in Dallas. Every summer road rage goes up to staggering proportions. Is it safe on the roads of Dallas? Statistically not that many people are killed or maimed in proportion to the population. The incidents that usually go unreported are the hand gestures and bad driving practices used by the offending persons. I was in the car with my wife for a few hours last week. If you are not exceeding the posted speed limit by at least ten miles per hour You are going to be the recipient of a hand gesture and more likely road rage. On the local LBJ Freeway if you are not exceeding the posted speed limit by at least fifteen miles per hour you will be passed by a multitude of cars and trucks in a matter of moments. The local interstate 20 has a very bad reputation for dangerous driving. I try to stay off of this highway at all costs. I take other freeways which lengthen my travel time but are very much safer.

My wife has been orally accosted on many occasions by out of control drivers. One incident several years ago brought the dangers of driving the local highways to mind very quickly. I was with my wife and kids driving on a local road to visit my family. A huge pick up truck with two occupants who had a rifle rack full of guns began tailgating my vehicle. I feared for the safety of my family and pressed on the brake to move the truck off of my bumper. This seemed to infuriate the driver. His actions became worse. I believed that he was trying to hit my car and drive it off into a ditch. I sped away with equal actions taken by the driver of the pick up. I exceeded the speed limit trying to out distance myself from his vehicle. I took exits off of the highway and made u turns trying to shake this vehicle. After many miles and frayed nerves I turned off of the highway into a lighted gas station. The gas station was vacant but the perpetrators probably did not know this. They cruised slowly by the station with the guns gleaming in their rack. After the truck went down the one way street I started the car and went in the opposite direction.

One afternoon while driving home from a day of mowing at my farm I encountered another situation. Road work was being done on one of the local highways. Speed limits were posted. I observed the legal limit of the law. This seemed to infuriate a young man behind me. As soon as he was able to get in front of me he swerved his car to a screeching halt at a red light. He jumped out of his car, while slamming his car door, advanced on me shouting obscenities all the way. This fellow did regain his senses and returned to his car and drove away before any serious harm could be done.

My wife had been orally accosted several times in a particular week. One incident involved a man that was behind my wife and did not care to observe the posted speed. He honked his horn at my wife for blocks and when finally being able to pass shouted o barrage of obscenities at her. She came to me and asked my advice on how to obtain relief on her daily driving tasks. I put several NRA decals on her back windshield and advised her to always carry her cell phone with her for emergencies.

I had been cut off by vehicles and was going through the same sort of trauma as my wife had experienced. I went to the local Walmart and purchased a gun rack and installed it immediately. The NRA decals went on my back windshield along with a version of the Texas State Rifle Association decal. Most drivers are suddenly more courteous to me now. Those who initially tailgate me see the error of their ways upon viewing the gun rack and fall back to a safe distance. Life in the fast lane has suddenly become less stressful.

About the Author:
Stephen Graham -Writes articles from his own life experiences.
http://buckskinnews.blogspot.com
http://goodstuffintexas.blogspot.com
http://huntn-n-fishn.blogspot.com/
Article Submitted On: July 10, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Teen Drivers Better Be Careful This July And August

Do you have a driver who is sixteen years old? Or seventeen years old? If you do, you better brace yourself for this piece of information. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) department Foundation for Traffic Safety study, July and August, the summer months, are the deadliest months of the year for such teenage drivers.

However, the study goes on to show that if the parents of teenage drivers make sure that driving restrictions are being maintained, the crash rate of this group of drivers can be lowered by around 20 per cent. Those teens who punctually observe and follow restriction rules have lesser chances of meeting accidents and crashes, compared to those who simply ignore these traffic and driving rules.

All of these were products of analysis of the said group. They collected data from various states which held nighttime and passenger restrictions for drivers who were 16 years old. They then compared such data to those states which did not have such restrictions.

Brad Roeber is the president for the AAA Chicago Region. He states, “Summer vacation for teens often means unstructured schedules, less guidance from mom and dad, and more exposure to crashes. Enforcing safe driving rules that include passenger and nighttime limits is essential in keeping your teen and others safe on the road.”

