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Cruise Control's Contradictory Effects

By Sara Hoffman

There is many a beauty about using cruise control while driving long distances – it prevents speeding tickets, gives the foot a rest, and can save gas. Drivers may think it will ease driving in bad weather conditions, but rainy weather is one case where relying too heavily on cruise control can have the opposite effect.

If your car does begin to hydroplane (meaning that the tires actually rise up on top of the water like water skis), braking is the worst thing to do – and yet it is the most commonly used way to disable cruise control. Cruise control also maintains the speed of your car while you’re trying to decrease speed without hitting the brakes. The safest thing to do if it begins to rain even a little bit, is to disable cruise control. If you lose control of the car, decrease speed by taking your foot off the gas and regain control before using the brakes.

Driving in rainy conditions is no time to be on auto-pilot, hydroplaning can literally make a vehicle take off instantaneously like an airplane if speed isn’t reduced. The risk of driving with cruise control in the rain isn’t worth taking. Though it’s not as well-known as it should be, this risk is serious enough that some cars, like the 2010 Toyota Sienna Limited XLE, won’t let you set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are on.

Source: The National Safety Commission

For more auto safety advice from Road & Travel Magazine, visit our Safety & Security section.

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Check Your Lights: Daylight Savings Time

The end of Daylight Savings Time occurred in most parts of the United States on October 31st (Halloween), creating different driving conditions that can be hazardous without proper vehicle lighting. The Car Care Council recommends vehicle lights be checked before the clocks “fall back” to help ensure safe driving, especially during dusk and peak evening traffic hours. But if you hadn’t thought of it until now, there’s no time like the present.

 

A vehicle’s lighting system includes headlights (high and low beam), parking lights, turn signals/emergency flashers, brake lights, tail and marker lights, backup lights, interior lights and instrumentation lighting. Some vehicles are also equipped with fog lights. Headlights should also be periodically cleaned of mud and muck, and properly aimed according to procedures outlined in the owner’s manual. Headlights can be knocked out of alignment by rough driving, and if not properly aimed, can be distracting to other drivers.

 

Vehicle inspections during National Car Care Month in the United States have shown lighting to be an often neglected maintenance item. It may be hard to notice if the headlights are dimming, so letting someone else drive your car could enlighten you.

 

For more information or to receive a copy of The Car Care Council’s new Car Care Guide for motorists, visit www.carcare.org.  

 

For more vehicle safety & maintenance information, visit Road & Travel Magazine’s Auto Channel.

 

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Teen Driving Safety: Make Sure They Know It All

As Congress-mandated teen driving safety week recently came to an end (it was October 18-24), new driver safety issues are called to our attention. Each year more than 5,000 youths ages 16-20 die, and more than 400,000 are injured behind the wheel. On average, one teen per hour is killed every weekend, and once every two hours during the week. 

Some deaths or injuries can't be prevented - it is impossible to predict the driving behavior of others. But parents can and should ensure that their teens are sufficiently prepared before getting behind the wheel of a dangerous machine. Though their driving school may be a sufficient learning resource, it doesn't hurt to make sure they know how to control, not just operate, a car. Students should learn emergency braking and skid control in wet and dry conditions, how to correct unintended oversteer and understeer situations and how to avoid accidents entirely.

For more teen driving safety information, see RTM's Auto Safety & Security section or Teens & Tots section.

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Brain Training Extends Older Drivers' Confidence & Skill

Think it’s time for Grandma to turn in the keys? Maybe not. Even when driving ability begins to decrease, two new studies prove that there are ways to extend and improve it for high-risk seniors. Brain training, done for 10 hours over 5 weeks in the Staying Keen in Later Life (SKILL) study, decreased the high-risk drivers’ risk the to the same as the low-risk driving group. Their confidence with driving at night, in poor weather, and in high traffic also improved.

A second study (Active Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly) combined with the SKILL study proved that brain training delays the end of driving for older people. By using an interactive software exercise called DriveSharp, they build ability to respond quickly in making driving decisions, enabling them to continue driving.

"Science has brought us new ways to improve and extend driving," said Dr. Edwards, assistant professor at the University of South Florida and lead author on the studies. "It does not need to be a choice between uneasiness about continued driving and negative outcomes that come from taking away the keys, because we can now train older drivers to improve their driving skills."

(Source: Posit Science)

For more driving safety tips from RTM, see our Auto Safety & Security section.

