Safe Driving Anytime

It takes 8,460 bolts to assemble an automobile, and one nut to scatter it all over the road. – Anonymous

Despite various technological advancements and stringent road traffic regulations, to ensure driver and car safety, the number of car accidents has risen steadily over the years. With six million automobile accidents and nearly three million contributing to serious injuries, the financial obligation arising from these accidents is a mind boggling $ 230 billion annually! Distracted driving, driving under influence of alcohol and over speeding are the most attributed causes for these alarming numbers.

By being cautious, well prepared and driving a well maintained auto, you can greatly reduce this risk.

Maintenance – Performing a routine safety vehicle inspection not only ensures a safe driving experience for you, but also adds to the life of your auto. A comprehensive inspection should be carried out at the auto shop every 5000 miles and at home every 1000 miles. All auto shops have a checklist that consists of all the parameters that are essential to car safety. Ensure you don’t miss these inspection routines.

These tips ensure safer, smoother drives for you and your family -

Stop distracted driving – changing CDs, tuning your radio or checking your navigation tools, talking on your cell phone, are some of the most common ways that can divert your attention from the road and cause a fatality. To ensure driver and car safety, these should be avoided as much as possible. If you need to do something urgent, pull over your car to the roadside.
Safety ratings- Car accidents can happen anywhere, anytime, so invest in a safe car, for minimal damage of life and property. When buying a car, focus on its safety ratings.
A good mechanic ensures safety- Invest in a good mechanic to maintain your car; ask around for recommendations and preferably go for one with accreditations. Most reputed car insurance companies usually have good dealer networks that give service with a warranty. Tap them.
Child safety – If you travel frequently with smaller children; make sure there are seat belts for everyone, a locking system for car seats used for infants, and enough snacks and toys to keep the children busy amongst themselves so that you aren’t distracted. Invest in good quality car safety seats for the younger members of your family.
Safety checklist for road trips- If going for a long road trip, your pre trip checklist must include a thorough inspection of your car and all its parts. It’s a good idea to take a copy of the car safety checklist from your auto garage for reference, so in case you don’t have time to take your car to the garage for a pre-trip checkup, you can check it yourself. Wiper blades, vehicle lights, battery, spare tire, coolant fluids, should all be checked carefully.
Winter driving- When driving in winters, be extra careful – being aware of blind spots, steering in the direction of a skid, and testing windshield wipers beforehand are some of the things you can do to enhance driving safety. Special car safety glasses for driving in the snow are available and are a good option to consider if you stay in a snow prone area.
Night driving – Similarly, added precautions need to be taken for car safety during night driving as it poses its own dangers. Driving slow, pulling over the edge of the road in case of problems, keeping headlights on low beam and not making frequent stops for light snacks can help you avert accidents.
Driver and Car safety assessments – It’s a good option to take a crash risk assessment to know the risks you face on the road considering your age and driving style. A defensive driving class or a refresher course can help prepare you with certain techniques which preempt crashes; you get better prepared for the uncertainties of the road and more aware of other drivers and objects. It focuses on both car and driver safety. Moreover, a refresher course can get you an additional discount on your car insurance for up to 3 years, so it’s a great investment!
Accessories – It’s always good to carry some water, blanket, food, a basic tool kit, a first aid kit, and something like an orange can or radium light that can assist you as a hazard sign in case of emergencies. Use of anti-theft devices, air bags, etc. can additionally enhance your safety in your car. Make sure you always have a roadside assistance membership especially if you travel lonely roads.

The fact remains – car accidents will continue to happen in spite of the prevalent car safety measures in place, if people don’t get more self-conscious about their vehicles and their driving patterns. It is important to observe stringent safety measures, be alert on the road as well as keep your car well maintained. Every single person can make a difference!

You have invested huge money for buying a car and now you are enjoying driving it for long hours on the road. But, are you sure that you always do a safe driving or nothing will happen to your car. This is really a tough question and nobody can answer it. That is why; we all need car insurance because anything can happen on the road.

