22nd June 2007

Defensive Driving: The Basics

It is a fact that though drivers can control most of their actions most of the time, they are totally powerless when it comes to the actions of others drivers. They simply do not know what other drivers on the road are going tot do. This is why it is very important for drivers to learn the special skill called defensive driving. So if you want to protect yourself and your loved ones from accident, then it is highly advisable that you take defensive driving courses. Such classes offer a wealth of information when it comes to preventing or fixing road mishaps.

What is defensive driving? Simply put, it is a way of driving where the driver takes every possible precautionary measure in order to prevent accidents or untoward incidents from occurring. Defensive driving is probably the best way to ensure the safety of a driver and his or her passengers,

Below are some of the basics of defensive driving:

Be ready with every possible situation that might happen on the roads. Constant preparedness is probably the best trait of a very good defensive driver. Before driving your car make it a habit to check the tire pressure, and the water, oil and gas levels. It is also important to check the lights and mirrors. It is also wise to make sure that you have all the necessary documents pertaining to your car with you before leaving.

Avoid showing road rage. You should also, as much as possible, avoid other drivers showing signs of road rage. Don’t react to the anger of other motorists. Always keep your head cool. The color of your car is very important in defensive driving. You are in a better position if your car is brightly colored. Advantageous colors in defensive are red, orange, yellow or other brightly colored. Because they are easily seen, bright colored cars are les likely to get involved in an accident.

Remember to always use your headlight while night driving. It is very stupid, not to mention illegal, to drive without the headlights on at night.

Always follow the three second rule of driving. According to this rule, a driver must always be at least three seconds of driving time from the driver in front in all conditions. Drivers should be five second behind the driver in front during bad conditions.

Never follow a vehicle, especially big trucks and busses too closely. By doing so, driver swill be sure to have perfect visibility.

Always avoid being in the blind side of other drivers. If an accident happens, It is pretty sure that you certainly cannot blame the other party for what has happened.

As much as possible, drive with a companion. This will ensure hat someone will be there with you in case something happens.

While on the road, avoid getting close to cars that are broken down or has damages. These cars are most likely run by irresponsible drivers. You can bet that they are not defensive drivers.

The above are just the basics of defensive driving. To know more about defensive driving and how it can save you money, your car and even your life, then consider enrolling in a defensive driving school soon.

These are only a few of the defensive driving rules that are out there. You will find a wide range of them as well as places to take defensive driving classes on the web.

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22nd June 2007

Summer Driving Tips - Keep Your Summer Road Trips Safe And Fun

Follow our summer driving tips and plan for a safer, more fun summer. The summer months are the time when most Americans decide to plan their biggest road trips. That means that you are going to be spending more time on the road, driving greater distances, for longer periods of time.

Our summer driving tips will make these periods of time safer. In general, such long car trips means that there is more of a chance that your car might break down. That is why you want to follow these tips:

Summer Driving Tips For Before You Hit the Road:

· Tires. Check the tread depth and pressure of your tires, as well as whether or not there is uneven wear. And be sure to pack a real spare. If you are out in the middle of nowhere and your tire blows, you might have to drive quite a distance on your spare. Make sure that you switch your winter tires to all-season or summer tires.

· Service your vehicle. Make sure that you take your car in for that needed oil change before you hit the road. Be sure that you all of your fluids are full (check the oil, windshield washer fluid, coolant/antifreeze, etc.)

· Check your cooling system. Unless you know a lot about cars, we suggest that you have professionals help you check the radiator, belts and hoses, coolant, cooling fans, water pump, and heater core.

· Also check (or have someone else check) the tie rod ends, steering components, ball joints, refrigerant level, compressor clutch, etc. Check your wiper blades and battery, too.

· Pack an emergency kit that includes: jumper cables, flashlight, first aid, flares, water, nonperishable food, extra washer fluid, basic tools, and anything else that you think you might need.

· Packing for your trip and loading your car: be smart about it. You do not need to take your entire wardrobe for a weekend trip! The less you bring, the lighter your car will be, and the less gas you will use. Be sure that when you load your car you keep the driver’s visibility clear (if it is not, perhaps you need to rethink the items that are really necessary to bring on your trip). Keep the items that you may need on top (like snacks, camera, etc.)

Summer Driving Tips For Once You Are on Your Merry Way:

· Stay awake! Long drives mean longer hours at the wheel, and most people cannot handle more than a few hours driving without some kind of break. Take breaks when you need them. Switch drivers often. Pull over for the night if you are really drowsy. Before you drive, make sure that you are well-rested from the night before. Caffeine may help in the short-term, but it can hinder you in the long-run.

· Why not take the scenic route? Do not be in a hurry to get to your destination. A road trip is not a good excuse to set your cruise control at 10mph above the speed limit. Besides, a road trip is not just about the destination, it is about the journey.

· If you are towing a boat or trailer, be sure that you drive slowly and smoothly. You must do everything with more caution, including turning, accelerating, braking, and changing lanes. Be sure that you have good mirrors that will help you cover your blind spots.

· Try to drive during the daylight hours. You will be able to see better and will have more reaction time to obstacles up ahead.

· Watch out for our favorite furry critters!

The most important summer driving tip is to have fun! Well, actually, that is the second most important. The most important summer driving tip is to be safe and cautious.

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22nd June 2007

Fear of Driving Tests

Fear of driving tests is a normal thing that affects different people in different ways. Anybody who has come through young life has had to deal with the stresses of learning to drive. It is one of those rights of passage that each person must go through in order to have a successful life. Some folks just can’t get past their fear of driving tests, though. This is a mental problem that deals with issues of self confidence within a person’s subconscious. If you don’t do something about it, it could impact your ability to gain a driver’s license.

