Drive Safely: Your Life Depends On It

At least 41,000 highway fatalities have been recorded in the United States every year since 1993. Deaths by car accident are usually caused by negligence, carelessness, and other factors such as drunk driving. Two famous people who met their untimely death by car accident include American Hollywood icon James Dean and Princess Diana.

Death on the road

James Dean was driving west on Highway 466 near Cholame, California when a 1950 Ford Tudor, driven from the opposite direction, attempted to take the fork onto the Highway 466 route (later called California State Route 46) and crossed into James Deans' lane without seeing the other car. The two cars collided head-on. Dean was taken rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

In 1997, Princess Diana died after a high speed car accident in the Pon d'Alma road tunnel in Paris along with Dodi Al-Fayed. The car they were riding on was trying to elude paparazzi. Their black Mercedes-Benz crashed into the thirteenth pillar of the tunnel. Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed died of injuries sustained during the terrible car accident.

If any good came out of these tragedies, it was that more people became aware of the dangers of irresponsible driving. The news of the deaths of James Dean and Princess Diana came as a warning to people who were reckless with their driving. It also served as a caution to those who were careful in the way they drive in the sense that they were educated that even the most careful of drivers can get into accidents because of irresponsible motorists.

TIPS TO PREVENT CAR ACCIDENTS

Even you are a careful driver there are circumstances beyond your control. However, taking precautionary measures is a big help to avoid car accidents. Here are these tips on driving more safely:

1. DON'T USE THE CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING- Haven't you heard from the news all because of this handy dandy gadget, you find yourself more than what you bargain for. Is that call that important? Can't it wait? Certainly, you are bound to be distracted. Its even more dangerous when you are using the expressway.
2. DO A CAR CHECK REGULARLY- As much as possible, any car requires regular maintenance. Check your brakes,tires, mirrors, lights and even the windshield wiper.
3. SCAN AHEAD- Fix your eyes and scan for car's up head.
4. BE CONSIDERATE- When you tend to slowed down, put your flashers on to alert drivers behind you when they see you slowing down.
5. DON'T ACT LIKE A RACE CAR DRIVER- If you act like “Mel Gibson” as the road warrior Mad Max chances are you're courting for disaster
6. KNOW YOUR CAR'S LIMITATIONS- Not all cars are exactly alike the minivan don't go so fast like an exotic sports car. There is a performance limits of every car. Know its capabilities.
7. KEEP YOUR CAR IN GOOD SHAPE- Have a maintenance schedule.
8. NIGHTTIME IS NOT BEST TIME- If you need to travel in a very long distance—nighttime is when you hazards usually happens. You are already in the state of mental and physical fatigue. Your line of vision might already decreased. Drive so carefully at this witching hour and keep your headlights on.

9. WHEN YOU DRINK DON'T DRIVE AND VICE VERSA- It is a big mortal sin if you do...being drunk while driving is like you're planning to have a date with “Death” so soon.
10. KEEP YOUR CAR NEAT AND TIDY- A messy car is another one way ticket to road accident. Why? If you leave some objects around and it slides or roll under your brake pedal, your attention was taken off the road and what happens next you lose control of the car.

Those tips might not be fool proof against road accidents but nevertheless, an once of prevention is better than none. A vehicle is one invention; man can't live without. But if its not use wisely then it might cause the one precious thing most people value here on earth and that is----LIFE!

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Donating Used Cars For A Cause

Modern technology has produced a surplus of goods which we find difficult to dispose of. While many of us are sensibly reaping the fruits of our contemporary development and affluence, it is not a bad idea to share some of our blessings to financially disadvantaged people.

What to donate?

There are hundreds of things to donate, as there are various ways to do it. As more and more people suffer from financial burden, increasing numbers of people are incapacitated to reach out to different places and are an impediment from the many opportunities waiting for them in the outside world.

Cars are considered to be one of our primary needs in this modern time. While more than 80% of most American adults own cars or at least renting their own cars, there are still some who cannot finance the purchase of their own automobiles.

This can isolate individuals and discriminate against them due to their financial situation. This is such a sad fact, yet, the good news is that you can do something to stop it or at least, be part of the cause in solving this part of this global dilemma.

Statistics

Just exactly how many individuals are getting into this humanitarian cause? From 1992 to present alone, institutions catering for car donations services have estimated to receive more than 35,000 cars a month within that period.

If you are planning to buy a new car and replace an existing one and have not come up with an idea where to put it, either selling it or rebuilding it, perhaps donating it to a charitable institution could solve your problem and potentially make a big difference in the lives of others.

How Can I donate my car?

