The Safety of Elderly Drivers

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are more than 30 million drivers aged 65 or older on the road today. For some of those older drivers, limitations related to health conditions, medications and the normal physical and mental changes of aging, such as diminished vision, affect driving safety for themselves and others.

Deciding when a senior family member should no longer be driving can be difficult and can be a sensitive subject for that person. Giving up driving means giving up a certain amount of freedom and independence. It's important to discuss the issue with them respectfully.

For family members and caregivers, identifying early warning signs is important. Watch out for signs that can include the following:

• Close calls with other vehicles or objects such as garages or curbs.
• Drifting from one lane to another.
• Trouble reading signs and staying focused.
• Missing exits or turns.
• Failing to use signals properly.
• New dents or scrapes on the vehicle.

Giving up driving doesn't mean the person has to be stuck at home. There are many alternative transportation options that can be explored. A schedule can be made with family members and friends to drive the person where they need to go. There are also alternative transportation solutions such as chauffeur services, carpools, taxis, buses and more.

How Online Price Quotes Work

Internet technology provides a great number of conveniences for consumers. One big convenience for car buyers is to be able to get an online car quote for any vehicle that you're interested in.

How it works:

• Select the make and model of the vehicle your interested in from the drop-down boxes.
• Select the options that you want such as the trim and the interior and exterior color.
• Provide your basic contact information and zip code.
• Within 24 hours a local dealership will contact you with your online quote.
• They can also answer any questions that you have via phone or email.
• If you'd like to test drive the car, just make an appointment with them.

The advantages:

• It's much faster and easier than going to a dealership in person.
• You can get as many car quotes as you want from the comfort of home.
• You won't have to deal with pressure from a live salesperson.
• You can compare quotes from different dealers.
• You can request a loan quote at the same time.
• It's free and there's no obligation to buy.
• Many sites guarantee the lowest prices.
• Other free information is usually provided such as pictures, advice and more.

How Anti-Lock Braking Systems Work

Most new vehicles today have some type of anti-lock braking system, or ABS. When buying a car, you should be aware if it has ABS or not. With some new cars it's standard and with others it's available as an option.

ABS is a safety feature designed to help a vehicle stop faster, without skidding and with the driver being able to maintain steering control. ABS works by preventing the wheels from locking up as the vehicle slows down during an emergency stop. By preventing the wheels from locking up, it enables the driver to maintain steering control and to stop in the shortest possible distance.

ABS will shorten stopping distances on dry roads and may shorten stopping distances on wet or slippery roads. On soft surfaces, such as unpacked snow, ABS may actually lengthen stopping distances. In wet or slippery conditions, you should still make sure you drive carefully and always keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you.

It's important to know how to use ABS properly. When the ABS system is in operation you will feel a pulsing in the brake pedal. Press the brake pedal firmly, don't pump the brakes and don't let go until the vehicle has stopped. The ABS will do all the work. ABS systems can vary from one manufacturer to another. Make sure to read the owners manual for a more detailed guide on the ABS system in your car.

Leather VS. Cloth Seats

When buying a new car, you'll need to decide whether you want leather or cloth seats. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Overall the choice can affect the car prices by hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Let's explore the pros and cons of both options:

Leather:

Pros:

• It looks more attractive and luxurious.
• It has that nice leather smell.
• It has a soft and supple feel.
• It's very easy to keep clean and doesn’t stain easily.
• It has a better re-sale value.

Cons:

• It's more expensive than cloth.
• It's also not the most green option.
• It can get very hot in the summer and stick to your skin
• It can get very cold in the winter.
• Leather can get cracked and damaged easily.

Cloth:

Pros:

• Cloth is the more affordable choice.
• It is very soft and comfortable.
• There is no sticking, sliding around or burning.
• It's more breathable, its temperature won’t fluctuate

Cons:

• It's harder to clean and more easily stained.
• Cloth absorbs odors easily, such as smoke.
• It doesn't look as nice as leather.

Overall it's a personal choice. You should choose the material that best suits your lifestyle and financial situation.

Why You Should Donate Your Old Car

If your planning to buy a new car and need to get rid of your old one, consider donating it to a charity. There are many charities to choose from and many reasons to donate a car. It's an especially good option if your old car is not worth much or needs extensive repairs; they will accept the vehicle as is.

Donating your car will save the time and hassle of selling it. If you sell your car privately, you'll need to repair it, advertise for it and find a buyer. If you sell it to a dealership, you'll have to haggle over the price and possibly end up getting less than what it's worth. Donating is very easy, the charity organization will take care of everything for you, including picking up the car from your home.

Vehicle donation is also tax deductible. Make sure that the charity you choose is listed as a qualified charity with the IRS. The charity will provide you with the necessary paperwork claim your tax deduction. The amount that you can deduct will depend on the current value of your car and what the charity sells it for or uses it for.

