No text is worth a life, yet at any given moment of the day,...

No text is worth a life, yet at any given moment of the day, 660,000 people make the choice to text and drive at the same time. Join us and NHTSA on Twitter all day Thursday, April 30, to help stop #distracteddriving. #justdrive http://www.twitter.com/NHTSAgov

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/53Cm8r-BYHg/117783838533

Polyurethane Coating Could Make Self-Healing Car Paint | WIRED

Polyurethane Coating Could Make Self-Healing Car Paint | WIRED: Self Healing paint for your car!

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/hrT8wnPYGJo/117613739063

Industry revels in good times but manages to avoid overdoing it

There are many signs suggesting the U.S. auto industry is on a positive, sustainable track, but perhaps the most reassuring sign is the kind of caution that dealers and manufacturers are showing amid the boom.

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/YZZjtXxjNHo/industry-revels-in-good-times-but-manages-to-avoid-overdoing-it

RFJ buys Dave Smith Auto

Fast-growing dealership group RFJ Auto Partners is expanding in the Northwest by buying Dave Smith Auto Group, which operates two of the highest-volume stores in the U.S.

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/RDeuPstycAU/rfj-buys-dave-smith-auto

Is Your Car Trying to Tell You Something with Sounds and Smells?

Your car may be trying to tell you something. No, we don’t mean your GPS or even your check engine light. Your car may be talking to you with sounds and smells. Knowing what those sounds and smells mean may save you a large repair bill.

What Some Sounds May Mean

• Squealing Brakes. If your brakes squeal when you apply them, your pads are telling you they are getting thin. This is a helpful part of the way they are engineered. Replacing them right away will save you from more expensive repairs like turning or even replacing your rotors.
• Engine Squealing. A squealing sound coming from your engine is likely emanating from a belt or a pulley. This can be caused by a worn belt, or a belt that doesn’t have the proper tension. A belt that is too tight can also cause the bearings to wear in a pulley.
• Grinding Brakes. If your brakes are grinding, the pads have likely worn and you are now getting a metal upon metal grinding sound. Have them looked at immediately.
• Engine “Ticking”. A ticking sound coming from your engine may be a sign your oil is low. Check your engine oil dipstick and add the appropriate amount of oil.
• A Hissing Sound. A hissing sound coming from your engine could mean you have a leak somewhere in your car’s cooling system. Your cooling system is under constant heat and pressure, and often big leaks start as pinhole leaks, shooting out a small stream of steam and water.
• A Thumping Sound When Driving. When your car is moving and you hear a thumping sound, especially when hitting a rough patch of roadway, it could be an indication of a loose exhaust system or a worn part of your suspension.
• Engine “Pinging”. A pinging sound from your engine could be an indication that the octane level in your fuel is too low. Switch to a higher octane fuel for a tank or two and see if that solve the problem.

What Some Smells May Be Telling You

• Gas Smell. The smell of gasoline can tell you that you have flooded your engine or it could tell you that you have a leak in your fuel system. If you notice the odor of gas prior to starting your car, have it checked out immediately.
• A Hot, Steamy, Sweet Smell. If, after driving you notice a distinct, somewhat sweet, steamy smell, it is likely an overheating engine. Check for leaks. Water may be leaking from a hose or the radiator itself. It also may not be circulating through your engine properly. Do not drive your car if it is overheating as this can cause terminal damage to your engine.
• An Acrid Odor. If you smell burning oil, the oil level in your car is likely dangerously low, your oil is very dirty, or both. Get oil into your engine quickly and have the oil and oil filter changed soon.
• Sulfur, Rotten Eggs Smell. A rotten egg smell could be a sign you are developing an issue with your catalytic converter.
• A Burning Smell. A burning smell, especially one of burning plastic, could be caused by an electrical short and should be taken care of immediately.

When driving, you want to use all your senses. You want to listen for the sounds of horns and emergency vehicles. You want to feel if your car is steering properly. You want to watch out for the other drivers. Your senses can also tell you if your vehicle is developing a maintenance issue, but it is only valuable if you take action.

The same can be said for your defensive driving skills. Staying sharp can help you avoid accidents and better protect those who travel with you. Did you know that a defensive driving course could help you keep some citations from appearing on your driving record? In some cases, the completion of an online defensive driving course may even save you money on your auto insurance.

