Driving Mistakes to Avoid

Drivers are not created equally, or perfect. Some drivers are too aggressive on the road, while others are too conservative. Regardless whether a driver is good or bad, mistakes can happen. Here are some driving mistakes you should avoid.

Side Mirrors - When you are positioning the side mirrors, you need to be able to see more of the road than your vehicle. When you place the mirrors a little more outwards, you don't lose visibility as to what's behind you, you gain visibility to what is beside your vehicle.

Passing lanes - Slower traffic usually stays to the right lanes. If you are driving slow in the passing lane, it can create traffic jams and causes more bad driving behaviour. Driving slow in the passing lane can have negative effects on emergency responses, aggressive driving and effects on traffic.

Signaling – Whether a signal is not used when turning or changing lanes or a signal is forgotten on and keeps blinking, it is a dangerous driving hazard. Signals are your only way of communication with over vehicles and is vital for safety on the road. Bicyclists and pedestrians included.

Cell Phones - No matter how confident you are in your ability to drive and text, you should NOT do it. Looking away at the road for even 1 second can have serious repercussions. The person in front of you could have hit their brakes, and if you weren't looking you would rear end them. It only takes 1 second!

#DriveSafe!

10 Tips to Treat and Prevent Windshield Vandalism

Vandalism is often dismissed as a victimless anti-establishment crime, with most people associating the act with spray-painted government buildings or toilet-paper bombing trees, but many innocent car owners will tell you that the reality is quite different.
 
Outside of the home, the car is typically one of two major investments made in a person's life, and it is unfortunately one of the most popular targets for vandals. Whether caused by gang violence or bored youth culture, thousands of side view mirrors and windshields are victimized each year by vandals. Read on for 10 tips to help you treat and prevent windshield vandalism in the future.
 

What do I do now that my car has been vandalized?

• Contact your local police department and report the damage immediately with a vandalism report.
• Contact your insurer for consultation on any property losses, or to repair any additional damage suffered during the attack. You may also seek reimbursement if you have comprehensive coverage.
  
• If any goods have been stolen, take appropriate preventative action. Cancel all credit cards, change locks on your home, or contact your cell phone service provider if any of these items have been taken.
• Contact Speers Auto Glass to schedule your repair. Speers are available for service 24/7, with mobile repair options offered, and the ability to pay up to 100% of your deductible.

How can I prevent vandalism or mitigate damages in the future?

• Make copies of all of your important information, credit cards, and passports, and do not store these items in your car for any reason.
• Park in well-lit areas. Ideally, the area will also have high traffic to deter any illicit activities. 
• Lock your car doors at all times when exiting the vehicle.
• Park in a garage whenever possible.
• Install a car alarm, or get a hold of some security stickers as a deterrent. 
• Do not leave your car unattended for more than a day, especially in the winter where inactivity is visible due to snow accumulation.
  

Winter Driving Tips

When it comes to winter driving conditions can become extremely dangerous. During heavy snowfall visibility may be limited and can cause the roads to become slippery. Freezing rain can also cause treacherous road conditions creating icy roads. It’s very important that you take the proper precautions while driving during the winter months.  

If you are going to be driving during the winter months it is crucial that your vehicle has winter tires. Snow tires give your car extra traction during the winter and provide better grip on the road, keeping you and your passengers safe. 

Before heading out ensure the snow on your vehicle is cleaned off. This includes clearing off your roof, lights, windows, mirrors, hood, and windshield (front and rear). This allows you to see clearly out of your vehicle while driving and prevents snow from falling off of your car and causing visibility issues. 

Check the road conditions before you leave! If there are slippery or icy road conditions reschedule your trip. 

You should have a winter safety kit in the car. This kit should include a small shovel, flashlight, matches, candle, blankets, winter boots, and food. If for some reason you do become stranded ensure that you and your passengers stay inside the vehicle. This helps to keep everyone safe. With snowstorms and poor visibility an oncoming car may not see your vehicle or you exiting it. You may also not see a car coming due to weather conditions, so it’s best to remain inside the vehicle. 

Keep these tips in mind and drive safely!

8 Simple Gas-Saving Tips

Though it has been criticized by environmental interests, Canada's recent oil sands development offers promising implications for global oil prices. Still, until that market is fully fleshed out with functional pipelines and transportation, gas prices are just as volatile as the politically unstable fields that the fuel is harvested from. Read on for eight easy tips to save you money by maximizing your fuel efficiency. 

• Shy away from high-speed driving. The faster you drive, the more aerodynamic drag your car has to contend with. An extra 20km/h increases fuel consumption by about 15%.

• Keep your lead foot in check.Try to anticipate the ebb and flow of traffic so that you can limit yourself to steady acceleration and braking. This can increase fuel economy significantly.

• Stay on top of your tire inflation. Every time your tire PSI falls 2 notches below the recommended level, you lose about 1% of fuel efficiency.

