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PREOWNED POINTERS --How to make buying a preowned vehicle less stressful

REDUCE FUEL CONSUMPTION --Save money and help the planet

TEACHING YOUR TEEN --Tips for helping teens learn to drive

CLINTON HERALDAPRIL 2013 --A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO

SPRING ON THE ROAD2 | FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013 WWW.CLINTONHERALD.COM

PROPERLY ADJUSTEDMIRRORS VASTLY IMPROVESAFETY

Millions of motor vehicle accidentsoccur each year. While the motor vehi-cle industry places a great emphasison safety, it’s ultimately up to motoriststo ensure their vehicle is as safe aspossible.Mirrors are an often overlooked aspectof safe driving. Properly adjustedrearview and side view mirrors im-prove visibility by reducing blind spots,which in turn reduces a driver’s risk ofbeing in an accident, especially onmulti-lane highways where drivers maybe forced to keep tabs on fellow mo-torists on both sides of their vehicles.When adjusting mirrors, consider thefollowing tips to ensure your vehicle isas safe as possible.Ensure optimal visibility from theinterior rearview mirror. A properlyadjusted rearview mirror allows driversto see what’s alongside and behindthem, improving road awareness whilereducing the risk of an accident. Mostdrivers know the rearview mirrorshould allow them to see out of therear window from the driver’s seat. Butit’s also important to utilize theday/night switch found on mostrearview mirrors. Such a switch isn’t anunnecessary accessory, but one thatcan reduce glare from cars behind youat night. Just be sure to flip the switchback to the daytime setting in themorning to ensure maximum visibility.Firmly secure the rearview mirror.Unfortunately, rearview mirrors are notalways sturdy, as many vehicle manu-facturers attach the rearview mirror tothe windshield with a special buttonthat is glued to the glass at the factory.

This glue can come undone when driv-ers hit a pothole or just graduallyweaken thanks to the ravages of heat,humidity or cold weather.When a rearview mirror comesunglued, drivers often look to a quick,yet temporary, solution like super glueor a high-strength adhesive. Suchquick fixes are ineffective over the longhaul, and drivers might find them-selves driving down the street withouta rearview mirror. Permatex® RearviewMirror Adhesive was designed specifi-cally for motorists looking for a perma-nent fix that ensures the rearviewmirror will stay attached to the wind-shield regardless of external factorslike the weather or poor road condi-tions. The adhesive employs a specialformula that can easily withstandchanging weather conditions and thethermal expansion that typically ren-ders other glues and adhesives use-less.Don’t overlook side view mirrors. A1995 study from the Society of Auto-motive Engineers noted that, when po-sitioned correctly, side view mirrorscan help drivers see vehicles in theirblind spots, eliminating a driver’s needto glance over his or her shoulderwhen changing lanes.When adjusting the driver’s side mir-ror, place the side of your head againstthe window, then adjust the mirror untilthe side of your vehicle comes intoview. To adjust the passenger’s sidemirror, sit in the driver’s seat, and thenlean to the right so that your head is inthe car’s centerline. Adjust the mirroruntil the side of your vehicle comesinto view.Once your mirrors have been adjustedand the rearview mirror is firmly se-cure, don’t forget to use each of thesemirrors when driving. Many drivers relysolely on their rearview mirrors to backup and change lanes on the highway.However, if all of your mirrors arealigned correctly, you should be able tosee a vehicle leave the rearview mirrorand move to one of the side view mir-rors immediately. Diligent use of eachmirror can help prevent accidents thatoccur when drivers change lanes.

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TIPS TO MAKE BUYING A PREOWNEDVEHICLE LESS STRESSFULMen and women purchase a preowned vehicle for avariety of reasons. Preowned vehicles are often abetter bargain than a brand new car right off the lot,and a preowned vehicle will likely cost less to insure,making it an even bigger bargain. In addition, manymanufacturers and dealers have recognized thegrowing appeal of preowned vehicles and, as a re-sult, offer warranties, something that was unheard ofas recently as a decade ago.But buying a preowned vehicle is still a nerve-wrack-ing process for some consumers, who no doubt recallthe horror stories of yesteryear when previouslyowned vehicles were sold as-is and the risk of buyinga lemon was enough to scare consumers away. Thatrisk has dwindled considerably, but there are stillsome things prospective buyers can do to ensure theprocess of buying a preowned vehicle is less stressfuland more likely to be a success.Research the vehicle you want to buy. The Internethas made it easier than ever before to conduct re-search regarding certain vehicles. In a relatively shortperiod of time, consumers can learn about a vehicle’sstandard features, safety records and warranty infor-mation, and may even find opinions about the vehicleonline from past or current owners of the samemodel. Owner opinions might be especially valuable,as owners might shed light on any mechanical issuesyou might not be able to glean from other sources.Determine your price range. Settling on a pricerange is an important part of the process when buy-ing a preowned vehicle. If you will be financing the ve-hicle, then you likely won’t save as much oninsurance as if you buy the vehicle outright. That’s be-cause lending institutions typically mandate that a ve-hicle be fully insured while it’s being financed. If yourinsurance is going to be as high as it would be to pur-chase a new vehicle, then you might want to make alarger down payment so your monthly payment islower. A preowned vehicle is likely to need more im-mediate maintenance than a brand new car, so keepthat in mind when figuring out a price range you canbe comfortable with.Find a reputable seller.Working with a seller you’re

