Some Car Accidents Are Stranger Than Fiction

Let’s be honest: we, the American people, love to drive. How can we not? Although accidents happen, driving is a major part of our culture, and the automobile is a symbol of many things we value in America.

When accidents do happen, they’re not fun. At the same time, sometimes they’re downright strange. What do we mean when we say strange? Well...

·       A bull found in a garage in New York rammed a woman’s car when she honked at the animal, and also chased the vehicle down the street as it sped away.

 

·       A truck driver managed to accidentally ignite his cab while driving and cooking.

·       A woman once got her vehicle stuck on a stairwell after mistaking a subway entrance for a parking garage.

Want to read about other bizarre accidents or get more information on the three we mentioned? Click here to read the original article on the DMV’s website.

An Infographic: The 10 Greatest Road Trip Destinations & Money Saving Tips

Summer’s almost here, and as the sun begins to shine and we start to come up with ideas for what to do during weekends or vacations, the road is beginning to call to us.

A good road trip can be a truly wonderful and relaxing escape from our daily routine. But after the excitement of a possible road trip comes the questions: where in the world should I go during my road trip? And what sort of budget should I prepare?

No idea where to start and how to begin planning your amazing summer roadtrip? Have no fear, fellow drivers: use this handy infographic to see some of the most popular road trip destinations. It even has a formula to help you calculate how much money you’ll need for that great trip you’re planning! Click here to view a larger image if you need to.

5 Bizarre Traffic and Driving Laws

 

When we’re on the road, we don’t tend to question the laws that we must follow. We stop at red lights and stop signs, we don’t turn right when signs tell us not too, and we obey the speed limits set by the state and counties we’re driving in, just to name a few basics.

But there are some rules out there that make drivers scratch their head. Every state has a few silly driving laws passed for one reason or another, many of which have been highlighted in Internet chain e-mails, memes and articles.

For example, did you know:

·   Arkansas authorities have deemed it illegal to blare a car horn where ice cold beverages or sandwiches are served after 9 p.m.

·   It’s a written law that you cannot drive a car with a gorilla in the backseat in Massachusetts.

·   You cannot transport dead poultry along Kansas Avenue in Topeka, Kansas.

·   Close your doors quickly in Oregon: you can be ticketed for speeding and for leaving your car door open longer than is deemed necessary.

·   It is illegal to plant rutabagas in the roadways in Chico, California.

Click here to read more head-scratching driving laws!

Seven Summertime Auto Myths Debunked

With summertime just around the corner, many drivers are probably ready to get in gear (no pun intended) and hit the road. Roadtrips and weekend getaways are both popular things to do in our freetime.

Of course, both require keeping your car in working order, and doing this can be tricky because of the number of myths that seem to float around year after year about summer car care. To help know what advice is sound and which to ignore, we recommend checking out this blog post from Popularmechanics.com, which dives into the most common summer car care myths:

Seven Summertime Auto Myths Debunked

The added heat of summer driving places a strain on your car's cooling and electrical systems. Batteries don't live as long in high underhood temps, and the extra heat and pressure places a strain on hoses and belts. High speeds and hot pavement are also tough on tires and brakes. These are all good reasons to give your vehicle a good checkup before leaving on that vacation road trip, starting with checking the tire pressures and all the fluids. But are there good ways to prevent overheating (not you—the car)? Do you really need antifreeze in your radiator all summer? Should you use heavier oil? There are plenty of old wives' tales, advice from distant relatives and just plain weird stuff you read on the Internet that confuse drivers. Here are some real facts about summertime and your car.

Learn how to care for your car properly this summer by reading the full Seven Summertime Auto Myths Debunked article on Popularmechanics.com.

Regular vs. Premium Gas

 

What’s the difference between regular and premium gas? And which one should I use?

The difference between regular and premium gas is the octane level. Regular gas has an octane rating that is usually around 87, midgrade gas is usually around 89, and premium is usually somewhere around 91. The octane level determines how quickly a fuel burns. If a fuel has a higher octane level, it will burn slower because it has a higher compression level and is less likely to combust without the ignition of the spark plug. When fuel combusts before it is ignited by the spark plug, this means that not all the fuel in an engine will burn and it will most likely leave debris and gunk in the engine.

If you’re unsure what your car should take, check the owner’s manual. While a higher-octane fuel is a better quality fuel, not every car needs that. Premium gasoline is made for better quality engines and will only be wasting the money of the person who uses it when they should be using regular. In the same matter, if your car needs premium, putting regular gasoline in it will most likely lead it to “knock” which is the term used for an engines early combustion.

How To Survive A Car Crash

We’ll be the first to admit it, driving can be dangerous. And yet, at the same time driving can be safe! If you’re taking the correct precautionary measures, like those mentioned in this article, How to Avoid a Car Accident, safely driving a car can be a sinch! Unfortunately, however, somtiems accidents are unavoidable and it is no longer a question of how to avoid an accident, but rather how to safely get through one!

This graph provides some quick tips on how to survive an accident! So keep your head back and your eyes focused and took a look at this!

Rev Up Your Engines!

What is the difference between a 4 and 6 cylinder engine and what are the benefits of each?

A car has an engine which converts fuel into a forward motion. In a 4-cylinder engine, a car has 4 pistons that rise and fall which, through a series of events, ultimately drives the car forward. A 6-cylinder engine has 6 of these pistons that rise and fall. In the most simple terms, the more pistons a car has, the more powerful the car is. A 6-cylinder engine, which is usually found in larger cars, small SUV’s and small trucks, is, in theory, 50% more powerful than a 4-cylinder engine. And an 8-cylinder engine, which is usually found in standard trucks and SUV’s, is, in theory, 100% more powerful than a 4-cylinder engine (We will come back to the “in theory” part after the explanation of the benefits).

The benefit of a 4-cylinder engine is that it is normally less expensive, lighter and will get better gas mileage. However, if you’re going to be going on long commutes, up a lot of hills, or want a car that has a bit more pick-up when the gas is pressed, you want an engine that is stronger than a 4-cylinder, ie. the 6-cylinder. Going back to the equation of more cylinders = more power, if you’re going to be hauling a lot of heavy things all the time, you’re going to want to buy something with 8-cylinders, like a standard truck or SUV.

Now, to touch on the “in theory” aspect. The reason why a 6-cylinder engine is “in theory” 50% more powerful than a 4-cylinder engine, and an 8-cylinder engine is “in theory” 100% more powerful is because of the advancement of technology. The advancement of technology has lead us to 4-cylinder engines that are far more powerful than they used to be, as well as 8-cylinder engines that are way more gas efficient. An 8-cylinder engine of a 2013 SUV may have better gas mileage than a 4-cylinder engine of the 1980’s, and a 6-cylinder engine of the 1980’s may be less powerful than a 4-cylinder engine of 2013.