Summer is here and for many of us that means trips to the park or the beach, anywhere to spend some quality time outdoors.  If you plan to bring your furry friends with you for the ride, please remember some simple safety tips for keeping your animal, and yourself, safe.  It is best to restrain your animal while they are in the car with you, this protects you from the distraction of a pet roaming around your car, and also keeps them safer in case of an accident.  It is recommended that you put smaller animals, like cats or rabbits, in a carrying case in the back seat of your car.  You can also restrain dogs this way, or there are many seat belt restraint options online for your dog, allowing them to still enjoy fresh air from the car window while also keeping them safer during an accident.

If you plan to be traveling or outside with your pet on a warm day, remember to bring plenty of water and some extra food along.  Your pet can easily overheat in the warm weather.  Lastly, remember that cars heat up quickly, even with the windows cracked.  Please do not leave pets unattended in your car in the summer heat.

The holidays are over, but the snowy road conditions will be around for many of us for a couple more months.  Start the New Year with a quick refresher on safe driving in bad road conditions.  We’ve compiled a list here of a few tips to stay calm and safe if you must drive in the worst of conditions.

Drive slowly

This will give you more time to react to icy patches and avoid accidents.  If you are fishtailing or sliding it usually means you are going too fast.

Know your brakes

Understanding how your car, and brakes specifically, react to ice and snow is imperative to your safety.  Find an empty parking lot to test them out.

If you are sliding, calmly turn your car wheels in the opposite direction.

Avoid overcorrecting by not jerking the wheel

Avoid driving in bad conditions if at all possible

Always wear your seatbelt

We hope you find these tips useful and that you stay safe on the roads this winter. Comment below with anything you would add to our list!

Winter brings a whole new set of challenges when it comes to driving safety.  Let’s take a moment to review some extra precautions we should take when driving in the winter season, and some tips for prepping your vehicle to hold its own in the icy, snowy conditions.

There are a few things to look out for while on the road in snowy conditions.  Know what to do when your vehicle encounters ice, as it may vary vehicle to vehicle.  If you see cars swerving in front of you, slow down and consider an alternative route, if possible.  When on the highway in low visibility situations, leave twice as much room as normal between you and the driver ahead of you and make sure to not exceed the speed limit.

To prep your vehicle for the winter ahead, do a scan of the following key areas to make sure you won’t be left in the cold.  Tires loose air pressure in the cold, so double check your levels and check back often to ensure your tires are properly filled.  Double check your wiper blades, if they produce streaks or leave large areas unclean, consider a replacement for winter.  Speaking of visibility, give your defroster a test run.  If it is not working properly take it to a shop for repair, as this is one of the most commonly used features during the cold months to ensure visibility. Lastly, top off all fluids. It is likely you will use quite a bit more windshield washer fluid due to the salt on the roads and snowy weather.

If your vehicle is in need of repair to make it safe to drive in the winter, search on Carwise to find a body shop near you.

Driving in the city poses many challenges and obstacles that can make the city-driving experience overwhelming. Consider the following safety tips before hitting these streets, especially those accustomed to suburban or rural streets.

Familiarize yourself with directions

Limit the glances at your GPS. Keeping your eyes on the road at all times is very important when driving in the city, where there are many sudden stops and pedestrians.

Be aware of one-way streets

Make sure you read all street signs to ensure you are not only following the law, but enforcing safe driving too. One-way streets are common, and non-city folks can find themselves swerving at the last minute, once they realize they are about to turn down the wrong direction. Be mindful of them at all times.

Do your research

Not all laws are posted on street signs. Look up the driving laws in the state you will be driving in to ensure compliance.  Many city intersections do not allow right turns on a red light, so that’s a good place to start.

Yield to bikers

Cyclists flood city streets, especially in nice weather. Be sure to keep an eye out for them, especially when making turns, changing lanes, and opening your door when parked on the street.

Brush up on your parallel parking skills

This comes in handy for city parking. And if you have an SUV or larger vehicle, it may take a few drives up and down the block to find one that fits your car.

Carry change

You’re likely to encounter a toll booth or need some spare quarters for parking during your time in the city.

It’s worthwhile to point out that native city-drivers and cab drivers tend to be very aggressive and impatient.  It’s important for you to remain calm and take your time to ensure your safety, and the safety of those around you. Don’t let the honks fluster you!

Any tips we missed that you would add to the list?  Let us know in the comments!

