A car is more than a means of transportation. It’s your link to independence, friends, social events and so much more.

But at some point, we all have to give up the keys. Knowing when may save you or a loved one from injury or even death. And there may be advantages to not driving that you haven’t considered.

An Increase in Accident

Although older drivers are less likely to drive while intoxicated and more likely to wear seat belts, they’re still at greater risk for an accident than most other age groups.

read more from "Safe Behind the Steering Wheel How’s your driving?"

Employees remaining after a workplace “downsizing” face increased pressure that in some cases can be deadly. A study, according to the Medical Abstract Newsletter, reports that the Japanese now recognize a syndrome of “death from over work.” And Danish bus drivers working long hours in heavy traffic have a high death rate. Giving employees more control and more social support at work can help prevent stress-related illness.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CAR

Always lock your car doors. Be certain all windows are completely closed. When driving, keep all doors locked. It is best to park in attended lots. If you must leave a key with the attendant, leave only the ignition key. In all cases lock your car. At night, park only in well-lighted areas.

If you have a garage, the single lock on the door is inadequate to keep intruders from prying up the opposite side and crawling in. One of three methods may be used to secure the door: (1) Add another bolt and padlock on the opposite side, or (2) Install a pair of cane bolts to the inside - only operable from the inside, or (3) Add a top center hasp. Any person of average height can operate this locking device. The hasp must be of hardened steel and installed with carriage bolts through the door or gate. Use large washers on the inside. After the nuts are secured, deface the treads of the bolt ends with a hammer to keep the nuts from being removed.

read more from "Tips on How To Protect Cars, Bicycles, Motorcycles…"

With the Christmas season only a few winks away we can expect a rise in criminal activities involving theft, worse holdups. And motorists are a great part of those victimized.

Aside from “being at the wrong place at the wrong time”, many of us end up as victims because we unwittingly invite the criminal elements to take us at random.

We do this by doing the following, like staying (worse, sleeping) inside a parked automobile, which is an open invitation for carnappers to pounce on a defenseless motorist or leaving items of value in plain sight inside our vehicles just waiting for the “bukas kotse” elements to smash our windows to easily reach in for them.

Records show that a lot of successful car thefts were made on drivers who were napping inside their parked automobiles – a situation where they are most defenseless.

Drivers would be best advised to park at well-lit places and to stand guard from a safe seeing distance from the parked vehicle.

This way suspicious-looking persons can be better observed and reported to the nearest guard or police authority in the area before any criminal attempt is made.

The present precarious economic situation is predicted to get worse even before it would improve and such a situation gives rise to criminality. Let’s all be conscious to prevent ourselves from becoming victims. And that’s not even a sure-fire guarantee – what more if we don’t even try.

Happy Motoring!!!

You may not know it but your vehicle has an allowable water depth to drive through, otherwise it would not be covered by its warranty in the event it gets damaged while being driven through water levels that are higher than its prescribed limit.

Being in the midst of the rainy season, there are heavy downpours that often cause flash floods in the Metro. I suggest you don’t just get tempted to gamble on your car’s amphibious abilities and just attempt to take on the flood waters without bearing its warranty in mind.

If it’s a brand new vehicle still covered by warranty, you can either check on its owner’s manual or consult your dealer or manufacturer directly for the information on this limitation.

Vehicle damage from flood waters can be very costly.

Happy Motoring!!!

(AOL Autos) — You don’t have to look too far into the past to find a time when automakers didn’t see car safety as a “selling point.” But over the last 30 years, car safety has become a prime factor in the minds of car buyers.

So, automakers responded — and as a result, cars and trucks are much safer today than they were 30, 20, even 10 years ago.

One car segment that has especially benefited from this overall improvement in safety is the sub-compact category. And it’s a good thing, too, because as gas prices have soared in the last two years, more buyers are turning away from big trucks, monster SUVs and gas-thirsty muscle cars in favor of smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Indeed, the small-car category is the fastest-growing segment in the U.S. auto industry, with sales increasing by 12 percent this year, and everyone expects that growth to continue as long as gas prices keep rising — or even if they just hold steady and don’t drop. That’s why many automakers have even more sub-compact models in their product pipelines.

So, as Americans’ buying preferences have shifted to smaller vehicles, the old debate about the safety of small cars has ignited anew. Some drivers who’ve been in an SUV for the last six years have been apprehensive about not being surrounded by a massive steel structure and a few dozen feet of sheet metal.

read more from "Small “Cars” But Terrible"

When you drive defensively, you’re aware and ready for whatever happens. You are cautious, yet ready to take action and not put your fate in the hands of other drivers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 90% of all crashes are attributed to driver error.

Following these defensive driving tips can help reduce your risk on the road:

1. Think safety first. Avoiding aggressive and inattentive driving tendencies yourself will put you in a stronger position to deal with other people’s bad driving. Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front. Always lock your doors and wear your seatbelt to protect you from being thrown from the car in a crash.
2. Be aware of your surroundings — pay attention. Check your mirrors frequently and scan conditions 20 to 30 seconds ahead of you. If a vehicle is showing signs of aggressive driving, slow down or pull over to avoid it. If the driver is driving so dangerously that you’re worried, try to get off the roadway by turning right or taking the next exit if it’s safe to do so. Also, keep an eye on pedestrians, bicyclists, and pets along the road.
3. Do not depend on other drivers. Be considerate of others but look out for yourself. Do not assume another driver is going to move out of the way or allow you to merge. Assume that drivers will run through red lights or stop signs and be prepared to react. Plan your movements anticipating the worst-case scenario.
4. Have an escape route. In all driving situations, the best way to avoid potential dangers is to position your vehicle where you have the best chance of seeing and being seen. Having an alternate path of travel is essential, so take the position of other vehicles into consideration when determining an alternate path of travel.
5. Follow the 3- to 4-second rule. Since the greatest chance of a collision is in front of you, using the 3- to 4-second rule will help you establish and maintain a safe following distance and provide adequate time for you to brake to a stop if necessary in normal traffic under good weather conditions.
6. Keep your speed down. Posted speed limits apply to ideal conditions. It’s your responsibility to ensure that your speed matches conditions.
7. Separate risks. When faced with multiple risks, it’s necessary to address them by separating risks. Your goal is to avoid having to deal with too many risk factors at the same time.
8. Cut out distractions. A distraction is any activity that diverts your attention from the task of driving. Driving deserves your full attention — so stay focused on the driving task.

In Addition to bad highways and drivers, road holidays have a hidden risk: Heart attack.

Researchers in the US found that road-trippers were  more likely to  suffer a heart attack that vacationers who took planes, trains or other modes of travel. Driving requires concentration, which raises blood pressure-and the risk of cardiac incident , says lead author Willem Kop. Here,  tips for a heart-healthy journey:

• Don’t rush. hurrying has been linked to increased heart attack risk, say psychologist Peter Wish. So leave early, plan stops and play games in the car to relieve stress.

• Take breaks. Too much setting raises the risk of deadly blood clots. Stop to stretch every hour or so.

• Drink up. Dehydration taxes the heart.