Keep a well oiled machine

We all know that we should get our oil changed every couple of months, and a lot of us still need the reminder of the little flashing oil can light. But why do we need to change our oil? Will it REALLY not run properly if we don't? The answer is yes you need to change your oil, and yes it will REALLY REALLY not run properly if you don't maintain your car.

Think about it this way, how would you feel if you didn't have any liquids for an extended period of time. You would feel pretty terrible and parched and get yourself a bottle of water. Well your car can't exactly drive itself over to a Jiffy Lube or pop open the top of a jug of oil and drink up (well yet anyways!), so you need to stay vigilant and take care of your vehicle when it shows he warning signs of being parched.

Your vehicle is a complicated machine fun of cylinders and pistons and things that need to move around freely, but need the lubrication of oil. If there is no oil then too much friction occurs and we all know that fast moving metal on metal never ends well. In order to make sure your engine is happy and healthy, just make sure you keep some oil in it.

For more information on what happens if you don't change your oil, check out:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080204193107AApEcRz

Prevent automobile theft!

Unfortunately things aren't like the good ol' days where we could leave our car running out in the parking lot. We need to be careful. Thievery is a problem, but you can take many measures to prevent loss of property.

First of all, lock your car doors. Always. Whether it's in drive, parked at the grocery store, or parked out front of your house, lock the doors. You never know when a criminal may strike so you might was well be prepared.

Don't leave personal belongings such as Ipods, cell phones, purses, or garage door openers in your vehicle in the first place. If it is necessary to leave such an item in your vehicle, hide it or lock it in your glove compartment. No need to dangle a prize in front of a potential thief!

Make sure you know where your car keys are at all times. You don't want to set them down and have someone easily steal your car.

If your car gets broken into or stolen, file a police report right away. Make sure the law knows what's going on so they can possibly prevent further issues.

Be safe out there everyone!!

Slow it down! Some reasons to not speed

We know how tempting it is to speed and get to your destination just that much quicker. Sometimes it seems that speed limits are put in place purely for aggravation purposes, and they're all way too low. It's so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that, but in reality, speed limits are set for a reason.

Statistics show that 88% of crash fatalities from speeding were not on the interstate (http://www.teendriversource.org/stats/teen/detail/67z). Speeding anywhere is dangerous, especially in neighborhood areas or school zones. It's easy to get distracted and go much faster than necessary, but we all just need to pay more attention to sticking with the speed limit.

Teenagers especially need to be careful because there is a high correlation between teen crash fatalities and speeding.

Besides the overriding safety issues, who wants a speeding ticket? They are expensive and aggravating. Insurance rates sky rocket, and let's be honest NO ONE wants to go to traffic school.

So buckle up and cool the lead foot. Speeding is not worth it!

For more information check out:
http://www.teendriversource.org/stats/teen/detail/67

Rainy Day Driving Made Simpler

We've all experienced that moment when we're cruising along the highway and it's a nice and bright sunny day when all of a sudden a giant, ominous rain cloud appears only to rain on our parade. Literally. Although a lot can be said for our own efforts in making driving in the rain safer, technology is evolving to help us out even further.

Most cars now are installed with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) that act as extra insurance that our tires are in fact meeting the road. We don't want to hydroplane!

Many cars also have brake force distribution, brake assist, and traction control that help in slippery conditions. Brake force distribution essentially prevents unequal weight distribution while braking that could potentially cause your car to skid when you slam on the brakes. Brake assist partners with ABS when you stop short to ensure that the car fully brakes. And finally traction control works with the steering system to ensure stability control for your vehicle.

With all these extra technologies driving in the rain isn't such a daunting task.

For more information on auto technology, go to:

http://www.canadiandriver.com/2010/11/24/auto-tech-slippery-roads.htm

Dangerous Debris: Avoid it!

There are many dangers on the roadways, one of which is debris that does not belong on the road. Whether it fell out of a cargo truck, is left over from a previous accident, or a stray piece of garbage that somehow made it into the road, debris poses many problems for you.

Eighty to ninety fatalities per year can be attributed to crashes caused by debris in the road; unacceptable for a preventable action. You can make the first step in preventing these crashes by securing your own personal belongings to your car, and ensuring that your vehicles doors are all properly shut.

Be a vigilant driver in order to avoided hitting debris. If you see a debris along the roadway or highway, report it to make sure action is being taken to rectify the situation. When avoiding debris in the way make sure to check before moving into another lane instead of having a sort of "knee jerk" reaction. Swinging into the next lane can cause a fatal crash.

Be safe out there!

For more information on debris safety, check out:
http://www.aaaexchange.com/main/Default.asp?CategoryID=3&SubCategoryID=4&ContentID=313

Check Out a Hybrid Car Today!

With the new movement to "go green" the popularity of hybrids is spiking. Investing in a hybrid car is a smart decision for many reasons.

Hybrid cars are definitely the way to go as far as environmental friendliness. Combine the fact that the tires on these cars are made with a special rubber that reduces friction on the road and the cars themselves are built more aerodynamically, hybrids waste a lot less fuel. This makes hybrid cars emit much less pollution.

Hybrid cars may be a little more expensive on the forefront, but in the long run they can actually save you money. With gas prices not exactly being low these days, filling up less definitely helps the wallet. These cars are designed with smaller, more efficient engines to make the car waste less gas by shutting down the engine when the car is stopped. The electric motor gets powered automatically by utilizing the energy to charge the batteries that is typically lost through braking.

You should definitely check out a hybrid car today!

For more information, check out: http://www.learnmechanic.com/why-buying-a-hybrid-car-makes-you-feel-better.html

Collision Warning Technology: Too Robotic?

New burgeoning automotive technology involving radar-based safety has many wonderful benefits, but has us asking: will it lead to other dangers?

Distracted driving is a huge problem these days, and these car safety-moniters can help, but may also go a little bit too far. With the extra assurance some people may throw all caution to the wind and rely too much on their vehicle instead of actually paying attention themselves. No matter how great technology is there is always a potential for error or technological failure, so the humans behind the wheel still need to be vigilant.

Now 5 percent of vehicles in North America including these radar-based safety features and the market of sales for these vehicles is expected to grow exponentially. Automakers are still fine-tuning this technology and hopefully will be able to find a happy medium between extremely safe and not having a completely robotic car.

For more info check out: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101101/OEM06/311019987/1182