comfortable with can make the process of buying apreowned vehicle a lot less stressful. Private sellerstend to sell preowned vehicles at the most reason-able prices, and buyers are often a little more atease because they don’t feel as pressured with aprivate seller as they might at a dealership. How-ever, dealerships might offer a greater sense of se-curity, as their preowned vehicles are now typicallycertified and backed by warranties. Test drive the vehicle. It might seem simple, butconsumers have the right to test drive a preownedvehicle just like they would a brand new car on thelot at a dealership. In fact, the test-drive is perhapsmore important with a preowned vehicle than a newvehicle. A new vehicle will likely feel good no matterwhat on a test-drive, but test-driving a preowned ve-hicle may reveal certain issues. When test-driving,take the vehicle on a long enough ride to acceleratefrom a stop, get a feel for the vehicle’s visibility, brak-

ing, cornering, and ability to climb hills, and see howthe vehicle drives on the highway. The ride shouldbe long enough so you can get a true feel for howthe vehicle drives, and you should pay attention toany noises along the way, such as noises comingfrom the engine or any creaks, rattling and squeaksthat tend to be commonplace with older vehicles.Don’t be afraid to negotiate. Preowned vehiclesmay have a suggested price attached to them, butthat price is entirely contingent on the condition ofthe vehicle and it’s certainly open to negotiation.This is true whether you are buying from a dealer-ship or a private seller. If the seller refuses to negoti-ate, you can always walk away and continue yoursearch.Buying a preowned vehicle is a lot less stressfulthan in decades past, and buyers who do theirhomework can find the right deal if they stay patient.


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People frequently wrestle with the decision tolease or buy a vehicle. The decision to buy orlease depends on a host of factors, includinghow long you plan to own the vehicle and howfrequently you’re on the road. Some motoristsmight find leasing is better suited to theirneeds.Some people remain skeptical of leasing, par-ticularly because they are paying a fee to usea car for a limited time. At the end of the leaseperiod, you do not own the vehicle, and themoney you paid toward the lease is essen-tially gone — unless you choose a buy-out op-tion. But in that case it may have been lessexpensive to simply finance the entire time.Leasing is like renting an apartment. It pro-vides you with what you need at the time, butyou have no stake in ownership at the end ofthe rental period. Individuals who frequentlymove and want little responsibility like thefreedom of renting. Those who are looking toset up a household for a long period of timeoften seek out a more permanent home situa-tion. The same can be said for leasing a vehi-cle.If you prefer to drive a new vehicle every fewyears and don’t want the hassle of mainte-nance as the vehicle ages, then leasing is theway to go. When the car is returned to thedealer after a certain period of time, you haveno other responsibilities to that car or truck.Furthermore, some dealerships often offer in-centives to those consumers who turn in anexpired lease and immediately sign up again.

Cost is another factor to consider. Leasing istypically less expensive in the short term thanpurchasing. If required, down payments canbe very low, while monthly lease paymentstend to be lower than financing payments. In-dividuals who like the security a new car pro-vides but may not have the funds to buy anew car often turn to leasing. Leasing pay-ments can sometimes be $100 less than fi-nancing the same vehicle or one with feweroptions.Leasing also can save money on warranties.Many leases are for 36 months, a period thattypically coincides with the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty period. This means you donot have to purchase an expensive extendedwarranty as you might with a vehicle you’re fi-nancing to own.Drivers who spend little time in the car areoften good prospects for leasing. That’s be-cause you will have to maintain a certainrange of miles used within the lease term.Should you exceed the miles at the end of theterm, you will be required to pay a designatedrate on those extra miles, which can quicklyadd up. You also will have to pay for any extra-neous wear-and-tear on the vehicle that goesbeyond normal use. Those who only use vehi-cles for short jaunts here and there may findleasing advantageous.Many people who are looking for reliable carsfor the short term lean toward leasing as theprimary method for driving a new, options-richvehicle.


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A vehicle history report can be a usedcar buyer’s best friend. Whereas in thepast buyers bought used cars andhoped for the best, today’s used carbuyers can rely on a vehicle history re-port to tell them all about the vehiclewhile helping buyers make more in-formed decisions. When shopping for a preowned vehi-cle, you should always ask for a vehi-cle history report, regardless ofwhether you’re buying from a dealer-ship or a private citizen. If the seller re-fuses, it’s time to look elsewhere.When a seller eagerly provides a vehi-cle history report, buyers should exam-ine a few things on the report so theycan be more comfortable should theyultimately purchase the vehicle.Number of previous owners: All ve-hicle history reports list how manyowners a vehicle has had in the past.In general, the more owners a vehiclehas had, the more risk you’re assum-ing as the buyer. Vehicles that tend tochange hands often are less likely tohave been well maintained.

