No time to read a long-winded BLOnG? Welcome to the Three-Second-Stop mini-Blog.
Unfortunately, a good majority of accidents occur at night, so understanding when to use your high beams is very important. If you happen to be on a divided highway and the cars that are traveling in the opposite direction are more than 500 feet away, you are in the clear to use your high beams.
Now you know.
This sounds like a great idea, right? I mean, wouldn’t it improve safety issues and lessen the amount of accidents all around the world? Well, Ford thinks so.
Ford has developed an experimental brake light that lets the vehicles behind you know when there’s slow traffic ahead, even if they can’t see your lights.
So how exactly does it work? Well, included in the brake light system is a wireless transmitter that sends a special signal to vehicles that are behind you which then activates a light on their dashboard letting them know that there is some slow traffic ahead, with the intent that they will slow down or take an alternate route if possible.
The feature gives drivers more than enough time to slow down instead of having to unexpectedly slam on the brakes because of bad weather, poor road conditions, or any other circumstances that might cause you or the vehicles behind you to be stuck in traffic; and who wants that?
Although Ford hasn’t officially announced if or when it plans to add the enhanced brake light system into their upcoming models, it is still a giant leap towards vehicle-to-vehicle communications. Sounds like they’re moving in the right direction with this one.
When is the right time to tell a senior loved one that their days behind the wheel are lessening with each passing day?
According to statistics, there are approximately 33 million drivers over the age of 65 regularly operating a motor vehicle in the United States. The majority of these motorists are injured daily from driving-related accidents; some even killed.
Because of medical complications, disabilities, a decline in vision and cognitive functions, the risk of vehicular fatalities increases significantly after the age of 75.
Although these are plenty of reasons to be off the road completely, telling someone who has been driving for as long as they can remember isn’t exactly the easiest conversation to have. In fact, according to a new study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the CU College of Nursing, clinicians often wait too long before having “the talk.”
Based on a study conducted by Dr. Marian Betz, researchers found that most of the more mature and seasoned drivers were open to being approached earlier with driving retirement. It allows them more than enough time to process and prepare in the event they become incapable to drive.
Several states have considered instituting an elderly driving law, requiring individuals to be retested behind the wheel after a certain age.
Road rage. We all have a little bit in us. No? Remember that time when the vehicle in front of you was driving so obnoxiously slow that if you got out of your car and walked, you’d probably make it to your destination a lot faster? Or how about the driver who continuously slammed on his breaks causing you to do the same, for absolutely no reason at all? Yes, I’m sure you remember moments like this. You may even remember how you felt, the choice of words you used, and the amount of frustration endured. However, some of us choose to take this anger and act upon it in ways that presents not only self-danger, but danger to other motorists on the road as well.
Road rage is defined as aggressive or angry behavior by a driver of an automobile or other motor vehicle. Such behavior might include rude gestures, verbal insults, deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening manner, or making threats. Road rage can lead to altercations, assaults, and collisions which result in injuries and even deaths.
So, if you are ever confronted with an aggressive driver, what should you do?
1. Avoid direct eye contact with a driver who appears to be agitated. Many people associate eye contact with a challenge or threat. Even a friendly smile can be misinterpreted as a sarcastic threat.
2. Put Your Pride Aside. Do not challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own in your travel lane.
3. Gestures. Ignore gestures and refuse to return them.
4. Report Serious Aggressive Driving. You or a passenger may call the police. But, if you use a cell phone, pull over to a safe location.
Aggressive driving contributes to 56 percent of all fatal car crashes, so next time think twice before you react!
(Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
Well, next year anyway. Apple announced that they are in the process of enhancing iPhone integration in cars with its latest software update, iOS 7, referring to it as the ‘iOS in the Car’ feature at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.
Automakers such as Acura, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Opel, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Volvo are amongst the vehicles that will offer the new ‘iOS in the Car’ feature, which will allow drivers to access key functions on their iPhone via the dashboard screen. You’ll be able to make phone calls, play music, display Apple Maps and receive iMessages, either by using the car’s controls or by giving voice commands to Siri through the car’s sound system.
“Ninety-five percent of cars sold today have integrated music playback and control from an iOS device, but we want to take this integration to a whole ’nother level,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of software and services.
And if that wasn’t reason enough to take advantage of the new feature that will be available through selected vehicles in 2014, then perhaps this might…as part of Apple’s Eyes Free feature set, Siri can read iMessages aloud and transcribe responses as well!
