Drive Safe in Work Zones This Summer

Summer road trips are a great time to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and enjoy time with friends and family. Of course, every road trip can get bogged down by the inevitable: Summer construction. It’s so common that in many places, there’s an old joke: “My city only has two seasons, winter and construction!”

Not only does construction slow you down, it can also be extremely costly. In many places, traffic violations in a construction area come with a heftier fine. And with so many people and machines so close to the roadway, it’s extra-important to drive safely. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe around construction this summer from Drivers-Test.org:

“1 Look for the orange diamonds. Several of these signs will be placed along side the roadway well before the actual construction zone to warn drivers. As soon as you see a “work zone ahead” sign, reduce your speed and be on the lookout for workers, machinery, and obstacles.

2 Double fines are put in place in most work zones as an incentive for drivers to reduce their speed and follow all traffic regulations. If you are issued a traffic citation within a work zone that has a double fine warning posted, the cost of your ticket will be multiplied by two. Ouch!

3 On many U.S. interstate highways, the speed limit in construction zones while workers are not present is 55 miles per hour. It may be considerably lower during times when people are on and around the road.

4 Orange cones and barrels are used to direct the flow of traffic in work zones. Do not steer into or run over these objects. You will be responsible for any damage to your vehicle if you make contact with construction cones or barrels.

5 Flaggers are often used to stop and direct traffic in work zones. Their instructions supersede any posted or implied traffic signals. Their presence will be announced by orange construction signs that say “flagger ahead.” Keep an eye out for flaggers in all construction zones and keep your vehicle as far away from their bodies as possible.”

Get more tips for summer construction safety at Drivers-Test.org: http://driving-tests.org/beginner-drivers/construction-zones-how-to-stay-safe/

3 Bad Habits That Prematurely Age Your Car

Whether you just got a new car or you want to extend the life of your existing ride, it’s important to make sure you do all you can to extend the life of your car. In many cases, you can prematurely age your car by hanging onto your bad habits. To keep your car looking and running its best, try to break these bad habits, which according to AOL Autos can seriously age your car and even reduce its performance:

“Warming car up or otherwise leaving it idling.

Today's engines have enough lubrication that they don't need to be warmed up. Maybe like me, however, you like the seats and interior a bit toasty before you take off in the morning. That's fine, but keep it to a minimum, as in just a couple of minutes. Engines aren't designed to sit idling for long periods of time. Keep it idling too long and a buildup can develop on your spark plugs, which can make them less efficient, which wastes gas.

Driving too fast.

It can do far more than get you ticketed, injured or killed. Driving too far over the speed limit forces you to brake hard, fast and abruptly, which takes a toll on your tires' tread, says McKinney Tire Pros on the tire dealer's blog. Few things wear your tires out faster. Allow extra distance between your car and the car in front so you don't have to brake – especially hard – just because the guy in front did so, perhaps unnecessarily. And teach yourself to scan the road far ahead so you can react with plenty of time in an emergency.

Riding the brake or clutch.

Perhaps years of $3-a-gallon gas taught you to drive more responsibly. Hopefully there aren't too many of you left out there, but for any two-footed drivers of automatic transmission vehicles, it really is time to stop doing that. We can all tell who you are by the frequent flickering of your brake lights when we ride behind you. And along with driving us crazy, you're wearing your brakes down for no good reason. You may not be making us nuts with this other habit, but the same can be said of clutch-riding if you're one of those manual transmission drivers who keeps your foot practically on the clutch while driving. You'll wear that down too, which can require complicated (read: costly) fixes. If you're guilty of either of these near-sins, try this: Plant your left foot on what's known as the "dead pedal," to the left of the brake or clutch. Doing so will brace you during sharp turns and keep you from riding the brake or clutch.”

Learn more about car maintenance and get two more tips for keeping your car in tiptop shape over at AOL Autos: http://www.autoblog.com/2014/12/12/five-ways-you-may-be-prematurely-aging-your-car/

6 Car Warning Signs You Can Smell

In many cases, your car will alert you when something’s wrong. You have lights on your dash for nearly everything nowadays, from alerts for oil changes to the dreaded “check engine” light. However, some warning signs that you car may need maintenance don’t come from your eyes - they come from your nose!