Even if a person is a great driver who would have no problem passing a driver’s test, they can still fear the driving tests. Even if they have been schooled on some of the skills that will be tested during the driving test, they might still hold a sort of apprehension when it comes to actually performing in the test. This is not unusual in any way. When people have a healthy fear of the driving test, it can affect their ability to perform during that test, though. Like with any other sort of fear, this fear is somewhat crippling in the way that it can limit a person’s ability.

Psychological issues and subconscious thoughts have a lot to do with why a person might fear a driving test. Perhaps that person has thoughts that won’t leave their head about their ability to perform. Maybe the person just doesn’t have the ability to stand up to the stress associated with a driving test. Whatever the case, it’s essential to get over this most basic fear and conquer the driving test. One way to do this is through hypnosis.

I have been a hypnotherapist for many years and I’ve seen lots of people come through my clinic looking for help. Some of them come for more serious issues like smoking or addiction issues. Still, others come because they want help getting over their fear of the driving test. They realize that hypnosis is not just something found in magic shows. After going through hypnotherapy treatment, they understand that sometimes, the most important thing is just changing your mindset.

If you are suffering from fear of the driving test, then get some information about hypnosis and find out what it can do for you. You might discover that it’s just the boost you need to help you conquer your fear of a driving test.

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22nd June 2007

The Benefits Of Driving A Plug In Hybrid Car

Who would have thought we would have cars already that you plug in to recharge? The new plug-in hybrid electric vehicles also called PHEVs come with an extra battery but you can also charge them by lugging them in to an electrical outlet. The ability to plug in is optional since the car also has a gas engine. There are many economic advantages of these types of hybrids over regular automobiles. You can use the plug-in hybrid regularly on short trips and due to the fact that the gas engine only kicks in when it absolutely has to the fuel efficiency is fantastic.

These plug-in hybrids look and operate like regular non-hybrid cars and get this, they can be plugged into a normal 120 volt outlet, so you can recharge it at home or at a parking garage that has electricity available. Most of these cars can travel up to 60 miles on just the charged battery, since this is well beyond the daily roundtrip for most Americans you could drive everyday and never have to use gas! Just keep some fuel in the tank in case you run out of juice. More than likely you could drive all month long and never have to fill your tank more than once as long as you keep the vehicle charged.

Since the plug-in hybrid vehicles use mainly electricity instead of gas they are better for the environment and have much better fuel economy. If you plug the car in every night you can lower harmful emissions by nearly half. This vehicle gives off no bad emissions at all when it is running on electricity only.

MSRP for plug-in hybrids are as much as twenty percent more than regular hybrid cars and the reason for this is primarily due to the requirement of a larger battery size. As the demand and sales for these vehicles increases you will actually see a reduction in price as it becomes cheaper to obtain the batteries because of the larger volume. Even with the higher prices you will save enough in fuel costs in most cases to make up for it if you drive on a daily basis for work or school.

According to studies done on product feasibility, it is believed that the plug-in hybrid will be extremely popular as it has been determined that people would generally prefer to charge the cars at home as opposed to having to go to gas stations for fuel. Still, at this point the Big Three of Detroit and other large automakers aren’t showing any signs of exuberance over the vehicle and are instead focusing on regular hybrid cars.

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22nd June 2007

Parenting Your Teenager: Driving and Having a Car is a Privilege, Not a Right

My teenage son is turning 16 early next year and he’s already lobbying us for a new car. He says all his friends are getting new cars, that he deserves one because it’s his right when he turns 16, and he won’t drive what he calls a POS car. Do you think he is trying to manipulate us, and what do you think we should do? And since he won’t tell us what a POS car is, do you know?A. What to do depends on what you want to accomplish.

If you want to teach your son that he can pester and manipulate you into giving him his way, then by all means get him a new car.

I know that’s not what you want to teach him though.

What you have is an excellent opportunity to teach some important life lessons.

But first, let’s get that POS question out of the way. POS stands for “piece of s—” and is just another one of your son’s tools in his manipulation bag.

Rwo Important Life Privileges

There are at least two important principles to teach in this situation.

The first is the vast difference between rights and privileges.

Your son believes that getting a new car is his right as a 16-year-old. It’s not. In fact, turning 16 does not even entitle you to a driver’s license. It does make you eligible for the privilege of getting a driver’s license.

Fostering the belief that privileges are in fact rights leads to a raging sense of entitlement.

Fostering a belief in privileges leads to a rare sense of ownership, appreciation and perhaps even stewardship, which is taking good care of what you have.

The second principle is the sometimes hazy difference between wants and needs.

A need is a “must have” for survival, or to accomplish something important. A want is something you would like to have but can live without.

Your son might need a car to get safely from place A to place B and you may also want to stop chauffeuring him. He may want a new car, but he does not need one. Even if you can afford to give him a new car, I think that would do him more harm than good.

Sit down with your son and tell him that you have discovered what a POS car is and assure him you have no intention of getting him one.

Similarly, you have no intention of getting him a new car either. Briefly - and I mean short and sweet briefly - explain the difference between rights and privileges and wants and needs.

Then tell him that you will be glad to help him find a Point A-to-Point B car.

If he wants anything better, tell him that for each dollar that he saves over the price of a basic Point A-to-Point B car, you will match it.

He will not walk away from this conversation jumping for joy.

He will walk away with the beginning of some very important life lessons, which is really the best 16th birthday present you could get him.

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