You can avail some kinds of car insurance for your safety and your car’s safety. The various plans of car insurance are tailored to make sure that you don’t need to spend your savings in case any bad thing happen with your car like theft, fire, vandalism, on road accident etc. Generally, there are three levels of cover for car insurance which are comprehensive insurance cover, third party fire & theft car insurance and third part insurance.

All the above car insurance covers secure your car against fire, theft, attempt of theft, vandalism and road accidents. The insurance benefits may vary from company to company. You can check the quotations of various insurance companies over the Internet. Just provide some general information like model of your car, your age etc. and get the insurance quote free of cost. The Internet is highly useful for this purpose.

Here, I am trying to provide knowledge about some car insurance benefits which are multifaceted. You can opt for lifetime guarantee on all paint and bodywork repairs or a free courtesy car while your car is being repaired in their recommended garages. Most of the companies provide 24 hours insurance claims helpline. You can do any complaint, you can ask for any suggestions or you can call for the repair assistance on road any time you want.

With these services various additional services are also available with car insurance. Some companies cover for personal belongings, car audio, clothing etc. So, if some vandalism results in the loss of some of your valuable items then you can claim for it. Sometimes, you also can get cover for medical expenses, post-accident counseling or legal advice. Apart from these benefits you are getting one more benefit which is peace of mind. Car insurance is important for these benefits and it is worth getting.

This must definitely be a great way to achieve 20/20 vision while driving during a heavy downpour, day or night or anytime in between.

I am not really sure why it is so effective but it seems to work like a charm whenever it rains cats and dogs. This method was discovered by chance by a police buddy who accidentally put on his cool shades during a torrential downpour (don’t ask me why) and was surprised beyond words. Apparently, it also works during the night in a similar situation.

Most motorists, if not all, would instinctively switch on their HIGH or FASTEST wiper-speed when suddenly hit by a heavy downpour, unfortunately, making no difference whatsoever in the steadily diminishing visibility in front of them, thus bringing traffic to a crawl.

If in any event if you find yourself in such a situation, just whip out your cool shades and put them on (any model will do) and wollah! All of a sudden, your visibility in front of your windscreen is perfectly clear, as if there is no rain.

Please make sure you always have a pair of SUN GLASSES in your car, as you are not only helping yourself to drive safely with good vision, but also might save a friend’s life by passing him this life-saving tip.

Minivans are truly the most practical option for big families that have an active lifestyle. All the essential elements they need, such as space, comfort, size, and style, are present in these vehicles. The affordable price, low maintenance costs, and fuel efficiency of these automobiles also make them an ideal choice for families as they need to save up for their household utility bills, as well as for the education of the kids.

With the combination of economy and efficiency, minivans truly seem to be the perfect package. Also, such vehicles still have a lot of other features that make them flexible enough to meet the continuously increasing everyday demands of families. As a matter of fact, these are not only applicable for long family trips, and are not only designed to have space for groceries. Minivans are also perfect for deliveries and pickups; hence, families can use these mobiles for their small businesses.

Specifically, the other remarkable features of minivans include adjustable pedals or telescope steering wheel. With these, people of different heights or sizes can comfortably seat behind the wheels and drive. It is also one highlight which clearly shows how this type of vehicle can be efficiently used by all the members of the family. Dad, mom, and even teens of legal age can take the minivans on the road anytime.

The conversation mirror may seem to be a minor element of minivans, but it actually plays the vital role of being a parental spyglass. Dad or mom can see whatever is going on at the back without looking away from the road. Moreover, another popular trait of minivans is their reconfigurable seats. A great example of this is the Stow n Go minivan that can give extra legroom or cargo space at the back of the auto by just simply folding up the seats.

According to Stow n Go minivan makers, such vehicles are designed to be as family-friendly as possible. There are some makes and models that allow the second row seats to be folded into the floor to grant passengers with extra legroom. The third row, on the other hand, can be folded to leave a flat and useful storage space that are best applicable on long trips or vacations.