The best part of donating is that you'll know that you’re doing something good that will help out a charitable cause.

Safety Tips for Driving at Night

Driving at night involves different challenges and dangers than driving during the day. According to the National Safety Council, traffic fatality rates are three times higher at night. The main reason is that our vision is much more limited in every way. Depth perception , color recognition, and peripheral vision are all compromised.

Here are some tips to make driving at night safer:

• Keep your windows, light covers and mirrors clean to improve visibility. Dirty windows and mirrors will reduce visibility and increase glare from lights.



• Make sure your lights and mirrors are properly aimed for optimum performance.



• Put your headlights on approximately one hour before sunset and keep your headlights on one hour after sunrise to make yourself more easily visible to other drivers.



• Refrain from using your high beams when you are following another vehicle or when another vehicle is approaching in the opposite lane.



• When there is fog, use low beam headlights. High beams reduce your own ability to see.



• If you need to pull over, put on your emergency flashers and completely pull off the road.



• Avoid having lights on inside the car.



• Avoid smoking in the car, especially at night. The smoke can further reduce vision.



• Reduce your speed and increase your following distances at night.



• Avoid driving when your feeling tired.



• Concentrate on driving, don't allow yourself to become distracted by cell phones, loud music, etc.



• Have your vision checked on a regular basis. Some people have specific problems with their night vision and need to wear special glasses or avoid driving at night.

Compressed Air Cars

A new car maker named Zero Pollution Motors has a plan in motion for an air powered car that could end up being the worlds cleanest car. The design is environmentally friendly and also inexpensive. Their ultimate goal is zero pollution motoring. The overall car brand name will be FlowAIR. These cars could be available in the U.S. as early as 2010, and can be reserved as early as mid 2009. They are estimating a price around $17,800.

The technology uses a compressed air engine. At low speeds, it will run only on compressed air. At higher speeds, it will also use a small amount of fuel. The motor is very flexible and is able to use gasoline, diesel or biodiesel. The first model to be released will have 6 seats and will be roomy and comfortable. The body will be built with fiberglass and injected foam. Fiberglass is safer, easier to repair, and does not rust.

These vehicles will get better MPG than any other hybrid vehicle available on the market right now. It's predicted that they will easily get over 100 MPG and go more than 90 miles per hour.

Car Booster Seats

When your child has outgrown the forward-facing car safety seat, it's time for a booster seat. The job of the car booster seat is to boost the child up so that lap and shoulder seat belts are well-positioned to safely restrain them. They are recommended for children that are over 40 pounds and less than 4 feet 9 inches tall.

Here are the top 10 booster seats according to the IIHS:

Combi Kobuk Fisher-Price Safe Voyage (with plastic clip) Graco TurboBooster Britax Monarch Britax Parkway Fisher-Price Safe Voyage (highback) LaRoche Bros. Teddy Bear Recaro Young Style Volvo booster cushion Safeguard Go (when used as a backless booster)

There are two types of booster seats, those that have a back to them and those that don't. The best kind for your child depends on what kind of seats you have in your vehicle. Before buying a booster seat it's a good idea to try it out in your car to make sure that it fits well. Some high-back boosters have padded wings that can function as headrests, which is good for children that tend to fall asleep in the car.

A booster seat is held in place by the combination of the child's weight and the cars seat belts. It should only be used with a forward facing seat. If used with a lap belt only, you must also use a child harness to hold the child's head and shoulders back. The sash part of the seat belt must cross your child's shoulder and not touch their neck.

Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car

Used car buying always has risks, especially when buying a used car through a private seller. You could end up with a lemon if you aren't careful. You will save a lot of time if you give the seller a quick call and ask them the following questions before going to look at the vehicle:

Why are they selling the car? It's important to ask these questions, what they say and how they say it can reveal a lot about the vehicle. How many miles are on the odometer? The number of miles on the odometer will help to determine the value of the car. What is the current condition of the car? If it's not in perfect condition, that could be a bargaining tool. Are you the original owner? If the seller is not the original owner, it may be more difficult to get all of the information that you want about the cars history. What are you willing to sell it for? It doesn't hurt to subtly imply that you think the asking price is too high. Can I test drive it? You should always test drive a used car before buying it. If they won't let you test drive it, that should raise a red flag. Can I take it for an independent inspection first? If they don't want you to do this, they probably have something to hide. Is the paperwork available for inspection? If the vehicle has been well cared for, the seller should have records of maintenance and repairs. Can I have the VIN number to do a history check? If they know you are planning to do a history check, they may be more honest about the cars history. Has the vehicle ever been in an accident? If so, there may be hidden damage.