I saw a horrifying video on the internet today, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IPQlMbAqEg, where a man was impaled through the neck by a fence post and miraculously survives. Andrew Linn reportedly fell asleep while driving. Where I’d like to think this was an isolated incident, I know drowsy driving is all too common.
Feeling sleepy is especially dangerous when you are driving. Sleepiness slows your reaction time, decreases awareness and impairs your judgment, just like drugs or alcohol. People who are very sleepy behave in similar ways to people who are drunk. In fact, police officers report pulling over suspected drunk drivers that turn out to be drowsy drivers on a regular basis.
When you’re tired your judgment can be impaired and your brain can play tricks on you. You may do the wrong thing, or you think you have performed a task you have not really completed. A drowsy driver may not realize that the car is going the wrong way into a divided highway, or that the car ahead is about to stop. Everyone, including doctors, police, engineers, and drivers, becomes less competent when they are sleepy.
Driving alert can save your life. Here are a few warning signals for drowsy drivers and some tips for keeping. If you have even one of these symptoms, you could be sleepier than you think.
Warning signals:
• You have trouble keeping your eyes open and focused
• You can’t keep your head up
• You daydream or have wandering, disconnected thoughts
• You yawn frequently or rub your eyes repeatedly
• You find yourself drifting from your lane or tailgating
• You miss signs or drive past your exit
• You feel irritable and restless
• You drift off the road and hit the rumble strips
• You are unable to remember how far you have traveled or what you have recently
Tips:
• Don’t drive when you are sleepy; try to travel during daylight hours.
• Get enough sleep the night before, especially before a long trip.
• Travel with a passenger
• Take a power nap; when planning your route, identify places where you can nap if the need arises. 20 minutes can make all the difference
• Schedule a break every couple of hours
With increased traffic, heavier and faster vehicles, driving is a serious matter and can change or end a person’s life in an instant. It is each of our responsibilities to do what it takes to remain a safe and proficient driver, not only for ourselves but for the safety of other drivers on the road. Come on everybody, Wake Up!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
When it comes to buying gas, know before you go.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) says gasoline pump prices have climbed more than 35 cents a gallon in the first two weeks of March, making the price increase the second largest ever recorded by the government over a two-week period. According to AAA, the average price of gasoline on 3/8 was $3.52 a gallon.
A new survey says the average price of regular gasoline in the
In
Prices are high and will continue to rise ever higher as we head into the summer driving season. A few minutes of effort on your part could save you hundreds of dollars by the end of the year. Find a site that is updated daily and add it to your favorites at home, work and on your I-Phone, you'll be glad you did.
Not in
Two of the sites I use are: gasprices.mapquest.com or gasbuddy.com/
Friday, February 18, 2011
Meet The Jetson's
Picture this: You're running late for work, the traffic is terrible, you have a huge presentation that could literally make or break your career, and you still need to get a cup of coffee and drop the kids off at kindergarten and middle school. Sound familiar? Just imagine a new way to get to work faster and without a single red light. It could be a reality as early as next year.
Terrafugia, a U.S. company is on track to begin manufacturing flying cars. These hybrid vehicles called Transition Roadable Light Sport Aircraft can transform from a car into an aircraft in under 30 seconds. The vehicle will be able to travel by air at 115 MPH and reach top speed of 65 MPH on the street. In fact, it will be just like any other car according to a report in the Sunday Express; you will be able to fuel up at any gas station, it will fit comfortably in any standard garage and when fully fueled it will have a fuel range between 400-450 miles.
The Terrafugia company hopes to manufacture and sell 200 vehicles a year and so far the have taken orders on 100 Transitions. There are still adjustments needed to meet both federal road and aviation standards, but the company is committed to ensuring the project launches on schedule.
There are downsides however to owning a car/plane hybrid. The basic vehicle starts at $194,000, excluding extras such as a radio, transponder and a parachute. Federal safety regulations require driver to have a pilots license, a certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority and the European Aviation Safety Agency. As the technology improves and demand increases future flying cars will become safer, easier to build and more affordable, but for now it will remain a novelty few can afford.
With a few fight lessons and money in hand, that trip across town to the store or across country to grandma's house will become a whole lot faster. Unfortunately, for those of you with kids, you'll probably still get that age old question, "Are we there yet". Well, nothings perfect.
For more information on this story, check out the links below:
http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/06/the-flying-car/
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/109522/20110207/flying-cars-terrafugia.htm
Terrafugia, a U.S. company is on track to begin manufacturing flying cars. These hybrid vehicles called Transition Roadable Light Sport Aircraft can transform from a car into an aircraft in under 30 seconds. The vehicle will be able to travel by air at 115 MPH and reach top speed of 65 MPH on the street. In fact, it will be just like any other car according to a report in the Sunday Express; you will be able to fuel up at any gas station, it will fit comfortably in any standard garage and when fully fueled it will have a fuel range between 400-450 miles.
