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Download drive on the Avalanche-Journal iPad app Lubbock Avalanche-Journal 710 Ave. J, PO BOX 491 Lubbock, TX 79408 806-762-8844 drive.lubbockonline.com Steve Beasley
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Articles: Budget-savvy summer travel tips Manageable Means to Reduce the Cost of Auto Insurance Taking a summer road trip?
Cover Design by Cody Hutchison
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Drive Lubbock is published twice monthly and is available free at over 300 locations. For a full list visit drive.lubbockonline.com Follow “drive Lubbock” on Facebook & Twitter for releases, automotive news, an e-edition, and more. Visit drive.lubbockonline.com for thousands of new & used local vehicles
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Budget-savvy summer travel tips (ARA) – More than half of vacationers this summer will alter their summer driving leisure plans because of gas prices, according to a recent study by the U.S. Travel Association. Rather than changing family vacation plans, auto repair professionals encourage motorists to proactively maintain vehicles to ease the pain at the pump and get the most out of their gas tanks. A few minutes of proactive maintenance, including checking and replacing oil and spark plugs at recommended intervals, can often improve fuel efficiency. Many motorists are unaware that simple routine maintenance can not only get you to your destination safely, but can help get the most out of your gas dollars. To help maximize fuel economy on summer road trips, follow these tips: • Switch to a synthetic motor oil. Consider changing to a quality, synthetic oil. For the everyday driver, synthetic motor oils deliver up to 2 percent fuel economy improvement. (Comparison based upon 2 percent potential fuel econo-
my improvement obtained by switching from higher viscosity oils to a 0W-20 or 0W-30 grade. Actual savings are dependent upon vehicle/engine type, outside temperature, driving conditions and your current engine oil viscosity.) • Check and maintain all fluid levels. These fluids include engine oil and transmission fluids. And be sure your antifreeze/coolant is up to the task for hot summer temperatures to prevent engines from overheating. Replace fluids if needed, according to recommended service intervals. • Replace spark plugs, oxygen sensors and air filters as recommended. Spark plugs can affect fuel efficiency, emissions and economy. As spark plugs wear, they do not burn fuel as cleanly, which is why it is important to change spark plugs at the proper interval. Purchase the correct type of spark plugs and replace them at the interval recommended by the manufacturer. If your auto owner’s manual has been lost, many websites, such as the National Car Care Council’s website www.carcare.org, offer a recommended main-
tenance schedule for vehicles. Replacing oxygen sensors can significantly improve gas mileage. Check and replace one- and two-wire sensors every 30,000 to 50,000 miles and every 60,000 to 100,000 miles for “heated” type oxygen sensors. Replacing a clogged air filter can lead to increased performance and acceleration. Air filters should be checked at every oil change. • Be proactive. Proactive checks and preventative maintenance of critical engine components can be the difference between staying on the road and being stranded on the roadside.
• Be prepared. Visit an automotive retailer to purchase a roadside emergency kit. Also keep items such as a tire pressure gauge, spare serpentine belt and jumper cables handy. • Extreme temperatures can mean battery failure. Corrosion caused by heat is the leading cause of battery failure, and batteries often do not give noticeable warning signs if they’re about to fail. Retailers offer free battery testing in most states, so have yours tested. Remember to take care of your vehicle before you hit the road, so your vehicle can take care of you!
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Did You Know?
A driver’s choice of vehicle can greatly influence how much he or she pays for auto insurance.
Manageable Means to Reduce the Cost of Auto Insurance
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mong the numerous costs that come with owning or leasing a vehicle, auto insurance is one that motorists almost universally feel is too expensive. Such consumer concern is one reason for the bevy of auto insurance advertisements on television, with each insurance company seemingly offering lower and lower rates than the competitor whose ad ran two advertisements before. While it certainly helps to comparison shop when looking for auto insurance, there are several other steps motorists can take that might reduce the cost of auto insurance. • Maintain good credit. Insurance providers will almost certainly pull an applicant’s credit report before providing a policy quote. Many consumers might question how this is relevant, but insurance providers are fully aware that a host of studies have shown there is a direct correlation between a person’s credit score and the likelihood that he or she will file a claim. The higher an applicant’s credit rating, the less risky that applicant appears, which could translate to a lower rate. Another reason insurers will examine an applicant’s credit history is to know whether or not the applicant will pay on time. Like any business, an insurance company wants to get its money on time, and is likely to offer a lower rate to applicants who have a history of paying bills on time. • Carefully consider your choice of vehicle. Insurance companies rate vehicles based on make and model. This rating system is comprised of a host of factors, including vehicle cost, safety ratings and history of theft. The Insurance Services Office devised the system, and the higher a vehicle’s score is, the higher drivers will pay to insure that car. While the results of the rating system are not public knowledge, drivers can research which cars are most often stolen and which are typically among the most costly to insure. If auto insurance savings are a big enough priority, avoid any vehicles that turn up during that research. • Drive safely. Nothing is more effective at lowering auto insurance costs than being a safe driver. A driver’s first at-fault accident could increase his or her rate by as much as 40 percent, a monumental increase for many motorists but one that can be avoided by simply being a better driver. Even if the rates don’t increase by 40 percent, they’re going to increase significantly should a driver be found at fault in an accident, so the best thing to do is to drive safely and defensively at all times. Should an accident occur and it’s the driver’s first accident, consult an insurance agent to see if the company has a forgiveness policy that forgives a driver’s first accident. Otherwise one may have to pay the standard post-accident rate increase. • Avoid installment plans. Installment plans might be necessary, but if they’re not it’s always best to pay premiums in full. A monthly installment plan often comes with installment fees, which might not seem significant each month but can add up over the course of a year. If installments are unavoidable, try paying in as few installments as possible. Most insurance companies allow for six-month, quarterly or monthly installments. The more frequent the installments, the more fees drivers can expect to pay. If paying in full isn’t a possibility, at least try to pay in as few installments as possible to reduce the amount being spent on installment fees. Auto insurance costs are rarely negotiable. But motorists can take several steps in advance of beginning a policy that can greatly reduce what they pay for their insurance each year.
