Category

Automobile

Category
Keeping Awake When Driving!

The Mental Journey: Looking After Yourself When Driving On The Road

By

Tips to driving safely

You may look after your car like it’s your baby and whenever there are any car problems, you immediately get it fixed right away, thus ensuring that it’s always in peak condition. But are you in peak condition when you’re behind the wheel? Do you look after yourself? If you don’t feel like you have looked after yourself when you’re behind the wheel, here are a few things you can do to ensure that your driving health is as well maintained as the car you drive.

Avoid Driving Tired

Mental or physical exhaustion is one of the biggest causes of car accidents. You can contact TheFloridaLawGroup.com to get more information on what can really cause car accidents. Exhaustion is a very serious issue, especially if you are constantly getting behind the wheel in a fuzzy state of mind. If driving is a necessity and you are tired, you could try the trusted caffeine nap, where you have a cup of coffee before taking a 20-minute nap. Your alertness will increase immensely, thereby giving you the focus to drive safely.

Drive Defensively

This is in essence, driving with a very vigilant attitude. There are hints on TrustedChoice.com to get you started on driving defensively, but a lot of it is common sense, in combination with an inherent knowledge of driving safely. In a nutshell, it’s being aware of your surroundings. Many drivers are very ignorant of their surroundings and only think of themselves; so by driving defensively, not only are you looking after the people in your car, you are far better at anticipating potential problems and you can easily slow down before something happens. We are sometimes so single-minded when it comes to driving that we don’t even bother looking in our mirrors half the time.

Reduce Your Distractions

There are so many tools in your car now and any single one of them can take your attention off the road for long enough to cause an accident. It’s also important to consider what distracts you. This includes the most common device we all use now, the smartphone. Although driving while texting is illegal, so many people still do it. In addition to this, if there are major distractions in your car on a constant basis, such as pets, or even children, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to minimize their impact on your ability to drive. Your priority is to get everybody to the destination in one piece, and this needs to be done by any means necessary.

Accidents can be prevented by simple fixes. Much like fixing little issues in your car, by taking note of what you view as failings in your driving, then you can begin to rectify these problems. Whether it’s distracted driving, or you are overly tired, or you have a lack of focus; if you take the time to preserve yourself like you do to your car, you will be a far better driver. Keep yourself in peak condition and you will never have any issues on the road.

by
Keep Reading
How to Keep your Car Clean!

How Clean Is Your Car?

By

It’s a question you may not ask yourself all that often. After all, as long as it doesn’t look like you’ve been off-roading then its okay, right? Well, while many people would agree with you, there are some that wouldn’t. In fact, some folks like to have an immaculate vehicle inside and out and it’s even something that is possible to achieve. Read on to find out how and to see if you are up for the challenge of a super clean car.

Car wash kiosks

Are the wheels clean?

Vehicle wheels are just like the soles of our shoes; they will get dirty because they come into close contact with the road. However, that doesn’t mean we have to leave them clogged in mud. In fact, if your wheels are incredibly dirty, it can even make your car less safe to drive because it will affect the tire grips and that is not what you want! After all, tires are what automobile companies invest millions in to get it right.

How to wash car wheels

With that in mind, it’s a good idea to keep your wheel and tires as clean as you possibly can. To do this, it’s first necessary to hose down the wheels to remove the significant bits of debris. Of course, if you have a power washer like the ones reviewed at AutoDeets, it can make this task a lot easier. In fact, by using one, you can stand and clean the tires instead of having to get a brush and kneel down to clean out all the crevices.

Once your tires and wheels are clean, don’t forget to do the arches as well; then you can move on to finishing and protecting them. For this, it is helpful to use tire dressing, a liquid that ensures that the tire colour doesn’t look faded. The finishing touch is to polish your hubcaps and this will require you to have some metal polish and a soft cloth.

Are the seats clean?

The seats are parts of the car that get a lot of wear and tear and luckily, there are a few hacks that you can apply to make this process a little less intensive.