The study furthermore exposed that there were factors that worked their way to differentiate those teenagers who were already involved in crashes and those teenagers who were yet still to meet an accident. These factors included observance and conformity with state laws on driving, observance of traffic regulations and rules, as well as involvement of parents.

Roeber backed this finding out by saying, “Teens whose parents take an active role, obey traffic rules and regulations, and follow graduated driver licensing (GDL) requirements are much less likely to crash. Just think how many lives we could save with the combination of the right laws and parental involvement.”

With years of experience in selling the best quality Lincoln parts, Auto Parts Discount has been the trusted and most reliable source of auto parts. Ordering is simple enough. You just choose the right parts for your car like Lincoln headlights for example and after confirmation, your order would be shipped right to your doorstep.

About the Author:
Joe Thompson is the owner of a successful auto body shop in Ferndale, California. This 38 year old is also a prolific writer, contributing automotive related articles to various publications.
Article Source: ArticleToGo.com

Hot Tips To Ace Your Driving Test

Undergoing the driving test is the most important criterion to getting your license. This test is usually conducted by Department of Transport of your country.

Usually the test consists of two sections, namely the theory and the practical.

If you’d like to get “high score” in the driving test to beat the test taking game, you should go through the driver’s license test guide written by actual driving experts before appearing for the test.

You should study those books on road rules to get maximum marks in your driving test. You can easily grab a copy of the book by visiting the http://www.amazon.com and obtain it within 3-4 days.

Before taking your written driving test, practice answering the example questions available in test booklets and guidebooks. You can also enroll yourself in Driving Knowledge Tutorials, which are readily available in on-line. This is a good way to get a good grasp of the written test.

While doing practical driving training sessions, it is highly recommended to drive your car on roads of different standards. You can also attempt to go for hill driving. This will boost up your confidence while doing your driving tests.

The vehicle, which you are going to use for your test, should be roadworthy and all tires should have a minimum depth of 1.6mm. Everything should be in perfect working order, e.g., mirrors, indicators, windscreen wipers, etc. The interior and exterior of your car should be clean. Do remember to display L-plates on your car on the day of your test drive.

The driving test authorities can ask you to do a technical check of your vehicle. Sometimes they will ask you to remove a tire by using a jockey. So you should be well versed in this aspect.

On the test day, you should arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes prior to your turn. When your name is called and you are brought in, your test officially begins. Good luck!

About the Author:
Pete Lance
Compements of ezfreecars.com Drive a new car for free or get paid up to 400.00 a month to drive your car with company advertising.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Why checking your own DMV driving record is important.

There is a Department of Motor Vehicles (the DMV) in most states. This Department is usually responsible for issuing driving licences, maintaining up-to-date driving records including speeding tickets / violation details, DUI records and vehicle registration and vehicle history details. Many DMV web sites now allow you to renew vehicle registration, renew driver's license, create and purchase license plates, replace driver's license, purchase an identification card and offer many other services.

Someone's driving record contains a history of their suspensions, violations and other details. Employers and insurance companies often make use of a driving record to make decisions on insurance rates or employment background checks. It's important that you check your own driving record from time to time to ensure it does not contain incorrect information. Background checks on potential employees are becoming more and more frequent. If you are an employer it's sensible to include a driving record check as part of any employment background screening procedure.

The DMV or RMV (Register of Motor Vehicles) usually deals with the states register of motor vehicles A cars vehicle history should detail if it is reported stolen, been in an accident, any reported odometer fraud, and any reported flood and fire damage. If you are looking to buy a used car then vehicle history records can prove an invaluable resource to background check your potential purchase.

A few years back, the only people who had access to this type of personal information were licensed private investigators, police detectives and the federal government. Now with the newly passed laws and databases available you can investigate and examine most driving records including criminal offenses on practically anyone - job applicants, potential dates, neighbors, lost relatives, friends, or more importantly perhaps your own. Just a brief check on the web reveals many such services. Remember it's always wise to check out which of these services are reputable before giving your personal details.

