Car Insurance

Winter driving in Canada is always a challenge. Ask anyone
who’s ever driven in the snow, slush and ice. To prepare for
these challenging road conditions, Michelin would like to offer
the following winter driving safety reminders.

1. We really mean it when we say: “so much is riding on your
tires.” Your tires are the only part of your vehicle that make
contact with the road and are an extremely important safety
feature. For maximum security this winter, be sure to install
four winter tires, check your tread wear and monitor and maintain
your tire pressure.

2. Before the winter weather arrives, visit your local mechanic
to check all major systems including ignition, temperature
control and of course, your tires to make sure they are
winter-ready. You should also have your battery checked, as well
as lights, brakes, exhaust, windshield wipers and washer fluid.

3. Before you hit the road, check the local forecast to be
prepared for upcoming weather situations. If possible, avoid
driving during severe winter conditions.

4. When driving in severe conditions – slow down! Many winter
fender-benders and more serious accidents are attributed to high
speeds in bad driving conditions. If you notice a vibration when
traveling at highway speeds, stop and check that snow has not
built up in your wheel wells.

5. While driving a little slower may make your journey a little
longer, it will help you conserve fuel. Since no one wants to be
stranded on a cold winter’s night, check your gas tank before
driving any significant distance.

6. It is advisable to carry a cell phone in your vehicle at all
times but especially in the winter. For your safety and the
safety of other drivers, avoid using your cell phone while
driving. It is recommended that drivers keep to the main roads
whenever possible, but a cell phone could be your best friend if
you have a problem on a quiet, secondary road.

Which cars are the safest cars in the United States, you may
wonder. Is it BMW, Ford, Chevy? As far as car security matters,
only eight of the 2004 model cars on the market have earned
perfect scores in crash tests conducted by the U.S. Department of
Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Here are the criterias: To pass the auto security test, the
vehicle had to get perfect marks in all of the following
categories:

five-star ratings–the highest available–in NHTSA’s frontal and
side vehicle crash tests

five-star rollover resistance ratings

or

ratings of “good,” (highest available), which includes an overall
rating, plus individual ratings in the following categories:

The frontal offset crash test structure/safety cage
head/neck injury measures
chest injury measures
left and right leg/foot injury measures
restraints/dummy kinematics

ratings of “good” for head restraint design and the performance
of bumpers in low-speed auto crash tests.

Side impact auto crash tests were also conducted for all vehicle
brands but no car received perfect marks in those tests.

According to automotive experts, vehicle crash testing is still
the best and most objective method for determining which cars are
truly the safest. And this does not necessarily mean vehicles
equipped with most advanced technology. The difference between a
good auto crash test rating and a bad one is significant:

A five-star rating means a chance of serious injury of 10% or
less in a car crash at 35 mph>/li>

a one-star rating means a chance of 46% or more.

You have bought a new trailer and have your first trip all
planned out. Are you ready to start out on your trip? Assuming
you have done all inspections for your trailer and cargo, then
here are a few tips for being on the road and towing your
trailer safely. Remember, there is a big difference between
just driving your vehicle and hauling a load behind it.
Handling characteristics will be startlingly different.
Practicing on roads with little traffic or even in empty
parking lots will help to give you a feel for how your vehicle
will handle in different situations. And while in a deserted
parking lot, it is a good time to practice backing and parking.

To back a trailer, turn your wheel right to back right and turn
your wheel left to back left. Over steering can cause the trailer
to turn sharply, so do gradual movements. If you get in a bind,
just pull forward and straighten everything out and try again.

Don’t forget to consult your vehicle’s owners manual for
information on the correct driving gear when towing. If your
manual is unavailable, call the dealer for your make of
vehicle. Usually the service department has all the information
you need and may have a few tips on the do’s and don’ts that may
be useful to you.

Always drive at moderate speeds when towing. Some states even
have laws and regulations for driving a certain speed below the
posted limit when towing a trailer. Just be sure to leave plenty
of time for your trip and don’t get in a hurry. This will also
put less strain on your towing vehicle and may help in avoiding
breakdowns. Also, driving at moderate speeds can avoid trailer
sway .

While driving, it is essential you stay alert for potential
problems ahead. Lane changes and braking are best when planned.
Heavy braking can cause great problems such as sliding or even
jack knifing, not to mention the extreme strain on your
trailer, cargo or animals. A good rule of thumb on following
distance of the vehicle in front of you is one and a half to
two car lengths for every ten miles an hour of speed when
towing. If people pull in front of you, drop back. Better safe
than sorry. Try to anticipate having to stop for lights or
traffic and begin slowing ahead of time. Remember, your braking
time and distance are going to increase with a heavy load behind
you. Try to avoid sudden steering maneuvers that could put you
out of control when towing a load.