Car donation centers usually offer services that including picking up the automobile you would like to donate (free of charge for most car charity institutions), prepare the title transfer requirements, and all legal documents related to the clearing of ownership of the car.

Most charitable donation centers who accept automobiles, provide a tax-deductible donation receipt to the donor in due consideration for donated cars.

Determining Eligibility for Car Assistance

Members of the board of charitable institutions choose among the list of applicants requesting a vehicle. Together, they determine the eligibility and proof of financial incapacity among applicants to purchase automobiles.

Preference will be awarded to individuals who have clear credit standing showing inability to purchase automobile machines. The car beneficiary will undergo the same legal process of transfer requirements to legitimately take its title of ownership.

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Donating An Automobile To Charity? Don’t Forget The Tax Deductions!

When donating an automobile to charity, you’ll want to think about tax deductions. According to Publication 4303, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state charity officials provide general guidelines for donations.

In the case than an individual is eligible to deduct charitable donations for federal income tax purposes, there are steps that must be taken. Only if the charity receiving the vehicle is a qualified organization, can this happen. Charitable, religious, and educational organizations usually qualify.

To verify a charity organization, simply call the account services division of the IRS and see if it has tax exemption status. If an organization is located at a church, synagogue, temple, or mosque, it is not required to apply for exemption.

Some charity only allows for limited tax deductions. Your tax deduction cannot exceed 50 percent of your adjusted gross income and other limitations may apply as well. You can research a specific type of charity contribution and learn how it will affect your taxes. Generally though, the largest amount of money you can deduct from your income tax return is simply the fair value of your automobile – whatever price a person would buy it for.

It is important to take care of the vehicle’s records, as they may be required to authenticate your donation. Furthermore, if you plan to deduct more than $250, you should ask for a written acknowledgment from the charity about the donation. The document should feature the name of the charity, a description of the automobile, a statement that clarifies that no goods or services, beyond religious guidance or instruction, were exchanged for the automobile.

You must obtain this written acknowledgment on or before the due date of your return; the same year you donated the vehicle. It can be a paper copy or a mere e-mail.

As for charities, they must be available for public inspection so as to secure their tax exemption status. As well, they must provide documents that show their annual returns.

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Don't Sweat It: Cooling System Maintenance is Easy

When AAA reports that millions of vehicles overheat each year, it's clear that people are apprehensive about cooling system maintenance.

Compounding the anxiety is the overwhelming number of coolant formulas and colors on store shelves today. It's no wonder that motorists simply don't know which antifreeze/coolant is right for their vehicles.

But now, drivers no longer need to worry; there is a product on the market that makes cooling system maintenance a breeze.

New Prestone All Makes All Models Extended Life Antifreeze/ Coolant can be used in all car and light-duty truck makes and models, domestic or foreign, and can be added to any antifreeze/coolant on the market today - regardless of color.

"Advancements in vehicle technology caused antifreeze manufacturers to concoct a variety of formulas to meet the needs of different cooling systems. As a result, the market became crowded, complex and confusing for motorists," said Kelley O'Donnell, Prestone product manager. "We wanted to end the confusion for motorists. Our new formula, when used as directed, can be added to any antifreeze/coolant in any vehicle with no adverse effects - a true benefit for consumers."

The Prestone All Makes All Models Extended Life Antifreeze/ Coolant is available in both full concentrate and premixed forms.

When using the concentrated formula to flush and fill a vehicle, motorists should consult the vehicle owner's manual to determine the specific maintenance and changeover intervals recommended for that vehicle.

In between these services, motorists should top off the system with a premixed formula, which features the precise mixture of antifreeze concentrate and de-mineralized water.

"Cooling system maintenance no longer has to be daunting," O'Donnell said. "Forget about colors. Forget about different formulas for different systems. Drivers simply need to remember that an all-encompassing product, like Prestone All Makes All Models Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant, can be used in any car or light-duty truck."

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Don't Let Potholes Puncture Spring Fun

Many of us eagerly await the arrival of spring every year. But once the spring showers wash away what's left of winter, often we are left dodging potholes on the roads.

Potholes form as pavement ages and weathers. The pavement eventually begins to lose its ability to resist water, and small cracks start to appear. As water works its way down into the cracks and expands as it freezes, it pushes up on the pavement. The weight of cars and trucks can break up this uneven pavement, creating a pothole.

Hitting a pothole can easily ruin your beautiful spring day, not to mention your tires or wheels. The sharp impact caused by hitting a pothole can cause immediate tire or wheel failure. Or, internal damage could eventually lead to tire failure weeks or months later. Despite the dangers of potholes, there are measures you can take:

* Start with proper tire inflation. Keeping your tires properly inflated will help reduce damage from potholes and other road hazards.

