- New Lamborghini featured at swanky Beverly Hills gala
http://t.co/DMOjzVZ92011/12/01 13:52 by HootSuite - Honda's natural gas Civic named Green Car of the Year
http://t.co/NNCNiTsf2011/11/30 13:55 by HootSuite - Amazing ICON redesign of the classic Ford Bronco.
http://t.co/kkvQcwpW2011/11/30 08:10 by HootSuite
Archive for the ‘Driving Tips’ Category
via Vehicle-Tracking.com
“Teenagers are four times more likely to be involved in car accidents than older drivers, so it’s crucial that they understand how their vehicles works and realize that distractions like phones, food, and music reduce their ability to focus on the road. During National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 16-22), give your child a step-by-step lesson on caring for her car (or have an expert explain the essentials to both of you). Talk about the importance of putting safety first behind the wheel–drive now, text later.”
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How not to park? Or how to park if you’re a valet in LA, apparently. Check out how much of the rubber gets shaved off during the turn.
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I’m hoping your Monday is going well. If not, I hope this video of a lot of ridiculous auto accidents helps cheer you up.
Cylindrical. Prismatic. Cathode. Anode. Separator. Cell Case. Hyprid. Ion.
No, this isn’t a science class. Just a link to a complicated but interesting article that will tell you everything you need to know about car batteries. For all you science fans out there.
Click here to read, “The Current Condition and Future Potential of Automotive Batteries” from Car and Driver.
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Folding Trunk Organizer, $9.99 at The Container Store
Black and White Damask Portable Nursery, $38 on Etsy
I’m always looking for information on extending the life of my car, but after finding an article on Reader’s Digest called “74 Tips to Extend the Life of Your Car”, I’m sure my car is going to fall apart at any minute. Because I don’t think I follow any of the tips. A few of my favorites? Keep an auto log. Don’t go over 55 m.p.h. for the first 1,000 miles on a new car. Warm the engine. Don’t turn the wheel to the extreme right and left. Avoid driving at high speeds or accelerating quickly.
It’s been 15 years since I sat down at a little wood desk and took the driving test that was the last step in receiving my driver’s license. After a semester of driver’s education, I was still nervous when I sat behind the wheel with my father in the passenger seat. My dad? He promptly fell asleep. Lately, I’ve realized that I’ve forgotten most of what I learned in that class. I found this driving test online and thought I would share.
My score? An astounding 67%. Looks like I’ll need to review traffic rules again!
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Google search “how to increase gas mileage” and you’ll receive over three million hits in less than one second. Every summer, as gas prices increase, new articles are added to the collection. Recycling the same tired hints. Reduce speed! Don’t use AC! Keep your windows closed! Use cruise control! All great tips, in theory. In actuality, not running the AC is not a viable option on days when temperatures are in the 100′s.
But they forget the most important way to reduce gas costs: keep your overall mileage down. The less you drive, the less you pay in gas. How do you do that? It depends on where you live, how many people live in your house and how much you’re willing to sacrifice. Here are a few key questions to ask yourself.
What is my current mileage?
Just like creating a budget for your household or business, the first step is to track your current usage. Keep a list of every place you drive to for a week or two. Get a good idea of typical trips.
How can I make my current car use more efficient?
After tracking data, focus on making each trip as efficient as possible. Take the shortest route, even if it uses a few extra minutes. Combine trips and errands. Use businesses like grocery stores and dry cleaners that are on the route to and home from work. Plan ahead and you’ll see a dramatic decrease in wasted mileage.
Do we need multiple cars?
Fewer cars means fewer miles driven. I know American tradition says that we need a car, or more, for each driver in our household, but the rest of the world doesn’t live this way. Do you really need to have a car for each driver? Is this something you can sacrifice to make more room for vacations or other extras?
Does using a car share program make more sense?
Most residents of metropolitan areas now have the advantage of car share programs. Use them! They’re way more efficient and cost much less than maintaining and driving your own car.
Can I use public transportation?
If you’re a city dweller, consider parking your car and using public transportation. An unlimited monthly pass that includes all busses, cable cars and rapid transit in San Francisco is $70. The current cost (as of April 2011) of one tank of gas in the average sedan. The same pass is $86 in Chicago, $104 in New York, $68 in Atlanta and $44 in Birmingham. And you can use the commute time by reading or planning out your day.
I hope these tips help! What’s your favorite tip for saving on gas? Comment below.
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I don’t know about the rest of the United States, but we’ve been experiencing some pretty gnarly storms this spring. Driving in a severe thunderstorm is a skill you learn, just like driving in the snow. For those of you unfamiliar with driving in the rain, Weather.com has some great tips for you.
Here’s a few of them:
- Turn on your headlights (low beams) and slow down. Many states require the use of headlights during rain.
- Allow extra distance for braking.
- Do not drive unless necessary.
- An automobile provides better insulation against lightning than being in the open.
- Avoid flooded roadways.
- Check your windshield wipers and tires regularly to insure that they are ready for severe weather.
- Approach intersections with caution
- Treat traffic lights at intersections as stop signs.
You can see more tips by clicking here.
I won’t name names, but a certain person I know wasn’t aware of low points in her town and went down the wrong road during a flash flood. The car stalled, she got out, and six hours later when the car stopped floating (literally, floating), the engine was ruined and had to be flushed.
Moral of the story? Be aware of your surroundings!
[Image via CNN]
Gas prices are predicted to soar this summer, reaching levels not seen since July of 2008. Something I’m not personally looking forward to with all the summer driving we have planned! I’m thinking we’ll need to make our trips longer and less frequent, and be a little bit smarter about planning our driving while running errand and getting to meetings.
What will you do to save money on gas this summer?