My Car Guide » Uncategorized http://www.my-car-guide.com A Resource For Car Buyers, Sellers and Owners Thu, 27 May 2010 02:37:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Teaching Children The Rules Of The Road http://www.my-car-guide.com/306/teach-kids-rules-of-the-road/ http://www.my-car-guide.com/306/teach-kids-rules-of-the-road/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:15:16 +0000 Alice http://www.my-car-guide.com/?p=306 Tooling around with young children in the car is not always a piece of cake. The fact is small children see a car as just another playground. For parents, however, this can present a nightmare situation where loud noises and other distractions get in the way of safe driving.

Is there anything parents can do to help? Absolutely! With all but the very youngest of children, it can help to explain the rules of the road. Children need to know how to behave in a car. If you do not tell them, they simply will not know.

So, what can you share with them to make your rides go a little smoother and a whole lot less noisier? Make sure they know these things:

  • The behavior ground rules – Make certain your kids know how you expect them to behave in the car. If they are old enough, tell them why this is important. No one wants to see the family car – or worse the family – get into a fender bender!
  • The common actions behind the wheel – Children are fascinated with driving and why certain things are done when they are done. Explain, on their level, how the car works, what the road signs and lights mean and so on. The more they understand that driving is serious business, the more likely it is you will be able to count on good behavior.

Traveling with children can be fraught with perils. The better informed your little ones are, however; the more likely it is they will be good while you are behind the wheel.

    ]]>     http://www.my-car-guide.com/306/teach-kids-rules-of-the-road/feed/ 0     Why You Should Avoid Drowsy Driving http://www.my-car-guide.com/268/avoid-drowsy-driving/ http://www.my-car-guide.com/268/avoid-drowsy-driving/#comments Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:45:21 +0000 Alice http://www.my-car-guide.com/?p=268 Face it, America is one seriously sleep deprived nation. With many people reporting getting less than the recommended eight hours a night on a regular basis, there is no denying that a lot of sleepy people are out there each and every day. If you are one of them and you need to get behind the wheel, beware. Drowsy driving can prove to be a killer.

    According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the numbers are staggering. At least 100,000 crashes a year are attributed to drowsy driving. That adds up to about 71,000 injuries and more than 1,500 deaths each year.
    So, what can you do to prevent drowsy driving?

    While it might not always be possible to pull off a full eight in bed, these things can help:

    Create a wakeup routine – Make sure you spend a few minutes each morning waking up entirely before trying to get behind the wheel. Get up, take a shower, exercise, eat breakfast – just do something that raises your alertness level.

    Rest your eyes before driving – At the end of the work day, take a few minutes to rest your eyes and then move around to energize yourself and increase your alertness.

    Pull over when you have to – Trying to make it that extra 20 miles when you simply cannot keep your eyes open is just not smart. Pull over in a populated place and either cat nap for a few minutes or get out of the car and move around.

    Drowsy driving is worth avoiding. Accidents and deaths can happen if motorists do not drive with both eyes open.

    ]]>     http://www.my-car-guide.com/268/avoid-drowsy-driving/feed/ 0     Rainy Day Driving Tips http://www.my-car-guide.com/238/rainy-day-driving-tips/ http://www.my-car-guide.com/238/rainy-day-driving-tips/#comments Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:04:47 +0000 Alice http://www.my-car-guide.com/?p=238 Any time you get behind the wheel of a car to drive there is a bit of danger involved. That danger can climb higher during bad weather. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to lessen the risks of rainy days turning into disasters.

    When the sky opens up and you have to hit the road anyway, keep these things in mind:

    •Use extra caution at intersections – It is here that roads are even more apt to be slippery during storms thanks to the pooling of oil from cars.
    •Maintain your distance – Keeping a safe distance between your vehicle and others is important all the time. Doing so in the rain, however, is just plain smart.
    •Steer clear of puddles – Standing water can signal a disaster in the making. It is impossible to tell how deep a puddle happens to be or if a pothole is hidden within. Try to steer around big puddles whenever possible.
    •Avoid fast stops – It is best to slowly let up on the gas or to lightly brake whenever possible. Fast stops can easily become skids and spins in rainy conditions.
    Extra caution behind the wheel on rainy days can help keep you safe on your commute.

