Don't Text and Drive

Parallel Parking Tips

Few driving tasks are as intimidating as parallel parking. Many new motorists have failed an otherwise perfect driving test on this technicality alone. How many of us avoid parking on busy streets because we're just not good at parallel parking? Thank goodness for strip-mall parking lots the size of a small state―maybe humiliation-free parking is the real motivation for suburban sprawl.

Seek out a Space
Find a parking spot where you feel comfortable that you can safely get your car into without crunching into another car. Drive around the block until you find a larger gap if you need to; you will need a space that's several feet longer than your car.

Check your MirrorsLook in your rearview mirror and driver-side mirror as you approach the space to ensure another car is not riding on your tail. Signal toward the space as you approach it, slow down,and stop. If another motorist rides up on your rear, simply maintain your position and keep signaling. You might even need to roll down your window and wave the other driver around; they might not have realized you're trying to park.

Line up your Vehicle
Get your car in line with the parked vehicle directly in front of your desired spot. Don't get too close on the side, or you might scrape the other car when you make your move. But you also don't want to be too far away―two or three feet will suffice. Position your vehicle parallel to the parked car, aligning your bumpers or staying two or three feet behind.

Put your Vehicle in Reverse
Check the driver-side mirror to make sure the street behind you is clear of traffic before you begin to back up. Then look over your other shoulder at the space to assess the gap. Turn the steering wheel hard right. You are about to execute the first part of the S-turn.

Foot off you Brakes
Release the brakes and slowly begin backing into the turn. Visually check in front of and around your car often. Make sure you remain far enough away from the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of you as you slide in. If your rear tire hits the curb, you've gone too far; just shift gears and pull forward a few feet if this happens. (Note: Even the most gifted and seasoned parallel parkers do this―often.)

Turn the Steering Wheel
Turn to the left once the rear of your vehicle is predominantly in the space, still going backward. This is the last half of the S-turn, where you snake your way completely into the space and straighten out your car at the same time. Continue in reverse as far back as you can without tapping the bumper of the vehicle behind you.

And Finally
Shift into drive and turn the steering wheel to the right again, and move forward gently toward the curb while centering your vehicle in the space.

Voila! At this point, if all went well, you should be tucked nicely in the space and parallel parked. If you aren't, there's no harm done. Just signal that you're about to leave the curb, pull out and alongside the car in front of you, signal toward the curb again, and start over. You won't be the first person―and certainly not the last―who tries parallel parking a few times before getting it right.

Autumn Car Care Checklist

Oil Change
Many motorists believe their cars’ oils should be changed every 3,000 miles, however most late-model vehicles now can go 5,000 to 7,000 miles between oil changes. Check your owner’s manual and get on a routine fore good car care.

Tires
Check tire pressure and tread depth. Check the pressure on all the tires, including the spare, with a quality gauge when the tires are cold. Be sure to look for recommended pressure on the driver’s door jamb and NOT the tire wall.

Battery
Ensure the battery cable connections are tight, and the terminals are free from corrosion. If the battery is more than three years old, it’s a good idea to have it tested to determine how much life it has left.

Wiper Blades
Wiper blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe. Make sure the windshield washer reservoir is filled.

Car Safety Tips

From the first car ride home from the hospital on, parents are responsible for making sure their child is safe during each car trip. For young children, this starts with proper car seat installation, but there’s so much more to it than that.

Install and use Your Car Seat CorrectlyYou can have it checked at a fire stations, hospital or other child safety event. Never use an old or used child safety seat unless you’re positive it has never been involved in a vehicle accident, and you have all the parts and instructions.

Young ChildrenKids younger than 12 years old should always ride in the backseat and should be wearing their seat belt at all times. Never share a seat belt.

Kids in the Car Alone – NEVERDo not ever leave you child alone in the car, not even for a couple of minutes. When parked in the sun, the temperature inside your car can rise 20 degrees and cause heatstroke. Your child is so vulnerable and could be removed from the vehicle in a blink of an eye.

Toys in the CarBe selective about toys in your car. Stick to soft ones that will not injure your child. Make sure to secure loose object and toys in your car. A loose item in a crash can injure your child.

Repairs and MaintenanceBe sure to keep up with necessary repairs and maintenance on your vehicle. A broken down vehicle is always a hassle, but if it happens when your child is in the car, it can be even more difficult to deal with!

Safety FirstPull over for a dropped toy, crying baby or anything else that may distract you from the road. You are driving with precious cargo and always need to be safe.

Your Vehicle Scent Can Keep You Safer

Here's an important travel tip that we bet you didn't know, and, it might keep you safer:

The average commuter spends two and a half hours daily in their car and nearly 100,000 auto accidents yearly are caused by drivers who fall asleep at the wheel.

Aggressive driving is a huge traffic safety concern. So what does this have to do with how your car smells? Well, which car scent did you think makes drivers more alert?

(A) Strawberry
(B) New Car
(C ) Pine
(D) Warm Vanilla Breeze

It's PINE. Drivers are more alert and have less fatigue with pine scent in the car. And, drivers were less angry with overall improved driving performance with strawberry and pine scents. And you thought they just smelled nice.

Auto Accidents

 

The Different Types of Truck Cabs

 

When you’re shopping for a truck, you’ll probably notice some lingo among dealers with which you might not be familiar. Some vehicles are advertised as having a “crew cab,” while others are “double cab” or “extended cab,” and others do not mention these words at all.

What’s the difference? The space inside trucks with each different cab configuration will be divided a bit differently. Depending upon how you will be using your truck (personal vs. business) and whether you plan on having frequent passengers, you’ll need to select the truck cab that best fits your own lifestyle.

Regular Cab

Of the three most common types, regular cab trucks generally have the least amount of inside space. They have a single row of seats, and there is no backseat at all. Since these trucks are smaller than other options and do not have nearly the capacity of an extended or crew cab, they are typically reserved for personal use by individuals who are either single or have very small families. Regular cabs are convenient if you don’t need a lot of space apart from the bed, but are not ideal for those who frequently ride with others or need to carry large amounts of cargo inside of the vehicle.

 

Extended Cab

Both words refer to the same thing. Extended cab trucks are larger than regular cabs in that they have a (rather small) backseat. In order to access the backseat, passengers will need to open small doors that are only exposed when the truck’s main doors are already opened. The extended cab is a good compromise for those who want more space than a regular cab provides but may not want to drive a larger crew cab. However, if you regularly have several passengers or otherwise use your backseat often, it can become annoying to have to open your front doors in order to reach the back.

Crew Cab

The crew cab is the largest of the three types of trucks on the market today. A crew cab is similar to an SUV in that it has larger seats in the back that are accessed by their own full-sized doors. However, the crew cab is somewhat limited in that its bed is often shorter than that of an extended cab, in order to provide more room for the cab. By far the most expensive configuration, the crew cab is recommended for those who need a larger cab capacity or travel with others very often and don’t mind sacrificing a larger bed space.

Which one is right for you? Evaluate your needs and pick on that can fit your crew and gear in the best way for you.