According to this infographic, many different smells can mean that something is wrong with your car. For example, if you smell gasoline while driving, it could mean that there’s a gas leak in your engine, and you should stop driving to investigate. As they explain, “Any smell of fuel is a possible fire hazard, so immediate attention should be given.”

Other smells that may alert you to a problem in your car are simple syrup, rotten eggs, burning carpet, and more. You can investigate the entire infographic to learn what each smell could be telling you about your car. View the entire thing here: http://www.carcare.org/2013/10/car-smells-infographic/

Car Safety Myths Debunked

For the most part, everyone on the road wants to do their best. Most people believe that they’re driving safely, after all, and that they have control of their car. However, there are plenty of driving myths out there, especially revolving around safety. Today, we’ll bust down a few of these old myths and help you figure out what you should really be doing to be your safest:

As Cars.com explains:

“Myth: Talking on a hands-free headset while driving is a safe alternative to holding a cellphone.

Truth: We're not going to debate the lesser of two evils. Here are the facts: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that one in 12 18- to 24-year-olds on the road at any given time is also on a cellphone. One-quarter of all police-reported accidents are caused by driver distraction, and cellphones play a significant role. The culprit isn't holding a cellphone or one-armed driving; it's taking your mind off the task at hand: safely piloting 3,000 pounds of steel to your intended destination. A headset does nothing to mitigate this; pull over or put it away. Enough said.

Myth: You don't have to wear a seat belt when you're sitting in the backseat.

Truth: Few people explicitly advocate this, but actions speak louder than words: Fewer than half of all rear-seat passengers wear seat belts, compared with the 80 percent average for all vehicle occupants, according to NHTSA. There are two risks that unbelted backseat passengers can incur: First, they're unable to take full advantage of the vehicle's safety features, and accidents — especially rollovers — put them at high risk. Second, they become projectiles toward others during the collision, increasing the likelihood of injury among their fellow occupants.

Myth: Keep your doors unlocked so rescuers can get you out after an accident.

Truth: This seems reasonable, right? No. Unlocked doors are more likely to open during a collision and allow occupant ejection — and ejections kill 10,000 people each year. The doors in many modern vehicles automatically unlock following airbag deployment, and even if they remain locked, rescuers can break the windows to get to passengers. This is a far better prospect than tracking down victims ejected during the impact.”

Read the original article and get more car myths here: http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story.jsp?section=yd&subject=yd_myth&story=ydMyths

Cool Car! How to Keep Your Car from Overheating in the Summer

It’s summer and while that may mean road trips and beach visits for many people, it means another thing to your car: overheating. The possibility of overheating grows dramatically in the summer, especially on hotter days. And even if your car is in great shape, overheating is still a possibility. Fortunately, you can take steps to ensure that your car stays cool and driveable - and that if anything does happen, you’re ready for it. Try these five tips for overheating in the summer:

“At the first sign of overheating, shut off your air conditioner and open your windows: Doing so decreases the load on the engine and helps it cool off.

If you continue to overheat, turn on the heater and blower: Doing so transfers the heat from the engine to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. (This does wonders for your overheated engine but very little for you!)

If you’re stopped in traffic and the temperature gauge is rising, shift into Neutral or Park and rev the engine a little: Doing so makes the water pump and the fan speed up, which draws more liquid and air through the radiator. The increased air and liquid circulation helps cool things off.

Try not to ride your brakes: In stop-and-go traffic, crawl along slowly, on little more than an idle, rather than moving up and then braking repeatedly. Brake drag increases the load on the engine and makes it heat up. If traffic is crawling, move up only when the gap between you and the vehicle in front of you gets too large.

If you think that your vehicle is about to boil over, drive to the right-hand side of the road, open the hood, and sit there until things cool off. Remember, don’t open the radiator cap under these circumstances, and if your engine has boiled over, don’t add water until the engine is quite cool again.”

