driving

#71 WalletHub’s best, worst cities, states to drive in

WalletHub.com does studies, and it does them well. It makes sense because it’s a personal finance website that relies on facts and figures and number crunching for consumers. In the automotive field, WalletHub has a series of studies, the most recent on the 2019 Best & Worst Cities to Drive in. The numbers are revealing. WalletHub determined that congestion costs the average driver in the United States more than $1,400 per year. The U.S. is ranked 10th in the world in road quality in the recently released study. The Weekly Driver Podcast is produced in Sacramento, so co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia were particularly interested in how California ranks in different areas. Consider California’s numbers (1=Best; 25=Ave.): • 42nd

Read more

Opinion: Driving is a privilege; it’s not your right

Driving in the State of California is not a right; it is a privilege, revocable at any time. Operating a motor vehicle is not just an act. it is a way of life. Each of us has our own styles of driving; some bad, some good. Most of us obey laws as we interpret them. I for one interpret the basic speed law as; travel at a speed that is safe for current conditions. The Basic Speed Law in fact states: (CVC 22350)  “No person shall drive a motor vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and

Read more

56, Distracted driving now includes ‘Netflixiing’

Laura Adams knows as much as about distracted driving as anyone. But her knowledge isn’t from experiences as a driver or passenger. She’s as an analyst who studies statistics and is shocked at what the numbers reveal. Adams, based in Austin, Texas, works for DriversEd.com. The online driving school and driving safety resource headquartered in Oakland recently released the results of its inaugural initiative detailing drivers’ habits. Bruce Aldrich and James Raia interview Laura in the week’s episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving “Is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system.

Read more

Episode 46, Raleigh, Corpus Christi, best driving cities

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 87 percent of daily trips occur in personal vehicles. Reasons vary, but comfort and reliability are primary reasons, and they’re important. Drivers spend an average of 290 hours on the road per year. The statistics are also crucial to analysts at WalletHub.com, the personal finance website that uses data-driven journalism to create best and worst lists and various surveys. One recent article, using 29 key indicators of driver friendliness, is a list of the top 100 cities across the United States for driver friendliness. Raleigh, N.C., gets the top honor, followed by Corpus Christi, Texas and Orlando, Florida. Dubious honors were awarded to Oakland, California, San Francisco, California and Detroit, Michigan. In episode

Read more

Common sense tips to avoid driving and texting

Most drivers try to refrain from texting and driving, but it’s easy to yield to the temptation of an incoming text. While it may seem harmless to glance at your phone just long enough to scan a message, it’s not. Texting and driving statistics reveal reading one text message takes your eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds. That might not seem like a long time, but if you’re traveling 55 mph you can cover the length of a football field in 4.6 seconds. That’s a long distance to travel with your attention diverted. Texting and driving are not a good marriage.Since 18 percent of all fatal automobile accidents are caused by distracted driving, it’s a good idea to learn

Read more

Episode 28, Rats eating cars, winter driving, Genesis shines

If you live near a river and your vehicle is parked outside and near trees, there’s likely one more reason to be concerned about its welfare — rats. Owners of cars from several manufacturers are increasingly reporting that rodents are eating their vehicles from the inside out. Reports in several states by owners of Honda and Toyota vehicles, as well as other carmakers’ models, are claiming rats are devouring the wiring in their cars and causing major costly repairs.  The problem, owners claim, is that “green car” concerns have resulted in manufacturers using soy-based engine wiring and coverings. Several lawsuits have been filed, with Honda and Toyota stating the litigations have no merit. But several years ago, Honda introduced a

Read more

Report finds California needs tougher drunk driving safety laws

SPONSORED CONTENT A report published by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety revealed California’s traffic safety laws are leaving drivers and pedestrians vulnerable. Drunk driving was identified as a particular concern, though the state was praised for its laws surrounding seat belts and child seat safety. The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C.) rated the country’s 50 states based on their road safety. They explored which states had adopted the recommended regulations designed to tackle the biggest risks to traffic safety. One key process that has been created to combat drunk driving is an ignition interlock device: this locks the car ignitions of any convicted drink-drivers, and only provides access once the

Read more

Distracted driving can lead to death from behind the wheel

It’s likely you’ve seen or heard the disturbing commercials and public service announcements about the dangers of texting while driving. The messages are broadcast often on television, radio and the internet. But the marketing campaign hasn’t been effective. The Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC) marketed that British Columbia created a new awareness campaign specifically targeting young drivers. The reason? Texting is anticipated to become “the chief cause of death behind the wheel for teens.” Teenage drivers generally lack experience to handle tricky weather. They also may lack the defensive driving skills needed to avoid a crash, and they’re at an age where experimenting with drugs and alcohol is more prevalent. But teenage drivers’ addiction to technology may be their greatest threat.

