If you have been to the Raleigh North Carolina area within the past year, then you probably know all too well what a nightmare it has been trying to drive anywhere at any time of day to do anything. The culprit?

Construction.

In order to accommodate the massive amounts of people who have flocked to the Research Triangle Park (RTP) area that is Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the department of transportation has been working over time to put in roads where there were none before as well as to repair and expand roads in order to accommodate the masses who pack the current roadways bumper to bumper between the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Throw in there the fact that it is now summer; it’s hot and people want to get wherever they’re going in a hurry, and you’ve got all of the ingredients for the perfect road rage storm. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that once all of the construction is done, everyone will be more than appreciative of the effort that was made to produce such finely paved surfaces for their vehicles. In the meantime, however, when you have so much stuff going on in one place, it is important to remain vigilant and perhaps more importantly…calm.

5 Tips to Avoid Being Ripped Off at the Mechanic’s Shop

1. Oil Slick- Some mechanics want you to change your oil every 3,000 miles, but newer oil may go much longer (ex: 7500miles) depending on your driving habits.
2. Filters- Your car has several different types of filters: oil, air, fuel and transmission-but only the oil filter should be changed at every oil change.  In the meantime, the air filter can be remedied simply by shaking it out, to loosen any debris.  As for the rest of the filters, they should only be changed according to the intervals recommended in your manufacturers manual.
3. Flushed Away-Flushing the automatic transmission system is sometimes recommended, but most manufacturers don’t recommend it until you’ve reached at  least 60,000 miles.
4. Lube it or Lose It- Most cars built within the past 10 years don’t require lubrication.  Adding grease where none is required could cause unforseen problems down the road
5. Warranty Woes- Some dealers will tell you that you can only get your vehicle serviced there in order to maintain the warranty.  Not true.

1. Fly on Nonstop Routings- Most accidents occur during the takeoff, climb, descent, and landing phase of flight.  Flying nonstop reduces exposure to these most accident prone phases of flight.
2. Choose a Larger Aircraft- Currently, aircrafts with more than 30 passenger seats were all designed and certified under the strictest regulations.  Also, in the unlikely even of a serious accident, larger aircrafts provide a better opportunity for passenger survival.
3. Pay Attention to the Preflight Briefing- Although the information seems repetitious, the locations of the closest emergency exits may be different depending on the aircraft that you fly on and seat you are in.
4. Keep the Overhead Storage Bin Free of Heavy Articles- Overhead storage bins may not be able to hold very heavy objects during turbulence, so if you are another passenger have trouble lifting an article into the bin, have it stored elsewhere.
5. Keep Your Seatbelt Fastened- Keeping the belt on when you are seated provides that extra protection you might need if the plane hits unexpected turbulence.
6. Listen to the Flight Attendants- The primary reason flight attendants are on an aircraft is for safety, so if one of them asks you to do something like fasten your seat belts, do it first and ask questions later.
7. Don’t Bring any Hazardous Material- There are rather long lists of hazardous materials that are not allowed, but common sense should tell you that you shouldn’t bring gasoline, corrosives, poisonous gases and other such items on the aircraft unless they were allowed by the airline and shipped in a proper container.
8. Let the Flight Attendant Pour Your Hot Drinks- Flight attendants are trained to handle hot drinks like coffee or tea in a crowded aisle on a moving aircraft, so allow them to pour the drink and hand it to you.
9. Don’t Drink Too Much- The atmosphere in an airliner cabin is pressurized to about the same altitude as Denver, so any alcohol you consume will affect you more strongly than at sea level.
10. Keep Your Wits About You- In the unlikely event that you are involved in an emergency situation such as a precautionary emergency evacuation, follow the directions of the flight attendants and flight crew and exit the aircraft as quickly as possible.

Deterrent Versus Distraction

For example, in North Carolina, many cities have adopted the idea of having “red light cameras” posted at various problem intersections with the hopes that it will deter drivers from running the red light. This is not something that is limited to North Carolina, however. In fact, many cities around the United States have adopted the red light camera policy. The idea is that once a vehicle crosses the intersection at a certain point after the light has turned red, the camera automatically snaps several pictures of their vehicle (specifically their license plate). The photos, along with a fine are then mailed to address of whoever is registered to the car. It’s like getting caught….red-handed.

Sounds great, right? Well, lately, there have been some problems with this simple idea. People, who don’t want to get a ticket for running the light, but who see the light changing to yellow often can’t seem to make up their minds whether to accelerate or slam on their brakes. The result has led to a considerable number of accidents at these very same problem intersections! Now, some might say that this is due to the fact that people are simply not leaving enough distance between them and the person in front of them- but the question still remains, are we just becoming worse drivers? or Are these deterrents dangerous?

Breaking the Law

Despite the fact that red light cameras are supposed to reduce the number of people who are speeding and running red lights, it has instead caused more confusion and car accidents. Before the invention of red light cameras, when the light turned from green to yellow, many people would (and still do) accelerate to get through the light versus slow down and come to a complete stop. There have also been reports that for the intersections where there are red light cameras, the timing for the yellow lights is actually significantly shorter. This means that you have to make a quick decision to either run the light and possibly get your picture taken OR you can slam on your brakes. If you run the light, the camera snaps a picture of your vehicle and license plate. Some period of time later (perhaps a week or so), you will receive a picture of your vehicle breaking the law along with a fine to pay.

So, what are most people doing? They’re getting into accidents. According to a recent article published by the National Motorists Association,

Short yellow light times at intersections have been shown to increase the number of traffic violations and accidents. Conversely, increasing the yellow light duration can dramatically reduce red-light violations at an intersection.

What do you think about red light cameras? Do you think they work? Send us your comments and stories!