In addition to how many owners a carhas had, look at who those ownerswere. Vehicles that were once ownedby a rental car company, for instance,were likely not treated very well, asfew people care how much abuse theirrental car endures. However, a caronce owned by a rental agency likelyhas lots of highway miles on it, andsuch driving is less taxing on a vehiclethan city driving where the vehicle’sengine is stopping and starting morefrequently.Specifics: Just because a seller pro-vides you with a vehicle history reportdoes not necessarily mean that reportmatches up with the vehicle you mightbe buying. A dishonest seller might tryto pass off the history report of an-other vehicle of the same make andmodel as his own. This is done to hidea suspect vehicle history or even whenthieves are selling a stolen car to anunsuspecting buyer. Check the vehicleidentification number, or VIN, on thevehicle to ensure the car you’re look-ing at matches the car on the history

report. In addi-tion, each vehi-cle historyreport de-scribes the car,so if the de-scription doesnot match youmight be hold-ing an inaccurate report.Location: The vehicle history reportwill show where the car has lived overthe years. Vehicles that have spentample time in harsh weather, such asAlaska or another region with a pro-longed winter, have likely had theirshare of weather-related wear andtear, more so than a car driven inwarmer climates. While this does notmean past owners didn’t properlymaintain the car, some buyers mightbe wary of purchasing a vehicle thathas endured too many harsh winters.Physical appearance: Does thephysical appearance of the car matchup with its history report? Sometimesa vehicle owner does not report when

a car has been in an accident. Ownersmight do this to avoid higher insurancepremiums or to mask the vehicle’s his-tory because they intend to sell the cardown the road. If a car exhibits anysigns of body work that aren’t on itshistory report or if the car drives awk-wardly but has supposedly not been inan accident, buyers should considerthis a major red flag and strongly con-sider walking away from the vehicleand continuing their search elsewhere.A vehicle history report can calm thefears of a buyer shopping for a pre-owned vehicle. But even when a reportis made available, buyers should stillexamine the report closely to ensurethe vehicle is all it’s cracked up to be.

THINGS TO LOOK FORON A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT


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OCTANE RATING AFFECTS CAR COSTS

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A variety of factors come into play when a person is de-ciding which new or previously owned vehicle to pur-chase. While body type, model year and make all areconsidered, shoppers should also look into what typeof fuel the vehicle needs.Many drivers are aware of the different grades of gaso-line available at the pump. Unleaded versions come inregular, plus and premium varieties, which coordinatesto the octane of the gasoline. The octane rating ofgasoline tells a driver how much the fuel can be com-pressed before it spontaneously ignites, rather than ig-niting normally from a spark plug in the vehicle engine.Lower-octane gasoline can withstand less compressionthan higher-octane gasoline. Gas that ignites on its own rather than from a sparkfrom the spark plug causes knocking and pinging,which can damage the engine. Therefore it is importantto use the right octane level of gasoline for a vehicle,based on the car’s compression ratio for the engine.Car engines that are rated in a particular way will bene-fit from the correct octane in gasoline. Higher-perfor-mance engines commonly found in race cars andsporty, luxury vehicles will generally require a premium,high-octane gasoline to run at their optimal perform-ance. Most cars on the market are built to take regular87-octane gasoline.A visit to the gas station clearly indicates that higher-

octane fuel costs more per gallon than the lowest oc-tane. Over time, filling up with premium gas can be asignificant factor in how much it costs to own a particu-lar vehicle. If you are looking to save money, it is impor-tant to consider just how much of your budget will bedevoted to fuel costs. A vehicle that requires premiumgasoline instead of regular gasoline may end up cost-ing a few hundred dollars more per year based on thesize of the fuel tank. It is important to note that using a higher octane fuel ina vehicle that is not rated for it will not increase per-formance — it only will end up costing you more. That’sbecause the octane rating refers to how much energy ittakes to ignite the gasoline and at what point in thecompression cycle, not how much power the gasolinewill put out. Premium gas will not improve gas mileageor give the vehicle more “oomph” if the engine is notdesigned to accommodate a higher-octane fuel. In fact,engines that are not designed for high-octane gas mayactually lose power because it burns so much slowerand the ignition timing is not tuned for it. It is always wise to consult with the owner’s manual todetermine the type of fuel that will offer the best per-formance in the car. Those shopping for a new vehicleshould pay attention to octane ratings and not assumethat every car they test drive is best when running onregular octane.


pacity. Check the driver’s manual for themanufacturer’s recommended tire pres-sure, and check the tire pressure fre-quently to ensure your car isn’t workingharder than it needs to be.Clear out the trunk. A car filled with clut-ter is carrying unnecessary weight, mak-ing it harder for the car to accelerate andconsuming more fuel than it should be.Clear out the trunk and anything insidethe vehicle that you don’t need.Open the windows at lower speeds. Airconditioning consumes lots of fuel, andmany auto experts suggest rolling downthe windows when driving at lowerspeeds. When you begin driving a littlefaster, roll the windows up and turn on theair conditioning to reduce drag.