About the Author:
Martin Lloyd has written about various motoring topics for many years. For more comprehensive DMV Information including how to search DMV records online visit Martins DMV information site at http://www.dmv-information.com
Submitted: 2006-01-18
Article Source: Go Articles

Driving When You Are Drowsy

So you think you are much safer driving drowsy than driving when you have had too much to drink. However, the truth behind this is that both are considered to be dangerous. This is mainly because when you are driving drowsy, you also are putting not only yourself at risk but you also are endangering the lives of your passengers as well as other people on the road.

If you would be driving early in the morning, remember to put in the right hours to get a good night’s sleep. Or, if you are in no rush to drive to your responsibilities, schedule your driving during those hours of the day when you are very much alert.

Now, when you are just about to drive, you can further wake yourself up. Try taking some ten minutes or fifteen minutes to do some exercises. You can also opt to stretch or walk briskly. You can also do this if you are on a long drive and you can also do this around every two hours of that long trip.

Try having a companion when you are driving. At least, someone would be there with you as you go through the miles. Try talking with him or her or you can also listen to loud music to keep your eyes open. Now if you think that you simply cannot drive any further, let your companion do the driving. On the other hand, if you do not have a companion with you, pull over in some safe place first like a motel, a shopping mall parking lot, or a gasoline station. Get some shut eye first before you continue on with your journey.

Buy top quality discount Subaru parts from Auto Parts Information. There are new Subaru Impreza parts and Mercury Mariner parts, as well as replacement parts and accessories in this store.

About the Author:
Terry Brown is a 32 year old from Houston Texas, and an enthusiast for anything auto-related. He currently writes auto-related articles for several publications.
Article Submitted On: May 26, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Remove Cigarette Smoke Out

Cigarette smoke is one of those odors that are very hard to remove from your car. This smell is very much likely to stick to your car’s interior and stay there for a long period of time. You might not be a smoker yourself, however, if you do drive with a smoker or if you share your car with a smoker, the odor might be irritating for you. You may have tried air fresheners and airing your car out. However, these do not work effectively.

The very best thing to do is clean out your car. The odor is easily overpowered to take flight once you get to clean your car. The fact is that cigarette smoke is much more likely to stick and live in your car’s interior. So cleaning then out would also drive away the odor.

First off, try shampooing your car’s interior. Do not forget to do the same to your carpets, upholstery, seats, and floor mats. You can use an odor eliminating shampoo to take off the smell of cigarette smoke. If you do not know where to purchase such a product, you can try locating one through the Internet. Or you can visit your local hardware or home improvement store. You can find one of these from these sources.

Do not leave out all the surfaces of your car’s cabin. Use the same shampoo to clean these parts. To do so, you would need a damp sponge. Just place a small amount of the shampoo on the sponge then work it on the surface and then wipe down. Also clean your windows. This time, you can use a glass cleaner.

By doing such, in no time at all, you would be saying goodbye to that cigarette smoke odor that has been bothering you for a long time. Just make sure that you do not allow anybody else to smoke while inside your vehicle.

Now, if you want to maintain the performance of your vehicle, you can visit Same Day Car Parts for exemplary Volvo performance parts. It is the leading supplier of Volvo parts that includes replacement parts as well as Volvo accessories.

About the Author:
Tom Bailey is a consultant for one of the country’s leading auto parts stores. He is also an editor of a reputable publishing company in his area. He is currently based in Atlantic City, New Jersey with his wife and 3 children.
Article Source: ArticleToGo.com

Tips For Winter Driving

Winter driving can be hazardous and stressful. Wind, snow, ice and blizzard conditions increase the normal dangers of driving. There is a lot you can do before the winter driving season and during a storm to protect yourself and your family.

Before winter arrives, have your car inspected to be sure it is ready for the road conditions. You can do this yourself or take it to a qualified mechanic. Check the battery, wipers and fluid, thermostat, brakes, ignition system, antifreeze, exhaust system, lights, oil level, heater and defrosters. Make sure everything is in good working order to keep you safe throughout the cold weather.

