Monthly Archives: September 2013

Sep 25 2013

Baby Boomers vs Millennials

Who’s the Better Driver?better_driver_web

A question I’m sure most ‘Boomers’ are quick to answer, “I am.”  But, before you rule out the possibility that someone younger than you, with much less driving experience than you could possibly be a better driver than you, let’s take a look at a few things.

Bad driving habits are the number one downfall for most adult drivers.  Because of the years of experience behind the wheel, they generally hone the attitude, “Well, I’ve been doing it for so long, and I haven’t gotten into an accident yet.”  But why even risk it?    The problem with habits is that they’re hard to break, even if they’re bad for you or those around you.

According to a study conducted by State Farm Insurance, 65% of adults surveyed talk on the phone while driving, even though 94% of them prohibit their teenagers from doing so.  Another bad habit a lot of Boomers have is drowsy driving and also driving while in a rush.  Millennials are least likely to possess these awful habits if they haven’t already picked them up from a parent.

However, the real question here is whether experience and judgment overrules good eye-hand coordination and fast reaction time.  Well, reports still show that adults are far better equipped to handle the complexities of the road in any situation than Millennials, despite all that comes with old(er) age.  But one thing’s for sure, rules and laws change, so Boomers should brush up on their skills just like Millennials anyway.

Sep 17 2013

Dangers of the Road

Dealing With an Aggressive Driver

beware

Aggressive drivers! We’ve all dealt with them at least one time in our lives, if not on a daily basis. They’re the ones belligerently weaving in and out of traffic, beeping the horn like mad men and women, and screaming obscenities at the motorists who are actually doing the posted speed limit. Unfortunately, aggressive drivers are everywhere, so how do you deal with them?

Simple. Do your best to stay out of their way. An aggressive driver is a dangerous driver. The last thing you want to do is outsmart them by mimicking the same erratic behavior they are displaying. Not only is that jeopardizing your well-being, but egging on an aggressive driver could anger them even further, making the driver even more of a road hazard than he or she already is, and possibly resulting in a fatal accident.

Because these kinds of drivers have the potential to create major havoc for you and surrounding motorists, reporting an aggressive driver is extremely important. When you’re parked and in a position where you can safely dial 9-1-1…do so! Calling the police is one of the best things you can do to keep the roads safe when dealing with aggressive drivers. Who knows, one simple phone call could possibly save that aggressive driver’s life as well.

Sep 11 2013

Uh Oh…

Is That Smoke Coming From Your Car?

overheated

You’re already having one of those days, so the last thing you need on the drive back home from the office is for your car to start overheating. That dreadful smell from the engine and the jerking from the car losing its power is enough to send your bad day way over the edge. Before you become that guy… or gal sitting on the side of the road surrounded by a billow of smoke, try the following:

• Turn off your air conditioning and open your windows.
• Turn on the heater and blower… or,
• In stopped traffic, try shifting your car into neutral or park and rev your engine.

If none of the above work, and once you have safely pulled over to the side of the road:

• Turn off your engine. DO NOT open your hood until your vehicle’s temperature gauge has cooled down.
• Make sure you have the proper amount of coolant/antifreeze in the radiator. You may just need to refill the coolant to the top.
• Check to see if your vehicle’s heater hoses are blocked, disconnected or damaged.
• Restart the engine.

If your vehicle is still overheating after you have performed the above tasks, then safely pull your vehicle over to the side of the road again, shut the engine off and call AAA or your local mechanic because you may have a much bigger issue on your hands.