Archive for the ‘Auto’ Category
Employ Old-Fashioned Safe-Driving Practices Even In a New-Fashioned World
Today’s cars incorporate a range of active safety features that work together to help drivers avoid collisions and other traffic accidents. These may include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear-cross traffic alert and a host of other advanced safety systems. As such, many drivers assume a false sense of security. However, all drivers still need to employ safe-driving practices that are emphasized extensively in driver’s training courses As follows are essential minimal driver-safety suggestions for operators of both old and new cars.
Prep Your Car
Make certain your car is mechanically ready for the road. In particular, ensure the brakes are in good condition, and the tires are not worn irregularly or unevenly. Check front end alignment Fort Worth TX so that your car tracks straight and handles safely.
Buckle Up
Attach your seat belt properly before you head out. Since seat-belt use has been shown to reduce the number of serious crash deaths and injuries by 50%, nothing is more essential than taking this step; make certain your passengers are strapped in as well.
Prep Your Cockpit
Adjust your seat and steering wheels so that you are in a comfortable position and can reach the pedals easily. At the same time move as far back from your airbag as you can, since older ones can open with extreme force. Position your mirrors just past where you see the back of your car – most people angle them in too close, which does not provide sufficient view of the lanes next to you.
On the Road
Once underway, concentrate only on your driving. Look in your mirror and over your shoulder when changing lanes, and signal first. When merging onto the freeway, anticipate the speed of traffic and speed up or slow down to fit in. Drive at the speed limit, and reduce speed when approaching an intersection with a yellow light.
It pays to refresh your driving practices. You can download a driver’s manual for any state, so that when you hit the road you will arrive safely at your destination.
Tips for Planning Special Occasion Transportation
When you’re planning a trip or outing, there are many ways to get to your destination. Often, the journey to the destination can be just as enjoyable – especially if you book the right mode of transportation. Here are some tips on finding the right type of transit for your needs. From practical to extravagant, there’s a benefit to each kind.
Travel by Land
If you’re visiting a smaller outskirt of a major metropolitan area and want to explore the city without renting a car, consider trains and shuttles. For example, if you’re in Texas, you can book a Galveston to Houston shuttle to get some time off the island and see what else the area has to offer. You won’t have to fight traffic yourself – so kick back and relax on your way into the city. This is also a great choice for groups, as you can all travel together without the worry of being split up on the road.
Travel by Air
Have you ever considered a hot air balloon ride? This is a unique and fun experience – and the journey actually becomes the destination. You can see the land from a bird’s-eye view, making for a very special occasion. Some cities even have hot air balloon festivals and races. You could attend one of these events to see if this is an experience that fits your style.
Travel by Water
Most areas with a lot of water offer water taxis. These can be a simple point-to-point mode of transportation, or they can provide a city tour and sightseeing. Either way, water taxis are a helpful and fun way to navigate areas with water attractions.
Planning any special occasion or trip requires some logistical detail. While you’re creating your itinerary and plans, don’t forget to book your transportation choices. These tips can help make your event or vacation go as smoothly as possible.
Three Ways to Lower Your Auto Expenses
In most parts of the country, people use cars to get around. If you’re like many others, your automobile is one of your most expensive possessions. The average price of a passenger vehicle last year was over $35,000. Fuel expenses, insurance premiums and routine maintenance contribute to the cost of ownership. Consider these three simple ways to lower your auto expenses.
Saving on Gas
Gas prices fluctuate regularly, but you can reduce fuel expenses with small changes. Rapid acceleration decreases the efficiency of your car. Driving moderately under the speed limit may lower fuel consumption up to 30%. While you should look for the most affordable gas, it doesn’t make sense to drive across town just for cheap fuel. Also, consider taking the most efficient routes when commuting. These small changes can yield significant savings.
Review Your Insurance
Shopping for better insurance rates is a great way to save money. The insurance market is very competitive, so you should review your coverage annually and look for better rates. Check your policy to ensure that you’re getting every available discount. Also, make sure that your car is not over insured. Depending on your automobile’s condition, you may have too much insurance coverage. Increasing your deductible also lowers your premium. Talk to a provider of auto insurance in Glendale AZ to find reasonable ways to decrease your insurance costs.
Sensible Car Maintenance
While routine maintenance can save you from costly repairs over a vehicle’s lifetime, be sure not to over maintain your car. Most vehicles can go without an oil change for longer distances and time periods than what was commonly recommended. If you’re able, consider doing simple repairs yourself. Additionally, you should shop around for a reputable, independent mechanic who won’t recommend unnecessary repairs.
Vehicles are generally expensive to buy or lease. The price of ownership increases further given the costs associated with fuel, insurance and maintenance. Making small changes in each of these aspects can result in substantial savings.
2 Most Common Garage Door Problems
Garage door openers make our lives easier. Instead of having to stop, exit the vehicle, open the garage door, get back in, and then drive forward, a garage door opener eliminates many of those tedious steps. However, sometimes that technology doesn’t work correctly. Here are a few common garage door problems that you may encounter.
Safety Features
Garage door openers come with many safety features to prevent accidents. Triggering these safety features may be a reason that the door does not open or close correctly.
Door Won’t Open
You should first check the battery on your garage door remote. If a new battery doesn’t help, then the signal to the remote may have become corrupted. To fix this, you will need to pair the remote opener with the base. Most of the time, this is as easy as pressing the button on the back of the garage mounted systems and then clicking the remote. However, you should check your manual for the proper way re-connect them. You may also want to check the springs that raise and lower the door and the track of the door to ensure they are in good working order as well. A reputable garage door sales Denton TX will be able to assist with problems.
Door Won’t Close
The most common reason for the door not closing is that the eyes are out of alignment or there is something blocking the beam. Whenever the path of the beam is broken, the garage door will not close. The eyes at the base of the door often have lights that indicate whether the beam is connected or broken. If aligning the eyes or removing an object in the path does not work, you may need additional help. It might be possible that the motor in the main ceiling-mounted base has gone bad.
Fortunately, garage doors openers have a manual release that allows the garage door to open and close if the electricity should go out or in the event of other malfunctions. You can use this until you figure out what’s troubling the system.
Does Your Ride Affect Your Child Support?
Going through a custody battle can be brutal. You may place your emphasis on the time you spend with your children while the other parent only seems concerned about the money. You have avoided going to court as long as possible because you are afraid that a judge may find ways to make you continue paying more. What factors affect the calculation of child support in Florida? Do your material possessions, like your car, have any bearing on how much you pay?
Basic Child Support Calculation Factors
Before proceeding, you may want to understand what goes into the state calculation of child support. A custody lawyer in hernando county, fl could give you some more specifics, but if you want a general idea, two things start the process. The first is the number of children you share in common with the other party. The second is the combined income of both parents. Once you calculate these, a basic monthly amount is generated. This amount is the total amount the state believes it takes to care for the children in a month.
Splitting the Difference
At the point the monthly basic support is calculated, you may start figuring out the split. Unless you and the other parent make the same amount, it is likely the court will not divide the amount in half. Instead, it will be a percentage based on the individual’s income. If you make 10% more than the other parent, the court gives you 10% more of the obligation.
Other Factors
Money is the basis, but other factors are used to create a more fair split of child support. Things like the number of overnights spent with the children, which parent pays the insurance premium and daycare expenses will get factored in. Remember, if you make 10% more in income, you will pay 10% more of everything.
Your personal expenses may only get factored in if you need to go to court. If you are worried about how the calculations will turn out, speak to a professional who can better assist you.