Spend wiselyHow you’re spending at the pump canalso help you reduce fuel consumptionand save you money. Fill ‘er up! Many drivers avoid filling uptheir tank when visiting the gas station forfear that filling up the tank makes the carheavier, decreasing the vehicle’s fuel effi-ciency as a result. While that may be true,drivers who don’t fill up make more tripsto the filling station, and those trips canwaste fuel. In addition, when the gas capis removed from your vehicle, vaporizedgas escapes from the tank, so openingthe cap more frequently allows more va-porized gas to escape. Pay for gas with a card that rewardsyou with cash for making purchases.While using a cash-back credit card won’treduce your fuel consumption, it will earnyou some money back on your fuel pur-chases.

Don’t pay more for fuel your car won’tutilize. Some drivers might feel asthough putting a high-octane fuel in theirvehicles will improve the vehicle’s per-formance. But that’s not the case. A high-octane fuel in a car that’s built for alow-octane fuel won’t improve the car’sperformance or its gas mileage. Only pur-chase the fuel the owner’s manual rec-ommends. For many new vehicles, thatmeans 87-octane, or “regular,” fuel, whichis typically the most affordable.

Drive wiselyDriving habits can also impact how muchfuel you’re consuming. Driving habits canbe hard to change, but drivers who startdriving with a mind toward safety and re-ducing fuel consumption can take stepsto do just that.Don’t accelerate too quickly. Rapid ac-celeration consumes more fuel. When ac-celerating, do so gradually. You’ll still getto the same place, but you’ll get therewith a lot more fuel.Don’t speed. Highway speeds more than60 miles per hour significantly reduce fuelefficiency. Estimates suggest a car travel-ing at 60 miles per hour uses 20 percentless fuel than a vehicle traveling at 75miles per hour. Toxic emissions, includingcarbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and ni-trogen oxides, also increase when vehi-cles travel more than 60 miles per hour.Reducing fuel consumption is a goal forenvironmentalists and drivers alike. Thereare several ways drivers can help theirvehicle consume less fuel and benefit theplanet at the same time.

Taking steps toreduce fuel

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REDUCE FUEL CONSUMPTION TOSAVE MONEY ANDHELP THE PLANET

Reducing fuel costs is foremost on the minds of many drivers. Myriadcosts are associated with owning an automobile, many of which arewithin a driver’s control. For instance, safe drivers are likely to spend lesson auto insurance than drivers with a history of traffic violations or acci-dents, while drivers who purchase a vehicle with a high safety rating willlikely spend less to insure that vehicle than they would a sports car.One of the costs associated with driving that some drivers may mistak-enly feel is beyond their control is the cost of fuel. Drivers might not beable to control the price at the pump, but there are many ways driverscan spend less on fuel, helping them save money and helping the envi-ronment along the way.

Emphasizing efficiencyMaking a vehicle more efficient is a great way to save money at thepump. But drivers don’t need to get under the hood or have a mechanic’sunderstanding of automobiles to make their cars more efficient. In fact, afew minor adjustments is all it takes to make a car more efficient andsave drivers, regardless of their mechanical inclinations, money at the fill-ing station.Adequately inflate tires. Tires that are not properly inflated increasedrag on a vehicle, which then consumes more fuel to operate at full ca-


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HOW TO PACK A CAR SAFELY

This is the prime season for road trips, whichmany people feel are the most affordable vaca-tion option available. They also provide unsur-passed views of the countryside and the abilityto slow down and customize the trip as desired.Packing the car for a road trip can be compli-cated. Although the goal may be to cram asmuch as possible into the car and get on theroad quickly, part of the safety plan for this year’sadventure should include packing properly toavoid injury.Americans and Canadians combined drive tril-lions of miles in any given year. Although it is dif-ficult to make a direct comparison between howmany people choose driving as opposed to fly-ing, when comparing data from the FederalHighway Administration and the Bureau ofTransportation Statistics, for every mile Ameri-cans flew they drove about six more in 2011.With so many miles clocked on the road, it is es-sential to make the experience as safe as possi-ble — and that means properly securingbelongings in a vehicle before getting on theroad.In 2009, a laptop computer became a projectilethat killed its owner. Heather Storey of Surrey,British Columbia, was driving to work when hervehicle was hitby a tow truck. Her laptop was propelled at sucha force that it caused a deadly injuryto her head.Unsecured or improperly packed items in a caror truck have the potential to cause serious in-jury when on the road or, at the very least, mayobscure visibility when driving, says ConsumerReports. The organization and others offer driv-ers a series of tips that can help make travelsafer.Adjust tire pressure prior to travel. Consultthe owners manual to determine the proper tirepressure when the vehicle is carrying a full load.This will not onlyhelp alleviate unnecessary wear and tearon the tires, but also can help to preventa tire blow-out. Know the car’s limits. It also is important to