Check your tires to be sure they are road ready. Install tires that are appropriate for the driving conditions. In moderate amounts of snow, all weather radials will do the job nicely. If you live in a climate where you experience a lot of snow, consider snow tires. These have better tread to deal with snow and ice.

Prepare an emergency kit to keep in the back of your car. This will ensure that you are prepared in the event that you get stuck in the snow. Things to include in the kit:

Ice scraper
Small broom
Small shovel
Kitty litter or a bag of sand (to give traction if you get stuck in snow or ice)
Blankets or a sleeping bag
Flashlight with batteries
Flares or warning triangles
Plastic bags
First aid kit
Tool kit
Jumper cables
Bright cloth to use as a flag
Help sign for back window
Extra hat and gloves
Food and water to sustain you if you get stuck
A book, Bible or Prayer Cards to keep you busy and calm in the event you get stuck.
Charged cell phone (always carry this, especially in the winter)

Keep your gas tank at least half full at all times. This adds weight to the car and will ensure that you won’t run out of gas in the event you get stuck.

Driving in the Snow

Pay attention to the weather forecasts and road conditions in the winter months. If the weather is bad, stay home if at all possible. If you must venture out, travel in the daylight. You are more likely to find help if you get stuck during the day. Never warm up your vehicle in the garage. This releases carbon monoxide, which is toxic and can kill you.

When driving, always wear your seatbelt. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the glare of the sun reflecting off the snow. Know your car and how it handles in the snow. Features like traction control and antilock brakes can be useful in bad weather conditions. Know how these work and if your car is new, practice driving it in a snow covered parking lot before venturing out on the road.

Take it slow, especially in icy conditions. Don’t tailgate and be sure to allow a safe distance between vehicles. Do everything slowly, stopping, accelerating and turning. Leave plenty of time and space to maneuver. Sliding and skidding usually happen when turning, stopping or accelerating. Going extra slow will ensure your safety.

If the visibility is low, slow down even more. Consider getting off highways and driving even slower. This will take you out of the path of large trucks that can cause accidents. Use only your low beams, as your high beams will reflect back off the snow and won’t increase your visibility. Turn on your hazard lights to be sure other drivers see you.

In the event your car gets stuck, don’t get out. Put up the hood and tie your cloth to the antennae. This will make you more visible to emergency vehicles and other drivers. Keep the windows, air grill and tail pipe clear of snow. Wrap up in blankets and huddle up with passengers to stay warm. Run the heat for fifteen minutes each hour to keep from freezing. Move your body around to stay warm.

Keeping your car clean throughout the winter is important. Salt on the roads is important for safety, but will wreak havoc on the finish. If left on for long periods, it can cause rusting. Wash your vehicle weekly to remove salt and wax to protect the paint. Salt also leaves a coating on your headlights that can impair their operation. This will make you less visible to other vehicles. New Lite Headlight Cleaner and Restorer will return the lights to like new condition.

About the Author:
David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He holds numerous patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight cleaner and restorer. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.mdwholesale.com
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Defensive Driving Schools: An Overview

Attending defensive driving school is a great way to brush up on the skills to operate a motor vehicle with advanced techniques to avoid a potential accident or a situation where one could possibly occur.

Defensive driving is based on the premise that you, the driver are actually a very good and safe driver that must be alert and able to react to the dangerous driving that others are engaging in. The goal of defensive driving is to create a proactive driver to avoid dangerous road situations or the poor conduct of other drivers. Specific techniques and basic rules are used to achieve a safer driving experience.

Defensive driving school, sometimes called traffic school, is often taught by a traffic officer at a classroom in a municipal building. The goal of the school is to provide experienced drivers with advanced skills and knowledge to become a safer driver. Changes in technology and the economy have allowed for private enterprise to take over the task of offering defensive driving courses, in accordance with the state standards.

