Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) undertook testing to answer a common motorist question: Is it more fuel efficient to drive with the windows up and the air-conditioning on or with the windows down and the AC off?

The answer is … well, it depends. Variable factors include vehicle speed, ambient temperature, and AC duty cycle (what setting is used). In general:

• The power requirement of AC is relatively constant representing roughly a six to seven percent reduction in fuel economy at 60 mph.

• Driving with the windows down results in more aerodynamic drag than with the windows up. Drag increases exponentially with speed -– it takes approximately five times the power to propel a vehicle at 80 mph as it does as 40 mph.

This means that every vehicle design has a “crossover” speed at which using AC with the windows up is more efficient than driving with the windows down and AC off.

Test Conditions

To answer the question, ORNL performed on-road and dynamometer testing of a 2009 Ford Explorer and Toyota Corolla. The ambient lab temperature was set to 95 degrees, the air conditioning set to medium (50 percent duty cycle), and the vehicles were tested between speeds of 40 mph and 80 mph.

Findings

In general, there is no fuel economy penalty from using the AC at highway speeds compared with having the windows rolled down and the AC off.

At a medium AC setting, the crossover point for each vehicle was nominally around 60 mph. If the AC is set to run more than the tested 50 percent duty cycle, the crossover speed would also be higher.

Overall, fuel consumption at highway speeds with medium AC is about six to seven percent more than driving with the windows up and AC off. However, in hot weather that certainly is not a comfortable alternative.

According to data collected by Dr. Jan Null of San Francisco State University, 32 children died last year after being left in a car. 52 percent of those who died were left not on purpose, but by mistake.

“Many times we think we can run into a store and be out in 10 minutes with no problem, but in 10 minutes in the heat of the summer, your car’s interior temperature can rise 19 degrees above that of the outside air,” said Danial Karnes, AAA Oklahoma spokesman.

AAA urges parents and caregivers to put these simple tips to use to make sure no child is left in a vehicle this summer.

• Never leave a child unattended in a car, even for a minute, even if the windows are tinted or down. The same recommendation applies to pets and the elderly.
• Don’t allow children to play in an unlocked, parked vehicle and never leave car keys where children have access to them.
• Keep doors locked and windows closed at all times, even when the vehicle is in the garage or on a driveway.
• Make sure all children leave the vehicle when you reach your destination. Be certain no one is inadvertently left behind.
• When you first place a child in a car seat in the back seat of the car, also open the glove compartment door, flip down the passenger side visor or put a purse in the back seat. These actions can serve as visual reminders that a child is in the back seat. Even better, place your cell phone on the back seat, too.
• If you see a child alone in a locked, parked car, immediately call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance.

A not-for-profit organization, AAA Oklahoma serves its 365,000 members across Oklahoma with emergency help on the road, auto travel assistance and a wide range of personal insurance, travel, financial and automotive services through its 45 retail branches, regional operations center and the Internet at www.AAA.com.

Leaving on vacation? Good for you – have fun! But if you’re like me, the doubts start creeping in just after leaving home, just after I have passed that imaginary point of no return, when going back to the house is no longer a viable option.

Did I lock the front door? Did we turn off the coffee-maker? Is the dog inside or outside?
You think somebody will break in while we’re gone? Well, I can’t help you with the first three questions but here are a few tips to help you on number four.

 Close and lock all house and garage windows and doors. Use slide locks on sliding glass doors.
 Leave blinds and curtains in their normal position so that your house doesn’t have a closed-down, unlived-in look.
 Resist the urge to discuss your trip with acquaintances or on social media sites.
 Have a friend pick-up your mail or have the post office stop it. Same with newspapers.
 Have a trusted friend or neighbor check on your house occasionally and tell them who to contact in case of emergency and what your contact info will be while you’re gone.
 Set lights and radios on automatic on/off timers.
 If you’ll be away for an extended period, arrange to have your lawn mowed.
 Never leave keys under doormats, in flowerpots or in any of the usual “hiding places.”
 Make sure your homeowner insurance policy is up-to-date.

Here’s a new one: burglars lately have been discovered locating potential targets at the airport by reading address information on luggage tags. If possible, use your business address or purchase tag covers to protect personal information.

Now, turn off the oven and the iron and get out there. Your vacation’s waiting.

In the past, I have written about drivers such as Left-Lane Louie, who for whatever reason like to camp out in the left lane of a divided highway, seemingly unaware of the congestion forming behind him.

Now meet three more types of drivers to keep an eye out for.

Frank the Follower – These “follow the leaders” are a phenomenon most closely associated with drunk and/or texting drivers who due to their distracted state, find it easier to pay no attention to traffic and simply follow the vehicle in front of them. The downside is that tailgating is often the inadvertent result, leaving the offending motorist precious little time to react to a change in the driving scenario if, for example, the car they’re following suddenly slams on its brakes.