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Sit Right to Avoid Neck Pain Caused By Driving

Because driving a motor vehicle is a constant task in a very fixed sitting posture, unlike sitting in an office chair, the extra stress has been proven to cause neck and back problems. The driver’s intense focus on avoiding an accident prohibits his or her natural weight shifting while driving, but correct posture in the driver’s seat can decrease the risk. Here are some tips for adjusting what you do before you start your drive and changing the way you drive:

• Start with good driving posture. The best angle for the back of your seat is at 100 degrees, which is just shy of straight. Place your hands in the 3 and 9 o'clock positions on the steering wheel and elbows comfortably on the armrests if you have them.

• Support your head. Adjust your headrest so that it touches the middle part of the back of your head.

 

• Support your lower back. If your car seat offers lumbar support, adjust it to fill the space at your lower back; if not, a small pillow placed against the bottom part of your seat back will maintain the right shape from tailbone to neck. Also, make sure your seat is close enough to the steering wheel so that you don't have to lean forward.

 

• Adjust your mirrors. Give yourself the widest field of vision with all your mirrors so you don't have to move your head around to see.

 

• Avoid eyestrain. Driving with poor vision can lead to eyestrain and cause you to crane your neck forward, which puts pressure on your neck muscles. If you're straining to see while driving, you need to get your vision checked. It sounds obvious, but make sure your windshield is clean to help you see clearly. If you're driving in bright sunlight, use sunglasses with at least 99 percent UV protection.

 

• Take a break. If you start to get a stiff neck, are feeling neck pain, or want to prevent it, pull into the next safe rest stop. Do some stretching and walk off the kinks.

 

There are also some safety risks involved with sitting the wrong way while driving. A study using computer modeling to simulate rear-end accidents, concluded that the headrest or backrest should be no more than about 2.5 inches away from the back of your head, to keep soft tissue from being injured in the event of a rear-end collision. The key to the adjustment is to not recline the seat, rather tilt it toward your body, so that it nearly touches the back of your head when you are positioned as you normally drive.

For more safe driving tips, visit RTM's Auto Advice & Tips section.

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Fall Driving Hazard: Deer Crashes

Sure, seeing wildlife is exciting, and deer can be pretty darn cute. But come fall and spring, they're dangerous in areas where they and cars are both prevalent - in fact, they occur most frequently in highly populated and suburban areas. Crashing into one can result in fatalities, but will definitely be costly in vehicle repairs (or insurance premiums). In the Midwest United States, there are an estimated 23 deaths and 131,500 crashes a year. If you live in an area where deer are populous, or are travelling to one, heed this advice:

Fall is deer mating season, so watch out for them especially at dusk and dawn. If you see one along the side of the road, keep in mind that a vehicle may cause them to panic and dart out, so slow down and wait to be sure they're not going to try and cross the road. If there's one, chances are there are a few more deer waiting to follow in single file. If a crash is unavoidable, don't swerve - come to a controlled stop, and then get as far off the roadway as possible. Losing control of the car is much more dangerous than an encounter with a deer, though at high speeds both are risky. When you see a deer crossing sign, drive a bit slower to increase reaction time - and watch out for eyes alongside the road.

For more advice from RTM, visit our Auto Safety section.

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When It's Time to Turn in the Keys

Nope, we’re not talking about that tactic for avoiding drunk driving after a party, here. This is about how long, as people age, are they able to drive safely. Though newer, high-tech safety features on vehicles can help divert the following problems, there comes a time for everyone.

 

How do you approach a family member when age related changes impact driving ability? Families nationwide struggle with these sensitive issues. Elinor Ginzler, AARP's Director of Livable Communities and a leading authority on older driver safety, encourages families to talk with loved ones about safe driving practices. According to Ginzler, these are the top ten signs that it's time to talk about limiting driving or handing over the keys:

 

1. Frequent "close calls” (i.e. near accidents).

2. Dents, scrapes, on the car or on fences, mailboxes, garage doors, curbs etc.

3. Trouble judging gaps in traffic at intersections and on highway entrance/exit ramps.

4. Other drivers honking at you.

5. Getting lost.

6. Difficulty seeing the sides of the road when looking straight ahead.

7. Slower response time; trouble moving foot from gas to brake pedal or confusing the two pedals.

8. Getting distracted easily or having trouble concentrating.

9. Difficulty turning your head to check over shoulder while backing up or changing lanes.

10. Traffic tickets or "warnings” by traffic or law enforcement officers in the last year or two.

 

Not ready to hand 'em over? Read more on this topic.

