Archive for the ‘Car Safety’ Category

With Christmas only a few days away, many people in Omaha and Lincoln will be hitting the roads to head to Grandma’s house to celebrate the holidays. While this chilly time of the year brings to mind images of Christmas trees, hot chocolate and all things cozy and warm, driving during this winter season can be not only a nuisance but dangerous as well. To get you safe to Grandma’s house this year, here are some tips from Performance Auto:

• Do a double check of your car before leaving: If you’re going on a road trip, make sure your headlights are working and tires are properly inflated. Don’t forget to have your battery tested too. You don’t want to be stranded in cold weather with a dead car battery.
• Don’t drive with a dirty windshield: Dirt and salt buildup on your windshield can impair your vision and could lead to an accident. Clean your windshield before you leave home and replace old windshield wipers. Don’t forget to keep an ice scraper in your car too. Lastly, make sure you windshield washer fluid is topped off.
• Check road conditions prior to leaving: Check out the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s road closures and detours prior to leaving. If there are any changes to your route you can plan them out now before you leave rather than navigating unfamiliar roads.
• Don’t tailgate: Tailgating often leads to accidents, especially during winter. The rule of thumb is to leave one car length for every 10 mph you’re driving. It will take you longer to slow down the car in icy or snowy weather conditions, so stay far enough behind to avoid getting into a fender-bender.
• Store a winter travel safety kit in the car: Just in case you would get into an accident or have winter weather delay your arrival, keep some basics in the car with you. Include some water, snacks, first aid kit, flashlight, blanket, extra clothes, hats and mittens in the back seat because you never know when you might need it.
• Last but not least, take your time when driving in Nebraska. Lots of different weather can cause a delay in driving. Slow down on the roads during times of ice, snow, rain, wind and hail. While you’re anxious to get to your destination, take your time so you get there safely.

Remember also, if the weather gets worse while you’re driving and you think it’s too bad to continue driving, find a safe spot to pull over and wait awhile. Don’t feel bad if you make the smart decision to stay home when weather conditions are bad. You’d rather be tardy to the party and arrive in one piece then end up in an accident.

For information on how to avoid winter weather driving dangers check out about driving in ice and snow.

The Performance Auto Group wishes you a safe and happy holiday season!

The warm summer months bring flocks of students out of the classroom and into a three-month social paradise. This means more young adults will be connecting with the vast array of digital devices that seem to be advancing exponentially. People never seem to take a break from social engagement via cell phone, PDA, computer, etc., which means it’s usually happening 24/7 – even behind the wheel. Other distractions, such as passengers and music, can make it even more difficult for a teen driver to remained focus on the road.

Performance Auto Group sells and services thousands of cars every year, making distracted driving an important issue for the organization. Our care for customers goes beyond the selling process and onto the road with each driver and family. This is why Performance Auto Group is an ally and advocate for groups like C.A.R., which spread the messages and dangers of distracted driving.

A recent study conducted by Liberty Mutual Insurance and S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions) takes a look into the driving habits of teens, and reveals a high number of “near misses” that these drivers admit they’ve experienced while behind the wheel.  The survey results aren’t only relevant to parents, but to everyone who could potentially be affected, including fellow drivers, bikers and pedestrians.

Over 2,000 teens were surveyed, and an astonishing 92% considered themselves to be “safe drivers” – we would all like to think we are, right? It would feel less than dignified to get behind the wheel everyday in a machine that could cause serious damage, knowing that you are not the most responsible driver. Nonetheless, most of those surveyed believe themselves to be up-to-par.

68% of the 2,294 high school students claimed to have had a “near miss” while driving, with over half of those drivers reporting a near miss on more than one occasion. After asking what caused the situation:

• 34% of the teens attributed the blame to other drivers
• 21% blamed the weather

While other drivers or poor weather may have very well been the case, the details of their activity moments before the “near-miss” reveal a great deal about other possible causes.  Texting, talking to friends in the car, talking on the phone and fiddling with music were the most common activities these drivers were partaking in, with speeding only accounting for a small fraction of the teens’ excuses.

For a more in-depth break down of statistics and to view the full report, you can see it here.