One is to use white vinegar to remove any stains from your seats. However, remember that this will only work on leather upholstery and not fabric. If you are dealing with an ink stain on your leather seating, you can even use hairspray to get it out but do be careful as leather is particularly delicate to clean correctly.

Cleaning car interior tips

If your seats are fabric, then a car upholstery cleaner should do the trick and you may even want to steam the seats occasionally as this will ensure that they are hygienic deep down and as well as surface clean.

Is the paintwork clean?

Manual car wash vs auto car wash

Now, moving onto the outside of your vehicle; it’s essential to make your paintwork as clean and shiny as possible. Traditionally this has been seen as a job that you get done with an automatic machine. However, car wash rollers like the ones you can find in garages are notoriously bad for your paintwork and can even cause minor scratches and abrasions. Instead, you can do a much better job if you chose to do this task by hand.

Of course, it is important to note that before you start to get down to cleaning your vehicle, you must remove any nasty stains first. Such stains may be caused by bird faeces or tree sap; all of which can damage paint if not gotten rid of as quickly as possible.

Then, once your vehicle is clear of these stains, you can go ahead with the full cleaning, something that is best done with a car shampoo brand that you trust. Also, please don’t forget to dry your vehicle off with a chamois leather or microfiber cloth once you finished because you wouldn’t want to have unsightly watermarks.

Is the trim clean?

Lastly, as you have spent so much time and effort getting the inside and outside of your car as clean as possible, it is worth going the extra mile to work on the inside and outside of the trims as well.

For both, be sure to use a cleaner that also offers some UV protection, something that will stop your trims fading over time. Also, be careful to avoid any oily polishes or cleaners on the inside as this can damage the leather and fabric and detract from achieving that clean car look that you have challenged yourself to create.

by
Keep Reading
Petrol vs Diesel Cars

Stop And Think: Is A Diesel Vehicle Right For You?

By

So, you’re thinking of buying a new vehicle. Let’s be honest about this, whether you’re looking for something new for personal or business use, car shopping is a whole lot of fun. These days especially, when cars come with so many digital bells and whistles to make driving so much safer and more pleasurable, car shopping is an enjoyable and informative experience for individuals and families. Of course, finding the right vehicle is rarely a short and simple process. This is particularly true when buying for business. Since your business’ efficacy and productivity will be reliant upon your choice of vehicle, it’s only understandable that you’d want to set aside the time and effort to make an informed and sound choice.

Diesel Vehicle or Gasoline Car?

While all shoppers have different priorities when choosing a vehicle, surprisingly few people agonize over whether they should consider a vehicle that uses gasoline or diesel. Although electric and hybrid vehicles are becoming a greater part of the conversation, the decision to choose one or the other of these fuel sources may seem ancillary to other considerations. Diesel vehicles, however, can come with their own specific set of issues so it’s a very important decision to make when you consider the following…

DPF Dilemmas

Over time, a diesel engine will accumulate sooty particulates which are collected in the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). As time goes by, the particulates can clog the DPF, rendering it all but useless. In extreme circumstances, the DPF may be clogged beyond repair and will need to be replaced by passenger car or diesel truck mechanics. This is a very laborious and expensive repair. Fortunately, DPFs purge themselves under certain conditions. If you’re travelling at around 50mph, the DPF will generate enough heat to purge itself. Thus, a diesel truck is a better choice for long-distance drivers. If you’re the kind of driver who only uses their vehicle for a short commute and/or a trip to the local store, a diesel vehicle is almost certainly not for you.

Fuel Efficiency

If you’re using a vehicle for business, fuel is an overhead which needs to be carefully managed if you’re to protect your profit margins. In many provinces, diesel cars have been a cost-effective solution for thrifty drivers due to their lower road taxes and better fuel efficiency. While drivers no longer benefit from the cheaper road tax they do enjoy better fuel economy. While diesel fuel costs a little more than gas its fuel efficiency can save drivers around $260 a year.

Performance

If you need to tow other vehicles as part of your business, a diesel vehicle is a sensible choice. Diesel engines tend to muster more torque than their gas-powered counterparts. If your stake your business’ reputation on your vehicle, you need to take whatever competitive edge you can get.