    ]]>     http://www.my-car-guide.com/238/rainy-day-driving-tips/feed/ 0     Tips For Reducing Distracted Driving http://www.my-car-guide.com/218/reducing-distracted-driving/ http://www.my-car-guide.com/218/reducing-distracted-driving/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:55:05 +0000 Alice http://www.my-car-guide.com/?p=218 Distracted driving is one of the top causes of traffic crashes on America’s roadways today. It is all too easy for drivers to have their attentions diverted to their detriment. Thanks to radios, cell phones, fast-paced lifestyles and more, the pulls on focus are constant and always dangerous.

    Motorists can do things to reduce the distractions they face behind the wheel. Some of the things that can help keep eyes focused and hands on the wheel include:

    •Create a drive-time CD – If music is a must behind the wheel and you find yourself constantly flipping channels, stop the habit dead in its tracks. When you create your own driving CD, you can be assured your favorite songs will always be on without having to divert your eyes to shuffle stations.

    •Turn the cell phone off – Cell phones can be among the biggest distractions going. To avoid all temptation behind the wheel, turn the phone off and let the voice mail take calls while you are in transit.

    •Use compensation devices for seeing – If your distraction happens to be kids in the backseat, purchase mirrors that enable you to see them more quickly and effectively. Turning around to check on status while you are driving can be very dangerous.

    Taking your eyes off the road for only a second can be very dangerous. There are ways to help yourself remain focused and ready for whatever might cross your path.

    ]]>     http://www.my-car-guide.com/218/reducing-distracted-driving/feed/ 0     Alternative Fuel Cars http://www.my-car-guide.com/25/alternative-fuel-cars/ http://www.my-car-guide.com/25/alternative-fuel-cars/#comments Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:16:41 +0000 Alice http://www.my-car-guide.com/?p=25 Alterative fuel cars run on fuel and not the traditional petroleum fuels we were used to. With modern heavy fuel taxes, strict environmental laws and the possibility of peak oil and restrictions on the emissions by green houses, optional power systems for cars has become a top priority for vehicle manufacturers and governments all over the world. Alternative fuel cars are becoming a perfect alternative as they are obtained from renewable resources and cause less pollution. So, why not go for alternative fuel cars to cut down your cost and reduce environmental pollution. The global warming threats have compelled us to think again over the kind of vehicles to possess if we are to save our earth.

    Hybrid cars are increasingly replacing engines that are petroleum or gasoline-based. Demand for new technological inventions for fueling vehicles and obtain an electrical motor for running your car is increasingly high. The case is the same for acquiring an engine that uses gasoline to charge batteries in order to power electrical motors. Lately, various brands of alternative fuel vehicles have surfaced. Hybrid cars have gained popularity since they use both electricity and gasoline. The vehicle obtains its propulsion energy from battery packs and internal combustion engines. Examples of hybrid cars you can buy are the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius.

    If you are wondering which alternative fuel car is best for you, go for a battery Electric vehicle if not a Hybrid or Biofuel car. Battery Electric Vehicles are clean vehicles that do not emit carbon. The battery type can be lithium-ion, lead-acid, nickel cadmium or zinc-air batteries. Flexible fuel cars are also a great choice as they allow you to use more than one alternative type of fuel; a feature enabled by a multifuel engine. With these Flexible-fuels vehicles, you can mix alternative fuels to be combusted in just one tank! Additionally, you can select a Gas-powered car that runs on compressed natural gases or a solar-powered car that uses solar panels to harness the sun’s power. If you want to have advanced pollution control, reduce the taxes you pay, receive effective operations and reduce overall car costs, you should buy an alternative fuel car.

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