8 Tips for Safe Driving

Learning to drive safely is about more than simply learning the basics. While maintaining control over the car and using good judgment are important, there are also a few tips you can use to drive as safely as possible. Protect yourself - and your car - by following these easy safe driving tips:

Obey the three second rule: Every driver should know and heed the three second rule: When the vehicle ahead of you passes a fixed object (such as a tree or telephone pole) slowly count "one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand." If you reach the object before completing the count, you're following too closely. Double your following distance (to six seconds) in poor weather.

Maintain appropriate speed: Speed, as such, doesn't kill. If it did, airliners traveling at 500 mph would have the highest accident/fatality rates of any form of transportation. But air travel is in fact much safer than driving -- and few cars travel at 500 mph. The problem is inappropriate speed. For example, while it may be perfectly legal to drive 65 mph on the highway, if you don't slow down when it's raining heavily (or snowing) and your visibility as well as your car's stopping ability are reduced -- you increase your chances of having an accident. Similarly, if you are driving an unfamiliar road, especially a country road with many blind curves, you may not be able to negotiate the road at the same speed a local might with equal safety. Use your judgment -- and adjust speed to match conditions and your comfort level.

Get all eight tips by reading the full article here: http://autos.aol.com/article/safe-driving-rules/

International Pedigree Stage Stop Dog Race Starts in Jackson

Just say “mush” and head down to the International Pedigree Stage Stop Dog Race kickoff at 5 pm next Friday, January 25th! The kickoff event will feature fireworks and a free musher party to celebrate the race. Don’t miss your chance to check out the largest dog sled race in the lower 48 states!

Video from the 2011 Dog Race

What Does Your Car Color Say About You?

After you look at engine specs and performance, what’s the most important part of picking a car? The color, of course! Your car color shows the world something about you - and can be quite revealing. Here’s a bit of color theory from Lifescript to help you understand what your car color could mean:

Since preferences largely seem to be unconscious, color selections have been studied for centuries as a way to better understand the human mind. When you were young, you most likely had a certain color game piece that you always chose. If it was blue or green, it may have felt foreign to get stuck with orange or yellow. Others in your life could have grown accustomed to your preferences too, knowing that you would pick certain color clothes or toys every time.

The same rules apply as you get older and your “toys” get bigger. When you head to the car lot in search of your favorite ride, you gravitate toward the color you like best; otherwise you don’t feel quite content. According to ForbesAuto.com, General Motors’ lead designer for exterior colors, Christopher Webb reported, “Thirty-nine percent of customers who walk into a dealership will leave and go to a totally different brand if they can’t get the color they want.” Knowing the incredibly important role that colors play in our lives, what does the color of your car reveal about you?

Wondering what your car color could mean? Here’s a simple chart that may reveal something about your personality:

Gold: Warm, Intelligent, Glamorous
Gray: Neutral, Sober, Practical
Dark Green: Well-Balanced, Trustworthy, Traditional
Light Green: Organic, No-Fuss, Understated
Dark Blue: Confident, Credible, Authoritative
Light-Mid Blue: Calm, Faithful, True
Brown: Powerful, Unique
Beige: Natural, Down-To-Earth
Black: Powerful, Classic, Elegant
White: Pure, Pristine, Direct
Silver: Futuristic, Prestigious, Elegant
Red: Sensual, Dynamic, Outgoing

Learn about what other colors could say about you and read the original article here: http://bit.ly/Kqr9EV

Make a New Year’s Car Resolution

This New Year, don’t just make resolutions for yourself and your family - make one for your car, too! It shuttles you around from place to place, so why not give it some love? In 2013, vow to take care of your car using simple, cost effective techniques.

By making certain tweaks and repairs on their own, consumers can increase their car’s longevity and end up spending less cash at the mechanic, says Rich White, the executive director of the Car Care Council, a nonprofit organization that educates consumers on how to maintain their cars. Think of it as preventative medicine for your sedan.

A visit to the mechanic once or twice a year is recommended (not unlike a visit to the doctor), since they can tackle problems like an oil change or headlight replacement, which can be more challenging at home, especially on newer luxury vehicles, White says.

Before you start on repairs, locate your owner’s manual, which comes with your care, and repair or service guide, which is sold at dealerships and parts stores. Leaf through it for guidance about the parts you might need or whether the manufacturer recommends that you leave a particular task to the dealer.

Get more information here: http://www.smartmoney.com/spend/autos/10-cheap-ways-to-care-for-your-car/