Road Safety Tips for Drivers

Planning on taking a road trip soon? Whether you're just getting ready to hit the road or have been driving for months or even years, take some time to learn more about staying safe on your next road trip.

Before beginning a long drive, be sure your vehicle have tires that are properly inflated, all fluids are at their proper levels and you have a full tank of gas. For a more thorough check, have your mechanic examine the vehicle.

Keep your cell phone off. Don't text while driving. Using a mobile phone while driving is the equivalent of driving drunk, even when using a hands-free phone.

Buckle up at all times. Seatbelt safety is important. Wearing one is known to decrease casualties and save many lives on the road. Make sure you and your passengers wear a seat belt before you venture out.

Obey the speed limit. Speed is a key factor in crashes and road trauma. Exceeding the speed limit increases the likelihood of a crash.

Turn on your headlights. Using your headlights increases your visibility and help other drivers see you.

Pay attention. Be sure to look properly at all signs and road markings to ensure you are travelling safe and be able to avoid unexpected accidents.

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What Do You Do When You Have a Flat Tire?

If you’re going to go off-road in your car, you need to know how to fix a flat tire. This article will tell you how to repair a flat tire.

1. Park on a safe location where it is visible to other drivers on the road. Open your hood and turn on your hazard lights.

2. Remove the spare tire from your trunk.

3. Secure the wheels to prevent the car from rolling off.

4. Remove any wheel center caps to reveal your lugs/bolts. Using your lug wrench, loosen each lug to break it free but don't totally remove it.

5. Use a jack to raise the car slowly so that there is a little space under your wheel.

6. Remove the lugs and wheel.

7. Attach the spare onto your wheel hub. Screw in all the lugs.

8. Lower your vehicle and tighten the lugs.

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How Do You Choose Car Insurance?

When it comes to auto insurance, you want to be adequately covered if you get in an accident, but you don't wish to pay a lot more than you have to. Should you have an accident, your car insurance policy will handle anything from damage to other vehicles and drivers to damage to yourself and your car.

Every insurance policy is different, some are cheaper than others and their prices change depending on your personal circumstances such as age, gender and experience. This car insurance guide will help you find the policy to suit you.

Some types of car insurance coverage are optional, while other types are required by law. At the very least, you must buy the minimum amount of liability insurance that your state requires.

The Different Types of Car Insurance

Your car insurance policy is comprised of a handful of different categories of coverage. Here's a list of the most common types and what they mean.

Collision insurance covers damage to your car up to its current estimated value, also known as its Blue Book Value.

Liability insurance is the portion of your policy that pays for damages you've caused to others if you're found to be at fault in an accident. This covers a wide range of damages, including bodily injury and property damage.

Uninsured or underinsured insurance covers your losses if you're hit by someone with no insurance, or not enough insurance to cover the cost of damages.

Comprehensive insurance pays for damages that occur to your car that aren't collision-related. According to the Insurance Information Institute, this includes theft, vandalism, fire and natural disasters.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP for short) covers your medical expenses if you're injured and can sometimes even pay out for lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working.

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How To Fix Dents in Car Yourself

Taking your car to a shop to remove a dent from your car can become really expensive. Fortunately, there are some DIY methods for fixing dented cars. The location and extent of the dent will have an effect on the best repair method to get the job done.

If the paint has simply flaked or has been scratched off the surface, just touch up the paint.

If a steel surface has been pushed in and hasn't been badly creased, try to pop it back into place with a rubber plunger. Just moisten the edge of the rubber, place the plunger over the dent, establish suction by pressing down on the handle, and then pull it toward you.

If you have small dents in a steel part, you can attempt to hammer them out by placing a flat piece of metal on the outer side of the vehicle and banging the dent from the underside with a flat-ended hammer.

Removing a dent with dry ice. All you need to do is touch the dry ice to the dent for a few seconds and repeat the process until the dent is gone. Make sure you wear dry ice gloves.

Removing a dent with hair dryer and compressed air. The process involves heating the dent with a hairdryer for 30 seconds to a minute. Next, quickly spray the area with compressed air for about 10 seconds.

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Why Is My Power Steering Not Working?

Power steering is the feature in vehicles which allows the driver to turn the wheel without difficulty. From experience, most vehicles will at some point develop problems in their systems. The steering system in your car is made up of several components that can fail after years of use. Fortunately most steering concerns are simple and simple to diagnose and repair.

Squeaking Belt

If your engine belt gets frayed, glazed or breaks altogether, it will definitely cause your power steering system to malfunction. If you have a sudden loss in power steering in your vehicle, a broken belt is the most likely cause. In this case, replacing the belt often will fix your problem quickly and easily.

Hard Steering

You notice it takes much more strength to turn the steering wheel especially when you are trying to park. Possible cause would be low tire pressure. In this case, check and adjust tire pressures. Also, it could be the wheels are out of alignment. In this case, have the wheels aligned.

Problem With Steering Pump

The most common cause of failure for a power steering pump is the bearing going bad. The bearing supports the shaft that connects the pulley outside the pump to the impeller inside the pump. When they get very worn, they can cause leakage around the pump shaft behind the pulley and even allow the pulley to wobble. In this case, the only thing you can do is to replace the power steering pump.

Leaks in the System

The last and most common of the power steering problems you may encounter is a leak. If the steering wheel on the vehicle becomes stiff and hard to turn, the first thing the driver should check is the power steering fluid levels. Most drivers know to check the fluids in a vehicle, such as the brake fluid, oil, gas, or coolant, but not as many know to check the power steering fluid. In this case, you can replace those hoses or tighten the clamps to stop the leak.

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