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Defensive Driver Techniques for Safe Driving

Author RosselPosted on Leave a comment

Driving defensively means employing a number of practices and techniques to deal with the behaviour of other drivers and the conditions on the road. When getting behind the wheel, the only thing we can directly control is our own driving; being able to anticipate a range of potential hazards can play a major role in keeping drivers safe while on the roads. There are a number of defensive driving classes motorists can take to learn these specific techniques and avoid dangerous situations. Some of the most important defensive driver techniques are listed below.

defensive-driving

Observation Techniques

Consistent observation is at the heart of any safe driving regime. Pedestrians crossing, children in residential streets, and any vehicles behind and in the adjacent lane are all potential hazards that can be avoided with good observation. As well as regularly checking side and rear vision mirrors, motorists should check blind spots when turning and changing lanes. By using a technique known as ‘high eyes driving’, drivers learn to focus not only on the car in front of them but on the road’s horizon. This allows drivers to spot hazards early, and this gives them more reaction time to brake or swerve if needed.

Avoid Unnecessary Lane Changes

Changing lanes represents the potential to unwittingly cut off other drivers, especially on highways where cars are travelling at higher speeds. Even more important than avoiding unnecessary lane changing is practising patience – waiting for a safe opening to change lanes. Weaving across lanes to get ahead of other cars is one of the fastest ways to side swipe other vehicles and cause a range of other potentially deadly accidents at higher speeds.

Avoid Distractions

A defensive driver understands the only thing they should focus on is the task of driving itself. That means any other distractions including phones, changing the radio station, eating, and other physical distractions should wait until the car is parked and the engine turned off. Avoiding distractions also incorporates an awareness of preventing the mind from wandering; you need to actively keep your mind on the task of driving. Getting involved in deep thought, heated discussions or becoming overly engrossed in a talkback radio program are all potential distractions that can cause attention lapses and result in accidents.

Keep a Safe Distance

Rear endings are among the most common road accidents, causing damage and the potential for injuries such as whiplash. To avoid slamming into the rear of another vehicle, causing an expensive repair bill and possible legal costs, motorists should observe the ‘three second rule’, staying at least three seconds behind the car in front. This will give a necessary buffer between you and other vehicles and sufficient time to stop should the car in front need to brake suddenly. Keeping a safe distance will also help the driver behind you, given them a longer stopping distance and more reaction time, reducing the likelihood of a pileup.

These are just a few important defensive driving techniques that should be in any driver’s skillset to maintain safety and avoid accidents while on the road. To avoid potential legal action from a service such as Motor Accident Legal Service, it’s important every driver takes driving seriously so they can avoid playing a role in causing unnecessary and costly accidents.

Image Credits:
Pixabay.com

In cars, tips

Know Your Car to Avoid Mechanic Scams

Author RosselPosted on Leave a comment

It’s a fact: cars are expensive to own. In 2013, Americans spent an average of $750 annually on car maintenance, and even a small sedan will cost you an average of $9,122 over its lifespan. However, 27% of Americans report being unhappy with repair services they’ve received from a mechanic, with most of them being dissatisfied with costs, followed by those who said problems were incorrectly repaired or that the repairs didn’t last. Unnecessary auto repair is consistently ranked highly among causes for consumer complaints, but what can Americans do to save money on car maintenance?

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The most common auto repairs are for engine problems, tires and rims, timing belts, tire pressure monitoring systems, brakes, and suspension. Your engine is the most important part of your car, so it makes sense that it requires the most repairs. Typically, tires have a 2-4 year lifespan, but that can be cut short by poor road quality. Timing belts are fairly inexpensive, but they require intensive (read: expensive) labor.

While these are the most common car repairs, they’re not always the most expensive car repairs. That honor belongs to a blown motor, which can cost up to $4,000 to repair, and transmission replacement, which can cost between $1,800 and $3,500. A head gasket costs between $1,200 and $1,600 to repair, and your air conditioning compressor costs between $200 and $600 to replace, plus additional service costs.

Avoid common scams (like a low verbal estimate followed by a higher final charge or charging for services advertised as free) by using mechanics recommended by friends and family and endorsed by AAA. Ask questions to educate yourself about what your repairs are exactly, and get a written estimate for repairs and costs. Pay in full only after the agreed-upon repairs have been completed, and help trustworthy mechanics stay in business by recommending them to your family and friends.