If you have a teenager learning to drive, you know that many rules and tips for the road have changed since you were in driver’s education class and getting behind the wheel for the first time.  For that reason, we compiled a list of a few driving tips to pass along to your millennial teen.  Ingraining these tips from the beginning is the best way to ensure lasting, good habits and safe driving practices.

Seat belts are important

One of the most noteworthy laws that has been put in place in the past 25 years is the mandating of seatbelts.  While it is important for your teen driver and all occupants of a car to wear a seatbelt, there are many other safety guidelines and laws for driving today that didn’t exist just a few years back.  Restricting cell phone usage is a great example of this.  Using a phone while driving is extremely dangerous and, in many states, a punishable act.  It’s important to set rules and expectations with your teen surrounding cell phone usage in the car.  As it is smart for your young driver to have a phone with them in case of emergencies or for directions, it is useful to map out guidelines for when and where using a phone is appropriate and safe.

Steering wheel hand placement

Optimal hand placement on the steering wheel has also seen a few updates in recent years.  It’s likely that you were taught to place your hands at 2 o’clock and 10 o’clock on the wheel, but experts have now agreed that placing hands at 3 and 9 are safer in case of an accident.  Bent and relaxed arms at 3 and 9 provide a lower chance of arms being injured by airbag deployment, as they would be on the outer edge of the bag, not the top as they would be if placed at 2 and 10.

Also, recent studies have shown that having other teens in the car creates the most dangerous driving condition for a young driver’s safety.  Please make sure to discuss focus and responsibility while driving with friends.

We wish you the best in your coaching! Leave a comment below with any tips you would add to this list.

SENIOR DRIVING SAFETY TIPS

Safe driving is something that we discuss frequently at Carwise. Even though we try to connect everyone with a quality body shop when they need one, we also want everyone to be aware of driving safety issues. More often than not, senior drivers are overlooked when discussing driver safety.

As we get older, eyesight, hearing, and mobility tend to change. Since driving relies heavily on our ability to see and hear, it’s important to keep on top of any vision or hearing changes. Maintaining you or your loved one’s health should also include monitoring basic reflexes, in the event of a hazardous situation which requires quick response times. Finally, make sure to drive a car that’s easy for you or your loved one to get in and out of, as well as drive.

It also never hurts to take a refresher driving course at any age. State laws do change, and you could potentially get a discount on insurance premiums. There are various courses and self-assessment tools available online as well.
Finally, new car technologies which include connected cars and collision avoidance systems can also help seniors while driving. Look out for these features like adaptive headlights or lane departure prevention if you’re in the market for a new vehicle.

The AAA and AARP provide great resources if you’re a senior who is driving, or if you’re concerned about a senior’s driving skills. Overall, our goal is to help seniors maintain and improve their driving abilities while keeping the roads safe for everyone.

KEEPING KIDS SAFE IN (AND AROUND) YOUR CAR

Schools are back in session, and winter is quickly approaching so it’s a good time to review some safety tips when driving with children in the back seat, on the streets, or both.  During this time of kids on the street and low visibility, there are many extra precautions we should take as it pertains to children both in your backseat, or walking on the sidewalks.

SEAT BELTS

As for kids inside your vehicle, the most obvious safety precaution that comes to mind for many are seat belts.  But are you sure your child passenger is using the safest car seat for his/her body weight, age, etc.?  Many car seats are not used or installed correctly.  We recommend checking online for instruction guides on what your child requires.  This goes for other children that may be riding in your car, every child should bring their car seat with them when riding in other cars.   According to NHTSA, “a child in a correctly used safety seat in the back seat of a car is 73% less likely to be hospitalized than an unrestrained child in the front seat.”  With that said, children under the age of 12 should always sit in the rear of the car.

LOOK AROUND

When parked in school lots or places where many kids are near, take a look around your entire vehicle before getting in a starting the engine to ensure no small children are playing close by.   More children are hit by cars near schools than at any other location.  Drive the school speed limits, especially in bad weather, to avoid any incidents.  In general, please remember to take extra precaution and be alert when driving in areas where many children are present.

Check out our blog on back to school driving tips here.

HOW TO COMBAT DROWSY DRIVING

Drowsy driving can have a significant impact on road safety, and it is estimated that drowsy drivers are involved in an about 12.5% of fatal crashes. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, more than a third of drivers admit to falling asleep behind the wheel at some point of their lives, and more than 1 in 10 have been involved with the act of drowsy driving within the past year.

