Tag Archives: AAA report

Dec 9 2015

Hands-Free Is Not Worry-Free

Mental Distractions

A new study by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Measuring Cognitive Distraction in the Automobile III: A Comparison of Ten 2015 In-Vehicle Information Systems (October 2015), examined the effect of several different In-Vehicle Information Systems on mental performance while driving. Participants of the study were asked to complete voice initiated tasks such as dialing a phone number, placing a call to a contact or making a song selection.

One finding to note, it took up to 27 seconds for the driver to return their full attention back to driving after completing a task. The driver’s hands were on the wheel and eyes were on the road, but for 27 seconds their mind was not on driving. Driving needs your complete attention and involves continuous and complex coordination between your mind and body.

The study also revealed that practice does not may perfect. Participants kept a vehicle for five days to familiarize themselves with the technology. Even after a week of practice, activities required about the same amount of mental concentration as when it was first attempted.

No matter what potential distractions await you while on the road, it is up to you, the driver, to always focus on your driving.

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Oct 25 2013

The Fall in Gas Prices

What Does the Future Hold?

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The Fall season is upon us, and just like the autumn leaves, gas prices are coming down.  Yes, go ahead and let out that sigh of relief, we’ve felt the outrageous gas increase over the summer as well.

AAA reports unleaded gas is now averaging $3.34 a gallon, the lowest national average since the beginning of the year.  Lundberg Survey, Incorporated (LSI), an independent market research company specializing in U.S. petroleum marketing, announced its latest findings on September 20th.  Charleston, SC claimed the cheapest gas price at $3.14 a gallon, while drivers fueling up in San Francisco were still shelling out a little over $4 a gallon. Though gas prices aren’t what they used to be, we don’t think anyone’s complaining about the overall declining prices.  Some estimates even predict gas prices could drop below $3.00 per gallon by the end of the year – the first time since December of 2010.

One reason behind the significant decrease is from the usual seasonal drop in gas prices.  According to AAA, factories are making seasonal adjustments by switching from summer-grade blends of gasoline to winter-blends.  Winter-blends are less expensive, thus costing the consumer less as well.

Unfortunately, other industry insiders have a slightly more grim outlook for the future of gas prices, believing that they will never dip below $3 a gallon again.  Experts forecast the future of gas prices to rise and fall in association with current events, such as the United States’ relations with the Middle East.

Either way, motorists should do what they can to make their vehicles more fuel-efficient.

Stay tuned for our blog posts full of tips on how to make your gas “go the extra mile.”  We’ll clue you in on simple ways you can make your vehicle more fuel efficient, helping you make your car last longer and keep more money in your wallet!