1. Drive slowly & carefully- Most accidents (if not all) can be prevented by simply taking it down a notch or two when you’re behind the wheel. Especially when it is raining or damp outside, you will want to start braking well before you reach a full stop. Doing so will help to prevent your wheels from locking up and your car from skidding across traffic.
2. Skidding- If your vehicle ever starts to skid, remain calm and steer your vehicle in the direction that you want it to go.
3. Keep tires properly inflated- Take care no to over inflate or under inflate your tires, as this can lead to skidding on both wet and dry roads.
4. Standing water- If you see standing water, slow down prior to driving through the water in order to prevent your vehicle from hydroplaning.

by Yuliya Libkina on Flickr

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When traveling outside of the United States or to a foreign country, it is important to remember to pack smart and keep the following food and water tips in mind:

Avoid stomach problems

For most of us, our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. However, when traveling, try to eat smaller, more reasonably-sized portions. If you know that you have sensitivities to certain foods such as spicy or fried foods, avoid them. Also, be wary of water when traveling. Avoid local tap water, and don’t forget that this includes ice cubes as well as when you brush your teeth!

Collapsible Cups

You don’t have to be a complete germaphobe to pack a collapsible cup to take with you on trips. These cups come in handy whenever you need to share a bottled beverage with someone else or if you simply don’t trust the washing job on the glassware at the local restaurants.

Food Allergies

If you have severe or even moderate food allergies, jot these down on a piece of paper and bring it with you when you travel, this way proper care can be given to you in the event of an emergency.

Invest in a Water Purifier

Depending on where you are traveling as well as how long you plan to stay away, these can come in handy and may save you a lot of grief (and sickness) in the long run.

(Via: Magellan’s)

According to the Travel Industry Dictionary, jet lag is:

A physiological condition caused by the disorientation of a person’s biological clock due to travel across several time zones. Characterized by irritability, lethargy, insomnia, and other symptoms.

Symptoms

Symptoms of jet lag include:

• Fatigue
• Disorientation
• Lack of concentration and motivation
• Disrupted sleep after travel
• Dehydration
• Discomfort of legs and feet

What you can do about jet lag:

• Prepare for a long trip by getting REST.
• Purchase and try No-Jet-Lag.
• Avoid sleeping pills or pharmaceuticals while you fly.
• Drink plenty of water, approximately 8 to 16 ounces for each hour of travel.
• Practice stretching exercises while on the plane or in the airport.
• Avoid sleeping until bedtime in order to help reset your body clock.

(Via: Magellan’s)

No worries. Regardless of whether you’re flying from New York to California or from Brazil to Peru; the next time you have to deal with flight delays, take the following advice into consideration.

1. Avoid airlines and flights where delays are common.
2. Arrange flight notifications.
3. Avoid connecting flights if possible.
4. Avoid the last flight of the day.
5. Arrive early and check in.
6. Expect delays.

If you are delayed, remember to:

• Keep your cool.
• Be patient.
• Call the reservations center.
• Know your rights (or lack thereof) as a delayed passenger.
• Ask to see a customer agent if you are still not satisfied.
• Know about airline bumping, which can be found here.

by Michal Marcol

(Via: Magellan’s)

5 reasons to buy used:

1. Minimizing depreciation- New cars typically depreciate approximately 20 percent when they are driven off of the lot. Additionally, most cars will lose another 10 percent in value during the first year that they are purchased for a total of a 30 percent loss in value during just the first year alone.
2. Reducing insurance costs- Ultimately, the value of your car will determine the cost of your car insurance. Because used vehicles have less value than new cars, the cost of insurance will be less.
3. Reducing registration fees-Similar to car insurance, fees that a state charges a vehicle owner to register his/her car is usually based on the vehicle’s transaction price.
4. Getting more bang for your buck-You can purchase more car for your money by going used versus new. Because car manufacturers no longer redesign their models every year, purchasing a used vehicle no longer carries the same stigma that it once did as vehicles are lasting well beyond the 100,000 mile mark.
5. Keeping your peace of mind-Today’s consumers are able to minimize the risk involved in purchasing a used vehicle AND save money via companies such as Carfax and AutoCheck. You can also go the ‘certified pre-owned’ route if you’re still worried about potential hidden problems as these programs provide much of the same amenities that new car purchases come with.

(Via: Bankrate.com)

• Do Your Research- While some of us may prefer to ‘fly by the seat of our pants,’ it is usually a good idea to research where it is you are heading ahead of time. This is especially true if you are traveling to a country or area that you are not familiar with. Knowing a thing or two about the customs of a particular country can also help you to stay out of trouble and/or harm’s way.
• Don’t Travel Alone-There’s nothing wrong with vacationing by yourself; however, there is something to be said about safety in numbers- especially if you are a female. Even if you are single, try to pair up with other singles or find a group outing to go with.
• Blend Into the Crowd-When visiting a foreign country, it is better not to call attention to yourself as it will only make you a target. For this reason, keep all valuables (i.e. cash, ID, etc.) hidden under your clothes or locked in a safe back at your hotel. Also, try to exercise a little discretion when using maps and taking pictures as these will be dead giveaways that you’re not familiar with the area.
• Be Wary of Taxis-When traveling in Mexico, it is better to call taxis ahead of time versus hailing one on the street. Smart Travel recommends calling Taxis Autorizados, which can be found at authorized stands throughout the country.
• Ask the Locals-Instead of breaking out the map, why not ask a local instead? Locals can be great and valuable sources of information, from everything such as which neighborhoods to avoid to what restaurants you should try.

(Via: Smarter Travel)

We continue our video coverage of looking at how to troubleshoot issues related to your vehicle, specifically where your sensors are involved. So many vehicles that are manufactured today are made up of various electrical components. Now, regardless of if you ride a motorcycle, own an RV or are just going to work in your regular car, if a ‘check engine’ light comes on, we are almost immediately alarmed.

Take a look at the following video by Autotech for some great advice on how to troubleshoot these and other car problems.

We continue our video coverage of looking at how to troubleshoot issues related to your vehicle, specifically where your sensors are involved. So many vehicles that are manufactured today are made up of various electrical components. Now, regardless of if you ride a motorcycle, own an RV or are just going to work in your regular car, if a ‘check engine’ light comes on, we are almost immediately alarmed.

Take a look at the following video by Autotech for some great advice on how to troubleshoot these and other car problems.

I immediately contacted the university campus police in order to file a report, and one of the first questions that they asked me was whether or not I had registered my bicycle on campus. I had no idea what they were talking about, but had I done this, there may have been a pretty good chance that my bike would have been found.

Following are a few quick tips for college kids who are getting ready to go away to school and plan to either bring their bikes with them or purchase one when they get there:

1. Photograph your bike. Also make sure that you record the make, model, serial number and any other special accessories.
2. Register your bike with the campus police as soon as you purchase it. They will walk you through this quick process, and it will definitely be worth it in the event that something happens to your wheels.
3. Lock your bike with a quality bike lock. As it turned out, one of the major contributing factors to why my bike was stolen versus the other ones that it was locked up with was because I had a cheap bike lock on it- one that was easily cut. If you have one available, try to keep your bike out of view (i.e. locked in a shed, kept in a storage unit, etc.)