Holiday Driving Tips

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Right? Right?  Um…hello?  Ok, so maybe once the gifts are wrapped, the food is prepared and Santa has left an abundance of presents and cookie crumbs, then you can take a breather and enjoy the holiday cheer.  These next couple weeks will be hectic, we know.  It’s a great time of the year, but the stress that goes into it can be overwhelming.  There’s hope, however.  In today’s blog, we’re providing some quick tips for navigating your holiday season safely. 

1.)   If you’re going on a road trip, please make sure your car is serviced properly.  Come into our dealership anytime for oil, brake fluid and tire condition checks.

2.)   SLEEP WELL.  Get a good night’s sleep before you venture into the world.

3.)   Plan your route; this will help you in the long run.  Unsafe detours can be dangerous and expensive.

4.)   Bring a paper map.  GPS is the wave of the future, but a paper map can act as backup if you’re GPS malfunctions.

5.)   Buy snacks and drinks before you leave, because stocking up at gas stations can be costly.

6.)   Tell at least 1 family member where you’re headed.  So, if something happens, you have a reliable person to get the message out.

7.)   DO NOT announce on social media that you’re leaving for vacation.  Secure your home and leave at least one light on.  This will detract burglars from your home.

8.)   Leave early.  If the common rush hour time is 9:30, leave a couple hours early to compensate for time.

Do you have any tips to add?  Feel free!  Have a safe drive and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

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Automotive Advertising

Teach Your Teen to Drive with Driver’s Ed App

We understand that it might seem peculiar that we would talk about a smartphone app called Driver’s Ed, as we want new driver’s (and experienced alike) to drive safely with their eyes focused on the road and not on the screen of a smartphone, but this app is strictly for NON-DRIVING USE.  And quite frankly, it’s an awesome way to learn the ways of the road…off-road, of course.

As parents, friends, and colleagues we instill the fundamentals of driving: look back when you reverse, buckle your seatbelt, etc…this smartphone app is a study guide for individuals preparing to take the permit test for their license.  The app is currently FREE and brought to you by a leader in online drivers education with full-featured study companions and quizzes from a database of more than 350 questions. 

The app records your results so that you can track your progress and review incorrect answers.  Get to know the material by taking tests and perfecting your driving skills before you take the real thing. 

Flash cards are also an added feature that allows test takers to study the material fairly quickly.  Driver’s Ed even lets you download your state’s specific Driver Manual so you can study on the go.  Driver’s Ed is a great app for studying for the permit exam because there’s nothing like having another safe driver on the road. 

Download it here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drivers-ed/id297942237?mt=8

How You “Merge” in Traffic Tells Your Personality

Merge. Absorb.  Amalgamate. However you put it, you’re doing it wrong.  Yes, you.  Car merging is an age-old necessary evil.  Since the days of Model T’s vying for the same lane in a congested street, we’ve always had a nervous tick when the merge sign rears its ugly head during our morning commute.  “Do I let them go ahead of me?  Do I speed up and pass this group of cars?” Questions begin to manifest when we’re deciding on our merge tactics.  The best part, is how much our decisions reflect our personality.  In today’s blog, we’re breaking it down.  

“A man drives as he lives.” 

–Cynthia Gorney

There are two types:

Lineuppers – the individuals who take their time, usually ahead of the impeding merge point.  They wait in line patiently as traffic slowly moves toward a goal.

Sidezoomers – these individuals race ahead of the line and dart into an opening at the last second.  Usually without using their blinkers or any indications.

Lineuppers are usually less aggressive and more accommodating drivers who see driving as more of a community-based activity.  Sidezoomers are more aggressive and opportunistic when it comes to driving.  

Why Late Merge? 

Late merging can be cause for some crashes.  Due to aggressive driving, abrupt changes or sudden stops, a late lane merger can cause a conflict.  In most cases, drivers don’t know when to merge so they take the latest opportunity they can to move quickly.  

The Gentle Merge

Another option is to cruise about a quarter-mile of stopped traffic with a signal on, requesting an opening.  Eventually, one person will let you over, or you’ll find a nice gap to squeeze into.  Try it!

So, what kind of driver are you? 

How Radar Detectors Work

Picture this scenario:  You’re cruising down the highway with your family, enjoying the lush greenery surrounding the open road.  A game of eye-spy is heating up as you look around the landscape, trying to find a spot of yellow your daughter has found on the road trip.  Before you know it, you spot a state trooper, his badge reflecting off the afternoon sun, and a radar gun pointed directly at your vehicle.  You panic, looking down at your speedometer; that’s when you realize you’re doing a couple miles over the speed limit.  Your hands clam up and before you know it, POOF! You’re being pulled over. 

So, how exactly do these radar guns work? Well, “Radar” is an abbreviation for Radio Detection and Ranging.  Speed Trak Police Radar can be found in almost every police vehicle.  It’s estimated that 20 million speeding citations are issued annually and that police radars are used in 13 million of these cases. 

Radar Guns send out a signal of radio waves at specific frequencies in a specific direction.  Then, those waves bounce off objects, including vehicles, and return to the radar gun’s receiving station.  When the waves reflect off a moving vehicle, a measurable frequency shift, called Doppler Shift, occurs.

So, police radar guns perceive a vehicle by transmitting a pulse that reaches the target and then comes back to the observer.  What ensues is the Doppler Effect, in which the frequency of the pulse is compared to the frequency of the reflection and speed is calculated using the difference.

And…that’s how it’s done!  Had any crazy radar gun experiences?  Feel free to comment