Tips for Parents of Teen Drivers Arguably no parent in the history of the world has looked forward to the day their teenager gets his or her driver’s license. While there’s no way to keep kids from growing up, there are steps parents can take to make a teen’s transition to licensed driver a little easier. • Institute a no cell phone policy when driving. This is a major concern for parents of teen drivers. Most teens have their own cell phones, and parents could very well be helpless when it comes to keeping kids from talking or texting while driving. That said, a no cell phone while driving policy should be instituted and discussed with teens. Make it known that should an accident occur because of cell phone use while driving, both the car privileges and the phone will be taken away. • If possible, wait an extra year. If your teenager is the rare breed who isn’t especially excited about getting a driver’s license, let it slide. Studies show 16year-old drivers are far more likely to get in accidents than their 17-year-old counterparts. • Limit passengers. Teenage drivers are more likely to get in an accident with each passenger who comes along for the ride. One study indicates teen drivers with one fellow teenager in the car are 40 percent more likely to get in an accident than they would be if they were driving alone. Those percentages increase with each additional teenage passenger, so parents should institute a reasonable policy that limits the number of passengers that a teen can take on when driving. • Make sure teens are driving safe vehicles. While it might be nice to give your teen the flashy sports car, doing so is a big mistake. A teenager’s first car should be the kind of vehicle that discourages irresponsible driving. The vehicle should also be equipped with all the necessary safety features, including airbags and anti-lock brakes. • Stress seatbelts. A significant percentage of teenagers killed in auto accidents weren’t wearing their seatbelts at the time of death. All drivers should wear seatbelts, and parents should set a positive example by wearing their seatbelts whenever riding in a car. To encourage teens wear their seatbelts when driving, institute a policy wherein they lose their vehicle privileges should they be caught driving without a seatbelt.
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Taking a summer road trip?
Tips for making the best of night-time driving (ARA) - Summer is a great time for a road trip. With kids out of school and longer hours of daylight, many families will head out on the highway to a variety of summer vacation destinations. For many, night-time driving will be an unavoidable necessity if they want to make the most of their vacation time.
Don’t overlook the importance of comfort and convenience. Outfit your vehicle with accessories that will make operating it in the dark as easy as possible. For example, truck bed lights can attach to any 12V power source in a pickup truck, SUV, boat or camper, and allows you to easily see important cargo areas at night.
Take care of yourself As the driver, you are the most important piece of safety equipment in the vehicle. Make sure you are well-rested before setting out on the road. Update eyewear prescriptions and take all necessary medications with you inside the vehicle so you’re not tempted to skip a dose while driving.
It’s important to keep night-time travel as safe, comfortable and convenient as possible for everyone who rides in your vehicle. If you’ll be driving at night during this summer’s vacation, here are some tips to help ensure you enjoy good travels:
Look After Your Passengers Before setting out on your summer driving trip, be sure interior climate controls function properly and that all passengers have the proper safety restraints. Infants and children should ride in the back seat throughout the trip.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, but never drink alcohol and drive. The National Safety Council also recommends you avoid smoking while driving, since the nicotine and carbon monoxide in smoke can hinder night vision.
Prepare Your Vehicle Before you begin your trip, make sure your vehicle is in top shape for traveling at night. Take care of any necessary repairs or maintenance, no matter how minor they seem, including things like checking that tires are properly inflated and the air filter is clean and functioning properly. Visibility is an important consideration for night driving. All windows, headlights and tail lights should be clean and unclouded. Check headlights to ensure they’re properly aimed; poorly aligned headlights can make it difficult for you to see the road, and can blind drivers in other vehicles.
Although it may be tempting to allow children to lay down in back seats and sleep during night drives, children should be properly buckled up whenever traveling in a vehicle. Put infants and toddlers in car seats appropriate for their weight and age. Children younger than 12, shorter than 4 feet 9 inches, or less than 80 pounds should use a booster seat, according to SafeKids.org. Do provide accessories like neck pillows, night lights and soothing music to encourage kids to rest during night-time driving.
Finally, avoid frustration driving by minimizing distractions. Plan your route before you leave home so that you don’t have to deal with confusion over where you’re going or the distraction of trying to figure out directions while driving. Ask your passengers to take any incoming phone calls or texts – unless you’re driving in an area that prohibits cell phone use in the car. Families across the country look forward to summer vacation. With a little preparation and a few well-chosen supplies and accessories, you can help ensure every hour on the road is as safe, convenient and enjoyable as possible.
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