Young adults are clearly social beings, especially in this age where it’s cool to tweet, check-in, “Digg” and update the world on every action you take in a given day. Obviously this activity can endanger the lives of others as well as the driver when done behind the wheel, but the really astonishing thing is that most teens truly believe they’re good drivers, when evidence clearly points to the contrary.

Most teens are reluctant to take responsibility for chores, let alone a near-miss car accident. Thus, they have their own ideas about who or what is at fault for crashes that could-have-been – but what is really to blame when everyone is seen doing it, even parents? No matter your opinion, it’s an important and prevalent issue to be mindful of, especially if you have teen drivers.  Summer  is the deadliest time of year for teenage drivers, according to AAA, since summer months contain seven of the 10 most deadly days of the year for teenage driving. Those seven days occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Luckily there are hundreds of organizations stepping up against distracted driving, like S.A.D.D. and more locally, C.A.R., and there are even programs aimed at preventing teen driver fatalities, such as Ford’s Driving Skills for Life program. Click the links to learn more and to get involved.

This time of year brings the lovely sights of flowers and sunshine; but as temperatures change, perfect conditions frequently arrive for tornadoes to form, especially in the Midwest and southern regions of the country. We all witnessed the devastating damage to areas of Alabama and Iowa recently, and though tornadoes can strike at a moment’s notice, it’s important to know what actions to take to remain unharmed.

Most people are familiar with indoor protocol when tornadoes arrive, but what if you’re in a car? Cars are one of the least desirable and most dangerous places to get caught in a twister, but here are some tips to help if the event does arise.

Take preemptive measures. Before embarking on a road trip that covers more than 50 miles or so, make sure to check weather reports to see if any dangerous weather is brewing. You can avoid a driving run-in with a tornado by keeping tabs on local weather forecasts.

If you forget, or don’t have access to a weather report, look for visual warning signs like dark skies, large, dark, low-lying clouds, large hail and loud rumbling (like a freight train is coming) – these are all signs that a tornado may be approaching, so find the nearest building while there’s still time to do so.

If you do have the opportunity and time to pull over and make it inside of a building or house, get to the lowest area, like an underground shelter, basement or safe room.

Decipher the direction of the twister. If you’re in the wide open outdoors with no buildings around, look in your rearview mirror and take note of what you see. If the tornado seems to be getting smaller, you are moving away from it, and it is safe to continue to driving. If it remains the same size or gets larger, it is coming in your direction. Pull over immediately.

It is commonly believed that you should drive away from a twister by making turns at right angles from the storm, but this isn’t always the best practice. Tornadoes don’t always travel in straight paths, and you never know if a road will weave or turn, which could send you right into the path of the twister.

Don’t stay in your car! Though it may seem natural to remain inside your vehicle to protect yourself from a tornado, it certainly is not. If you don’t have time to drive away from the twister, the best practice is to quickly get out of your car and seek the lowest area of ground you can find , like a ditch or gully. Then, cover your head and neck with an object or your arms. This method may seem like it puts you in the line of fire, but compared to the inside of your car or under a bridge, it’s truly is the safest procedure. Tornadoes have been known to uplift vehicles, and can also turn pebbles into bullets, with the potential to whiz through your car windows. Furthermore, other debris flying around your car could be deadly. Seeking shelter under a bridge or tunnel is also unwise, as these areas can create funnels and vortexes of wind. Additionally, crawling up under an overpass places you even higher up into the wind and at a higher risk of injury.

Hopefully very few people ever have to utilize tornado safety procedures while driving, but with so many people on the go these days, you can never be too sure.  Every once and again we get reminders from Mother Nature that sometimes she is a force to be reckoned with. We may not be able to prevent these occurrences, but we can definitely try to prepare for them.

Seeing your check engine light come on can bring on panic and leave you seeing dollar signs. However, your check engine light doesn’t always signal pricey repairs. Often, it’s a warning to fix small problems that could eventually lead to more costly repairs. A recent article by MSNBC.com gives these top five reasons for your check engine light coming on:

Faulty Oxygen Sensor

Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor tells the computer how much fuel is in your tank. A faulty one could reduce gas mileage and cause more serious engine problems. Fixing this problem usually costs under $200.

