Dec 10 2014

Out After Dark

Night Driving

With the passing of Daylight Savings and shorter days, it’s getting dark earlier. This makes the drive home each night a little more difficult. Night driving brings its own set of concerns and requires more concentration and attention to your driving environment.

Darkness and the glare of lights reduce visibility. You can compensate for poor night vision by decreasing your speed. This gives you time to recognize and respond to potential hazards. Also, you can avoid being blinded by approaching headlights by looking towards the right edge of your lane, and using the lane line to guide you.

So, when you find that your travels take you out after dark, give yourself a little more time and be on the lookout for hard to see dangers.

Nov 25 2014

Steer Clear

No time to read a long-winded BLOnG? Welcome to the Three-Second-Stop mini-Blog.

Today’s Three Seconds: Correct Hand Placement

3 Second StopGrowing up you may have learned that “10 and 2” was the proper hand placement on the steering wheel. With the advent of airbags, it is now recommended that you hold the wheel at 9 and 3 o’clock or a little lower at 8 and 4 o’clock. This position gives you control of the vehicle and reduces the risk of hand and arm injury in the event the airbag deploys.

Nov 13 2014

Festive Follies

Beware Intoxicated Drivers

The holiday season is right around the corner bringing many merry festivities with it.  Unfortunately this usually means an increase in drunken drivers on the road.  If you notice an impaired driver sharing the road with you, what should you do?

  1. Maintain a safe following distance.
  2. Do NOT try to pass or overtake a potentially intoxicated driver.
  3. If the car is behind you, try to turn onto another road.
  4. When safe, pull over and contact the police. Give them as much information as you can in regards to license plate number, vehicle description, location and behavior of the driver.

Most importantly, let the police handle the driver. Do not try to personally stop or detain the vehicle. Stay safe and have a great holiday season!

Oct 29 2014

Wake Up Call

Driver Fatigue

You’ve been there before, driving and struggling to keep your eyes open. Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving. When you are tired or fatigued, your reaction time, coordination, and vision all suffer.

In 2009, 2.5% (832) of fatal crashes in the United States were reported to involve drowsy driving. And 1.3% (72,000) of all injury crashes in 2009 had reports involving drowsy drivers.
(NHTSA – Traffic Safety Facts Crash Stats: Drowsy Driving)

So what can you do to combat drowsy driving before it begins?

  1. Get enough sleep regularly.
  2. Keep your eyes moving and continually scan the roadway to avoid ‘highway hypnosis’.
  3. Regulate the temperature in the car. Don’t let it get too warm. Open a window and get some fresh air moving.
  4. Take breaks. Get out of the car and move around.

Remember, if you start to feel fatigued behind the wheel, the best thing to do is to pull over in a safe place and get some rest.

Oct 14 2014

Too Close for Comfort

No time to read a long-winded BLOnG? Welcome to the Three-Second-Stop mini-Blog.

Today’s Three Seconds: Tailgating

3 Second StopTailgating is the #1 cause of rear-end collisions. Also, following too closely is the #1 cause of collisions on the freeway. That’s why it is essential to leave plenty of space between you and the car ahead of you. Riding someone’s bumper is not only rude, it is also dangerous. There is no good reason to ever engage in tailgating so just don’t do it!

Oct 1 2014

Silver Screen Autos

Name That Movie

America loves cars. America loves movies. So what could be better than combining the two?  Take a trip down memory lane and see if you can name the movies that featured these memorable cars.  If you get stumped, there’s also a quote from each movie as an added clue.

1963 Volkswagen Beetle

 

SIX:

“You don’t understand what happens, do you? They make ten thousand cars, they make them exactly the same way, and one or two of ’em turn out to be something special. Nobody knows why.”

Mutt Cutts Van

 

FIVE:

“Pullover!”  “No, it’s a cardigan but thanks for noticing.”

1981 DeLorean DMC-12

 

FOUR:

“The way I see it, if you’re gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?”

1959 Cadillac Ecto-1

THREE:

“Everybody can relax, I found the car. Needs some suspension work and shocks. Brakes, brake pads, lining, steering box, transmission, rear-end.”

1978 VW Van

 

TWO:

“Oh my God, I’m getting pulled over. Everyone, just pretend to be normal.”

