Weatherproof your car
It’s not too late to weatherproof your car for winter. Harsh winter conditions can cause vehicles to work harder, particularly the charging and starting system, headlights, tires and windshield wipers. AAA recommends that motorists take the following precautions:
- Clean any corrosion from battery posts and cable connections and wash all surfaces with battery terminal cleaner or a solution of baking soda and water. Have the battery checked by a professional to ensure it is strong enough to face cold weather.
- Have any engine drivability problems corrected at a good repair shop. Symptoms such as hard starts, rough idling, stalling or diminished power might signal a problem that could be exacerbated by cold weather.
- Replace worn windshield-wiper blades. In harsh climates, purchase one-piece beam-type or rubber-clad winter blades to fight snow and ice buildup. Use cold-weather windshield washer solvent and carry an ice-scraper.
- Inspect all lights and bulbs and replace burned out bulbs. Clean road grime or clouding from all lenses.
- Have a mechanic check the exhaust system for leaks and look for any holes in the trunk and floorboards.
- Examine tires for tread depth, uneven wearing and cupping. Check tire pressures once a month when tires are cold, before driving for any distance. In extreme climates, a set of winter snow tires may be a wise investment.
Additional information regarding AAA’s recommendations for proper vehicle maintenance is available on the AAA Newsroom.
How safe are you?
You may consider yourself a safe driver, but there are others who may not take similar precautions – especially teen drivers, according to the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (www.responsibility.org). Based on a survey conducted at IKnowEverything, which tested teen safety driving among over 2,000 high school students across the country, the organization reported that the 65 percent of teens say they sometimes – or always – find themselves in situations behind the wheel for which they are not prepared. According to the survey, the good news is:
- 91 percent of teens know to keep their seat belt fastened and also tell others to buckle up.
- Almost 90 percent can correctly identify distracted driving behaviors.
- 86 percent know how to drive safely when using a GPS.
At the same time, teens reported having trouble with the following common driving scenarios:
- 67 percent did not understand how to safely navigate a complicated driving situation.
- 60 percent did not know what to do when a speeding car approached them from behind.
- 35 percent did not know what to do when an emergency vehicle approached at a red light.
Furthermore, it appears that some teens need help dealing with peer pressure situations:
- 25 percent reported not knowing how to handle a passenger who is drinking in their car.
- 27 percent do not know how to safely get home when their driver has been drinking alcohol.
- 38 percent are not sure how to handle a friend distracting them while driving.
On the other hand…
While some teens may need to focus more on safe driving, their parents appear to be motivating them to do so, according to the National Safety Council’s recent public opinion survey. The survey suggests that many parents understand – and take steps to help reduce – the greatest risks facing teen drivers. According to the survey:
- 57 percent of parents do not allow teens to drive with friends.
- 55 percent do not allow teens to drive after 10 p.m.
- 64 percent support extending teen driving laws to cover all new drivers younger than 21.
That said, while 57 percent of parents recognize the risk of their teens riding with friends, 60 percent still allow them to drive with younger siblings. Research has shown that a single young passenger – even a sibling – can increase a teen driver’s fatal crash risk by 44 percent. Also, while over half of parents reportedly do not allow their teens to drive past 10 p.m. it has been found that nighttime driving – regardless of the hour – can be risky because of reduced visibility. Some experts believe that parents should ride with their teen after sunset so they can gain driving experience during this risky time of day.
Fuel efficiency counts – a lot
When it comes to your car, what’s most important? Safety features? Price? Body type? According to a study by Kelton Global, Driving Toward Change, 79 percent of Americans rank fuel efficiency as most important when car shopping. The research, sponsored by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and Plastics Make it Possible®, surveyed drivers around the country. About 72 percent of participants reported that fuel efficiency is more important to them today than it was five years ago.
At the same time, when asked about the relationship between vehicle weight and fuel economy, only about half of respondents appeared to recognize that a lighter-weight vehicle is more fuel-efficient. Additional key findings of the study include:
- 37 percent of respondents said they will drive a greater distance to get gas at a lower price.
- 32 percent said they believe fuel efficiency would increase if a vehicle was made with more carbon fiber composites.
- 83 percent appear not to know that a lighter-weight vehicle can be as safe as a heavier vehicle.
What drives you?
A recent study by Kelley Blue Book reports that female car shoppers are driven by features and will research extensively to find the best fit, while many men are focus on a particular car brand. One-in-five men know the exact vehicle he wants, while women are twice as likely to be undecided about their top-choice vehicle, the study notes. Additionally, 58 percent of men are confident in the car-buying arena, versus 38 percent of women. As a result, women do more research and take longer to make a purchase (a median of 75 days, compared with men’s 63 days).
Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com study also revealed:
- Men are more likely to view their cars as tied to their image and accomplishments, while women are more likely to see them simply as a way to get from point A to point B.
- More men prefer trucks, coupes and luxury sedans, while women appear to be more utility-minded and gravitate toward non-luxury SUVs and sedans.
- Men are more likely to consider domestic trucks and European luxury brands while women opt for non-luxury Asian brands, which they view to be more practical.
- Women tend to value practical, fundamental benefits – such as durability and reliability, safety and affordability – more than men.
Results from the study are from Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence’s analysis of data from KBB.com traffic and survey data from BrandWatch, Combined User Profile, Recall Awareness, and Price Quote Follow-Up studies. The total sample size from all sources was approximately 40,000 U.S. adults.