Flow-Choking Christy – This driver fails to fully appreciate how she fits into the efficient movement of traffic. They’re the ones who inexplicably stop well behind the vehicle in front of them – maybe up to a car’s length – when halted at a stop light. This poses no problem if there are blocks and blocks of lane space behind the traffic signal but what about on an overpass where there are traffic lights at both ends and room for only a handful of cars on the bridge itself. More cars than the span can accommodate often attempt to cram themselves onto the bridge, sometimes blocking cross traffic at the near end in the process.

The Undecideds – You’re approaching the beginnings of a right turn-or left turn-only lane and the driver of the car in front of you decides to go straight. Or at least you think he does. He may really be oblivious or distracted or from out of state and hasn’t quite realized the “turn only” lane option is there. I give these folks a wide berth just in case they make a last-minute decision to jump over to the turn lane, especially if I am already in that lane.

Safe drivers realize that more and more of their fellow motorists are driving with any number of distractions vying for their attention: eating, drinking, smoking, texting, GPS-fiddling, iPods, cell phones, navigational systems – the list grows daily. Bottom line – drive defensively, stay alert, don’t assume anything and expect the unexpected.

We count on our cars to get us where we need to go, but can our cars count on us to return the favor? Here’s a list of five common maintenance mistakes we make, compiled by AAA’s Auto Repair experts.

Internet diagnostics

When you’re sick, you don’t ask a stranger to diagnose you or recommend treatment options, and the same is true for your car. Yet, we often hear of people who use online self-help forums in an effort to avoid paying a diagnostic fee and save money. However, these forums frequently lead to motorists buying parts based on the recommendations of strangers, resulting in unnecessary repairs that exceed the cost of the diagnostic fee they were trying to avoid in the first place.

Not establishing a repair shop relationship

Get to know an auto repair facility and service advisor who knows you and your vehicle. By establishing this relationship, you’ll have someone to turn to for routine maintenance or emergency repairs and you’ll know they have your best interests in mind. AAA visits, evaluates and approves auto repair shops in Oklahoma. This information is available to members and non-members alike, free, at AAA.com.

Ignoring sounds

When you hear an unusual noise coming from under your hood, don’t turn up your radio to drown it out. Instead, give your trusted technician a call and schedule a service appointment as soon as possible. Squeaking, grinding or thumping could indicate a serious brake, engine or suspension malfunction. Ignore an abnormal noise for too long and you could end up seeing an abnormal repair bill.

Not addressing leaks

From brake fluid to coolant, consumers often overlook liquids leaking from their rides. Motorists may dismiss an oil leak by topping off low fluid, for example. However, leaking oil can drip onto suspension components and melt rubber on contact, which ultimately can lead to costly suspension repairs. If there’s a puddle in your parking spot, take the time to figure out what’s leaking.

Spending money without knowing why

Have you ever paid for a vehicle “repair,” but didn’t know why? Consumers sometimes spend money on maintenance or repairs without understanding what they paid for and why they needed it, especially if they don’t feel a difference in the way their vehicle performs after the work has been completed. Don’t be shy – take time to ask questions about the services being performed and the money you’re investing in your vehicle.

Thinking about taking a family vacation this summer? Choosing and planning can be half the fun.

There are many short, fun, exciting, family-oriented and inexpensive vacation destinations within Oklahoma – and AAA Oklahoma is the first to point them out in AAA’s Oklahoma TourBook travel guide – but sometimes families want options. Planning a trip the whole family will enjoy is easier when you let AAA’s travel professionals help point the way with expert recommendations.

To select their top picks for key family travel destinations, AAA editors became kids again. With an eye toward finding options for kids from tots to teens, they visited and played at countless attractions touted as kid-friendly — many designated as AAA GEMs, offering a Great Experience for Members — along with notable restaurants and events. This family-friendly content is available in AAA’s popular digital and printed travel guides for select destinations.

The key to a successful family vacation is planning activities that are fun and exciting for every member of your group, recognizing that what’s exciting to a 6-year-old can differ from what appeals to teens. Recommendations from AAA’s travel editors help make these distinctions, ensuring easier travel planning and memorable vacation experiences.

AAA’s Top Picks for Kids are currently available for 19 U.S. cities coast to coast, including New York, Orlando, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Selections are separated into categories that include options for kids under 13, teens, and kids of all ages.

AAA editors’ Top Picks for Kids can be found in the AAA.com Travel Guides, the downloadable AAA eTourBook guides available at AAA.com/ebooks and the printed AAA TourBook guides available to members free at full-service AAA Oklahoma offices.

FOR EXAMPLE: AAA Editors’ Top Picks for Kids – MIAMI

UNDER 13

Miami Seaquarium: At this AAA GEM attraction, kids enjoy the antics of Salty the sea lion, Flipper the dolphin and Lolita the killer whale. Between-show activities include saltwater exhibits with sea turtles and reef fish. There’s even a pirate ship playground with water guns and a spiral slide.

Monkey Jungle: What could be more fun than a whole park filled with monkeys? A fenced-in path through this subtropical forest keeps humans and monkeys safely separate while allowing visitors to get really close to these wonderful animals.