The Environment

As diesel vehicles are equipped with particulate filters, they are a more environmentally sound choice for eco-conscious drivers. The introduction of urea-based fuel additives in some vehicles further reduces the toxicity of diesel vehicle emissions. If you care about the environment but don’t have the budget for a hybrid vehicle or would struggle to charge an electric vehicle, diesel is the way to go.

Making an informed choice will mean that you enjoy happily and worry free motoring in a vehicle that’s ideally suited to your needs.

by
Keep Reading

Small Car Problem; Big Car Problem: Taking Vehicular Issues Seriously

By

We’ve all been there. You’re driving along, enjoying the open highway, perhaps even cruising on the road trip of a lifetime, and all seems well with the world… and then it happens.

The dashboard suddenly lights up like a Christmas tree.

Or perhaps…

A stone flies and hits the windscreen.

Or we hear the flap-flap-flap noise that signifies a tire has been punctured.

When these issues occur, we all have the same reactions; we’re momentarily alarmed, then, well, we’re just plain irritated. Our vehicle, which moments before seemed to be running effortlessly has now been compromised and we’re going to have to spend time and money to fix the issue. This is an inconvenience, and our lives are busy, and the issue doesn’t seem that bad…

So we decide it can wait.

If you’ve done this, then fear not; you’re not alone. We’ve all had moments when our vehicle has indicated an issue to us, and our response has largely been, “I don’t care”. Unless the issue is so pressing that it is preventing us from driving, most of the time, we’ll carry on regardless.

However, there is an issue with this kind of thought process; just because nothing terrible has happened yet doesn’t mean that it’s not going to happen at all. In fact, some of those small inconveniences can swiftly become much bigger problems.

Take for example, a light pinging up on the dashboard— maybe it’s the engine management light or a warning about the oil. If left unattended, these issues can cause genuine and irreparable damage to your vehicle. The lights are there to tell you to act, now, as soon as you possibly can; if you ignore them, there’s a good chance that your engine will never recover. Here, for example, is what happens to an engine without oil:

Definitely a situation you’re going to want to prevent, so follow the advice of the guidance lights and make the necessary repair as soon as possible!

Furthermore, a small chip in your windscreen may not seem like a reason to panic, but you will be amazed at how quickly those chips can grow. A chip or crack, no matter how small, will compromise the integrity of the windscreen. If your windscreen is hit again, then there’s a good chance it will completely destroy the entire screen. As a result, try and make it a rule of thumb that as soon as you see a crack, you schedule in windscreen repairs as soon as possible.

Finally, if your car tire is punctured, then it’s punctured. Continuing to drive on it will do little but guarantee that the puncture can’t be mended. Instead of a repair, you’ll have to find the money for an entirely new tire. It’s far better for the tire — and your budget! — if you pull over as soon as you notice the tire is punctured, then either change the tire yourself or wait for assistance to do so.

So when these “small” problems occur, treat them as if they’re big problems, and you won’t go far wrong.

by
Keep Reading

Stunning Hints for Helping You Get the Best Out of Your Car

By

Your car is such an important part of your life and it serves an essential purpose every day. A car gives you much greater freedom, as well as improving your independence and opportunities. So, you need to make sure you focus on how to get the best out of your car and ensure that it is always in the best working order it can possibly be.

This is why you need to make sure you focus on the important aspects of car ownership. There are so many things you have to consider in this regard, and it can be difficult to get everything right. Hence, here are some helpful hints that you can follow to help you get the most out of your vehicle.

Keep it Clean

Keeping your vehicle clean is absolutely essential for getting the most out of it. You need to make sure everything is in full working order, and this means you have to ensure you keep it to the best possible standard you can. So, focus on keeping your car squeaky clean inside and out because this will make it run effectively for longer. You have to make sure you are doing as much as possible to improve the way your car is treated and keeping it clean is a big part of this.

Store it Correctly

You have to ensure that you are storing the car correctly in order to make sure it is well protected. The elements can have a huge bearing on any vehicles and protecting your car against the elements ensures that it can run better and reduce the chance of any foreseeable problems in the future. Look at keeping your car in a garage, or at least covered.