The post Is Your Car Trying to Tell You Something with Sounds and Smells? appeared first on MyImprov.

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/hWpVEbP79mM/

China's cheap car strategy for the U.S.

Wu Song, boss of China's Guangzhou Automobile, says his cars need to be 30 percent cheaper than rivals to make it in America. If everything goes his way, GAC will test his pricing strategy with the U.S. launch of its GS4 crossover in 2017.

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/LtXyNJd-5Q8/chinas-cheap-car-strategy-for-the-u-s

Driverless cars and the big conundrum

If autonomous driving is Megatrend No. 1 in the global industry, the matter of how to handle the human interface may be Conundrum No. 1.

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/LO80rMjZe4k/driverless-cars-and-the-big-conundrum

You’re Kidding Me, Officer! Crazy Laws About Cars, Streets, and Driving

Every state has some crazy laws, from not allowing you to carry an ice cream cone in your back pocket to not flicking boogers into the wind. Many of these crazy laws are extremely old and made sense in their own time, but some are new. Some are a matter of poor wording… and some are just downright strange.

Every state in the country has some crazy laws, from not allowing you to carry an ice cream cone in your back pocket to not flicking boogers into the wind. Some of the goofiest laws have to do with driving, possibly because the automobile, when it was first invented, was so completely different than anything that came before. Many of these crazy laws are extremely old and made sense in their own time, but have somehow been forgotten and never stricken from the books. Some are new. Some, like the law against not driving in reverse, are a matter of poor wording. And some are just downright strange. Here are a few of the silliest laws about cars, roads, and driving that are still on the books.

You know you can get a ticket for speeding, but some states and municipalities take it a bit too far. In Lowell, Ohio, it’s illegal to run a horse faster than five miles per hour, while California says that a car without a driver can’t exceed 60 mph. No wonder Ohio isn’t famous for horse racing. And since driverless cars aren’t yet available to the public, we’re not sure what inspired the California law, but…it’s a good rule of thumb to have a driver behind the wheel if your car is moving.

Connecticut takes an even dimmer view of speeders: not only are you banned from riding your bike over 65 mph, in New Britain it’s illegal for fire trucks to go faster than 25—even if they’re on their way to a fire. Let’s just hope you have a very big water hose.

In Glendale, Arizona, simply leaving your driveway may be a problem—cars, for some reason, may not be driven in reverse. At least you can go car shopping on Sunday, though; in Pennsylvania, it’s illegal to sell a car—or any other motorized vehicle—on Sunday.

Pennsylvania isn’t the only killjoy on the list, though. In Florida, skateboarding is illegal unless you have a permit, and Baldwin, California bans riding a bicycle in a swimming pool. Another cherished childhood dream crushed by bureaucracy.

California wasn’t always the bastion of animal-rights groups that it is now. It’s not legal to herd a flock of more than 2,000 sheep down Hollywood boulevard at the same time, nor are you allowed to lead your camel along Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs — at least between 4 and 6 in the evening. We’re assuming it’s ok during the rest of the day. On the bright side, horse manure can’t be piled more than six feet high on the street corners of San Francisco. What a relief!

Colorado takes drunk driving seriously. Not only will you get a ticket for driving your car under the influence, you’ll get one for driving your horse drunk too. Remember–friends don’t let friends ride drunk, and always have a designated rider. Alabama is much more laid back; although you are prohibited from driving while blindfolded, you can drive the wrong way down a one-way street… provided you have a lantern affixed to the front of your auto.

While crazy laws like this may still be on the books, testing them probably isn’t a good idea. If you drive the wrong way down a one-way, not only are you likely to cause an accident, you’re probably going to get a ticket—lantern or no lantern. While citing these old laws probably won’t help if you do get a ticket, a defensive driving course may. If you’ve received a traffic ticket, your traffic court may dismiss the citation and avoid adding points to your license if you complete a defensive driving course. And if you haven’t had a ticket but enroll voluntarily, your insurance company may reward you with a safe driver discount.

One last word of warning: if you’re ever stopped in New Jersey, slap a smile on your face. It’s illegal to “frown” at a police officer there. When frowning can get you a ticket, who knows what an actual scowl might do?

The post You’re Kidding Me, Officer! Crazy Laws About Cars, Streets, and Driving appeared first on MyImprov.

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/-RNt-KmnvrQ/