Wednesday, November 28, 2012

9 Tips for Driving In The Rain


Depending on where you live, driving in the rain can either be a daily experience or something rarely performed. In either case, the situation definitely adds to the danger of driving and something that is rarely covered in drivers ed. In particular, California driver's ed in most cases will have virtually no coverage of driving in the rain as it just isn't that common.

First off, lets examine why driving in the rain is different. There are four main differences that require special attention and techniques:

1) Car tires have much less grip in the rain. This causes a variety of problems including increased stopping distance, less cornering capability, and the potential for aquaplaning. This is an area typically not covered in driver's education because the car's capabilities vary so greatly.

2) Vision can be greatly impaired while driving in the rain, especially during a heavy rain storm and at night.

3) Many people are clueless, even in areas where is rains often. This represents additional danger as it becomes less likely drivers will react properly and reliably.

4) Road conditions vary dramatically. Even within your own lane there are large differences in road grip.

So, whether you live in a rainy area like Seattle or in the deserts of Arizona it is important to remember the following collection of 9 tips when driving in the rain.

1) Check your equipment. Driving in difficult conditions means relying more heavily on your car's equipment, including tires, wipers, and lights. Check your tires once a month to ensure the tread depth is adequate. Make sure your tires are properly inflated per your owners' manual.

2) Turn on your lights. It is a good practice to turn on your headlights when driving in the rain as it can increase your vision but more importantly make your car easier to see by other drivers. Also, in some states like New York the law requires drivers to turn on their lights when it is raining.

3) Slow down. Cars react slower in the rain as the tires have less grip. It will take longer to stop and the car cannot go as fast through a turn and maintain a healthy grip level. Just keep in mind that emergency maneuvers will simply take longer to execute in the rain.

4) Maintain a larger gap. Given that it takes longer to stop and visibility is decreased, leaving a larger gap between you and the car ahead is required. Remember that it takes longer to stop in the rain so the additional space will be needed.

5) Avoid aquaplaning. As taught in driver's ed, aquaplaning occurs when water separates your tires from the road. The worst cases of aquaplaning can be likened to driving on ice where there is very little grip. Do not drive through deep puddles of water and avoid situations where you need to drive through standing water at a high rate of speed.

6) Properly recover from a skid. Given a lack of grip, there is a higher probability that you may enter a skid at some point when driving in the rain. Most driver's education courses get this one wrong, so beware. The easiest way to recover from a skid is to look in the direction you want to go and steer the car in that direction. Forget about steering into a skid, etc. as this is much too complicated to remember in the moment you are in a skid.

7) Drive in previous car tracks. Let the car ahead of you "plow the road", so to speak. Their tracks are where the water level will be minimal as the car in front has already moved away from where your tires will be travelling. Driving in the previous car's tracks will lessen the chance of aquaplaning and provide better grip in general.

8) Road is slippery after the first rain. This is definitely taught in all driving courses and is very important to remember. Many a driver has forgotten this rule and paid the price. When it first starts to rain, oils that have accumulated in the road float to the surface making the conditions even more treacherous.

9) Be extra careful at night. Obviously vision is much less at night, which most everyone understands. However, the combination of driving at night and in the rain reduces vision dramatically. Just realize that nighttime rain driving requires even larger gaps and more time to react due to the reduced vision.

If you pay need to the above 9 tips for driving in the rain, your chances of having an incident are greatly reduced. Most of them are obvious but a few are not so please pay careful attention to the entire list. And hopefully the next time you drive in the rain it will be with less anxiety, greater confidence, and be a safer experience overall.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7043259

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Stay Visible - It Could Save Your Life This Winter


The upcoming wintry months introduce colder, darker nights and unfortunately, even more risks when driving. Whether you'll be out on your motorcycle or driving around in your car or any other automobile for that matter, making sure you're visible to other drivers and pedestrians is a must. Besides, it could save your life.
Your visibility
You need to take into account how particular weather conditions may affect your visibility, especially as each night is getting darker and darker with an increase of fog, mist and heavy rain.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when driving a vehicle:
  • Before heading out, check that all of your headlights are in full working order. Also make sure that every headlight is clean because dirt will reduce the effectiveness of your headlights.

  • Make sure that your brake lights are in full working order; if they're broken then the car behind will fail to see when you are braking.

  • You must always use your headlights in foggy, misty or dark conditions where you feel your visibility may be reduced - after all, they're designed to make you visible to others and to improve your vision of the roads.

  • If it's a foggy day then keep a safe distance away from the car in front (about three seconds). Always drive slowly and carefully in fog. Make sure your fog lights are on and use low beams.
When riding a motorcycle or bicycle
  • As previously expressed, checking that all of your lights are in full working order is a must.
  • Wear the appropriate clothing - luminous jackets are a lifesaver. Remember to wear your safety gear and to wrap up warm. Thermals are the best investment for the winter months as they will keep you warm and protect various body parts from getting wet or sodden!
Your vision matters
Although it's important to make sure you're noticed on the road, it's just as important to make sure that your vision isn't obstructed in any way. Before heading out on a morning, make sure you carry out these little life-saving procedures...
For all vehicles:
  • Make sure all windows are fully clean and clear of snow. Although this is something we all dread waking up to, it's a necessity during the winter and a lifesaver. Clear every fragment of frost off each window so that you can see out of each window perfectly fine. And no, don't clear one little circle of snow away so it acts like a little peephole - if your windows are obstructed then so is your vision and you will also be faced with a pretty large fine.

