October 31st, 2011 -
While you and your new car dealership in Cincinnati may consider you a good driver, there are times when you may go a little bit faster than the law allows. Of course being the responsible driver you are you’ll usually correct this when you find yourself exceeding the speed limit. However there will be times when you don’t catch your speeding quick enough and get caught by a speed trap.
Speed traps are established in areas where speeding is a common occurrence, of course they’re the prime spots where you feel like you may be able to get away with it. The thing that makes them successful is that they can surprise drivers who do not know where they are. However, there is now an app to help you prepare for when one approaches.
It’s called Escort Live and it uses up-to-the-second information from other users to let you know if a speed trap is approaching. With the connectivity available from smart phones, this app is able to upload it’s information into the cloud with it’s specially designed Blue Tooth cable to warn other drivers. Not only is it good at warning you about speed traps, but it can warn you about red light cameras as well. The app is available for both Android and iPhones.
People think that having an app like this means that they can break the law easier, but it reality it enables you to monitor your speed and drive safely. Many speed traps are located in smaller towns along highway routes, and that is what makes them effective. You should never go faster than the speed limit, but during a long road trip or a drive through a small town, it can be easy to not reduce your speed, or miss a speed limit sign. Be sure to always follow the rules of the road, and keep this app on to be a good reminder to monitor your driving through speed traps.
Safe driving is important, and with the weather starting to change you need to be extra careful to take care of yourself and new car, Cincinnati.
October 28th, 2011 -
Go to any New Car Dealership in Cincinnati and, if they’re worth their salt, they’ll say that you shouldn’t wait to get your car ready for the winter months. There are things that you should do to your car to ensure that you will be able to drive your car once the snow starts to fall without getting caught in a freezing situation. The end of fall is the perfect time to do this. It is still nice enough outside that you can work on your vehicle, and it will give you peace of mind when driving on the icy roads that lie ahead.
The first thing you should do get your oil changed. In the last post we talked about what kind of oil is right for your car, so make sure that you are using an oil that is made to handle the cold weather easier. When the temperature drops, the oil in your car starts to thicken which can lead to engine lock-up. Be sure to check your owner’s manual for what kind of oil should be used for your car in the colder temperatures.
When the roads are slushy and covered in salt, it won’t take long for you to realize that you have old worn out windshield wipers. The winter months can be hard on your wipers, so make sure that you change them to a new pair now. The streaks that occur from bad wipers will impair your vision and lead to safety issues. You should also change your wiper fluid to one that can handle sub-freezing temperatures. While you are changing your wiper fluid, you should also check your antifreeze levels in your cooling system.
The other major components you should have checked are your tires and battery. The cold can suck the charge out of your battery, so make sure that you clean them and get rid of any corrosion. Check the tread on your tires and their pressure. If your tires are beginning to look worn down, then get them replaced. You may even want to think about getting winter tires that are made to handle the slick roads. It is easier to get in a wreck and need major repairs if your tires aren’t gripping the road.
Getting your car ready for winter is an important safety tip that should be done now. If you need help getting it checked, then bring it into a mechanic. If your car is going to cost more to get ready for winter then it is worth, then you should come into Superior Cars and start the winter season right with a brand new ride.
September 12th, 2011 -
Fall is here and that means that the weather will begin to change. Some of the change is pleasant and welcome. The trees start to change colors, the temperatures drop to make being outside enjoyable again, and the cool breeze can allow you to open your home windows and turn off the fans and air conditioning. But some of the changes can make life a little more difficult, especially while driving, and that mostly comes from the rain. While accidents can happen at any time, they chances start to increase with bad weather, and knowing how to be a btter driver during and after the rain falls can help protect you and your car.
If you are driving on roads that have experienced rain for the first time in a couple of weeks, you have to take extra caution. While it may not seem like too much water is on the road, the little bit that there is can loosen up all the oil, grease, and dirt that has dried on the asphalt. This can turn any road into the world’s largest slip and slide, causing you to have trouble braking and turning over this slick surface. If you are planning on driving on wet roads, be sure to give yourself more travel time so you don’t feel like you are running late which may cause you to drive less safely.
While driving, keep extra distance between your car and the car in front of you. This will give you more time to brake and adjust to any other situation in front of you. If you do need to brake, do so earlier and with less force than you normally would. If you slam on your brakes, your tires may lose traction on the wet and slippery road and it may cause you to lose control of your vehicle. If you are on a highway or multi-laned road, drive in the middle lane or the lane farthest from the curb. Water can accumulate in places that you may not see causing you to hydroplane.
If you start to hydroplane, take your foot off the pedal and allow your tires to catch up with the speed you are going. Don’t accelerate or brake, because this will cause your car to veer, and hold the wheel firmly to avoid causing your wheels to change directions. Driving on wet roads means more caution is needed so be sure to act accordingly. If you are looking for a new car for any kind of weather, then be sure to come into Superior Cars.
March 26th, 2010 -
Gas Prices fluctuate daily…. They may be good one day, may jump 20 cents the next. It’s a crazy world out there. Now there are a lot of websites out there that help you determine different ways of saving on gas but there are a few out there that are incorrect as well. Let’s talk about those.
(1) Manual Transmissions will get better gas mileage over the automatic?
Well it used to be that buying a car with a manual transmission received better gas mileage. That is not necessarily true anymore. A modern car with a modern overdrive automatic will typically get the same gas mileage as the manual version.
(2) Buying a Crossover or Minivan over the SUV will save gas?
Traditional minivans have an excellent EPA. SUV’s have much larger engines than minivans or crossovers but they weigh just about the same. They usually burn the same amount of fuel. You can save money on the Minivan or Crossovers simply because they are typically less expensive than most similar sized SUVs.