In cars

5 Ways To Budget For A New Car

Author RosselPosted on 1 Comment

If you’ve ever dreamed of a 7 seat car for your family you know they’re not cheap. This means that you have to plan carefully to ensure that you can pay for it in full or afford a monthly loan payment. What are some tips that you can use to budget for your next vehicle?

family car

Plan On Trading In Your Current Vehicle

Your current vehicle could be worth a few hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars. The value of the car that you drive now can help you create a plan to purchase your next car. If you have a car that is worth a lot of money at the moment, you may want to plan on buying a car now to take advantage of the excellent trade in value that you car has.

Start Investing Today To Buy Your Car Tomorrow

If you put $10,000 into an investment account today, you can have $11,000 next year. You then invest the money again to create an even larger return on your initial investment. Eventually, you will generate enough interest to be able to make your car payment each month. This allows you to buy a car without having to use any of your savings to pay for it.

Get A Second Job To Save Money For Your Car

It may be a good idea to get a second job to help you pay for your next car. The money that you bring in can be put exclusively toward the cost of your new car without ruining the rest of your budget.

Cut Other Expenses To Free Up Extra Money

You could transfer your credit card balance to a card with a lower interest rate. That alone could save you hundreds of dollars a month. That money can then be used to make a car payment. Getting a roommate to share your apartment can be an easy way to lower expenses as well.

Negotiate A Good Deal On Your Next Car

Whenever you shop for a car, you should pay less than the sticker price. If you have a down payment, you may be able to negotiate an even lower payment each month because the dealer will get more of their money upfront. Since you are doing them a favor, the dealer may be willing to do you a favor by giving you a better deal. If you can cut an extra 10 percent from the cost of the car, you can get your car that much faster.

Budgeting for your next car doesn’t need to be complicated. Investment interest or getting a second job can make it easier to pay for a car while getting a good deal on the price of your car can make it easier to pay for as well. As long as you prepare ahead of time, you should have no problem getting the car you want at a decent price.

Author Bio: Jack has been a mechanic for 10 years and is a complete rev head. He has 5 cars to his name, and his past time hobbies include redoing old cars, travelling, going to car shows and writing blogs about cars.

In cars

Getting the Best Deal Out of Used Cars

Author RosselPosted on 2 Comments

In a place where in getting to establishments would cost you a lot via public transportation, having your own car would be the best option to have. However, brand new cars are a bit expensive and there is a need for your work more and save up before you could buy one.

by Andy Newson – freedigitalphotos.net

There are ways however to get a car without spending that much. You can resort to buying second hand cars instead. Most of these cars are already tuned up and good to go. You just have to be more meticulous when you’re going to buy one as these were surely sold by the previous owners for some unknown reasons. It is actually one of the basic information that you need to obtain, some reselling companies can tell you why but there are others withholding it.

You might as well consider knowing if the company is also offering vehicle air conditioning installation because some used cars don’t have and it is one of the features of cars that can’t be omitted. You should also check the quality of engine being installed and some other important feature. If you aren’t sure on what to check, you can use to the internet and do some research before heading to the nearest shops for used cars Arlington area.

It pays to know some basic things about cars before buying one. You will be shelling out cash for it and you should be assured that this thing will serve you for the longest time. It is already considered as one of your most important assets. This is going to be used everyday unlike some coleman utv that would only be utilized for a specific place or function. This is going to be one of your investments as well as it would make you mobile and achieve tasks faster.

In cars

Tonneau Covers

Author RosselPosted on Leave a comment
Most business owners that I know have one or two trucks. Why truck instead of car? Aside from the fact that truck is the most powerful and efficient vehicle to carry heavy loads over rough roads and across large distances, it also offer a great deal of versatility to its owner. It can be used both as family and cargo vehicle. However, even how dependable and sturdy the truck is, regular check ups and maintenance are necessary to make sure that each part is running conditionally.There are also truck accessories that you think might not have great importance but can be very helpful too like the tonneau cover or commonly known as truck bed cover. Tonneau cover is not just an accessory that enhances the look of your pick up truck. It allows you to fully cover your truck bed and more importantly your cargo thus the possibility of the theft of your goods is far less likely. One of its benefit is it can increase your gas mileage by as much as 10% by both keeping the truck bed wake in place and reducing tailgate wind drag which can help improve the  fuel economy.

Tonneau covers are available at realtruck.com, both in hard and soft with variety of styles from every major brand. Hard plastics and fiberglass tonneaus are available too. These ones can be painted to match the color of your truck. Isn’t it great?

If you need tonneau cover for your truck either to enhance its appearance or increase its function, have a look of the selection of styles to choose from.