According to a survey from DMEautomotive, people are combating drowsy driving in the wrong ways, opting for ineffective answers that do little to lessen their drowsiness. The results of this drowsy driving survey showed drivers are far more likely to drink caffeine, play loud music, pull over to exercise or stretch, open windows, and turn up air conditioning — all of which do little or nothing to lessen the effects of drowsy driving.

The results of the survey demonstrated a lack of awareness regarding the dangers of drowsy driving and the effectiveness of different strategies to stay awake.

Remarkably, only numbers three and seven on the list — switching drivers and pulling over to take a nap — are proven to be useful means of combating drowsiness. The top response, drinking a caffeinated beverage, can produce a jolt of alertness, but the effect wears off quickly, according to experts.

SOME OF THE BEST WAYS TO COMBAT DROWSY DRIVING (THAT ACTUALLY WORK) INCLUDE:

1.  Planning to get sufficient sleep before driving.
2.  Avoiding even small amounts of alcohol.
3.  Limiting driving between midnight and 6 a.m.
4.  Switching driving duties with a passenger who is well rested.
5.  Taking a short nap (about 15 to 20 minutes) and consuming caffeine equivalent to two cups of coffee is a temporary fix and should only be used to get you somewhere where you can sleep and regroup.

The other strategies to improve alertness when sleepy, such as opening a window or listening to the radio, have not been proven effective. Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving, and drowsy drivers present an unnecessary risk to both themselves and everyone around them.

In an effort to reduce the number of fatigue-related crashes and to save lives, the National Sleep Foundation is declaring Nov. 2-9, 2014 to be Drowsy Driving Prevention Week®. This annual campaign provides public education about the under-reported risks of driving while drowsy and countermeasures to improve safety on the road.

Sources

NSC.org
OSHA.org

At Carwise, we encourage all drivers to stay up to speed on driving safety. With school back in session, drivers should take extra precautions.

Extra care needs to be taken when dropping off kids at school, as well as driving near schools where children and increased traffic are present. School busses are also back on the road, and drivers must know when to stop for them so that students can get on and off safely. If you’re by a school, you’re likely sharing the road with more pedestrians and bicyclists.
Driving tips to help you navigate school traffic

Here are some basic tips to help you whether you’re dropping the kids off at school or simply driving past a school bus.

• When dropping off children at school, avoid double-parking. It can create blind spots for you, other drivers, and pedestrians.
• Always remain alert and slow down your speed in school speed zones. Aside from children, you’ll also encounter crossing guards helping them across streets by the school.
• Know when to stop for a bus on certain types of roads.
  • On a two-lane road, vehicles going in both directions must stop.
  • On multiple-lane roads, again vehicles going in both directions must stop.
  • On a divided highway, vehicles behind the bus must stop. However, vehicles going in the opposite direction of the bus may proceed with caution.

We also ought to mention there are teens heading to schools in their cars. If you’re a parent of a teen, here are some safety driving tips.

If you keep these things in mind, you can share the roads safely with those heading back to school.

A recent study found that more than half of teen drivers often take phone calls from their parents while they are behind the wheel. This can result in distracted driving, putting these young drivers at risk.

The findings presented at the American Psychological Association’s 122nd Annual Convention show that out of the 408 teen drivers ages 15 to 18 that participated in the study, more than half reported being on the phone with their parents while driving.

Despite the bans, warnings, and the well-known dangers associated with distracted driving, many teen drivers feel that they still need to answer the phone behind the wheel, because parents expect to be able to reach their teens at all times and even get angry when they don’t answer their calls.

Distracted Teen Driving Statistics

A National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) report in 2013 showed that 11 percent of distracted teen driving accidents were fatal, with 21 percent of those car accidents involving cellphones. The NHTSA also reported that 78 percent of teen drivers say they’ve read a text message while driving and 71 percent say they have typed and sent a text message while behind the wheel.

What Can Parents Do About Distracted Teen Driving?

The study presented at the APA showed just how surprising it was to see that parents are often directly involved in distracted teen driving. Making parents more aware about this problem is the first step in reducing distracted teen driving.

The teen drivers surveyed in the study also said that their parents often used their cell phones while behind the wheel, so they felt that it was okay because “everyone is doing it”. Parents need to set an example and not use their cellphones while driving to emphasize that distracted driving is not safe or acceptable behavior for anyone.