Read more

Distracted Driving – Facts, Danger, Risks

My daughter recently told me I was impatient. I had honked my car horn at the driver of the car ahead of me who didn’t seem to notice the red light where he was stopped had turned to green. I had waited the requisite five seconds after the light changed before I honked. What I pointed out to my daughter — the reason I honked — is that the driver needed to be shaken from his focus on their text, email or other distraction. Many parenting experts say the way to get through to kids about drugs, drinking, issues like safe driving, is to talk, to talk often, to provide concrete and real-life examples, and to model the behavior we

Read more

Winter Driving Safety Tips, Part 4: On The Road

With the arrival and dominance of inclement weather is your vehicle prepared for the season of winter driving conditions? Are you following the best winter driving safety tips? Planning and continuing preventative and ongoing maintenance are the best solutions to keep your car or truck safe in heavy rain, snow and icy condition, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here’s the fourth of a four-part series on Winter Driving Safety Tips: Stay Alert • Keep your gas tank close to full, even with a hybrid-electric vehicle. If you get stuck in a traffic jam or snow, you might need more fuel than you anticipated to get home or to keep warm. • If road conditions are hazardous,

Read more

Winter Driving Safety Tips, Part 3: Safety First

Are you following the best winter driving safety tips? With the arrival and dominance of inclement weather is your vehicle prepared for the season of winter driving conditions? Planning and continuing preventative and ongoing maintenance are the best solutions to keep your car or truck safe in heavy rain, snow and icy conditions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here’s part 3 of a four-part series on winter driving safety tips: Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones • Always wear your seatbelt and ensure every on else in your vehicle is buckled-up in age-and-size-appropriate restraints. • Remember that all children underage13 should always ride properly restrained in the back seat. • Make sure car seats and booster

Read more

Winter Driving Safety Tips, Part 2: Safety Checklist

Planning and continuing preventative and ongoing maintenance are integral components of following the best winter driving safety tips. It’s the best solution for keeping your car or truck safe in severe rain. It’s the best solution for keeping your car or truck safe in heavy rain, snow and icy condition, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here’s part 2 of a four-part series on winter driving safety tips: Battery When the temperature drops, so does battery power. For gasoline and diesel engines, it takes more battery power to start your vehicle in cold weather. For electric and hybrid-electric vehicles, the driving range is reduced when the battery is cold, and battery systems work better after they warm

Read more

Winter Driving Safety Tips, Part 1: Car Service

With the arrival and dominance of inclement weather is your vehicle prepared for the season of winter driving conditions? Are you following the best winter driving safety tips? Planning and continuing preventative and ongoing maintenance are the best solutions to keep your car or truck safe in severe rain, snow, and icy conditions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here’s part 1 of a four-part series of winter driving safety tips: Get Your Car Serviced No one wants their car to break down in any season, but especially not in cold, icy or snowy winter weather. Start the season off right by ensuring your vehicle is in optimal condition. • Visit your mechanic for a tune-up and

Read more

Pokemon Go madness: Baltimore driver, player hits police car

How obsessive compulsive has the mobile reality game Pokemon Go become? One answer involves the extreme good fortune of a young man in Maryland. While playing the game on his smartphone while driving, the man crashed his vehicle into a parked police car. The driver’s sport utility and the police officer’s car suffered extensive damage, but the driver of the car emerged without injuries. According to a report on CBS San Francisco, A Baltimore Police Department officer was talking to two colleagues next to his parked patrol car following a service call around 3:30 a.m. on July 19. The driver of the SUV suddenly slammed into the officer’s car, with the crash filmed by the officer’s body worn camera. The

Read more

Worst driving city in the United States? Washington, D.C.

Like all major metropolitan areas, Washington, D.C., has its strengths and weaknesses. One dubious distinction is its designation as the worst city in the United States for driving. That’s the assessment of the personal-finance website WalletHub.com In its new study, which tabulates 21 metrics — average gas prices to delayed traffic time to auto shop repairs per capita — Washington, D.C., is the worst city among the country’s top -100 most populated cities for driving. Conversely, Scottsdale, Ariz., is the country’s best metropolitan area for driving. Arizona has five of top-10 best driving cities. Scottsdale is followed by Tuscon (2), Gilbert (4), Mesa (5) and Chandler (6). Corpus Christi, Texas, ranks third in the study, followed by Loredo, Texas, (8),

Read more

Top-10 tips for safe winter driving

E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download (610.1KB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWinter driving means different potential problems to different drivers in different parts of the country. But many commonsense practices remain universal, whether you’re driving in the snow in the Sierra Nevada or in strong winds and torrential rain in Florida. Most importantly, if you drive in winter weather, make sure to use your vehicle’s headlights — even during daylight hours. During bright day days, precipitation can add to the difficulty of seeing other vehicles on the road. It also means other drivers will have difficulty viewing your car or truck. During these situations, using headlights helps drivers see other vehicles. Be careful about using your high

Read more
Previous Next