stay below the maximum permitted weight ormaximum load capacity for the car or truck. Con-sumer Reports says that the capacity for smallSUVs can span from 825 pounds to 1,155pounds. Midsize SUVs may carry anywherefrom 900 pounds to 1,405 pounds. Minivan ca-pacities can vary significantly as well. The loadcapacity is specified in the owner’s manual.Store the heaviest items at the lowest, mostcentral part of the vehicle.This helps reduceeffects on handling that can lead to problemswith steering or braking. Drivers should keep theoverall center of gravity lower to help reduce therisk of rollover.Make sure everything is secured in the car ortruck. Use crates or boxes to house smalleritems. Use straps or rope to tie down anythingloaded in the back of a truck or SUV to the vehi-cle’s cargo anchors. Load as much as you caninto a car’s trunk to avoid having loose itemsrolling around inside the passenger area.Keep a clear view of mirrors and the rear ofthe vehicle. Do not pack any items higher thanthe level of the rear seats. Not only can theseitems fly forward in the event of sharp braking ora crash, but they also may obscure the driver’sview of the road.Invest in a roof rack or cargo box.Only placelight items on the roof of the car so you can freeup interior space. Secure roof items tightly, asthey will be caught by the updraft while drivingand you do not want to send them airborne andonto the roadway. Also, if you do use the roof forstorage, be aware of how much taller the itemswill make your vehicle so you know if you cansafely drive beneath underpasses.Make sure passengers can be seated safely.Packing a car doesn’t always mean being able tofit suitcases and belongings. It also means en-suring passengers can ride safely. Do not seatmore passengers than can be restrained by theseat belts in the car. If there is not enough room,it is safer in the long run to take two cars.Pack a vehicle safely and make sure it is main-tained before heading out on your first road tripof the season.


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What is BAC?BAC, or blood-alcohol concentration,measures the amount of milligrams of al-cohol that is in 100 milliliters of blood.Each drink a person consumes increaseshis or her BAC.The legal BAC varies all over the world.Some countries have a zero-tolerancepolicy, while in Canada and much of theUnited States. the legal limit is .08 per-cent. That means anything more than 80milligrams of alcohol is punishable.But a person can still suffer side effects ofalcohol consumption if their BAC is belowthe legal limit. Between .03 and .06 a per-son may experience mild euphoria, trou-ble concentrating, a relaxed feeling,talkativeness and decreased inhibition.Between .06 and .08, feelings may bedulled, peripheral vision can decrease,and drivers may have poorer depth per-ception and struggle to recover fromglare.

Drugs that impair drivingUsing drugs can also make it hard tosafely operate a motor vehicle. Manydrugs can affect the body in ways thatmake it dangerous to drive.A person may not think they are drivingunder the influence after taking a cold orallergy pill. However, many of these pillscan impair driving ability because theytend to cause drowsiness.Drugs that act on the brain, such as psy-

choactive drugs, antidepressants, sleep-ing medications, and anti-anxiety drugs,can impair reaction time, judgment andmotor skills. Most medications that canprove dangerous while driving will carry awarning label that advises against drivingor operating heavy machinery.Illegal drugs have their own share of neg-ative effects. Research indicates that mar-ijuana is one of the most prevalent illegaldrugs detected in individuals fatally in-jured in driving accidents. The EmergencyMedical Services Authority says mari-juana can cause reduced concentration,difficulty perceiving time and distance,poor speed control, inability to read signs,drowsiness, and distraction.Cocaine can mask fatigue and impair aperson’s ability to concentrate. Impulsivebehaviors can lead to risk-taking. Someresearch suggests that antagonistic ef-fects can be produced when cocaine ismixed with alcohol.The EMSA says the use of amphetaminescan interfere with concentration, impair vi-sion and increase the driver's willingnessto take risks.It is better to err on the side of caution andavoid the use of any drugs or alcohol ifyou plan to be driving. No one wants tocope with the emotional, financial andlegal ramifications that can occur shouldan accident leading to injury or fatalityoccur.

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ALCOHOL AND DRUGSIMPAIR DRIVING

ABILITY IN MANY WAYSMillions of people die each year due to alcohol- and drug-related motor vehicle acci-dents. Many people simply do not realize how much alcohol and drugs affect one’sability to operate a motor vehicle. Many more may mistakenly feel they won’t be amongthe many people who cause injuries to themselves or others when operating a vehiclein an impaired state. Drugs, whether they are illegal or legal, can impair a person’smotor skills, leading to accidents.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says almost 30 people in the UnitedStates die each day in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver.That equates to 1 death every 48 minutes. Many other accidents and fatalities can betraced back to other substances, whether legal or illegal. Using drugs such as mari-juana and cocaine can be linked to roughly 20 percent of motor vehicle driver deaths inthe United States. Compounding the problem is that these drugs are often used in con-junction with alcohol.MADD Canada estimates that a minimum of 1,074 fatalities in 2009 could be attributedto impairment-related driving in that country. Moreover, it is also estimated that 63,338were injured in alcohol- and drug-related crashes the same year.


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Using mobile phonesLeading the list of the top distractions behindthe wheel are mobile phones. Phones now domore than just place calls, and drivers oftencannot pull away from their phones, evenwhen driving. According to the California De-partment of Motor Vehicles, studies haveshown that driving performance is loweredand the level of distraction is higher for driverswho are heavily engaged in cell phone con-versations. The use of a hands-free devicedoes not lower distraction levels. The percent-age of vehicle crashes and near-crashes at-tributed to dialing is nearly identical to thenumber associated with talking or listening. Accident rates have increased thanks to tex-ting, which involves a person taking his or herhands and eyes off of the road. A 2009 studyby Car and Driver magazine compared the

dangers of texting while driving to the effectsof driving drunk to see which would be moredangerous under the same conditions. Meas-uring the time it takes to brake after beingalerted by a red light to stop, the reaction timewas recorded when the driver was legallydrunk, reading an e-mail and sending a text.Texting easily elicited the slowest responsetime.Ironically, in January 2011, Texas manChance Bothe drove off of a cliff after textingthat he had to stop texting or risk dying in acar accident. Bothe survived but sustainedsignificant injuries and had to be revived fromdeath three times.