 

For more advice from RTM, visit our Auto Safety & Security section.

 

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Four Subaru Models Take "Top Safety Pick" Awards

Subaru has upheld it’s reputation for producing safe vehicles – and this year, four of Subaru of America’s 2009 models have been named a 'Top Safety Pick' by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 'Top Safety Pick' recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, and rear crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners are also required have to have electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows significantly reduces crash risk. The following vehicles each earned a 2009 'Top Safety Pick' award in their category:

Subaru Legacy - Mid-size Sedan

Subaru Impreza - Small Cars

Subaru Tribeca - Mid-size SUV

Subaru Forester - Small SUV

"It is not a surprise that Subaru has again received 'Top Safety Pick' awards for its vehicles," says Institute President, Adrian Lund. "Subaru is a standout for 2009 because it has at least one Top Safety Pick in every vehicle class in which it competes. The Top Safety Pick awards speak to the commitment Subaru makes to produce safer vehicles." Subaru vehicles are not only safe to drive, but also fun and affordable with all-wheel drive standard.

For auto safety advice from RTM, click here.

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Car Theft Down, Clunker Theft Up

Though car theft is on the decrease because of improved security on new and recent models, another kind of car theft is taking its place. Old clunkers, once considered practically immune to theft, are revealed by National Insurance Crime Bureau’s Hot Wheels 2009 study to be the most commonly stolen cars.  The top ten are:

  1.  1994 Honda Accord   

  2.  1995 Honda Civic

  3.  1989 Toyota Camry  

  4.  1997 Ford F-150 Pickup   

  5.  2004 Dodge Ram Pickup      

  6.  2000 Dodge Caravan

  7.  1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee    

  8.  1994 Acura Integra   

  9.  1999 Ford Taurus

10.  2002 Ford Explorer

 

Though 2008 was the fifth consecutive year of declining vehicle thefts, certain models of older cars and trucks are popular with thieves because of the value of their parts. Frequently, the parts can be stripped from a car at a chop shop and sold for at least twice as much as the value of the vehicle on the used car market. Also, newer models are also more difficult, but not impossible to steal. Protect your beloved oldie by usin NICB's four layers of protection:

 

Common Sense:  Lock your car and take your keys.  It’s simple enough but many thefts occur because owners make it easy for thieves to steal their cars.

 

Warning Device:  Using a visible or audible warning device is another item that can ensure that your car remains where you left it.

 

Immobilizing Device:  Generally speaking, if your car won’t start, it won’t get stolen. “Kill” switches, fuel cut-offs and smart keys are among the devices which are extremely effective.

 

Tracking Device:  A tracking device emits a signal to the police or to a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. If the vehicle is moved the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.

 

For more theft prevention tips, visit RTM's Auto Safety & Security.

 

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Locked Out of Your Vehicle: Now What?

Due to our vehicles' new high-tech, heavy-duty theft-deterrent systems, it's not suprising that it's not easy to get into a locked car without the keys. And maybe our brains haven't quite caught up with this new technology: in 1980, lockouts represented just 1.4% of the total requests for service. In 2006, lockouts represented 16.9% of the total overall call volume to AAA in North America. There are tons of ways to prevent lock-outs from happening. But what if you don't get around to them until it's too late?

Even when you're baffled and confused at how you could've succeeded at locking your keys inside of your car, safety must always be a concern. The very first thing you should do when locked out alone is call someone and tell them where you are - even if they can't come wait with you or help, it is best to be in contact with someone close to you about the situation in case things get worse. And if you happen to hang out with people that know how to steal cars, your strange friendships may now come in handy. 

As for getting back into your car and on the road, no option is wonderful, as they all require lots of waiting around and some money - or a hanger and skill at using it. If you happen to be a member of AAA, they provide lockout service, but you have to stay by your car until they get there, and experience recalls waiting a lot longer than promised. This can be dangerous, especially if you're alone or in an unsafe area. It can also screw one's day up pretty badly when on a tight schedule. Calling the cops may be faster and cheaper, but not all city police departments will perform lockout services - they may refer you to a tow truck company, which will do the job, but for a price. It's been said there's potential to use a hanger or a tennis ball with a burn hole in it to get the door unlocked, but keeping these items with you won't do any good if your car is locked...and most people would need to learn the trick beforehand. The most important choice is to consult the people you know and keep in tight connection with them, to reduce the stress of the situation and just in case the situation gets worse.

For more auto safety and security tips from RTM, click here.

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