Friday, May 30, 2014

Put down the cellphone: How NOT to become a statistic



Using a cell phone in your vehicle makes you a much more dangerous driver. It’s a proven fact. Motorists who talked on either handheld or hands-free cell phones drove slightly slower, were 9 percent slower to hit the brakes, displayed 24 percent more variation in following distance as their attention switched between driving and conversing, were 19 percent slower to resume normal speed after braking and were more likely to crash.

So for safety sakes, just put the phone down or pull over to the side if it is that urgent. Safe travels!


Friday, May 23, 2014

Thoughts You Have After Buying A New Car



Buying a new car is an exciting accomplishment! You think about great gas mileage, superior technology, and a smoother, better looking ride. It’s what comes next that you don’t expect. Have you ever experienced any of these thoughts after buying a new car?

1. Mmm that new car smell. There is nothing quite like it. You sit in your vehicle and wish it would stay like this forever!

2. “Hmm, we are going to be out of toilet paper two days from now… better head to the store to get some right now.” Suddenly, the most mundane errands don’t seem so bad anymore with your new car!

3. Volunteering to drive places used to be a drag. Now you just want to drive everywhere! A road trip with your friends is definitely in the back of your mind. 


Friday, May 16, 2014

The importance of checking for wear on your tires!


U.S. coins can be substituted for a tire tread depth gauge as tires wear to the critical final few 32nds of an inch of their remaining tread depth.

Place a penny into several tread grooves across the tire. If part of Lincoln’s head is always covered by the thread then you are still in good shape. You should have around 2/32” of tread depth left.

Place a quarter into several thread grooves across the tire. Similar to what you did with the penny. If part of Washington’s head is always covered by the tread, then you have 4/32” of tread depth remaining.

According to most states' laws, tires are legally worn out when they have worn down to 2/32" of remaining tread depth. To help warn drivers that their tires have reached that point, tires sold in North America are required to have indicators molded into their tread design called "wear bars" which run across their tread pattern from their outside shoulder to inside shoulder. Wear bars are designed to visually connect the elements of the tire's tread pattern and warn drivers when their tires no longer meet minimum tread depth requirements.  
 

Friday, May 9, 2014

Benefits Of A Portable Car-Charger



A portable car-charger could be a really great purchase for any car-owner. Nobody wants to deal with a dead battery, but it happens, and how much better would you feel if you were already prepared for that situation?

Most portable car-chargers are very easy to use and can get you out of a sticky situation. If you have a completely flat battery because you left the lights on or you parked the car outside in really cold weather, then a charger that works like a jump starter is a great option.

They are relatively inexpensive and can fit in your trunk without taking up too much space. By constantly topping up your car battery you are maintaining it, which extends the battery life. We think it is a worthy purchase that can also be used on RVs and boats!