The Terrafugia company hopes to manufacture and sell 200 vehicles a year and so far the have taken orders on 100 Transitions. There are still adjustments needed to meet both federal road and aviation standards, but the company is committed to ensuring the project launches on schedule.
There are downsides however to owning a car/plane hybrid. The basic vehicle starts at $194,000, excluding extras such as a radio, transponder and a parachute. Federal safety regulations require driver to have a pilots license, a certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority and the European Aviation Safety Agency. As the technology improves and demand increases future flying cars will become safer, easier to build and more affordable, but for now it will remain a novelty few can afford.
With a few fight lessons and money in hand, that trip across town to the store or across country to grandma's house will become a whole lot faster. Unfortunately, for those of you with kids, you'll probably still get that age old question, "Are we there yet". Well, nothings perfect.
For more information on this story, check out the links below:
http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/06/the-flying-car/
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/109522/20110207/flying-cars-terrafugia.htm
Monday, February 7, 2011
Car Thefts on the Rise in Chico
Are you an owner of a Honda Civic or Honda Accord? If so, you need to read this! Honda Civics and Accords were the #1 most often stolen vehicle in 2010.
According to the Chico Police Department, incidences of car theft in Chico have skyrocketed in the last two months. There were 17 thefts reported in December which increased to 32 by mid-January . The shocking part is that the majority of the car's taken were Honda's. Out of the 32 cars taken last month, 14 of them were Honda sedans, mostly because thieves want what's under the hood. Honda parts bring top dollar when sold on the street. A word of warning; just because you don't own a Honda, doesn't mean your out of the woods. Here is a list of the top 10 car models that are likely to go missing: 1994 Honda Accord 1995 Honda Civic 1989 Toyota Camry 1997 Ford F150 Pickup 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 2000 Dodge Caravan 1996 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee 1994 Acura Integra 1999 Ford Taurus 2002 Ford Explorer
Here are 3 important ways you can protect yourself and your car from thieves:
1. Always lock your doors whether you will be out of the car for 5 hours, 5 minutes or 5 seconds.
2. BE SMART! Remove all valuables from your car when you're not inside it. Don't just cover up purses, sunglasses, laptops, digital cameras, cell phones or other electronics, put them away in the trunk.
3. Get to know your neighbors. Most stolen cars have been taken from neighborhoods and apartment complexes. If you see any suspicious activity in your community don't hesitate, call the police immediately at 530-898-5555.
For more information, check out the links below.
http://theorion.com/news/article_dc186960-2e9a-11e0-8c43-0017a78c22.html
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/09/honda-accord-civic-top-list-of-most-stolen-cars/1
I just read a very interesting article in last week's issue of The Orion, C S U Chico's newspaper describing the increase in number of vehicles stolen in Chico. I empathize with Butte College Student Christine Schneider, whose Gray 2002 Ford Focus was stolen in the middle of the night. Christine was shaken awake by her roommate only to discover that her car was stolen. Christine's car had been broken into and ransacked. The thief got away with her purse, computer, textbooks and keys. Two days later, her car went missing too.
I know what it feels like to have your whole life lost in seconds because I was a victim too. My car was broken into and my personal items were stolen off the front seat.
According to the Chico Police Department, incidences of car theft in Chico have skyrocketed in the last two months. There were 17 thefts reported in December which increased to 32 by mid-January . The shocking part is that the majority of the car's taken were Honda's. Out of the 32 cars taken last month, 14 of them were Honda sedans, mostly because thieves want what's under the hood. Honda parts bring top dollar when sold on the street. A word of warning; just because you don't own a Honda, doesn't mean your out of the woods. Here is a list of the top 10 car models that are likely to go missing:
Here are 3 important ways you can protect yourself and your car from thieves:
1. Always lock your doors whether you will be out of the car for 5 hours, 5 minutes or 5 seconds.
2. BE SMART! Remove all valuables from your car when you're not inside it. Don't just cover up purses, sunglasses, laptops, digital cameras, cell phones or other electronics, put them away in the trunk.
3. Get to know your neighbors. Most stolen cars have been taken from neighborhoods and apartment complexes. If you see any suspicious activity in your community don't hesitate, call the police immediately at 530-898-5555.
For more information, check out the links below.
http://theorion.com/news/article_dc186960-2e9a-11e0-8c43-0017a78c22.html
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/09/honda-accord-civic-top-list-of-most-stolen-cars/1
Friday, January 14, 2011
Parking Etiquette
I spent the last few minutes watching a parking video and it got me thinking about parking lot etiquette. In my business I see almost daily vehicles with parking lot dings and damage that might have been avoided with a little common sense (what strikes me as common sense of course doesn't always ring true universally.)
I drive a small size car normally, but every once and a while I will drive the family truck to Costco or the grocery store. I am terrible when it comes to parking the "Big Rig" , but great at compensating. I've learned to park at the outside lanes of the parking lot where I have extra room to maneuver. I pick up carts that are left near my vehicle and return them to either the collection area or into the store with me and I open my door slowly, never assuming that the car next to me is empty. These small steps, knock on wood, have keeped me and my car safe.