* Check the tread on your tires, because uneven wear can be a sign of misalignment. Hitting potholes can affect your vehicle's alignment. If you feel your car "pulling" to one side during driving, that's a sign that you could have a problem. Have your Firestone Complete Auto Care service professional make sure your wheels and tires are properly aligned and balanced.

* If you can't avoid hitting a pothole, do not brake during the impact. Instead, try to apply brakes before hitting and release them just prior to impact. Braking during the impact sets up the tire and wheel assembly for a "solid hit" against the edge of the hole. Severe damage can be better avoided when a tire is rolling, rather than skidding, over a hole during braking.

Just as you undertake spring cleaning to get your house in order, take advantage of the warmer weather to make sure your tires and vehicle are also in the best possible condition. Properly maintaining your tires includes proper rotation, inflation, repair and replacement.

Remember to check your tire pressure at least once a month and be sure to rotate your tires according to recommendations in your owner's manual. Following these simple maintenance tips can help you avoid the pitfalls of wet driving conditions or dreaded potholes.

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Don't Go Without A Car Warranty

When you are purchasing a car, whether it is used or new, there are many things to keep in mind. You have so many details to remember as you are becoming a car owner and taking on that new responsibility. Don't forget, however, to talk about getting a car warranty in the midst of your busyness.

Getting a car warranty is an absolute must when you are purchasing a car of any value to you. Basically, a car warranty means that you are covered if things go wrong with your vehicle. Be careful, however, because not all warranties are the same. They will cover different damages and they will last a different number of years or number of miles that you drive your car, so you must proceed with caution when you are choosing a car warranty.

Talk with the car salesman about all of your options for choosing the car warranty that is best for you. Be sure to check the details of exactly how long the car warranty will be effective and the specific damages that it will and will not cover for your vehicle. The worst thing you can do is to get stuck with a warranty that is not good for you or the needs of your vehicle.

You should also take the time to talk with family members or friends who recently have purchased vehicles. Talking with other car owners about the car warranty that they have chosen is a great way to get perspective from someone other than a car salesman. You need to take your time and become as informed as possible. After all, you are talking about protecting your car. Cars are expensive and replacing them is not easy, so use caution and come up with a plan that is great for you.

A car warranty is meant to offer you protection so that you know your car is taken care of know matter what happens to it once you start driving it. Regardless of how clean your driving record is, you can never be sure that you will be accident free in the years to come. There are just too many factors at stake to risk not having a car warranty, so make sure that you get one no matter what advice you receive.

Having a car warranty will give you the freedom to drive your new car with ease and to be confident that you have great insurance on it no matter what happens on the road or in a
parking lot.

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Don’t Crash The Car, Well Even If You Do The Car Will Save You

Have you been drinking and driving? Or perhaps chatting on your mobile while driving? If you are a little careless while you drive and are prone to having a bump here and there you are better off getting your hands on a new set of wheels with active safety technologies. Car manufacturers such as Mercedes are incorporating space age technology into their cars to save lives or rather save us from crashing our buggies when we are simply too careless with our own lives. This might sound science fiction to you but these are some of the technologies Mercedes’s latest S Class has:

Auto cruise control warns you if you are getting too close to the car in front and if you don’t react it applies brakes on its own to maintain a safe driving distance.

Traction control sense when you steer too sharply or lose traction in the wet and cuts engine power and limits the power individually to each wheel to bring you back on track.
Anti Lock Braking System, this has been around for quite some time now. ABS helps in achieving best possible braking performance, it prevent jamming of the wheel which results in skids and loss of vehicle control. The computer senses when the wheels are about to lock and releases the brakes momentarily and then applies them again.

Airbags, as many as 8 airbags protect you in the unlikely event of a crash. Airbags exist for all passengers and are inflated in milliseconds when the care ‘senses’ a crash. Airbags can protect the occupant even at 100mph crashes.

Space Age Safety Technology
Now this is the most impressive of them all, the Mercedes S Class sense when the car is going to meet with a crash using it 360 degree radar and braces for impact. It rolls up windows if they are down, inflates the seat cushions to protect occupants and lowers the steering to save the driver from chest injuries and lowers pedals to prevent foot injuries.

Now that’s some technology, all to save our lives when we loose control. Maybe if Diana was riding this S Class she would have been amongst us. So lets not crash it, for if you do the car will save you but repairing the high tech car will burn your pockets for technology doesn’t come cheap. The fully loaded Mercedes S500 with all the safety features retails at over $1,25,000!

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