Loose or Missing Gas Cap

A loose or missing gas cap is one of the most common and cheapest reasons your check engine light might come on. If your gas cap is missing or not tight enough, gas could evaporate from your vehicle and greatly reduce your gas mileage. Repair shops will often tighten or replace your gas cap for under $20.

Broken Catalytic Converter

A broken catalytic converter is one of the most expensive reasons your check engine light might come on because parts are often made of platinum. This part uses precious metals to convert gases to less harmful emissions. Part of the reason this part is so expensive to replace is that it usually won’t malfunction unless another part, such as a sparkplug, is also bad. This part can cost up to $2,000 to replace.

Malfunctioning Mass Air Flow Sensor

The mass air flow sensor measures the amount of air supplied to the engine and determines how much fuel should be delivered to make your vehicle run. A faulty one can cause loss of power, surges during acceleration and a decrease in fuel economy. This part usually costs around $375 to repair.

Misfiring Sparkplugs

Misfiring sparkplugs can affect your engine power and fuel economy and can damage the catalytic converter. Fixing this problem yourself can cost you as little as $10 and is fairly easy. Having a repair shop replace misfiring sparkplugs can cost up to $300.

Generally, hybrids are more expensive to repair than gasoline vehicles. Hybrid parts are rarer and more expensive, and fewer technicians are trained to fix hybrids.
If your vehicle’s check engine light comes on, don’t panic. Follow these easy steps*:

• Check all your dashboard gauges and lights for serious problems, such as overheating.
• Try tightening your gas cap. This can often fix the problem.
• Reduce your speed and load. While driving to the repair shop, you should put as little stress on the engine as possible.
• Have your problem code read and the problem fixed by someone who knows what they’re doing, such as our certified mechanics at Performance Auto.

*Information from www.ConsumerReports.org

The month of May means that graduation is around the corner, and many teens are patiently awaiting the gift of a new car as they head for college or full-time work. For those who are lucky enough to receive such a token, vehicle style and aesthetic appeal may not strike parents the same way it does teens.

As your loved one accelerates off into the distance, safety and reliability are elements that carry more weight during the car shopping process. Furthermore, because teens are more inexperienced and have a higher tendency to “panic steer,” features like electronic stability control are very important.

Size Up the Competition

When considering the size of a new car for your teen, bigger isn’t necessarily better. Some experts suggest avoiding trucks and large SUVs as these massive machines tend to have clumsy handling, poor fuel economy and oftentimes, a high center of gravity, making them more prone to roll-over accidents.

On the other hand, those sweet little sports cars that may look cool in the movies or in street races, obviously aren’t the best option either. These rapid rides have a higher rate of accidents than any other type of car, with high insurance rates to match. Small, sporty cars may also tempt drivers to drive fast, which is extremely dangerous.  There are many vehicles out there that represent the “middle ground,” possessing top-of-the-line safety features.

More recent models of SUVs and crossover vehicles , have higher safety ratings, as they are being designed with more steering control and have become less top-heavy. Cars like Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV 4 and the Honda Pilot are rated as some of the safest vehicles for teen drivers by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and also based on quality and reliability scores from Consumer Reports.

New or Used?

Most parents don’t even consider a brand new car for their teen.  Possible dents, scratches and high insurance premiums are factors that generally deter parents from picking a new car off the lot. Remember that pre-owned cars can be just as reliable as new cars. Some of the top-rated mid-size sedans for teen drivers include the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Ford Fusion. These three models scored highest on their ability to protect the driver and front passenger in front and side-impact collisions, according to NHTSA.

Though a dent might appear here and there on the car, you can be sure one won’t appear in your wallet. Most gently used and pre-owned vehicles listed above can be purchased for less than $20,000. Though the safety and well-being of your teen is priceless, you don’t have to burden your finances for a car they can rely on.

Visit Performance Auto Group to browse our online inventory, or stop by any one of our locations to test drive a vehicle with your teen.  We also ask that you check out the C.A.R. Alliance for Safer Teen Driving website, and change your message to eliminate distracted driving and keep you teens safe on the road.