Author: infinitebeginnings

Before you venture out on an icy road, consider the possibility of entrusting yourself to an experienced professional driver. A bus is less convenient, but it could save you a lot of hassles. If you must take your own car out, be informed, be prepared, and be vigilant. BE INFORMED. Does your car have front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive? Does it have anti-lock brakes, or do you have to pump them to prevent a skid? Are your tires properly maintained and inflated? Are they intended for all-year conditions, or should you invest in snow tires before winter arrives? Read your owner’s manual for tips on dealing with adverse weather conditions. If you are using an unfamiliar vehicle, be doubly cautious and get whatever information you can ahead of time. Know what to watch for. Bridges, overpasses and tunnels tend to be particularly slippery. Beware of melting ice, especially ice that is covered by a puddle. Shady areas are often covered with black ice, which is virtually invisible. The centrifugal force of curves may cause your car to start sliding sideways. Hills can be a hazard, especially if the car in front of you starts to spin its wheels. Choose the path that provides the maximum traction. If you know someone who has a lot of experience with winter driving, take him or her out for coffee and ask for tips. When you are driving under icy conditions, allow three car lengths between vehicles instead of the usual one. Allow extra time to signal your intention to turn, slow down, or change lanes. Move gradually rather than abruptly, and don’t depend on your brakes. Even if you have anti-lock brakes and studded tires, they won’t protect you from being rear-ended by the car behind you. Be especially cautious of large, heavy vehicles which are harder to stop. BE PREPARED. If you have winter tires, studs or chains, they won’t do you much good unless they have been installed. Carry sand or kitty litter, a shovel, a car brush/scraper, warm clothes, sturdy gloves, and an emergency weather kit. If you have rear-wheel drive, put extra weight over the rear wheels. Ensure that your defroster and windshield wipers are in good working order. Invest some time in practising on a slippery surface such as an empty parking lot or a skid pan. The technique for controlling a skid is counter-intuitive, especially with rear-wheel drive. Book knowledge is not enough. There is no time to think when a skid happens. Only repeated experience can ingrain the appropriate response. BE VIGILANT. On an icy road, kick your defensive driving techiques up to the max. Do everything in slow motion. Allow plenty of room for other cars whose drivers may be less cautious and skilled than you are. Maintain a constant speed when you are on a slippery surface. Slow down ahead of time, and gently ease your car along, keeping the steering wheel as steady as possible. Once you are on ice, taking your foot off the accelerator can have the same detrimental effect as braking. Turning your steering wheel abruptly may spin you out of control. Plan to travel when traffic is relatively light. If possible, wait until the sand truck has passed through. Allow plenty of time to get to your destination, and don’t try to rush. Better late than never! Category:Home › Home • Will higher gasoline prices mean lower sales for new cars? — part 2 • Will higher gasoline prices mean lower sales for new cars? — part 1 • Should the crew of the Sea Shepherd board whaling ships? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 13 • Grandparents: Can blogging chronicle your genealogy? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 12 • Are teachers unions the cause of public school problems today? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 11

Maps are being phased out, more and more people are beginning to tap into technology and become more computer aware and realizing the positives of a computer and becoming anti — paper, such as on line bills, online bank statements and online shopping. Many people have also been becoming familiar with Google maps and when searching for a route, instead of looking for an updated map with how rapidly our roads change they now simply log onto the computer or go straight to their GPS system. Cars have always been at the top of thieves’ lists and now we are all modifying our cars with cd players and updating the upholstery and now attaching mini computer systems called GPS systems. When ever a GPS system is purchased there are warnings from both the sales assistant and from the product information itself. But if a GPS system is left in a car the risk of it being stolen is even higher the same as an attachable CD player. Even if the car is not stolen and it is only broken into for the devices in your car then this is a major problem in itself, it makes you re evaluate the security of your car, your cars location and also the cost of the damage to be paid for. If all cars have in built CD players and GPS systems this reduces the risk of the car being broken into as the devices will be fixed into the car and there would be no point in breaking into a car for the device. Another pro of GPS systems being built into the car is that the GPS system does not have to be charged and can also not be lost which results in more costs and stress. Modern cars also come with better in built security and this also reduces the chance of the car being stolen and also the devices inside the car. People as consumers are becoming heavily dependent on their car and expect their car to meet a particular standard; some cars even have in built DVD players too. From the perspective on the younger generation, map reading skills are not really delivered in education and in driving lessons map reading skills are not taught either, the student driver follows directions from the tutor and so a GPS system behaves in the same way which falls in line with the teaching from driving lessons. The GPS system is a system which is becoming a fast loved product by many consumers and if people are willing to purchase a new car they will be expecting certain devices installed in their car, without having to have chargers and the stress and worry of losing a high priced gadget, that many rely on. Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society