If the road you are traveling is bumpy or even gravel, you will
need to travel at much slower speeds to maintain control. Gravel
or “rutty” roads can even cause your vehicle and/or trailer to
“float” and cause you to face disaster. Road and weather
conditions will have an even greater effect on how you drive
when towing.

When you make your first turn towing a trailer, you must
remember to compensate for a much wider turn. The trailer’s
wheels will be much further to the inside of a turn than the
towing vehicle’s. The trailer will ride up on the curb, or into
a ditch or, on left turns, even sideswipe vehicles.

There are other problems on the highway in dealing with other
traffic and wind conditions. Large vehicles can cause wind
shifts as they pass you. Just keep your hands on the wheel
firmly and avoid over compensating. If the winds start your
trailer swaying, do not hit the brakes. Instead, use the
trailer brake activator to lightly apply the brakes on your
trailer. Try shifting into a lower gear and decreasing the
speed of your vehicle. Just hitting the brakes on the tow
vehicle can make the sway worse as centrifugal force pushes the
trailer forward.

If you have to pass another vehicle by changing lanes, please
anticipate the much longer time needed for most vehicles when
towing. Signal well in advance. Avoid passing on steep
grades. You will need to start acceleration earlier and realize
your tow vehicle will need much more time to pass when carrying
a load. Make sure there is plenty of time to avoid oncoming
traffic and leave plenty of clearance before moving back into
your lane. You don’t want to hit the vehicle your passing with
your trailer.

When traveling on roads with soft shoulders, avoid getting the
trailer wheels off the pavement. Contacting the soft shoulder
can cause the trailer to start to sway. If it happens, don’t
panic. Do not try to steer right back onto the pavement or hard
surface. Take your foot off the gas pedal but don’t hit the tow
vehicles brakes. Activate the trailer brakes by hand and easily
tap your vehicle brakes. Downshift if possible. When you have
reached a much slower speed and your trailer is under control,
gradually ease the wheels back onto the road.

When encountering steep grades you will notice different
handling characteristics when towing. On a steep downhill grade
the trailer can actually push your vehicle. Anticipate this and
downshift and let off the gas a little. You may have to use
your trailer brakes hand control to slow you but don’t ride
them. Only tap them intermittently to avoid overheating of the
brakes and ultimately, brake failure.. When facing a steep
upgrade you should start accelerating early if possible. Again,
you may have to downshift and keep increasing your gas pedal to
compensate for the drag on you going uphill. As you reach the
crest of the grade start backing off the pedal. A steep grade
will test your tow vehicles limits.

Once you have reached your destination you have to find a place
to park your “rig”. It’s best to avoid parking on a grade. The
more level the parking area the better. If you have to park on
a grade, it is best to chock the wheels. Hopefully, you have
some with you. If you have someone to help, have them guide you
into the spot. You can’t always rely on the mirrors as the
trailer may block your view. Once stopped, keep your foot on
the brake, turn your wheels toward the curb (pointed in on a
down hill, out on an uphill), apply the parking brake and then
shift into park, or with a manual, your lowest gear. This
method helps avoid locking your transmission due to the extra
load.

If you are on even a small grade and you plan to unhitch your
trailer, you must apply chocks to the trailers wheels to avoid
the trailer from rolling away when uncoupled. Just having the
lift down will not make it stable. Jack stands also come in
handy to level your load. I hope this article has provided you
with useful information but it is not intended to be the ” be
all and end all” of trailering safety. Read everything you can
and talk to other more experienced trailer owners for tips on
do’s and don’ts. Contact your state governments transportation
department and familiarize yourself with laws, regulations and
even local ordinances regarding trailers and towing.

This is something you’ll never get used to. No matter how many
times it happens, each time feels like it’s the first. I know
what you’re thinking. It is exciting being pulled over by a
police officer, it’s dangerous, it’s, exhilarating, it’s, it’s,
you guessed it, it’s a ticket.

If a police officer wants you to stop your car, the officer will
activate the patrol car’s emergency lights and/or pull up next to
you and gesture for you to pull over. If this happens, carefully
slow down and pull over at the nearest safe location. When you
stop, turn on your emergency flashers, roll down your window and
wait for the officer to approach your vehicle.

1. Don’t immediately reach into your glove compartment, visor or
jacket for your license and registration. He could mistake your
movement as an attempt to find a weapon of some kind. He could
shoot you, or even worse, yell at you. Officers generally want
you to keep your hands where they can see them for their own
safety. You should wait until the officer asks to see your
paperwork before you retrieve the documents. Ask why you were
pulled over.