Always Have Essentials on Standby

There are some essentials that you need to keep on standby for when the car inevitably needs them. Visit ridebass.com and stock up on windshield washer fluid. Also make sure you have a spare tire in the trunk and have some spare car parts in storage as well. This is crucial for helping you improve the way your car is being maintained and looked after, as well as helping to keep it in full working order.

Drive Sensibly

Make sure you always do what you can to drive sensibly and carefully. This is something you have to make sure you focus on as much as you can. There are plenty of excellent drivers out there but also some who aren’t so good. The more sensible you are behind the wheel, the more you will become a better driver and the better it will be for the car in the long run.

These are just a few of the top hints that will help you to get the best out of your car moving forward. There are loads of great hints that will help you improve the longevity and safety of your vehicle, and these are just a few of the best.

by
Keep Reading

Don’t Blow A Gasket. Sell The Car ASAP.

By

Owning a car is a rite of passage; it’s like ordering a beer when you turn 18. You’ve been waiting for years to get the chance and finally, it’s here and it’s incredible.

That’s how most of us feel when we first pass our driving test. Driving is like a drug and you can’t get enough, but the intensity does start to fade away after a while. Still, unlike other obsessions, we continue to do it week in week out. Losing a car is like losing a limb to some people.

For others, the realisation has finally hit home and if you’ve been thinking about selling up, have a look at some of the lifestyle pros underneath.

Less Stress

Driving is supposed to make life easier but it often adds to the tension. One minute you’re cruising along without a care in the world and the next a motorist cuts you up. Do you take a breath and collect your thoughts before reacting? Nope, you honk on the horn and scream obscenities until your blood pressure hits the roof. With no car, there is no need to worry about road rage. Even selling up is straightforward with Saxton 4×4. Whichever way you look at it, cortisol is going to be the big loser, not you.

Better Health

Mental health is the key, but physical well-being has a role to play too. Obesity rates are skyrocketing year after year and we as a society are getting unhealthier and it’s beginning to impact everyone. Your car has a lot to answer because it ingrains a lazy attitude within your head. “Don’t walk,” it says, “drive instead.” Driving is quicker and easier. Of course, the body doesn’t get the same work out from sitting behind the wheel. By scraping your motor, you’ll have to do more physical exercise. Even if you use public transport, you’ve got to get there in the first place.

Fewer Money Troubles

Although it’s paper, money doesn’t grow on trees. Unfortunately, there is never enough of it to go around and there’s a good chance you’ll have problems at some point. When you do, it’s essential to shed the fat and keep the stuff that is necessary. For some reason, a car seems to fall into the latter category even though you can get by fine without one. As a result, families struggle to make ends meet while forking out a fortune on petrol and maintenance costs. Cashing in on it will relieve a lot of the pressure.

Time Saver

Do you live in the city? For those that do, owning a car is pointless at times. Forget about the stress and the money, and focus on the time instead. Sitting in traffic is inevitable, especially during the rush hour at 5pm in the evening. And, even when the lanes are moving, everything goes at a snail’s place. Plus, finding a parking spot is like spotting a needle in a haystack. In the city, there are plenty of things to do with your spare time; so why waste it in a jam or cruising around for a parking space?

by
Keep Reading

How To Prepare For A Road Trip

By

Let’s face it, road trips are awesome. If you have a free weekend and you’re not sure what to do, then a road trip is always the answer. It’s essentially an adventure that takes you on a journey of discovery. It’s a way of seeing things that you may not have ever noticed before on your usual trip to and from work – and that’s the point. You opt for the scenic routes that add an extra thirty minutes onto your travels. You stop at a local cafe for a nice bite to eat and a refreshing drink to enjoy; and you pull over on the empty road to take the best selfie next to that funny road sign. – It’s the little things you see. Those are the things you remember and cherish in your memories; and better still, you can do it surrounded by the ones that you love.

Before you do hit the road though, there are a few things that you will need to do and prepare so as to lessen the risk of something going wrong.

Here’s how.

