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Important Tips for New and Seasoned Drivers

by Virginia Auto Service

Car accidents are nasty business. Beyond the damage to the vehicle, one must occasionally contend with loss of human life or life-threatening injuries.

One major reason for car accidents is negligence on the part of the driver. It could be due to breaking traffic rules or driving a damaged car or one that needs urgent repairs.

Another common reason, especially as we step into the holiday season, is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We can only hope that drivers exercise better caution and avoid driving under the influence this Christmas and New Year’s season.

Young or teen drivers, need to be cautious when behind the wheel. It is especially upsetting when you hear of a car accident involving young lives. Sadly, this seems to be happening more and more in the Phoenix area, especially when roads are wet. It does not rain here much and when it does the roads can have a slickness to them that are drivers aren’t adept at navigating.

But we cannot blame all accidents on Mother Nature and road conditions. Let’s explore some other common causes of accidents and how to prevent them… safe driving can help prevent accidents

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The findings highlight both interesting trends and some causes for concern

FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 12, 2018 -- Much like ancient artifacts or fossil remains, analyzing Google searches can provide a wealth of insight into a particular group of people at a particular time. Many studies have been conducted to analyze what Americans search for with regards to various topics ranging from pop culture events to Halloween costumes. However, an important topic has been overlooked, until now. Roughly 85% of Americans use a car to get to work every day and every American relies on vehicles for the transportation of goods. Thus, road safety is something that touches us all.

What aspects of road safety do drivers really care about? Does interest for various road safety topics vary by state? Patterson Law Group conducted a study to learn just that.

The firm put together a map of what each state Googles more than any other state with regards to road safety. To find the results, the firm initially compiled over 100 road safety and road behavior topics. The topics were then run through Google Trends to see which states searched for the topics the most. Some of the results were expected, but others were surprising, and somewhat alarming.

The tires are the only thing between the vehicle and the road. When they are properly inflated and in good condition, the handling, stability and safety of the vehicle will be maximized. Conversely, when the tires are under inflated, worn out or damaged, all of the safety systems on the vehicle cannot overcome the loss of control that comes with a blow-out or hydroplaning situation. Air pressure in a tire is like oil in an engine; when it is low, the resulting internal damage is unseen until it is too late. Tires naturally lose 1-2 psi per month, so ongoing neglect will eventually result in a tire that cannot support the weight of the vehicle and the occupants. When this happens, the resulting blow-out can result in the loss of control and an accident.

It’s also important to rotate the tires on the vehicle every 5-7,000 miles. Today’s front-wheel-drive vehicles cause the steer tires to wear at a much faster rate than the tires on the rear axle. By periodically rotating the front tires to the back and the back tires to the front, motorists can achieve even treadwear on all four tires and increase the mileage and performance. Failing to rotate the tires often results in the front tires wearing out faster while the rear tires develop irregular treadwear patterns that cause vibrations. The same can be said for alignments. When the vehicle is not properly aligned, the tires will wear out faster which leads to increased operating costs.

You may notice when the weather turns colder, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light on your dashboard lights up more frequently. The Car Care Council recommends checking your tire pressure regularly during the winter to help keep the TPMS light off and your vehicle safe.

“It’s typical at this time of year for motorists to get TPMS warnings and then get worried about their tires,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Often drivers will see this in the morning when it’s coldest. If the temperature warms, the light could turn off but it’s likely that tires will still be a few PSI under inflated. This is why it’s important to check tire pressure regularly.”

According to the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, for every 10 degree drop in temperature, tire pressure decreases one to two pounds per square inch (PSI). Checking the tire pressure is important for vehicle safety, tire life and gas mileage.

Incorrect tire pressure can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every one PSI drop in pressure of all four tires and improve fuel efficiency by up to 3.3 percent when the correct tire pressure is maintained.