(3) Just because it’s the cheapest gas doesn’t mean it’s better for your car.
Sometimes it’s possible that cheaper gas has more ethanol and even though ethanol is “green” and “renewable” it really doesn’t contain more energy then straight gasoline does. In fact if you travel to states like Oklahoma it is said that they are proud of the fact that none of their gas stations carry fuel that has ethanol in it. What this means is that as ethanol goes up your gas mileage goes down. So keep an eye out for that. Also if you have an older vehicle say older than 1990 you may want to stick with gas as your vehicle was designed to burn gas and not ethanol. You just want to take precaution that’s all.
(4) Turning your engine off at the light with save gas – No I don’t think so. In fact cutting the engine off every time you stop at a light will not only annoy fellow motorists but there is really no way to tell if the amount of money you may be saving is worth the few seconds you turned your car off. In my opinion it’s best to just continue on to your destination before you turn your car off. Yes sometimes I turn my car off when I’m in line at the bank but at every light? No way.
What do you guys think? Can you think of anything else? Well shoot us an email if you come up with something.
March 11th, 2010 -
There are things that you can do on your own to improve your own safety when you’re driving. The streets of Cincinnati are busy and you can be proactive in keeping you and your family safe. Here are a few tips.
Click it or ticket. Seriously put your seat belt on. Regardless of if you are in the backseat or front seat you should always where your seat belt. Approximately 35,000 people die in motor vehicle crashes each year. About 50 percent (17,000) of these people could have been saved if they were wearing their safety belts.
Say NO to drinking and driving. Try getting a designated driver or calling a cab. The last thing you would want to do is hurt yourself, your passengers or someone else on the road. Drinking and driving is no good for anyone. Ever.
Ignore those distractions. Driving while distracted is a factor in 25 percent of police reported crashes. Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. Put your hands on the wheel and put down the cell phone, makeup, food, CD’s etc.
Go the speed limit. You should always try to drive at the posted speed limit in optimum driving conditions and slow down when weather conditions such as fog, wind, rain, snow, or ice can make driving dangerous.
Know your car. What would you do if your car suddenly accelerated on it’s own? Would you know what to do? You should be prepared for anything and be able to react quickly and correctly whether it be driving on black ice or loss of brakes.
Watch out for your tires. In order to avoid blowouts on the highway you should keep your tires properly inflated. If your tires are balding that is dangerous too and you should get new tires.
Be careful out there. We care about your safety! If you have any other tips you’d like to share let me know.
December 21st, 2009 -
Every one knows someone who is an irritating driver. You probably won’t admit it very quickly but you’re probably one of them. Ha ha. Well we found this list combined by AutoInsurance.org of the top most irritating drivers and it got me thinking about how irritating of a driver I must be and how some of these drivers really irritate me. I just had to share this with Cincinnati.
Here’s the list. See if you made it as one of the worst.
(1) The Time Waster – You know this one for sure. You’ve been waiting very patiently to make a right turn and there’s this guy coming down the street and he doesn’t use his blinker to let you know he’s turning before you – So instead you sit there and waste time not knowing what he’s going to do when you could have turned minutes ago and been on your way.
(2) The Traffic Weaver - Why waste time with the lane changes when you’re only gaining one or two car lengths. Seriously just turn on the radio, jam out and enjoy your drive home. Moving up a car length at a time is not going to get you anywhere and quicker and you are irritating the people behind you.
(3) Light Turns Green And Nothing – HELLOOOOO PAY ATTENTION LET’S GOOOO!!
(4) The No Reason Passer – If you’re going to pass me cause you think I am moving at a snails pace then you better not start driving slower than I am once you pass me. What’s the point of that? I mean we can play the pass game all day.
(5) I’m Officially Blind – Ok now i can’t see! I know your car is bigger than mine but if you must tailgate me i’d really rather not be blinded by your head lights. Sheesh.
(6) The Snail / The Bullet – I think this says it all, ”Have you ever noticed that anyone driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?” – George Carlin
(7) Widespread Panic – What are you so afraid of? I’ve given you more than enough room to move already. So GO. Move. Now. Go.
(8) Oh Will You Look At That – Was it really so important for you take a 2 second look at that poor guy with a flat tire?You and all the other on lookers have now backed up traffic for miles. Eyes forward FOCUS!
(9) The Permanent Blinker - You’ve just given more than one person on the road a complete psychotic breakdown as they are driving. Come on people….
(10) The Ones That Enter The Parking Lot – And then proceed to drive at the pace of a turtle. It’s ok to go faster than 2 mph. Trust me.
Don’t get me wrong I am definitely the bullet when it comes to driving…. But I sure do try to be calm and collected and cool. I like to jam out and listen to the radio. I just really want to get home too. What driving habits irritate you guys?
December 16th, 2009 -
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SAID “BUT I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY?”
Whether it’s a new car or a used car, when we discuss safe driving tips, too often we mention everything from keeping a full tank of gas to checking your oil to tire maintenance.
But, how many times do we get behind the wheel when we are in a hurry, when we are overwhelmed with stress or when we are tired? Or, let’s put the shoe on the other foot, how many times are we okay but the “other guy” isn’t.
We pay too much attention to the phone, the radio, our breakfast or simply the fact that we had the right of way.
As stated in the blog How to deal with Distracting Drivers without Killing Them “there is the driver who is far too lazy to signal their intent to turn.
There are the drivers who weave in and out of traffic.” There are drives who ride right up on your bumper till you change lanes. Which one are you?
The minute we step foot into the car we should remember awareness must be our priority. For those of us who have been driving for years, we take advantage of our “experience.”
So as we do a quick check-up on our car to keep it in tip top shape; be sure to do the same to yourself before actually taking to the road.
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