Read the original article here: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/what-to-do-if-your-car-overheats.html

Wax On, Wax Off: How to Wax Your Car

We talk a lot about car maintenance here, and the importance of taking care of your baby, but if you’ve just purchased a new car, you may not be sure how to take care of your car. Never fear! Today, we’ll explore how waxing a car works, why you want to do it, and offer some advice for how to make it happen.

Why wax?

You may be wondering why you even need to wax in the first place. After all, most cars are clear-coated today to help protect the paint from the elements. However, people wax their cars for the same reason they always have: It helps provide an additional layer of protection against the elements. In this case, wax also helps extend the life of the clear-coat, which in turn protects your paint. While you may not need to wax as frequently as in the past, giving your ride a good waxing a couple times a year can help extend the life of its paint.

Learn more about why you should wax your car here: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a3255/do-i-really-need-to-wax-my-car-15829917/

What’s the best way to wax your car?

Of course everybody has their own preferred method of waxing, but doing it by hand is relatively easy and affordable. Here are a few tips from AutoGeek:

“Apply car wax or paint sealant in the shade. If the product dries too quickly or sits on the vehicle too long, it may be difficult to buff off.

Always apply car wax or paint sealant to a dry vehicle. Droplets of water on the paint will cause the product to streak and it will be unnecessarily tough to buff off.

Thin, thin, thin! Apply the thinnest coat you can. If you want more shine and depth, you’re not going to accomplish it in one thick coat. It just makes the wax or sealant difficult to remove and streaky. Buff one coat off before applying a second extremely thin coat. Check the label to see how long one coat has to cure before applying another (usually 12-18 hours).

Poly foam wax applicators are the best for achieving a thin, even coat. They’re absorbent, durable, washable, and reusable. They’re also inexpensive, so don’t be afraid to throw them away when they get really soiled.

Buff the haze away with microfiber. A quality microfiber towel, like the Miracle Towel, will buff your paint to a stunning shine as you remove the wax residue. The static-charged, woven fibers grab wax residue so there is less dusting, if any. Microfiber does not shed lint and the tiny, manmade fibers polish the paint while you buff. Rotate your towel frequently to reveal a clean side. Keep an extra Miracle Towel lying around in case the first one becomes caked with wax..”

Read the whole article here: http://www.autogeek.net/car-wax-detailing.html

4 Summer Road Trip Tips

It’s a summer staple: Driving down the highway, windows down, radio up, wind in your hair. Road trips are classic for a reason - they’re a fun, exciting way to get somewhere, and can be more cost-effective than other means of transportation. But before you hit the road this summer, make sure you’re ready to do it safely and comfortably. Here are a few tips you should read before you fuel up:

Read Up

We know - reading is the last thing you want to do before you get in your car and go. But we promise - spending just a little time reading up on summer driving tips and what to do in an emergency can help you stay safe. The NHTSA has a great (and fun!) interactive guide to summer road trips that you can check out here.

Understand How Your Car Works in the Heat

When the sun’s up for longer and the weather is warmer, your car may drive a little differently. Understanding how to keep your car in great shape no matter the season is key to a great road trip. After all, finding out that your car is prone to overheating could mean hours on the side of the highway waiting for a tow if you’re not ready for it.

Pack Up!

You’re probably busy figuring out where your bathing suit is, but don’t forget to pack some car essentials, too. Extra coolant, some oil...these will help save your trip should things go south. Make sure you’re prepared by stocking up before you leave home (and on more than just sunscreen). If you keep an emergency kit in your car, make sure it’s all stocked up and ready to go.

Have a Plan in Place

While it’s fun to just jump in the car, knowing what to do both in an emergency and in case of surprises can help you out. If you have, for example, an itinerary for your trip, consider adding an hour or two to each drive to ensure you’re not crunched for time. This article from Independent Traveler offers excellent advice for understanding what you can plan for when it comes to your road trip.

Of course, no matter where you’re going or what you’re doing, the biggest tip is this: Have fun! Your summer road trip should be enjoyable! And when you’re ready for your trip, you’ll be able to focus on the fun (instead of worrying about an emergency).