Tag Archives: vehicle

And You Thought Your Vehicle Was Old

I heard about this next guy while listening to the news on my car radio. Who knew that it would give me hope that my vehicle could go another 900,000 miles. No, that figure doesn’t have a few extra zeros. I meant to write each and every one. Because according to a man in Medford, Wisconsin, his pick up truck is about to pass the 1 million mile mark. Frank Oresnik claims his 1991 Chevrolet Silverado is on the verge of making history, as it is just 1,100 miles away from a million. And once it hits the milestone he … Continue reading →

What Car Thieves Really Want From Your Vehicle

I’ve written about car theft in previous blogs, but have never touched on the fact that some thieves are just as happy stealing parts of your car as they are driving away with the entire set of wheels. Most of us think that the criminals are after our car stereos and other high tech gear, but according to the American Automobile Association, these days car thieves are after certain parts located underneath your vehicle. Experts from the popular auto club say thieves are after your car’s catalytic converter. You may not know what it looks like, but you would certainly … Continue reading →

Vehicle Airbags + Pregnant Women + Short Adults = DANGER

A few weeks ago I took my car into a service center to get a belt replaced. When an employee for the shop called to say my vehicle was ready to be picked up I automatically asked, “Is everything okay?” He replied dryly, “Your car’s fine, but the mechanic who worked on it was impaled by your steering wheel.” I had to laugh. I knew exactly what he was referring to—-my small stature, and the fact that I drive with my seat smack up to the steering wheel to reach the pedals. I chuckled then, but shortly after that exchange … Continue reading →

Save Money—Drive An Air Car

You’ve heard of cars that are powered by the sun, and cars that are powered by electricity, hydrogen, even vegetable oil. But, how about air? A father-and-son team from France insists air power is no joke. Guy and Cyril Negre say they have spent several years tooling with the idea of fueling cars with compressed air at their factory in southern France. Plain old air compressed in the tank. They say it’s not only cheap but also helps preserve the environment. For the past few months the team has been trying to convince skeptics that their idea is a winner. … Continue reading →

Dining Behind The Wheel

Did you know that the average American spends 100 hours a year commuting to work? So, what of those parents who do double duty commuting to work, carting children around to various extra-curricular activities, running errands and in some cases using the family vehicle as a means to lull a cranky baby to sleep. How many hours a year do they spend in the car? A lot. I should know. Our family spends way too much time in our vehicles. Which is why such a great appreciation for the individual who invented the car cup holder. I once saw a … Continue reading →

New Safety Feature For Cars

Have you ever seen a high-speed car chase where the driver weaves in and out of traffic? Or perhaps, you have been in a situation where you’ve had to quickly veer around obstacles at highway speeds. If you have seen it happen or experienced it yourself then you know how dangerous it is. Studies show in most cases when a vehicle is traveling at a high rate of speed and is made to turn suddenly or is made to steer around obstacles the likelihood it will remain upright is slim. It’s an issue car manufacturers are now addressing. Companies like … Continue reading →

The Dangers of “Trunking”

As if parents of teen drivers don’t have enough to worry about, a startling new trend has emerged that is causing an uproar in many families. It’s called “trunking.” Police say the practice was created by teenage drivers as a way to get around the new graduated license laws that ban new drivers from having other minors in the car. Rather than having their peers ride in the backseat, teen drivers are having their friends ride in the trunk. According to the National Transportation Council, the graduated license laws work in conjunction with the idea that restricting teenage passengers reduces … Continue reading →

Travel Gadget Product Review

I am a sucker for travel gadgets. (Truthfully, I am a sucker for any product that claims to make life easier.) It is dangerous for me to watch television late at night—a time when most channels air infomercials advertising the latest and greatest must-have items. I have gotten to the point where I don’t automatically grab the phone and start dialing (yes, I have made progress), but there was an item featured on TV the other night that I was convinced was worth a phone call. I ended up mustering enough willpower to avoid calling and instead headed to my … Continue reading →

When You Can Get Rid of Her Car Seat

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 18, according to Bob Lange, executive director of Structure and Safety Integration at General Motors Corporation. Too many adults underestimate the importance of car safety. This includes using a seatbelt for the older children and keeping the smaller ones on their booster seats instead of buckling them up with the car’s seatbelt. While infants and toddlers are placed in car seats 90% of the time, children between 4 and 7 are not properly and safely seated more than three quarters of the time. During an enormous … Continue reading →