• Don't overwork your air-conditioner. A/C subjects your engine to extra stress, causing a significant increase in fuel consumption. The same is true for the defroster setting. 

• Keep your windows shut! An open window equates to an increase in drag, which makes your gas less efficient on gas.

• Stay on top of vehicular maintenance. Poor fuel economy is commonly associated with soiled air filters, worn-out spark plugs, and sub-optimal fluid levels.

• Control your cruising speed. The cruise control option eliminates the constant revving and braking that occurs when drivers try to manually manage acceleration. Keeping fixed at a constant speed increases your gas efficiency over time.

• Lighten the load. Some recommend loading your car's rear end with weight for extra traction during the winter, but be warned that this burdens your engine and decreases fuel efficiency. Clear out any unnecessary items when possible.

Safe Winter Driving Advice

Much of the motivation for Speers Auto Glass' commitment to quality windshield repair comes from their respect for safety. As we enter into the heavy winter months, safety on the road becomes even more of a priority. Beyond the improved visibility and protection from the elements that a well-repaired windshield can provide, there are some active technical tips that can help ensure safe winter driving. Read on for some important driving tips to help keep you safe through the storms this year. 

• Know when to stay home. The first and most important piece of advice to keep you safe this winter is to not be afraid to stay off the roads. Braving dangerous road conditions should not happen unless absolutely necessary. If you must venture out in poor conditions, at least delay your trip to give sanding and salting crews the opportunity to cover major road ways. 

• See and be seen. Visibility is key. Make sure your windshield is in good condition, with no obstructive cracks. Replace your windshield wipers – most people are due anyway. Consider a water-shedding solution like Rain-X to help you cut through storms. Give the inside of your windshield a thorough wash. Always be sure your headlights and brake lights are clear of snow, and use them all day long to promote visibility. 

• Learn to correct a skid. For front-tire skids, you simply need to take your foot off the gas, keep your hands in place, and give the car an opportunity to decelerate. 

What to Include in your Winter Roadside Kit

It can be quite hard trying to find someone in a Canadian community that has never had the misfortune of being stuck in snow. Whether they blundered into a ditch or were buried overnight, there are countless stories about chilling roadside waits for help to arrive. Because unpredictable winter weather conditions can victimize anyone, it is important to carry a roadside kit in every vehicle you own. Assembling one of these kits is a small investment that can literally be the difference between life or death in the event of an accident. Furthering this month's theme of winter safety tips, we present to you a simple guide to help you assemble a functional roadside kit.  

• First aid first. The most important piece of your roadside arsenal is the fist aid kit. A few bandaids won't do. Include bandages, tweezers, scissors, sanitary latex gloves, tape, medications, rubbing alcohol, and antiseptic solutions. 

• Tools. You may need to tackle impromptu roadside repairs. Don't forget a screwdriver, wrench, hammer, jack, jumper cables, vice grip, or folding knife. Of course, in the winter this list will also include an ice scraper and shovel. 

• Warming items. Long waits can be very dangerous at roadside without a good collection of blankets, gloves, socks, and hats in your vehicle. You may also consider chemical hand-warmers and mylar blankets.  

• Flashlight. You will need to see, whether you are doing a roadside medical treatment, repair, or just a bit of reading to pass the time. Bring multiple flashlights and back-up batteries. 

• Stay seen. Pack small fluorescent cones and flares to alert drivers of your condition, and to keep them from colliding with you. 

• Food. Non-perishable items only. Protein bars, granola bars, beef-jerky, and dried fruits are recommended. 

• Find an appropriate duffel bag. Keep everything together in one kit so that items aren't rolling under car seats, costing you searching time in an emergency situation. Find a big and rugged duffel bag that can hold all of your items. 

Affordable Hybrids For 2015

Toyota Prius – Often known as the original hybrid the Prius is Toyota's flagship hybrid, and is still the champion. It has great fuel economy – 4.6/4.9 litres in the City/Hwy for 100km. It has a 1.8 Liter four cylinder engine with twin electric motors that give the vehicle 134HP. The Prius starts at $26,155 for the standard package. 

Honda CR-Z – This is a unique vehicle not only because its a two-seater hybrid coupe, but because it also comes in a manual transmission model. It is positioned as a hybrid sports car. It has 130HP combined engine and electric motor and Honda's Eco Assist System to help maximize fuel efficiency. The CR-Z starts at $20,145 for the automatic and $21,990 for the Manual EX trim.

Kia Optima – This hybrid is a good looking four door sedan. The interior is comfortable and seats have heat and cooling modes – in the back as well. Equipped with Blind Spot Detection System and rear parking sensors the base model comes in at$30,095.

Volkswagen Jetta – Volkswagen is trying to bridge the gap between battery powered driving and customers expectations. The 1.4 liter, four cylinder engine in the Jetta produces 170 HP. Upgraded look on the outside as well as more interior options such as ambient lighting and new fabrics. The list for electronic drivers aids including blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, front collision warning, parking distance warnings are all optional as well. The base model starts from $28,490.