Moving ObjectsWhether there’s a pet bouncing in the frontseat or children being boisterous in the back,passengers and items moving around the carare significant distractions. Turning around tolook at the kids or to reach for a ball that maybe rolling around on the floor of the car cantake a person’s eyes off the road. If some-thing really is important and needs to be ad-dressed, it is much safer to pull over and takecare of it before getting back on the road.

DaydreamingMany people will admit to daydreaming be-hind the wheel or looking at a person or ob-

ject outside of the car for too long. Perhapsthey’re checking out a house in a new neigh-borhood or thought they saw someone theyknew on the street corner. It can be easy toveer into the direction your eyes are focused,causing an accident. In addition to trying tostay focused on the road, some drivers preferthe help of lane departure warning systems.

EatingThose who haven’t quite mastered walkingand chewing gum at the same time may wantto avoid eating while driving. The majority of

foods require a person’s hands to be taken offof the wheel and their eyes to be divertedfrom the road. Reaching in the back seat toshare some French fries with the kids is alsodistracting.

Try to eat meals before getting in the car. Forthose who must snack while en route, take amoment to pull over at a rest area and spend10 minutes snacking there before resumingthe trip.

ReadingGlancing at an advertisement, updating aFacebook status or reading a book are all ac-tivities that should be avoided when driving.

Even pouring over a traffic map or consultingthe digital display of a GPS system can bedistracting. When driving, attention should be placed onthe task of safely getting from point A to pointB. All other activities taking place in the vehi-cle are distractions that can end up risking aperson’s life.

TOP DRIVERDISTRACTIONS

Distracted driving can be very dangerous.Diverting one’s attention from the road formere seconds can have serious, and poten-tially fatal, consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Pre-vention have found distracted driving killsmore than 15 people each day while injuringmore than 1,200. Any activity that takes at-tention away from driving is considered adistraction. These include taking your handsoff the wheel, daydreaming or engaging inany behavior that takes your eyes off of theroad. Certain activities are known distrac-tions, and understanding which habits canbe dangerous and making strides to correctbehaviors can help save lives, prevent in-juries and reduce accident-related ex-penses.

A study by the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration and the Virginia TechTransportation Institute indicates 80 percentof crashes and 65 percent of near-crashesin the United States involve some form ofdriver distraction. This distraction took placea mere three seconds before the vehiclecrash. An Allstate Canada marketing surveyof 1,605 Canadian adults conducted be-tween July 26 and July 28 found that, al-though the vast majority of Canadiansthinks driving while distracted is unaccept-able, nearly three out of four Canadian driv-ers admits to engaging in a behavior that isconsidered a distraction. That is perhaps inpart because drivers are not aware just howdistracting some the following behaviorstruly are.

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TIPS FORHELPING TEENS

LEARN TO DRIVE

Parents can employvarious methods

to help theirteen become

more comfortablebehind the wheel.

Few parents look forward to the day when theymust teach their teenager to drive a car. Hand-ing over the keys to a teenager and then ridingshotgun as he or she learns the basics ishardly a recipe for a stress-free afternoon, butit’s a part of life many parents must enduresooner or later, and it’s a rite of passage fortheir children.While it’s likely your son or daughter will not bea great driver from the get-go, there are waysparents can make the process of teachingtheir teen to drive less stressful and morelikely to be a success.Utilize an empty parking lot as a class-room. Empty parking lots are great places toteach teens to drive. In an empty parking lot,teens can practice skills like turning or brakingwithout the risk of running into another driver.This gives kids the feel of a vehicle and an op-portunity to familiarize themselves with the ve-hicle’s controls, including those for turn signalsand headlights. Find an empty parking lot thatis large, such as one outside a closed grocerystore or a nearby school when school is not insession.Find a less-traveled road to practice moresubtle driving skills. Once your teen has be-come familiar with the vehicle, a good nextstep is to find a back road or a road withoutheavy traffic where he or she can learn moresubtle driving skills that might be difficult tolearn in a parking lot. Coming to a stop, main-taining a safe distance between vehicles, ac-celerating and decelerating on roadways and

learning to share the road with pedes-trians and/or cyclists are all valuablelessons that can be learned on a backroad without heavy traffic.Some lessons are best learned onthe freeway. Some skills, includingchanging lanes and merging into traffic,are best learned on the freeway orhighway. Teens will eventually take tothe highway once they get their driver’slicense, so it’s best to teach them howto handle using on and off ramps andlearning to yield when entering a high-way so they’re comfortable with suchdriving and don’t have to teach them-selves.Teach kids to anticipate other driv-ers. Anticipating other drivers is a les-son even some veteran adult driversmust learn, much less teen drivers withlittle or no experience driving. Whenteaching teenagers to drive, emphasizehow difficult it can be to anticipate otherdrivers’ maneuvers and how defensivedriving techniques are designed to helpdrivers predict what other drivers willdo in order to protect themselves fromdrivers who might be unpredictable.Teach teens to keep an eye out for driv-ers routinely switching lanes withoutsignaling and tell them to be mindful ofother drivers when they pull up to a