  • Clear any fragments of snow from the top of your vehicle. The excess snow can fall onto your windscreen when braking, causing yet another obstruction. Large pieces of snow can obstruct your vision entirely which can cause a real nasty accident.

  • Leave a spare pair of sunnies in the glove box. Although this sounds like an odd request, sometimes the dazzle of the sun (when it appears) can affect your vision of the road, especially when it's setting on an evening.

  • Scrub away any windscreen smears with screen wash. If they don't budge then use a glass polish and wipe away.

  • If your windows become a little misty then turn on the air conditioning. Don't put up with windows that aren't fully clear.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6636829

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing You And Your Family A Very Safe And Happy Thanksgiving From All Of Us At Corby's Collision!!


Monday, November 19, 2012

How To Remember Where You Parked


Learn how to remember where you parked with these tips, tricks, and techniques.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Disappearing Roadblock Prank


Motorists are sandwiched between a police officer and a magical construction worker who seems to be chatting with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in a sewer. As soon as they turn around, the construction guy vanishes in thin air, leaving the drivers with a lot of explaining to do.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Car Accident Prevention


Countless individuals die in roadway accidents in the U.S. each year. The bulk of the mishaps that occur involve unfortunate passenger vehicle incidents. The drivers are usually the main cause of car accidents. Other reasons of vehicle collisions include bad weather and complicated road conditions.

It is imperative for vehicle owners while driving to be very cautious to put a stop to the droves of automobile accidents occurring yearly. There are various quality safety driving guidelines that must be followed to lessen the risk of a crash. If every single individual comply with these simple road rules it would decrease the amount of accidents quite substantially.

A car should be regularly maintained and checked for any complications monthly. Maintaining a routine schedule for vehicle servicing is a standard preventative procedure that you can easily do. All drivers should examine the front and even the rear mirrors of their vehicle to prevent a possible accident. Having appropriate mirrors allow a clear unaltered view of other nearby cars. This can help you to avoid common yet deadly automobile accidents.

We all know the dangers associated with drinking and driving. Judgment is impaired when anyone is under the influence of alcohol substance or drugs. Its impossible to drive safely in that state. Drinking while driving is a fraudulent offense in America. Operating any form of machinery under the influence of a substance is severely prohibited.

When driving it is essential to maintain the correct distance between two vehicles to steer clear of back bumper accidents. A driver should never attempt to grasp for things in their vehicle while driving. There's a higher likelihood that the driver could fail to retain control of the car and cause a fatal collision. Another issue while driving is road rage. Each driver must manage their temper when on the road.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1312223

If your car is damaged in an accident, Corby's Collision can help you get back on the road fast! We have been in business for 47 years in Vacaville, California. When you do business with Corby's Collision you will not only deal with their qualified and professional staff but, also with Paul himself. He is an Owner/Operator and likes to be "hands on" with everything that goes in and out of the shop.
707-448-1696

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Top Tips to Achieve the Maximum Visibility on the Road


Being able to see has always been rather important but when you're hurtling down the motorway at hundreds of miles an hour it becomes more important still. While it might sound fairly obvious that visibility is crucial when you're driving, for many people it is something that doesn't get the attention it deserves and often we end up driving while struggling with fogging, condensation, ice, rain or other obstructions. Here we will look at how to keep your windshield absolutely perfect for seeing through so that when you drive you won't be putting yourself and others at serious risk.

Fogging: First of all you should look at ways to avoid your screen misting up. This is something that many of us will encounter when we're driving and it can be very difficult to counter while we're moving. The first tip then is to pull over when this happens. You might be tempted to say to yourself 'I can still see well enough' or 'it will go away in a moment' - but if you then have an accident you are going to look back on these thoughts and seriously regret them. Better to take five minutes and pull over than to regret the decision not to for the rest of your life.

To solve the issue you need to make sure that the temperature inside the car and specifically on the windshield is not too different from the temperature of the glass outside. One way to do this is by heating up the windshield which you can do by blowing warm air on it, and another is to decrease the temperature of the interior of your car by opening a window. Either way you can ensure that less water settles on the screen so you can see more clearly. To avoid having this happen altogether, look into getting heating for your windscreen and this way it won't get foggy to start with.

Chips and Scratches: A tiny chip or scratch on your windshield may not seem like a distraction, but all it needs to do is to obscure your vision slightly when something is a blip on the horizon, or to distract you momentarily and that will be enough to cause you to have an accident. Make certain then that you repair this damage and that you avoid letting it happen in the first place by parking your car undercover and by avoiding driving too fast on gravel tracks.

Rain and Dirt: Rain and dirt shouldn't be a problem as long as you have your windscreen wipers topped up and ready to go. Make sure you check this then before any journey, and ensure that you have the right level of both water and product so that you don't end up with soap marks. You should also clean your windshield from time to time at home properly with a sponge, and you should make sure that the wipers themselves are in good condition and are pressing firmly against the screen when they operate.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7355046

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Cars.com Undercover: Texting While Driving Rampant


Cars.com took to the highways of Chicago to see just how many people were illegally using their smartphones while driving. This video shows just how pervasive distracted driving due to these gadgets truly is.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Spray-On Wheel Cleaners


Plenty of spray-on, wipe-off tire cleaners promise to make your wheels sparkle like new. We test ArmorAll, Black Magic and several others. 

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Most Reliable New Cars From Consumer Reports


After crunching the numbers on more than a millions cars, Consumer Reports National Research Center can tell you which are the most reliable.