Archive for May, 2010
Top 15 Tips For Night Driving
May 28th, 2010 | 
Author: Top 15 Tips For Night Driving
Driving at night is a more challenging job and dangerous too because visibility is greatly reduced. Low visibility directly impacts depth perception and colour recognition and this in turn leads to car accident. It is even believed that road deaths are three times greater at night than during the day.
However there are many ways to effectively deal with the special hazards of night driving. Here are top 10 night driving tips that can help you enjoy a safe ride at night:
- First thing is to prepare your car for night driving. Clean the headlights signal lights and taillights once every week.
- Don’t ever flash high beams at a vehicle that already has its high beam on.
- Ensure that all the exterior lightings of the car are working properly so that others can clearly see you.
- High beam reduces your visibility so always use low beams in fog.
- Don’t look at the oncoming headlights as it will further reduce your visibility.
- Avoid any kind of glare while driving at night. If there is enough of street light switch off your car’s interior light and if headlights from any vehicle is reflecting in your car’s rear view mirror adjust the mirror accordingly.
- Also keep the windows and windshield of your clean as dirt deposited on them can increase glare that further reduces your visibility.
- Driving too fast is also dangerous at night because it not only further reduces your visibility but also reduces your reaction time in case of an emergency.
- Night driving is more tiring than day driving. So ensure that there is good ventilation inside the vehicle and you also take frequent breaks in between if it is a long journey.
- In case of a long journey you should even take frequent refreshment breaks to relax your eyes and improve your concentration.
- Don’t ever drink and drive especially while night driving. Alcohol acts as a depressant and can impair your driving ability.
- You should also avoid smoking while driving because nicotine present in cigarette hamper night vision.
- Drive at an average speed and increase your following distance. This will help you have a better judgement of the speeds and distances of other vehicles on the same road.
- If there is an emergency breakdown warn approaching traffic by switching on the parking signals or emergency lights. And also pull off the car from the road.
- Follow these night driving tips as soon as the sun goes down. This is because twilight is the most challenging time to drive when your eyes are changing to adapt to darkness.
About the writer: Carazoo.com
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Why You Should Not Buy Hybrid Cars
Why You Should Not Buy Hybrid Cars
With the global financial crisis and the unstable gas prices many people are now turning to fuelefficient hybrid vehicles. The hybrid vehicles have less gas emissions which will go a long way in reducing the effect of the emissions on the environment. The hybrid cars are fuelefficient and those using them will be able to save on gas expenses. Another reason why hybrid cars are preferred is that they are much faster than the average cars. Buying of hybrid cars will depend on the reason why the person wants to have one.
It has been said that hybrid cars offer an excellent way of investing. People have been told that buying hybrid cars will enable them save on the expenses which they would have otherwise used to buy fuel. However since hybrid cars are expensive the benefits will not be felt at once and may take a period of years before one can feel the tangible benefits of the hybrid car. However with advancements in technology the costs of the hybrid cars will likely fall. Those who cannot wait for that long should not buy the current high costs hybrid cars.
Furthermore the cars that will be produced with the improved technology are likely to be more efficient than the current ones. Apart from concerns about high gas prices those who buy hybrid cars do so because of the need to preserve the environment. The amount of gas emissions released to the atmosphere by users of nonhybrid cars is on the rise. However if one is not driven by the need to preserve the environment and is not worried about the emissions their cars give out then they are not the right candidates to buy hybrid cars.
Most of the hybrid cars are available in small sizes. This has been a factor that has made many tall people who would have preferred using hybrid cars not to buy them. The comfort and the amount of space available in nonhybrid SUVs have prevented many people from using the hybrid cars. For instance users of Prius have raised safety issues concerning the car model. This model has a curvy interior which reduces the users headroom and can cause extensive injuries if an accident occurs.
Even if the one decides to buy the hybrid car because of its potential to save on costs it will be difficult to know the actual amount of money that will be saved. This issue arises since most hybrid cars do not have alternate nonhybrid cars. For example the Prius can only be found as a hybrid car and thus it cannot be compared with any nonhybrid Prius car. Another reason why you should not buy hybrid is that not all hybrids are the same. The ones that are fuelefficient are normally expensive while those that are not that expensive do not give the level of fuel efficiency desired. Those who are not technology minded or environmentally conscious should not worry about the trend of buying hybrid cars.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Enjoy your car and find the best deal on the insurance coverage you need. Visit us for moneysaving tips free auto insurance comparisons and affordable insurance advice at Auto Insurance Rates Direct.
Pimp My 4×4! But Start With The Tyres!
Pimp My 4×4! But Start With The Tyres!
Fourwheel drive 4WD or 4×4 is a term used to describe a fourwheeled vehicle with a drive train that allows all four wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously. The term has traditionally been linked to sports utility vehicles or SUVs which have been very popular in the United States and are now becoming popular across Europe. The benefit of a car with fourwheel drive is that it allows for normal twowheel drive on normal roads and superior fourwheel mode for low traction conditions such as snow ice slippery surfaces mud or loose gravel.
In response to criticism by civic groups against using larger SUVs for daily urban trips car manufacturers are now trying to position the smaller versions as green vehicles with levels of CO2 emissions much closer to their conventional car equivalents than larger models. For example Citroen recently launched the CCrosser only available with a particulate filter and frugal diesel engines.
These newer models are likely to be popular in Europe where smaller SUVs have been more successful than larger models and are likely to be a bigger driving force for sales of 4WD vehicles in the near future. Other examples include the Nissan Qashqai and the Renault Koleos both combining fourbyfour drive and limited offroad capabilities with the handling of a passenger car.
J.D. Power Automotive Forecasting estimated SUVs comprise 1.5 million out of 18.3 million vehicles or 8 of the car market in Europe in 2007. Of this quotient 0.6 are small SUVs 2.4 are large ones and 5.3 are mediumsized. By 2010 the SUV segment is estimated to grow to 10.1 with medium growing to 7 and large slipping to 2.2. By 2014 the SUV market is expected to increase to 11.2 with mediumsized cars responsible for 7.6 and large cars for 2. The total European new car market is then expected to be 21.9 million vehicles.
This is of course good news for car workshops. In recent years TV shows such as MTVs Pimp My Ride have increased the popularity of overhauling or if you will customising cars with things like game consoles chrome wheels and faster engines. But before 4×4 owners go off trying to similarly overhaul their own vehicles it might be best to invest in a new set of 4×4 tyres.
Donald Cheach editor of Top Gear Malaysia recently told the Malaysia Star: The first thing I would recommend is definitely a set of better tyres. There is nothing wrong with gofast upgrades as long as there is an equal effort to improve the safety aspect of the vehicle. The wheels represent the unsprung weight of the vehicle. Generally the lighter this is the more efficient the performance. Suspension should be looked at next followed by engine upgrades.
Ultimately those looking to buy a new SUV in order to take advantage of its 4×4 capabilities yet stay environmentally conscious will find their needs wellmet by upcoming medium and small sized SUVs should they decide to pimp them or not.
About the writer: Andrew Regan is an online freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.