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stop sign. Teens who will become gooddrivers will eventually find such tech-niques are second nature, but initially par-ents should instruct them in the ways toanticipate the behavior of other drivers sothe teens can stay safe on the road.Practice driving at different times ofthe day. Taking teens out to drive at dif-ferent times of the day can teach themthat road conditions, even when the

weather is nice, vary depending on theamount of light. Driving at dusk anddawn, for instance, can be difficult be-cause glare from the sun can decreasevisibility and headlights might not providemuch help. Like learning to drive on thehighway, learning to drive at various timesof the day is a valuable lesson that kidsshould learn with their parents in tow andnot on their own after they have receivedtheir driver’s license.

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For many older drivers, driving is more thangetting from point A to point B. Getting behindthe wheel allows older drivers to remain inde-pendent as well as mobile. But as a personages, his or her risk of injury on the road in-creases, according to the Centers for Dis-

ease Control and Prevention. Older adultsand their family members need to makeplans for handing dwindling skills behind thewheel and the point in time when it is nolonger safe for a loved one to continue driv-ing.

In rural and suburban communities, driving isa necessity for independent living. With lim-ited resources available for older individualsto get around, seniors may hold onto the no-tion of driving longer than is safe and practi-cal. The National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration says that in 2009 alone, 5,288people age 65 and older were killed and187,000 were injured in traffic accidents.Older people are involved in around 15 per-cent of all traffic accidents in a typical year.Getting older doesn’t mean it’s time for you ora loved one to turn in your license just yet.There are ways people can come together tomake the driving experience go smoothly,and it often begins with an honest conversa-tion.Let a loved one know you are on his orher side. Make sure the first topic of conver-sation is that it is not your intention to takeaway the keys of the car. Indicate that youwant to work together to help keep this per-son behind the wheel as long as possible.Being open and honest about intentions mayeliminate arguments or animosity.Figure out safe ways to keep your lovedone driving. This may include identifying anew car with upgraded safety features, suchas brighter headlights, a back-up camera anda better safety record. Enroll together in adriving safety course to brush up on drivingskills.Go for a “test drive.” Family members canride along with an older driver to get a better

sense of his or her ability behind the wheel. Ifdrivers have too many close calls, frequentlyget lost in familiar places, exhibit slower re-sponse times or are easily distracted, thisshould be a wake-up call and the loved oneshould intervene.Schedule a vision and hearing exam. Driv-ing abilities can be affected by poor visionand hearing, both common side effects ofgetting older. Getting a senior a new eyeglassprescription or a better hearing aid may makeall the difference in his or her driving ability.Review prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. Many seniors take abevy of different medications, and the side ef-fects to these drugs could impact their drivingabilities. If medications cause drowsiness ordizziness, speak with your loved one’s physi-cian about a possible alternative treatmentthat might make driving safer.Be honest. If an older driver is no longersafe behind the wheel of their automobile, itis important to involve other family membersand make a joint decision to remove drivingprivileges. Have other solutions available,such as senior busing or courtesy vans, soyour loved one doesn’t feel he or she will beconfined to the house.Driving is a sensitive subject for older driverswho see being able to get behind the wheelas an opportunity to maintain their independ-ence. But individuals need to be honest withthemselves to remain safe on the road.


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HOW CANYOU PREVENTA BACKOVERACCIDENT?

NEWER CHILD SAFETY SEAT GUIDELINESParents of young children may need tobrush up on their knowledge of child safetyseats and seat belt restraints. Many arestill operating in adherence to older guide-lines that go back more than a decade. Asa result, parents should re-educate them-selves in order to ensure child safety.In guidelines published in April of 2011, theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics madesome modifications to the period of time achild should be kept in a rear-facing seat.Prior to 2011, parents were told it wassafest for infants and toddlers to ride rear-facing up to the limits of the car seat orwhen children reached 12 months in ageand 20 pounds. But new guidelines advisethat children should be kept rear-facinguntil age 2, or until they reach the maxi-mum height and weight for their seat. “A rear-facing child safety seat does a bet-ter job of supporting the head, neck andspine of infants and toddlers in a crash,because it distributes the force of the colli-sion over the entire body,” says DennisDurbin, MD, FAAP, the lead author of thenew policy.Transport Canada says children should bekept in rear-facing seats until they outgrowthem. There are some rear-facing seatsthat will accommodate children up to 20 kg(40 pounds). As long as the child is stillbelow the weight and height limit of thecurrent child seat, they should continue toface the back of the car.Rear-facing seat recommendations weren’tthe only ones to be modified in 2011. New