When parents call their teens, they should first ask if they are driving. If they are behind the wheel, tell them to call them back when they are not driving or find a spot to pull over so that they can talk safely. There are also several smartphone driving and GPS apps available that can alert a parent if their teen is currently driving and can communicate the location of their teen if they need to know where they are.

Sources

NBCSanDiego.com

USAToday.com

We all have maps, GPS or navigation apps that come with our smartphones. Take advantage of your smartphone by downloading more advanced driving apps that can help you become a safer driver, block texting while driving, monitor your teen’s driving habits, boost your gas mileage, prepare for a road trip, or help you maintain your car.

Here is a list of driving apps that are a great addition for your smartphone:

TextArrest

The TextArrest app senses when the car that you are in is traveling faster than 5 mph and disables texting and email so no text or emails can be sent or read while driving.

Safe Driver

Parents can use this driving app to monitor the location and driving behavior of their teens. It can send alerts to parents via text or email when their teen exceeds a specific speed and shows where infractions occurred.

Waze

This driving app can report traffic conditions like accidents, police presence, and hazards to let you know what to expect when heading out on the road. It can also send someone your calculated ETA to give them a more accurate time when you will be arriving.

Gas Buddy

Don’t get caught running out of gas. This driving app allows you to locate the nearest gas stations closest to you as well as providing the gas prices to find cheapest stations.

Drivesafe.ly Pro

This driving app allows you to stay connected while behind the wheel by reading texts and emails aloud.

Key2SafeDriving

This driving app restricts phone use while the car is running and sends automatic replies to incoming text notifying the caller that the person they are trying to reach is currently driving.

My Max Speed

This driving app logs speed and location every 5 seconds and makes the data available for exporting to a spreadsheet. This can be useful when monitoring a teen’s driving habits and tracking location history. It can even send you an alert if your teen drives outside a preset location perimeter. It can also provide an accurate record of your actual speed if you need to argue your way out of a speeding ticket.

Road Trip

This driving app allows you to track fuel economy, logs your maintenance history, reminds you when you’re due for an oil change, and adds up how much you’ve spent on your car.

Alcohoot

Transform your smartphone into a breathalyzer in seconds! The makers of the Alcohoot promise “police-grade” accuracy using the same fuel-cell technology in professional breathalyzers.

Carwise

If you need to take your car into an auto body shop, the Carwise mobile app allows you to stay on top of your car’s repair status. Simply enter your phone number or your car’s VIN and the repair status will automatically appear, along with photos of your car repair in progress.

At some point of time, we’ve all received a text message while driving–and we’ve all sneaked a peek to read it. Maybe you have even typed a reply back while behind the wheel. In the back of your mind, you know that texting while driving is dangerous, but you say to yourself that it could be worse. At least you’re not drunk driving.

Texting while driving is a dangerous habit, but have you ever wondered how dangerous texting while driving really is? Could it actually be worse than drunk driving?

In 2009, Car and Driver put this question to the test and conducted a driving test to investigate if texting while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving. The experiment’s first step was to test and measure the reaction times of two drivers while driving sober without any distractions, and then while texting while driving.

A red light was mounted to the front windshield to simulate a car braking in front of them. Car and Driver tested the drivers’ reaction time to see how long it would take for each of them to hit the brake when sober, when legally drunk, when reading an email on their phone, and texting while driving by sending a text.

The results were surprising!
• Driving sober = .54 seconds to brake
• Legally drunk (.08) = added 4 feet
• Reading an email while driving = added 36 feet
• Texting while driving = added 70 feet

The reaction times for both drivers were better while driving drunk as compared to reading an email or texting while driving while they were sober. Car and Driver’s Mike Austin said, he was “way worse” while he was emailing or texting.

Millions of people text, talk, or email while behind the wheel. According to the United States Department of Transportation, 1.6 million car crashes and 6,000 fatalities are due to cell phone use behind the wheel every year.

Americans view drinking and driving as wrong, and we go through extra measures to avoid it like assigning a designated driver, calling a cab, or setting limits. But when it comes to texting while driving, we are not as careful and think much less about doing it.

Texting while driving is much more dangerous than drunk driving. Informing the public about just how dangerous it is will be the first step in changing America’s attitudes about texting while driving.

Sources:

Car and Driver
CNBC.com