Anybody can take defensive driving courses to brush up on skills or to qualify for discounts on car insurance premiums. Most often individuals are referred to defensive driving courses after being ticketed for a moving violation or having been in an accident. Depending upon the laws of the municipality, the documented completion of a defensive driving course can allow for a dismissal of the ticket. Defensive driving courses improve drivers' overall skills and awareness, contributing to making roads across the nation safer for everyone.

About the Author:
Jennifer Bailey
Defensive Driving Info provides detailed information about defensive driving online, and defensive driving courses and schools in Texas, New York, Washington, D.C., and other locations. Defensive Driving Info is the sister site of Radar Detectors Web.
Submitted: 2005-10-02
Article Source: Go Articles

Driving Safely While Using Your Cellular Phone

According to statistics, one of the major causes of accidents, crashes, and collisions is not being able to take and provide full concentration on the road ahead. You see, driving really does entail that you give this act your full concentration or else, you actually would be endangering your safety, your passengers’ and other motorists’ and pedestrians’ safety as well. That is why automobile experts, and safety professionals suggest that if you do have something to do that cannot wait while you are driving, it would be best if you pull over rather than drive and reduce your concentration while behind the wheel.

Eating and being drowsy are two major reasons why people lose concentration on their driving. Aside from these, at present, another major reason that has become very popular is using your cellular phone or mobile phone while driving. It has become very popular because, you see, almost everybody can actually own or purchase a cellular phone for themselves. And even driving, they would even attempt to use such without thinking that they are actually endangering their own life.

If you think that you certainly cannot live without your cellular phone even for the short period of time that you would be driving from your office to your home or vice versa, it is important that you do familiarize yourself with your phone. Make sure that you know every feature and every function that it has. Also know how to place calls or even receive calls. If you can, try making use of your phone without having to look at it.

Now, you also should program your most called numbers into your phone’s memory along with 911 so that in case of emergencies, you can quickly place your call. If your phone has a speed dialing feature, then you should program the numbers there as well.

A good phone to use while driving would be that one which has a speakerphone feature. Why? Because this kind of cellular phone allows you to talk to another party without having to use your hands. Your hands remain on the wheel, keeping you safe.

Ford Parts Discount has all your Ford Escort parts needs as well as many top of the line Ford parts and accessories like Ford starters and wheels.

About the Author:
Jay Stevens works as a consultant for an established auto parts store in the country. He has expertise in automotive technology and has extensive knowledge on the auto parts industry.
Article Submitted On: May 30, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

New Research For Teen Driver Safety

Teenage drivers have been part of most accidents. This is according to studies and researches done by various automobile and traffic safety experts through various periods. These teens actually become so because of their raging hormones that provide them the courage and the drive to go ahead and do risky driving while behind the wheel. They also are in the stage when they tend to be rebellious and try to do the opposite of what adults and parents tell them.

In part of this kind of dilemma for traffic safety enforcers and workers, the American Automobile Association, which is more popularly called as the AAA, has a department or group that is known as the Foundation for Traffic Safety. This group would be actually releasing a new research that has been validated with science and scientific tests. This new research would actually tackle, discuss, and elaborate on the impact of the Graduated Driver Licensing laws as well as involvement of parents on drivers who are teenagers. And when this study refers to teenagers, they are actually pertaining to drivers who are 16 years old and 17 years old.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, this new report and research that they would be presenting to the public would be able to show three factors that would actually distinguish and contrast those teenagers who have not been involved in any crashes or auto accidents to those teenagers who have already been involved in these kinds of situations. In fact, the group maintains that this will be the first time that such data would be presented to the public.

To back all their information up, the AAA would also be showing data from the various states that show the number of deaths that have all been because of 16 and 17 year old drivers. In fact, as part of the background of their study, the AAA has held data that teenagers have been mostly involved in many motor vehicle crashes.

One of the leading Pontiac parts suppliers is Auto Parts Deal. This store offers high quality parts like car doors and wheels and that are guaranteed to hold very low price tags.

About the Author:
Sarah McBride
As a manager of one of the largest auto store in Springfield,Massachussets, Sarah has extensive expertise on auto parts and automotives in general. This 42 year old is a certified car enthusiast.
Article Source: ArticleToGo.com