advice on booster seats for older childrenwere also presented. The AAP and the Na-tional Highway Traffic Safety Administrationsay children should ride in a belt-position-ing booster — which is the high-backbooster seat that provides a guide for thevehicle’s seat belt — until they are at least4 feet, 9 inches and between 8 to 12 yearsold. Vehicle seat belts are designed to fit an av-erage adult. In order to get the best protec-tion, children usually need a booster seatuntil they are about 4 feet 9 inches tall andweigh between 80 to 100 pounds. Smallerchildren may need to remain in a booster alittle longer than anticipated.Transport Canada advises that as long asa child still fits within the manufacturer’sweight and height limits for the boosterseat, it is safer for the child to remain in thebooster seat rather than wear a regularseat belt. Canadians also are urged tocheck with their province or territory forspecific laws concerning when a child canmove to a seat belt.Children should not ride in the front seat ofa car until they are age 13 or older. Parentsof preteens who were under the impres-sion that booster seat days were coming toan end will need to keep the safety seats inthe car a few years longer. But safety seatsshould not be placed in an area of the carwhere an air bag can be deployed. Parents and other adult drivers may wantto heed some other safety precautions be-fore a child is upgraded to a new seat.

• A seat belt should never be placed under a child’s arm.•Children should always be buckled up in a booster seat with both the shoulder and lap belt.• The seat belt should fall across the shoulders and the lap belt should rest on the upper thighs when a child is in the seat of a car. If the seat belt rubs against the neck, the child is not yet tall enough to give up a booster seat.•Mirrors placed in the rear seat of the car can help parents see their children in rear-facing toddler seats.• Children who cannot be trusted to keep a seat belt latched should not be moved from a five-point harness to a regular seat belt.• Parents unsure if their children are buckled up correctly can have the seat checked at a police station or first aid building.

Keeping children safe means heedingwarnings and guidelines regarding safetyrestraints. It is not adviseable to upgrade achild into the next seat until he or she hasmet all the measurement requirements setin place.

Young children, cyclists and pedestrians are especially vulnerableto injury when vehicles are backing up — either in or out of park-ing spaces or a driveway.In July of 2011, 78-year-old Yolanda Casal was thrown into the airand killed after she was hit by an SUV that was backing up on thestreets of New York City. Her daughter was also struck and suf-fered broken ribs. In the same year, Judy Neiman was backing outof her parking space in Washington State when she struck her 9-year-old daughter Sydnee, who did not survive her injuries.Neiman has since lobbied lawmakers to establish laws requiringmandatory back-up cameras on vehicles.Backover is the term applied to hitting a person or object while avehicle is in reverse. Thanks to the prevalence of sport utility vehi-cles and minivans, backover accidents have increased. Figuresfrom the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration saybackovers kill on average 292 people in the United States everyyear. Although Canadians suspect that backovers are just asmuch a problem for them, Transport Canada does not have anyrecent information regarding statistics or policies on backovers.The most notable information available is a Transport Canada re-search paper that states at least 900 Canadians were struck andinjured by reversing vehicles every year between 1992 and 2001.There are many people who believe that back-up cameras on ve-hicles can save hundreds of people, particularly young children,from backover accidents. An SUV that has rear windows nearly 5feet off the ground does not enable drivers to clearly see a personor object directly behind the vehicle. Most children under the ageof 10 (the segment of the population most likely to be injured in abackover) are much shorter than that height.

Even without legislation already in place, many SUVs and vansnow come equipped with reverse cameras as a standard featureor as an option. Therefore, consumers can choose brands thatoffer this added safety feature. After-market cameras also areavailable for installation.In addition to using cameras, there are other safety precautionsdrivers can take to reduce backover accidents.• Children should be instructed not to play in, under or around vehicles.• Drivers should always assume someone or something is behind the vehicle. Conduct an inspection behind the car or truck prior to getting in the vehicle and backing up.• Do not back up the vehicle until you have ensured all passengers are in the car and safely belted in.• Be aware of the vehicle’s blind spots at all times.• Always clear windows from visual obstructions before putting the car or truck in gear. Do not reduce visibility any further.• Always back up slowly and with the windows rolled down so you can look and listen for anything that might be behind the vehicle.• Keep the radio off, put your cell phone away and avoid any distractions in the car when moving in reverse.• Teach teens learning to drive how to safely move in reverse.

Backovers can be prevented with diligence on the part of drivers.Taking a few minutes to inspect behind the vehicle before movingin reverse can help save a life.

CAR SEAT EXPIRATIONIn addition to using the right carseat for a child’s age, weight andheight, drivers should also beaware to check the expirationdates of seats they already have.While a car seat will not growmoldy after a few years, it does“expire,” meaning it is no longerdeemed safe for use. That’s be-cause these seats are not built tolast forever. Hairline cracks mayform in the plastic, and the harnessbelts may become stretched ormore elastic after years of use.Manufacturers do not test safetyseats after a certain period of time,so they cannot state how they willperform in an accident after manyyears. Most seats will feature alabel on the bottom that indicateswhen the seat is likely to becomeunsafe — typically between fiveand six years after manufacture. Itcan be tempting to borrow a usedcar seat from a friend or familymember to save money, but if theseat is older parents could be put-ting children at risk.


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