A Car or a Computer or Both?

Imagine you are a time traveler from 1940, and you just got plunked down into a car dealership.  That machine isn’t as much as a machine as it used to be, is it?

While the technology has greatly improved our cars, one unintended consequence has happened:  Those colorful touch screens are quite distracting!  Once, you could reach down without taking your eyes off the road and simply adjust the temperature.  Now, you have to swipe to the right page, zoom in on the virtual knob, and slide it to the right position.  Assuming you haven’t already driven off the road by now.

Enter the whiz-kids at Apple.  According to appleinsider.com, they have just received a patent from the U.S. government for a whole new way to control your dashboard.  One idea: a projection onto a generic knob that would change things like the volume or the air conditioning, depending on what was being projected.  Existing technologies such as “heads up displays” or like what you see on cameras that detect the position of your head would allow you to keep your eyes on the road.

The most interesting technology is for a touch screen that actually forms ridges and raised areas to give you the ability to “feel” your way across the touch screen, without the need to look at it.  All of these technologies not only make driving in the car easier, but safer too.

Now… if the computer would just hand me my French fries…

Distracted by Distractions

First of all, if you’re reading this article while driving… stop it.  Secondly, although texting and phone calls have gotten quite a bit of attention when the topic of distracted driving comes up, it seems that there are other things that can take your eyes off the road.

A new study shows that parents are at risk of distracted driving because of the simple fact that their kids are in the car with them.  Australian researchers found that in a 16 minute trip, the average parent takes his or her eyes off the main job of driving for a total of three minutes and 22 seconds.  In fact, babies in the car can be eight times as distracting as just having an adult sitting next to you.

This bundle of joy is a HUGE distraction!

While it’s not practical to NOT have your kids in the car, it’s also impossible to leave home the other thing that has been cited.  Your own daydreaming brain.  

According to Erie Insurance Group, 62 percent of the crashes that were caused by distracted driving can be attributed to people being lost in thought.  Daydreaming. 

Distracted driving is a pretty serious problem, and the more buttons, lights, sounds, and devices that are put into are cars, the bigger the problem seems to get.  Despite all the technology that is out there, it’s important to remember your number one job while driving… is to drive.

A Car Crash Test That’s Not So Dumb

 

We’ve all seen the films of cars driving straight into a brick wall, while airbags deploy and a computerized mannequin bounces around inside.  The only problem is, people don’t drive in straight lines and crash into a straight wall.  That’s why the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is experimenting with something called “location based” crash tests.

This doesn’t mean they smash a car up on the streets of St. Louis, instead cars are being equipped with a unique monitor that will determine where a car was positioned when modern crash avoidance technology kicks in. 

Scientists are working with engineers to constantly improve data in features that act like a second set of eyes on the road.  Some of these systems alert you when you’re too close to another vehicle, while others will even apply the brakes.  Lane departure warnings were intended to alert you when you started to drift into another lane, but the new location based tests are suggesting that one may be getting inaccurate information.

While these fancy things are designed to keep you safe, there’s no guarantee that your insurance company will be impressed.  According to insurance.com, major insurance companies don’t seem to be offering any discounts for these things.  So, it’s best to always keep your eyes on the road.

Driving in Bad Weather

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The most predictable thing about the weather is that it is completely unpredictable.  If you have an upcoming road trip that may take you into unfamiliar parts of the country, The American Red Cross has some handy things to think about.

First, get an idea of what the weather will be like for the entire route.  Sometimes we get so excited about the weather at our destination, we forget to check the forecast for our trip.  See if there is any bad weather between your home and your destination, and try to time your departure to avoid it if possible.

Another important idea, let your friends and family know your travel plans and your travel route.  Set a couple benchmark locations during the trip to “check-in” so others know where you are.  Don't let the gas tank get too low, either

If the skies turn ugly and a storm starts during your trip, slow down, turn your headlights on, and try to exit as soon as you can.  Waiting the storm out for a short time is always a better choice than risking an accident.  The safest place is in the car with your seat-belt on.  If you are surrounded by heavy lightning, keep your hands away from metal both inside and outside of the car.

Finally, if you find yourself in a tornado, your best bet is to stay in the car with the seat-belt on.  Keep your head below the window and put a blanket over your head.  If you can safely get noticeably lower than the roadway, you should get out of the car and lie down covering your head at all times.

Keep some snacks, water, blankets, and flashlights in your car... stay safe... and then don't forget to use sunscreen when you get to your destination!

Here are some other handy tips:  http://www.redcross.org/news/article/Severe-Weather-While-Driving---How-to-Stay-Safe

5 Car Buying Tips for Teens

It's the time all parents dread - your teen gets the license and is now begging for a car. Before you say "No", consider some of these tips to buying. And, remember, after they buy it, they'll need a good auto mechanic!

 

1.                  Start on the used lot! 

It’s often easier to finance a used car, and you’ll likely get much more car for the same money as used.  Some manufactures are offering warranties that last as long as 10 years and 100,000 miles and you can often find a used car that is still under warranty

2.                  Safety first!

SafeCar.gov has a handy tool that will show you the crash test ratings for cars going all the way back to 1990.  Check the list before you buy.  Also, consider a device that keeps an eye on your teen’s driving habits.  Phone apps exist such as the Android based “Speedbump,” and insurance companies like Allstate, Progressive, and State Farm offer lower rates when their monitoring devices are installed.

3.                  Credit issues

It can be tough getting your first car when you haven’t established credit, however many dealerships have in-house financing that can help establish credit, and work with people in unique situations.  If this still doesn’t work, consider a cosigner.

4.                  Share the cost

Sometimes having a little “skin in the game” helps young buyers appreciate the value of a dollar.  While getting in over their heads is not advisable, perhaps come up with an agreement for them to pay the fuel or insurance costs.  Also, some insurance companies will offer a discount if kids keep their grades at a certain level.

5.                  Be realistic!

Now is the best time to learn that you don’t need the flashiest car on the lot.  Pick one that will keep them safe, hold up on the road, and get good gas mileage.  You’ll help your teen build great financial habits now that will stay with them for many years to come.

Why We Drive on the Right and the Brits (and others) drive on the Left

This was a discussion this weekend on Car Talk with Tom and Ray and, while some of the answers were pretty hilarious, we decided to do a little research of our own and come up with an answer for our blog readers. Luckily, “The Google” works great. Unfortunately, there is a lot of different information as to why cars in the U.S. drive on the right and in a quarter of the world, drive on the left. The invention of the automobile had nothing to do with it, according to most historical interpretations.

The original drivers, those on horses, rode on the left because it was easier to grab your sword from the scabbard on the left side with your right hand. Think about it for a second…you’re riding along, you need to quickly grab a sword to fend someone off, you grab with your right hand. It would be easier if everything was on the left. Plus, knights got on and off their horses from the left since their swords dangled from their left sides. It just made sense to ride (or drive) along that side as well.

This all changed with the invention of larger wagons used for hauling that had multiple horses. Since there were no driver’s seats, the driver sat on the left rear horse so he could use his right arm to guide the horses.  Since the driver also needed to make sure there was clearance for the wagon and any other traffic, the drivers moved over to the right. You didn’t want to have wheel repairs and strut issues if you had a wagon accident.

Here’s where it gets even more interesting. After the French Revolution, most countries switched because the aristocracy used to walk or travel only on the left, forcing the peasants to walk on the right. Since the rich didn’t want any more problems with the poor after that revolution, they began blending in with everyone on the right side. England, though, hating everything French, stayed with driving on the left and made it law in 1835.

If you want to learn more about these driving standards, and avoid auto accidents should you drive a car in another country, you can read more here.