Sure, you’re only dropping some mail off at the post office, grabbing some milk from the grocery store, or picking up the dry cleaning. I mean there’s no harm in that right, especially when it only requires a couple minutes of your time, so leaving your child in the car for just a moment should be fine, right? Wrong! According to Safe Kids, 30 children die each year when they are left unsupervised in the car. It only takes seconds for something horrific to happen.
Not only is it scary for a small child to be left alone, but your vehicle’s temperature can change dramatically, and very quickly, which can affect your child’s oxygen levels, and in some cases causing hyperthermia and/or suffocation.
Aside from temperature changes, inadvertent gear-shift crashes, locking parents out of the car, trunk entrapments, or getting limbs caught in the windows, are just some of the many possible dangers leaving a child unattended in a vehicle could lead to. This is considered a misdemeanor offense; the offense can become a felony if there are resulting injuries.
Waking up a sleeping child or getting a toddler out of a car seat in the freezing cold or rain can be quite a hassle, so it’s understandable why many parents fall victim to this. But, if you need money, find a drive through ATM. If you need gas, use a credit card at the pump, or find a full-service station. Whatever you do, just don’t leave your child in the car alone!
Many of us tend to jump in our cars, rushing through life, never noticing the true beauty and nature that surrounds us. But, if you traveled any one of these fine roads you may have come across one of these beautifully constructed bridges. Can you name any? Hint: Two of these bridges are in the U.S. and two are not.
FOUR: Certainly one of the most well-known bridges in New York, with the least attractive architectural appearance, temporarily held the record as the world’s longest suspension bridge. This bridge became a symbol of American ingenuity and technology and is a great vessel for those traveling to and from Manhattan.
THREE: If you watched the 2012 Olympic Games then you’ve probably seen this bridge a million times. An iconic symbol of London, this bridge crosses the River Thames and is 800 feet long.
TWO: It is one of the longest ocean-crossing bridges in the world, located in the eastern coastal region of China. The bridge is 22 miles long and took 5 years to construct.
ONE: Probably the most famous bridge ever built and instantly recognizable by everyone. It has often been called the most photographed bridge in the world. That might have something to do with its beautiful red exterior and sloping suspension cables. And when the fog rolls in…breathtaking!
4) Brooklyn Bridge 3) Tower Bridge 2) Hangzhou Bay Bridge 1) The Golden Gate Bridge
No time to read a long-winded BLOnG? Welcome to the Three-Second-Stop mini-Blog.
Planning on hitting the open road this summer? Well, if you’re one of the many looking to book a car rental for that awesome trip you’ve been waiting to take, then you might want to check our three part mini blog on how to drive away without incurring such an insane rate.
Today’s Trip Tip:
3. Off-airport rental rates. Airports charge rental companies a whole lot to have in-terminal desks and onsite lots. These rental companies make up their money by charging you higher base rates and/or mandatory extras.
Did you miss: Get the Best Car Rental Rates, Part 1 or Part 2?
No time to read a long-winded BLOnG? Welcome to the Three-Second-Stop mini-Blog.
Planning on hitting the open road this summer? Well, if you’re one of the many looking to book a car rental for that awesome trip you’ve been waiting to take, then you might want to check our three part mini blog on how to drive away without incurring such an insane rate.
Today’s Trip Tip:
2. Check an opaque website. Discounted websites like Priceline and Hotwire are often packed with deals. “Opaque” websites offer unsold resources, such as car rentals, at a reduced price, but hide the particular dealer until after the purchase has been made. For example, doing a simulated search at JFK Airport, produced the rate of $263 on Hotwire, compared to $411 for Hertz.
Tomorrow’s Trip Tip: Off-Airport Rentals
Did you miss: Get the Best Car Rental Rates, Part 1?
No time to read a long-winded BLOnG? Welcome to the Three-Second-Stop mini-Blog.
Planning on hitting the open road this summer? Well, if you’re one of the many looking to book a car rental for that awesome trip you’ve been waiting to take, then you might want to check our three part mini blog on how to drive away without incurring such an insane rate.
Today’s Trip Tip:
1. Check alternate airports. Rates at each airport may differ. For instance, in New York City, the $411 rate at JFK was about $40 less than the rates at La Guardia or Newark. In San Francisco, the rate at San Francisco International ($423) was $80 less than the rate at Oakland and $160 less than the rate at San Jose. Your best deal may be to fly to/from the airport with the lowest car rental rates.
Tomorrow’s Trip Tip: Opaque Websites
Right Side of the Road 