Have an extra jerry can, or two.

The last thing that you want to happen is to break down in the middle of nowhere and be forced to get in touch with the nearest towing services to come and save you. So make sure you fill up your fuel tank before you head out. But if you want to be extra safe, then fill up some jerry cans while you’re there and keep them in the trunk of your car. This will just add that sense of security knowing that if ever you do plan on going further out, you don’t need to stress about breaking down because you have a couple of cans to fill up your car with.

Have a multipurpose charger in your car.

Not that you’ll be looking at your phone while you’re on your road trip – but bringing a charger is always a good idea in case you need to get in touch with someone in the event of an emergency. Now, of course, there’s the possibility of having no service, which is out of your control, but what you can control is having enough battery to do whatever necessary in terms of contact. You can buy a car charger that has multiple heads on; which is always a good move because it means there are options in case other passengers have a different phone or gadget than you.

Have enough water to last.

Water is one of the most important things. Our bodies need it in order to survive, so it’s wise to bring some big bottles of water with you. If you have a cool box – even better, as you’ll be able to keep it fresh and cold this way. If not, do all you can to keep it out of direct sunlight. And whenever you do find somewhere to pull over, be it a gas station, small shop, or bathroom – refill the used bottles so that you’re never short of a drink.

by
Keep Reading

Preparing for a Long Car Journey

By

Long car journeys can go either way. It can be a fantastic chance to spend time with your friends and family, out on the open road, and taking a break from your real life and the ever-growing time demands of technology. Long car journeys are enjoyable experiences that bring you joy, giving you a chance to see the sights, have some fun and relieve some stress. Or, it can be an uncomfortable, hot, sticky, tedious nightmare that you never want to repeat. In the worst scenarios, it can even be dangerous or have a negative impact on your health.

If you’ve got a long car journey coming up this year, you’ll probably want to make sure it’s one of the wonderful ones. So, here’s everything that you need to prepare to make it so.

Check Your Car

The last thing that you want during a long road trip is car trouble. You don’t want to break down in the middle of nowhere or find yourself involved in an accident because your car is in poor condition. If you want a smooth and safe journey, it’s imperative that you take the time to perform some car safety checks before leaving home. Giving yourself plenty of time to fix anything that you need to before setting off.

Be sure to check the tire pressure and tread, your brakes and lights, your mirrors, all of the fluid levels and any dashboard lights that are on. If your car hasn’t been in the garage for a while, you may even want to take it in for a full service.

Arrange Appropriate Insurance

No one wants to have an accident or breakdown, but no matter how careful you are, you never know what might happen. Make sure you’ve got cheap car insurance that covers everything you need, as well as travel insurance to protect your trip. It can also be worth purchasing breakdown cover; just make sure it covers your destination and not just driving at home.

Plan Your Route

A satellite navigation system or a maps app on your phone is a useful tool, but it’s vital that you don’t rely on it blindly. Programme  in your route and set your system up in your car. But, also take the time to plan your route and look at maps. Use this time to book motels along your way if you will need stops.

Plan Another Route

Maps and even satellite systems aren’t always up to date. Check online for any news of roadworks, large incidents or planned road closures and plan an alternative route. It’s a good idea to have a few backups in mind just in case you run into trouble along the way.

Pack Carefully

The key to a happy and harmonious road trip is often in the packing. Take your time to make sure that you’ve got snacks and drinks, plenty of music, pillows, blankets, games, a change of clothes and travel toiletries, wipes, a rubbish bag and anything else that you can think of to make the trip both comfortable and fun.

by
Keep Reading

Cars: Handy, Fun…but Pretty Expensive

By

Like most things in life, cars are something of a mixture of good and bad. They can be tremendously fun, and we all know about the convenience that they add to our lives. And who doesn’t love a good road trip, to rekindle the love of the world? And then there’s the bad. They’re not great for the environment, and it kinda sucks spending big chunks of our day in traffic. Then there’s the cost. How did they end up costing so much? Below, we take a look at a few ways cars burn a hole in our wallets, and how you can keep the costs down.