 

 

 

1986 Chrysler Town & Country

 

ONE:

“I know it’s not pretty to look at….but it’ll get you where you want to go.”

 

6) The Love Bug (1968) 5) Dumb & Dumber (1994) 4) Back to the Future (1985) 
3) Ghostbusters (1984) 2) Little Miss Sunshine (2006) 
1) Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Sep 16 2014

New Law Alert

No time to read a long-winded BLOnG? Welcome to the Three-Second-Stop mini-Blog.

Today’s Three Seconds: Three Feet for Safety Act

sharetheroad3 Second StopAs of September 16, 2014, the Three Feet for Safety Act (California Vehicle Code 21760) went into effect. This law concerns motorists sharing the road with bicyclists. If you are in a motor vehicle traveling the same direction as a bicyclist, you may not pass the bicyclist “at a distance of less than three feet between any part of the motor vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator.” If it is not safe to pass a bicyclist due to the traffic or road conditions, be sure to slow down and follow at a safe distance until you are able to safely pass them. If you fail to follow this new law, you could be fined $35; and if a collision occurs “causing bodily injury to the operator of the bicycle” you could be fined $220.

Sep 4 2014

Whoa Nelly!

Vehicle Control and Recovery

Driving too fast for road and weather conditions can result in loss of car control. In today’s blog we will discuss what to do should you hydroplane or have a fishtail skid.

Hydroplaning occurs when you travel too fast on a wet road causing water to build up between your tires and the road. When you lose contact with the road you no longer have control of the car.

When you begin to hydroplane, do not slam on the brakes. Take your foot off the accelerator to gradually slow down, allowing your tires to regain contact with the road and restore vehicle control. Abrupt actions, like braking or yanking the steering wheel, can make the skid worse by putting your car into a spin.

A fishtailing skid is when the rear end of your car begins to slide back and forth because your back wheels lose traction with the ground. If you encounter a fishtailing skid you should:

  1. Take your foot of the gas pedal.
  2. Remain calm and keep a firm, steady grip on the steering wheel.
  3. Turn the steering wheel in the direction you want your vehicle to go.
  4. Try steering only enough to stop the skid, but you may need to counter-steer until you have regained control of the car.

Also, in both situations, if you are driving a car with manual transmission, the clutch should be disengaged when you take your foot off the accelerator.

Aug 19 2014

It’s That Time Again…

No time to read a long-winded BLOnG? Welcome to the Three-Second-Stop mini-Blog.

schoolbuskids_webToday’s Three Seconds: School Bus Safety

3 Second StopLaws vary by state, be sure to consult your local DMV for your state regulations. However in most states, when a school bus is stopped with red flashing lights to load or unload passengers, vehicles traveling in either direction are required to stop. They must remain stopped until the lights are no longer flashing. Generally the only exception is for traffic traveling in the opposite direction of the school bus on a road divided by a physical barrier.

Aug 6 2014

Get Your Kicks

route-66-110606_640On Route 66

We’ve all heard it, the iconic song about the iconic cross-country highway. For those you who have never traveled the now lonely road, let’s make a few virtual stops on this historic route spanning over 2000 miles from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California.

Big Blue Whale Catoosa OK
The Blue Whale can be found in Catoosa, OK. This huge structure is 80 feet in length and 20 feet tall. Built by Hugh S. Davis in 1972 as an anniversary gift for his wife, Zelta, it was a great place to cool off after a hot day on the road. The attraction closed in 1988 but was restored and reopened in 1997.

800px-Wigwam_Motel,_Holbrook,_AZ_04048u_edit
If you find yourself in Holbrook, AZ, make a stop at the Wigwam Motel. You can even spend a night in a “teepee.” Owner and operator Chester E. Lewis, who ran the business until he sold it in 1974, completed construction of Wigwam Village Motel #6 in 1950. In 1988 Lewis’ wife and children bought and re-opened the motel.

Santa_Monica_Harbor
You’ll come to the end of the road at Yacht Harbor Pier in Santa Monica, CA. The Santa Monica Pier had a rich history of its own before it was officially assigned the West Coast’s conclusion of Route 66 in November 2009. The first pier was constructed in 1909 and has been altered, enhanced and renovated a few times since.