2. Always keep this in mind: From the moment the officer stops
your car, he or she can record everything you say and use it
against you. One of the first things an officer may say to you
is, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” Admit nothing. Be
courteous and be polite. Don’t try to guess why you were pulled
over. Allow the officer time to explain the reason why you were
stopped. Provide the requested documents.

3. When the officer asks for your license and registration, pull
them out slowly and hand them to the officer. Try not to say
anything while the officer is reviewing the documents. Don’t tell
the officer you’re late for your class or work because that could
be considered a reason for speeding or aggressive driving. Wait
until the officer asks you questions before you speak. Make sure
you always have your driver’s license with you and keep your
registration and proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times
otherwise the officer may give you an additional ticket! Remain
calm and quiet.

4. If the officer leaves you in your car while he or she checks
your information from the patrol car, relax and wait for the
officer to return. Don’t preoccupy yourself with finding a radio
station or flipping through documents in your glove compartment,
which might give the officer the impression you aren’t taking the
situation seriously. The 10 to 15 minutes it takes to check your
information may seem like an eternity, but it’s better for you in
the long run if you just wait patiently for the officer to
return. It shows you respect the officer’s authority and
understand that he or she is in charge of the situation. Respond
honestly.

5. The officer may ask you a series of questions about how fast
you were going, where you were going and what you were doing.
Answer any questions you can honestly. You don’t want to provide
the officer with any false information at any time. If you don’t
know the answer, simply respond, “I don’t know.” Also if he or
she asks, “Do you know how fast you were going?” Simply reply,
“I’m not sure.” Remember to always be polite! If the officer asks
a question you know the answer to but don’t want to reveal
because it may be used against you, you do not have to answer. It
may be awkward, but you have the right to tell the officer you
would rather talk to a lawyer about it first or that you “would
rather not discuss it at this time.” You’re better off not
answering than lying and having the officer use it against you
later. Don’t argue with the officer.

6. Avoid arguing with the officer over why you were stopped. If
you don’t think you deserve a ticket, contest it later. The
officer will give you a ticket regardless of what you say, but if
you are argumentative, the officer will have a much better memory
of the incident and will be more likely to aggressively defend
his or her position in court. Don’t give the officer any reason
to show up in court and tell the judge you gave him or her a hard
time. It will make the judge much less sympathetic to your case.
Take the ticket and drive away.

7. If the officer writes you a ticket, accept it quietly. Listen
to any further instructions, including information on how long
you have to pay the fine or what you must do if you want to
contest it. In some provinces, you may have to sign for the
ticket to show that you received it. If the officer just gives
you the ticket without explaining what your rights are (or
without requesting your signature in states where it’s required),
you may be able to successfully challenge the ticket. When the
policeman has driven away…NOW is the time to yell, scream or cry!

Submitted by Joe Kahler, author of Out On My Own…Now What?!
Tips and Insights So You’re Not Left Hanging in the Real World!
www.outonmyown.com/auto.htm

Joe Kahler is recognized as an expert on helping young adults
successfully transition from home to being “out on their own”.
His latest work has recently been assembled in his book, Out On
My Own…Now What? Tips and Insights So You Won’t Be Left Hanging
in the “Real World”!

Joe received his undergraduate degree from Whittier College in
Social Sciences and his Masters in Education from Arizona State
University. His experience includes teaching, coaching, running
numerous businesses, investing, selling insurance and real estate
AND attending numerous, personal, “hard knocks” training classes!

With road rage being so common these days, we should all take a
step back and review a few rules of the road. While not taught in
most driver education classes or state driver’s manuals, these
rules will help you be a better driver.

The left lane is for passing. If you are going to pass, do it
quickly and safely. Some states have laws that prohibit “driving”
in the left lane, leaving it open for passing only.

If someone is trying to merge onto the highway and you have room,
get into the left lane. This can help avoid an accident or at the
least make someone’s day a little brighter.

Be aware of large trucks and their driving styles. Tractor
trailers, dump trucks, and other large vehicles can not stop as
fast as you can. Keep that in mind the next time you squeeze in
front of a truck at the stop light. Also, heavy trucks while on
the highway will slow down while going up large hills but pick up
speed on the downhill side. This can lead to a game of leap frog
which will frustrate you and the truck driver. If possible get
far enough ahead of the truck to avoid excessive passing!

Use your turn signals. I swear they were an option in some cars,
considering most people do not use them. They are there as a
signal to inform your fellow drivers where you plan to go.
I guess this has been a list of my pet peeves, but I hope it will
help you have a safer trip down the road. Remember, we all share
the road and together we can make it safer.

Take care and safe driving,