We live in a super fast paced world and unfortunately, in our hurry to get into and out of stores we often forget common courtesy and manners. I believe that there is such a thing as parking lot etiquette and while the are no hard and fast rules, here's a list of the ones I observe while looking for that perfect parking space and wish others would as well.
1. Observe the legal aspects of driving in a parking lot including, stop signs, handicap spaces, pedestrian crosswalks and use of turn signals.
2. Do not block other parking space seekers while you wait for a space to open up near the store entrance.
3. Park only in designated spaces.
4. Center your vehicle in its parking space.
5. Pull your vehicle all the way into the space, but don't pull too far forward If you drive a small car (Honda Fit, Smart Car, Kia Rio, etc.)
6. Never force your car into a space.
7. Remove trailer hitch receivers if they hang out of the parking place.
8. Watch for drivers backing out of blind spots.
9. When backing out of a space, keep an eye out for vehicle's with trailers or boats.
10. When parking in perpendicular spaces, don't pull through to the other side.
11. Keep children under control walking through parking lots and never let small children push the shopping cart for you.
12. Park shopping carts, dollies, and baskets in designated areas.
13. Keep the parking lot clean; shopping carts are not trash cans.
14. Avoid curb hopping it can damage the curb, landscaping and your car's tires and or alignment.
15. Slow down in the rain.
16. Make every effort to exit expeditiously.
17. Etiquette in the parking lot is also for pedestrians. Do not walk in the middle of the lane, do not jay walk so that a car may not turn. If you're going into the store and there is a shopping cart nearby, return it to the store or use it.
18. And finally, resist temptation to blow the horn (or give the finger) to other drivers or pedestrians.
If you do have an accident of find damage on your vehicle it is always a good idea to take photos of the damage on the car or cars, record vehicle placement in the parking lot and to document names, faces and insurance information. Parking lot damages may or may not be covered by the store or your insurance company. Parking lots are private property and as such are not held to the same rules as public roads and highways. Your insurance agent should be able to answer any questions you have.
My advice, when ever entering or exiting a parking lot is to slow down and smile. It might not protect you from an accident, but it will make the whole experience more enjoyable.
I drive a small size car normally, but every once and a while I will drive the family truck to Costco or the grocery store. I am terrible when it comes to parking the "Big Rig" , but great at compensating. I've learned to park at the outside lanes of the parking lot where I have extra room to maneuver. I pick up carts that are left near my vehicle and return them to either the collection area or into the store with me and I open my door slowly, never assuming that the car next to me is empty. These small steps, knock on wood, have keeped me and my car safe.
We live in a super fast paced world and unfortunately, in our hurry to get into and out of stores we often forget common courtesy and manners. I believe that there is such a thing as parking lot etiquette and while the are no hard and fast rules, here's a list of the ones I observe while looking for that perfect parking space and wish others would as well.
1. Observe the legal aspects of driving in a parking lot including, stop signs, handicap spaces, pedestrian crosswalks and use of turn signals.
2. Do not block other parking space seekers while you wait for a space to open up near the store entrance.
3. Park only in designated spaces.
4. Center your vehicle in its parking space.
5. Pull your vehicle all the way into the space, but don't pull too far forward If you drive a small car (Honda Fit, Smart Car, Kia Rio, etc.)
6. Never force your car into a space.
7. Remove trailer hitch receivers if they hang out of the parking place.
8. Watch for drivers backing out of blind spots.
9. When backing out of a space, keep an eye out for vehicle's with trailers or boats.
10. When parking in perpendicular spaces, don't pull through to the other side.
11. Keep children under control walking through parking lots and never let small children push the shopping cart for you.
12. Park shopping carts, dollies, and baskets in designated areas.
13. Keep the parking lot clean; shopping carts are not trash cans.
14. Avoid curb hopping it can damage the curb, landscaping and your car's tires and or alignment.
15. Slow down in the rain.
16. Make every effort to exit expeditiously.
17. Etiquette in the parking lot is also for pedestrians. Do not walk in the middle of the lane, do not jay walk so that a car may not turn. If you're going into the store and there is a shopping cart nearby, return it to the store or use it.
18. And finally, resist temptation to blow the horn (or give the finger) to other drivers or pedestrians.
If you do have an accident of find damage on your vehicle it is always a good idea to take photos of the damage on the car or cars, record vehicle placement in the parking lot and to document names, faces and insurance information. Parking lot damages may or may not be covered by the store or your insurance company. Parking lots are private property and as such are not held to the same rules as public roads and highways. Your insurance agent should be able to answer any questions you have.
My advice, when ever entering or exiting a parking lot is to slow down and smile. It might not protect you from an accident, but it will make the whole experience more enjoyable.
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