The NHTSA conducted a study where they assessed risky versus safe male drivers for Minneapolis, Minnesota and Atlanta. Of the 27 “risky” drivers interviewed, ten of them admitted to being involved in a crash of some kind. These crashes included anything from being rear-ended from someone to backing into a fixed object. Additionally, twelve of the “risky” males admitted to receiving traffic citations for various safety violations such as speeding, following too closely, not wearing a seat belt, reckless driving, driving without a license, and running a red light.

What’s Behind the Risk?

The NHTSA made the following statement regarding its study of risky male drivers versus those males who were deemed safer drivers:

A recurring contrast between the risky and safer drivers is how they perceive and react to high-risk situations, such as driving while impaired or speeding. The risky drivers experience the risky situation as a thrill that should be pursued again and again, while the safer drivers perceive exactly the same situation as terrifying, and they decided to avoid it in the future. The physical sensation of the adrenaline surge is probably the same for both types of drivers, but safer drivers do not experience any pleasure as a result while risky drivers claim they become addicted to the sensation.

What Do You Think?

Do you think male drivers are more risky than female drivers? Voice your opinions!

It’s the Law!

There are a lot of people who know that they’ve violated some traffic law and yet, in an effort to get out of a ticket, try to play the “stereotype” game: “Oh, you’re just pulling me over because of the type of car I’m driving,” they’ll exclaim. The truth is that police officers are not supposed to discriminate against other people. However, this doesn’t necessarily apply to your vehicle. For example, you may be stopped simply because the care you are driving fits the description of a car that was seen fleeing the scene of a crime just minutes earlier. A broken down vehicle with expired registration and no inspection may, to a police officer, look like the perfect car to search for drugs in. This does not mean that the police officer is singling you out to harass you; but, rather, he/she is simply doing their job.

When you feel yourself getting frustrated at the fact that you were pulled over, remember that most stereotypes tend to be true. If you are driving a red corvette down the road, you had better make sure you are doing the speed limit. If your vehicle looks broken down, make sure that your registration and inspection are both up-to-date. Make sure you always have a valid license on your person and that your address and other contact information is correct on your license and registration. Keep in mind that police officers are supposed to be proactive and look for crime. Therefore, if you can avoid looking suspicious, it will greatly benefit you as well as those around you.

• Pressure- One of the leading cause in tire wear are having underinflated tires. Having underinflated tires can cause unnecessary wear and tear on your tire, which could result in a tire blowout, which could cause an accident. And trust me, you don’t want that to happen when your driving 70 miles an hour down a highway! Always check your tire pressure before long trips to make sure it is filled up to factory standards for that particular vehicle. Even if your tire appears to be inflated, it could still be underinflated, so check!
• Alignment- If you feel your vehicle pulling strongly towards one side, have your car brought into a reputable automotive shop to make sure your alignment is ok. Relatively minor things, such as hitting a curb the wrong way can throw off your alignment, which can be dangerous while driving. Having an alignment that is thrown off can cause improper wear on your tires, which is never good.
• Rotation- Always make sure that you have your tires rotated to prevent wearing out the tires. Usually, when you have your tires rotated, the shop should offer to do your alignment as well (since it will need to be done anyway).
• Tread- Make sure that you check the tread on your tires periodically. Most, if not all, tires are manufactured so that when they wear down enough, you should see some sort of indication of this in the form of a white line or other colored line where the tread used to be. You can also do the “penny test” by taking a penny and putting it in the tread groove. If part of Lincoln’s head is covered by tread, your tread is fine. If you can see all of his head, then you need a new tire. Tires should be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch in order to prevent skidding and/or hydroplaning on roads.

For information on automobile transportation and car relocation services, contact National Transport LLC.

Become a Member

When planning a long trip by car, it’s always a good idea to know what time of year you’d like to go and where. If you’re not already a member of organizations such as the American Automobile Association (AAA), strongly consider becoming one. This and a map can be an invaluable tool in case your vehicle breaks down. It can also serve to help you save money on lodging as many hotels and motels give discounts to AAA members.

Lodging, Service & Food

Due to bathroom breaks, unexpected car trouble, etc., it may not always be possible to make reservations for lodging. However, whenever possible, try to make hotel or motel reservations before you get on the road-this way you’ll always have a place to sleep (unless you have other sleeping arrangements). Also, before you leave, make sure you’ve had your vehicle thoroughly checked out by a mechanic. Ask if there are any potential problems that they might see, and plan on bringing tools such as a spare tire, fan belt and radiator hose (if you’re traveling during the summer) in case problems arise.

In the event that you should break down in the middle of nowhere, it is always a good idea (nowadays) to have a fully charged cell phone with you. If worse comes to worse and you’re stuck for a few hours without help, it is always a good idea to have some nutritious snacks and water with you.

Know Your Limits

The day before you leave, make sure that you’ve gotten a full night of rest because, ideally, you want to be on the road early to get the most use of daylight while driving. Make sure you start your trip off with a full tank of gas, filling up whenever it reaches the half-way mark. Also, make sure you stop every 600 miles (approximately 10 hours) to stretch your legs. It is always a good idea to travel with at least one other person for numerous safety reasons, mainly in case you feel tired. And remember, it’s never too late to back out. And if you decide at the last minute that you don’t want to make the road trip, there are plenty of options in the way of automobile transportation!

At National Transport LLC, we regularly transport motorcycles across the country to major events in such locations as Daytona Beach, Florida, and Sturgis, South Dakota. We know enough about motorcycle safety to tell you that a helmet can not only save your life, but it can help prevent permanent brain damage and other life-threatening injuries. And we also know that no matter how good a driver you are…anything is possible.

Our company seeks to give the best possible service to our clients…and we want to make sure that everyone on the road is dedicated to their own safety as well.