Monday, September 30, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
Hours
| Monday: | 9:00 am - 8:00 pm |
| Tuesday: | 9:00 am - 8:00 pm |
| Wednesday: | 9:00 am - 8:00 pm |
| Thursday: | 9:00 am - 8:00 pm |
| Friday: | 9:00 am - 6:00 pm |
| Saturday: | 9:00 am - 6:00 pm |
| Sunday: | Closed |
Monday, September 16, 2013
Few Texting-While-Driving Tickets Issued
According to the study: Tennessee state troopers have issued, on average, 24 tickets per month. Louisiana state police have issued an average of 18 tickets a month. Then there's North Dakota. State police have only issued 117 citations since a texting-while-driving ban went into effect in August 2011, about six per month.
Some states with laws on the books aren't even sure how many texting while driving tickets are being issued. Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia have no way of tracking such citations.
The AAA Foundation's Traffic Safety Culture Index for 2012 found that 81 percent of drivers surveyed viewed texting while driving as "a very serious threat to safety." Sill 35 percent of those surveyed had read a text and 27 percent had sent one while driving within the previous month.
In 2010 3,267 people died in distracted-driving-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In 2011, the most recent year for which numbers are available, the number rose to 3,331, a 1.92 percent increase.
Texting while driving may not be the worst distracted driving threat on roadways. A study released by the Erie Insurance Group looked at 65,000 fatal car crashes over the past two years. According to police reports, 10 percent overall were caused by distracted driving. Of those distracted driving deaths, the majority - 62 percent - were caused by a daydreaming driver.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Black Boxes In Cars Will Be Standard By 2014
If you thought police tracking your movements via license plate scanners was creepy, you may want to check your owner's manual to see if your own car has been spying on you.
Event data recorders, also known as EDRs or black boxes, began showing up in cars in 1990 when General Motors introduced them for quality control purposes. The New York Times reports 96 percent of cars now carry some sort of black box under the dashboard, and the National Highway Traffic Administration wants the technology standard in all vehicles sold in the U.S by 2014.
Automotive black boxes are different than the kind that are in airplanes, which continuously record audio, mechanical functions and location. In cars, the box only transmits information to the car's computer in the event of a crash or air bag deployment. Recorders capture vehicle speed, brake activity, crash forces and even seatbelt use at the time of the event.
Some consumer advocates say the recording devices are ripe for abuse. Although legally the property of the car owner, 14 states have laws on the books allowing third parties such as law enforcement agencies, lawyers involved in criminal or civil suits and insurance companies access to the information via warrant.
"These cars are equipped with computers that collect massive amounts of data," said Khaliah Barnes of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington-based consumer group told The New York Times. "Without protections, it can lead to all kinds of abuse."
There are currently no guidelines on how the information can be used and, since the equipment and expertise to access the information in proprietary to each manufacturer, no way to independently verify or challenge readings in court. NHTSA regulations would require automakers to provide a commercially available event data reader in the future, but there are currently no options for consumers to get at their own data. Click here to read more about this fascinating story.
Event data recorders, also known as EDRs or black boxes, began showing up in cars in 1990 when General Motors introduced them for quality control purposes. The New York Times reports 96 percent of cars now carry some sort of black box under the dashboard, and the National Highway Traffic Administration wants the technology standard in all vehicles sold in the U.S by 2014.
Automotive black boxes are different than the kind that are in airplanes, which continuously record audio, mechanical functions and location. In cars, the box only transmits information to the car's computer in the event of a crash or air bag deployment. Recorders capture vehicle speed, brake activity, crash forces and even seatbelt use at the time of the event.
Some consumer advocates say the recording devices are ripe for abuse. Although legally the property of the car owner, 14 states have laws on the books allowing third parties such as law enforcement agencies, lawyers involved in criminal or civil suits and insurance companies access to the information via warrant.
"These cars are equipped with computers that collect massive amounts of data," said Khaliah Barnes of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington-based consumer group told The New York Times. "Without protections, it can lead to all kinds of abuse."
There are currently no guidelines on how the information can be used and, since the equipment and expertise to access the information in proprietary to each manufacturer, no way to independently verify or challenge readings in court. NHTSA regulations would require automakers to provide a commercially available event data reader in the future, but there are currently no options for consumers to get at their own data. Click here to read more about this fascinating story.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Monday, August 26, 2013
Is Your Check Engine Light On? Don’t Ignore it.
One of the most vital signals of an improperly functioning vehicle is the check engine light and when illuminated, it alerts the driver to a variety of existing potential problems. Vehicle check-ups during community car care events throughout the country reveal that the check engine light is on in nearly one out of ten vehicles, says the Car Care Council.
“When the check engine light comes on, it means that a vehicle system, such as the ignition, fuel injection or emission control, is not operating properly, even if the vehicle appears to be running normally,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “A glowing check engine light doesn’t mean you have to immediately pull the car to the side of the road, but it does mean you should get the car checked out as soon as possible. Ignoring the warning light could result in costly repairs. At the very least, the light could alert you to an engine problem that is negatively impacting fuel economy.”
Some common malfunctions that can cause the check engine light to illuminate include a faulty oxygen sensor, mass air flow sensor, or spark plugs and wires. If the light flashes, the condition is more critical and must be checked immediately to prevent severe damage, which may include catalytic converter damage.
When scheduling service, make sure the automotive shop that examines your vehicle has professional technicians who are trained and certified in OBDII diagnosis and repair. The technician will connect your vehicle’s computer system to a diagnostic scan tool, which will provide trouble codes indicating why the check engine light was activated.
While the diagnostic tool is connected, the technician can analyze data streams such as the idle speed, throttle response, engine temperature, fuel system pressure, manifold vacuum, exhaust emission levels and many other key indicators. Once the problem is fixed, the car’s computer is reset to initiate the computer’s release process. The technician should then advise the customer of the proper course of action, potential warranty coverage, further testing if necessary and recommended repairs.
The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of the council’s Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.
Monday, August 19, 2013
The Top 10 Reasons Car Owners Buy Air Fresheners
According to a survey by Halfords, a UK-based out accessories/auto parts retailer, people really hate the smell of wet dog in their cars.
That particularly pungent odor topped the list of the reasons people buy air fresheners for their cars, beating out other noxious scents such as dried spilt milk and children's vomit. The entire top ten list includes (in order):
1. Wet dog
2. Dried spilt milk
3. Child's sick
4. Teenage body odor
5. Festering fast food
6. Forgotten fruit
7. Sweaty feet
8. Cigarette/cigar smoke
9. Dirty diaper
10. Animal mess on shoes
The thought of having any of these odors in a small enclosed space like an automobile is enough to get us thinking about stocking up on air fresheners just in case. What do you think? Have you experienced any car odors that belong on the list?
That particularly pungent odor topped the list of the reasons people buy air fresheners for their cars, beating out other noxious scents such as dried spilt milk and children's vomit. The entire top ten list includes (in order):
1. Wet dog
2. Dried spilt milk
3. Child's sick
4. Teenage body odor
5. Festering fast food
6. Forgotten fruit
7. Sweaty feet
8. Cigarette/cigar smoke
9. Dirty diaper
10. Animal mess on shoes
The thought of having any of these odors in a small enclosed space like an automobile is enough to get us thinking about stocking up on air fresheners just in case. What do you think? Have you experienced any car odors that belong on the list?
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