Getting Your Dream Car

Any old car might suffice when we’ve just passed our driving test, but there’ll come a time when that car that we’ve always had our eye on is calling our name. Alas, any car with this kind of pulling power is not going to be cheap. Before we’re able to cruise around town in style, we’ll need to spend months putting away a significant portion of our salary into a savings account. It’ll all be worth it one day, but there’s no avoiding that it can make our finances suffer somewhat.

Monthly Costs

It would be nice if, once you bought a car, that was it: it was all inclusive. We can dream! Instead, we’re hit with gas prices that never seem to come down as fast as they go up, and insurance costs. While there’s not much you can do about the cost of gas; you can reduce the amount of gas you’re using by learning how to travel correctly (you want an MPG as low as possible) and opting to walk or take public transportation instead of driving from time to time. For your insurance, make sure you’re shopping around to get the best price.

The Big Expenses

As cars are big, complicated machines, they also bring with them big, complicated costs. If you have a crash, then you could have expenses that include replacing the vehicle, medical bills, and supporting yourself if you’re unable to work. If your car just breaks down, then you’ll need to take it to a garage and let the experts take care of it. You can ease these financial burdens in two ways. If you’re in an accident, get help from a company like HugheyLawFirm.com; they’ll fight to get the money that you deserve. There won’t be much you can do about a car that won’t start other than get it looked at by the professionals, but you can reduce the chances of it happening by staying on top of the engine maintenance.

Replacing the Vehicle

Nothing lasts forever, least of all a car. Even before it’s officially given up on life, you’ll probably want to replace the vehicle before it gets to that stage anyway. To help keep these costs down, use the sale of your current vehicle to fund the next one, and get to saving the rest of the money that’s needed well in advance. 

by
Keep Reading

How You Can Ensure Your Car Isn’t Jeopardising Your Health

By

If you spend a lot of time on the road, then you need to make sure you do what it takes to ensure your car isn’t jeopardising your health. Of course, this means ensuring your car is in full working order and that it’s kept clean. Just like having a dirty and dusty home, you’ll be leaving yourself open to allergies and illnesses if you don’t make sure that your car is kept clean!

That’s simple enough – so let’s talk about performing regular maintenance checks.

Perform Regular Maintenance Checks

Lots of drivers don’t perform the maintenance checks that they should be performing before a journey. You don’t have to spend a long time checking the car over before every single journey, but you should check it over semi regularly and especially before a long journey.

Remembering what you need to check over each time can be tough. It’s easy to forget  something, so remember it with the following code: P-O-W-E-R

P – Petrol or fuel – you should make sure you have enough before you set off for any journey. You should know if you’re going to need to top up on your journey or if you’ll get through the trip without stopping. You don’t want to end up waiting on the hard shoulder of the motorway while somebody comes to rescue you. If that happens, you’re putting yourself in danger and you could end up in an accident. At the very least, you’ll then need to contact a place like https://www.levininjuryfirm.com/philadelphia/car-accident-lawyer/ to help you and the worst that could happen is that you could even lose your life.

O – Oil levels – your oil level should be at the maximum mark on the dipstick. Make sure it’s recommended by the manufacturer too or you’ll have engine damage to contend with. Some new cars use a litre of oil every 5000 miles.

W – Water – only top this up with a proper antifreeze mix. However, in an emergency you can use plain water.

E – Electrics, including lights – make sure all of your lights work before you set off and that you have any spare bulbs and fuses you might need in your car.

R – Rubber or tyres and windscreen wipers – tyres that haven’t been inflated properly will cost you more money per tank of fuel. They’ll wear out faster, won’t hold to the road well, and cause a host of other problems. Ensure tread depth is what it should be and that there are no cuts and bulges. If something doesn’t look right, get professional advice.

Make Sure You Have Breakdown Cover

You can try your hardest, but sometimes, your car will let you down. Breakdown cover can help you to get back on the road quickly. Many places will fix your car roadside so you can carry on your way.

Make sure you take the above into account so that you’re not jeopardising your health every time you get into your car. This is especially important before a long trip!

by
Keep Reading