Vehicle and Driver Safety & Tips
Care Tips:
Keep your car running efficiently by changing the oil every 3000-5000 miles (more often in high performance cars), and change the
air filter often.
To feel less of a pinch in your wallet, refill your gas when it's half empty - the total won't feel as bad - you'll
fill up a little more often, but it also allows you to take advantage of lower gas prices - if the price goes up a lot, you
can continue to drive on the last half of the tank if prices are projected to go down. I fill up every time there is a
projection that prices will climb, or prior to and upcoming holiday weekend.
Don't let the tank go down to the empty range - the fuel on the bottom of the tank is the dirty, mucked up
stuff.
Safety Tips:
Don't leave your vehivle running unattended or unlocked. Did you know automobile thieves can make more money by selling
your car parts than by selling the vehicle itself? It can take them as little as 5 minutes to dismantle a car and take off,
leaving a mess of useless muck for you to find - if you can even find enough of it to identify it! Thieves are
looking for easy cars to take - ones with easy access to keys, ones unlocked, ones parked in secluded areas or areas without
light (have you seen how many cars are broken into when parked at hiking areas?), ones without alarm systems. Keep your
vehicle locked (they need not have a key if they know they have 5 minutes to dismantle the car).
Don't drive with the cruise control on in rain or ice - the wheels hydro-plane and lift off of the
road, causing them to spin faster without the friction, and you can lose control.
Make sure, when filling with gas, to keep your hand in contact with the pump handle, and do NOT get back into
the car while it's filling up. There have been numerous instances of static electricity sparking, and lighting up
the gas flow - make sure to keep yourself discharged by keeping contact with the pump handle, and not picking up
a static charge by going back in the vehicle. These flare-ups have caused significant damage in a life-or-death situation.
Some states are more prone to the phenomenon.
Check your tires daily as a habit when getting into your vehicle - just look at all tires to make sure the car tires are filled. If
you have a slow leak, you can catch it and get it fixed before causing serious damage to the tire and car. If you have a flat,
get it fixed immediately. People often drive around with low or flat tires and don't even notice it. If low, you lose
efficiency in your driving, and use more gas, not to mention the possibility of blowing out the tire while driving.
If stopped by a police officer in an unmarked vehicle (or even a marked vehicle - uniform or not - people
have been impersonating officers), and you are alone, you should drive at the speed limit to
a well lit area with people present. Keep doors locked and windows closed. Tell the
officer you are afraid and wish to see identification. Speak loudly through the
closed window. You can ask the officer to have a marked vehical come by to confirm
his legitimacy - or with your cell phone, call the state patrol or local police to
ask them to verify this person. It's perfectly within the law to call 911 when you get stopped, to confirm
this as a legitimate stop.
4 way stops - no one seems to know what to do there. First thing - you MUST come to a FULL STOP - it is a stop sign.
The rule is "YIELD TO THE CAR ON YOUR RIGHT." That means - ONE car at a
time from the lane. There needs to be clarification on cars from 2 sides going at the same time - this bogs up the process when
one of the cars is turning. If there are no cars at the intersection, but 2 approach, the first one there
gets to go first. If they get there at about the same time, the car on the right gets to go first. There is too much confusion when
cars go from each side at the same time - someone needs to expand on this point. I prefer one car at a time, going in a circle, not
2 cars from opposite directions going at the same time.
Stop signs - this means come to a FULL STOP. It does NOT mean "let me see if I can beat that car coming toward the intersection."
Many drivers think it's a game of who can get in front first - a stop sign means you YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY to the vehicle which is
in the road you are trying to turn onto. It has the right of way.
As always, make sure you do not argue the right of way when it may cause an accident - let the stupid driver have his way if
it means averting an accident.
When you drive through a school zone, and the time of the day requires you to drive at 25-35 mph, you are to keep this
speed until the next speed limit sign - it is not only for getting past the driveway. Kids will often try to beat a car across the
street to get to school in time, or to catch up to their friends, etc. By driving at the lower speed you can easily stop in time
for a child - but you cannot react fast if you are driving at a faster speed. Kids will dart across without regard for where the
driveway is - so always slow down at school zones and don't increase your speed until the next speed limit sign. The same holds
true for neighborhoods - kids play in the street or run after a ball without thinking or looking first - you are responsible for
driving at the safe speed limit as posted, to give you time to react when a child runs into the street. If you hit a pedestrian -
you are responsible.
Winter Driving:
Drive conservatively - give lots of space between you and other vehicles. Do
not react quickly, and stay calm. Leave a couple car lengths between you and the next vehicle - you might need
the space to fully stop, or to pull up out of the way of the car behind you that is sliding. The faster
your speed, the further back you need to stay from the automobile in front. Ease into slowing down - don't stop fast. Pump your brakes
to stop (if you have anti-lock brakes, it will pump them for you) - giving the wheels a chance to grab and hold
without slipping so much. Make sure you have decent snow or mud/snow tires on your vehicle, and carry traction
chains in your trunk, just in case. You can also keep some sand (to toss down for traction plus to give your
vehicle more weight) and a shovel in the trunk or cab.
Need Insurance?
Getting a new automobile? Get ready for a change in your auto insurance.
The vehicle you drive affects your comprehensive and collision coverage,
which can account for up to one-half of your auto insurance premium. Buying
an expensive automobile or one that costs a lot to repair can make your auto
insurance premiums jump. Take a few minutes to shop and compare insurance
to see the effect your new car will have.
More Insurance Options
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Toys
If you came to this site but are too young to drive, or love collecting models, why not check these out?
See the Hobby site for more car models and toys.