TEENS

Duck Tours South Beach: If you want to tour South Beach and get a taste of its rich Art Deco legacy without hearing choruses of “I’m bored,” hop on an amphibious vehicle. The entertaining and educational 90-minute excursion concludes with a big splash into Biscayne Bay.

La Carreta Restaurant: Enjoy a delicious introduction to home-style Cuban cuisine, a big part of the Miami experience, at this local institution on Little Havana’s Calle Ocho (8th Street). Sample charbroiled meats and chicken-and-rice dishes, and snap a family photo with the giant metal chicken outside.

ALL AGES

Beaches: You’re in Florida after all. Miami Beach is the obvious choice, particularly if you are staying there. There is also nearby Key Biscayne with its two public beaches: Crandon Park – a 2-mile stretch of sand noted for its calm waters and rental cabanas – and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, with its postcard-worthy historic lighthouse.

Everglades National Park: Drive down to South Florida’s wilderness jewel, a AAA GEM attraction. This endangered “River of Grass” is a haven for birds as well as alligators, snakes, turtles and manatees. Drive the 38 miles from the entrance to the Flamingo Visitor Center and enjoy the views from your car. Trailheads radiate out from the road at several spots, inviting short hikes. A thrilling high-speed way to explore the park is by airboat ride, offered at Everglades Alligator Farm and Everglades Safari Park.

We’ve all heard about the growing list of previously-free things for which some airlines now charge, such as legroom, luggage, snacks, blankets, etc. Who knew all those frills and extras cost so much? And although I have heard rumors that at least one airline is thinking about charging more for an actual seat, don’t believe it. It’s more likely they’ll give you a discount for agreeing to stand all the way from here to Timbuktu.

Now, it seems hotels have taken a page out of the airlines’ playbook.

Extra fees at hotels generated an estimated $1.95 billion in 2012, a record, according to the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management at New York University.

Fees for things like Wi-Fi, room safes and early check-in. And then there are the so-called resort fees for items such as use of the fitness center, newspapers and “free” coffee in your room.

The problem is, most of the time, travelers didn’t find out about these hidden fees until they checked in. No fair, said the Federal Trade Commission. Last fall the agency sent letters to 22 major hotel chains telling them to cut it out.

So, what may very well happen is hotels will raise their room rates to cover these kinds of things. But at least travelers will be able to compare apples to apples when shopping for accommodations.

In the meantime, choose hotels that incorporate amenities into their room rates. For example, Courtyard by Marriott and Hampton Hotels include Wi-Fi and fitness center usage in their standard prices. Hampton offers a free hot breakfast.

Consider using the hotel’s business center computers. Wi-Fi is often free.

Finally, tie a caution flag onto your room’s mini-bar handle. Some unscrupulous hoteliers charge restocking fees even if you just open the mini-bar’s door or move things around in there.

With more than 125 million vehicles on the roadway and Americans relying on their cars for nearly every part of their life, one of the most stressful things a motorist can encounter is a sudden breakdown. In 2012, AAA received more than 28 million roadside assistance calls. While 58 percent of those breakdowns could be resolved at the roadside by AAA technicians, nearly 12 million vehicles needed to be towed to a local repair shop for further help.

What to Do When Your Vehicle Breaks Down on a Roadway

If the car is clearly experiencing a problem but can still be driven a short distance, drive to a safe location such as a parking lot. If the vehicle stops running but still has coasting momentum, guide it to the far right shoulder as far off the road as possible while remaining on level ground. Turn on the emergency flashers to alert other motorists.

If the car cannot get completely off the roadway, switch on the safety/emergency flashers and consider leaving the vehicle and moving to a safer location. Occupants should not remain in a vehicle if there is a possibility it may be struck by other traffic. For the same reason, it is generally not a good idea to attempt to push a disabled car off the road.

Drivers and passengers should exit a broken down car on the side away from traffic if at all possible. Use extreme caution and watch for oncoming vehicles, especially at night or in bad weather when visibility is limited. While waiting for help, never stand directly behind or in front of the disabled vehicle.

In addition to turning on a vehicle’s emergency flashers, drivers can signal other motorists that they have a problem by raising the car hood, tying a brightly colored handkerchief or scarf to the antenna or door handle, or setting out flares, warning triangles or emergency beacons. These signals can help other drivers recognize there is a problem and hopefully prompt them to slow down, move over to allow more room and proceed with caution as they pass.

Once the driver and passengers are in a safe location, request assistance from a roadside assistance provider. Make note of surroundings, landmarks, buildings or road signs to help relay your location. This is why as you are traveling Interstates, always keep track of where you are by paying attention to mile marker numbers.

1. Which of the following is NOT a distraction risk when driving?
a. Texting or reading email
b. Eating a hamburger
c. Programming a GPS device
d. Checking rear-view mirrors

2. Distracted driving is a factor in what percentage of fatal crashes annually?
a. 80%
b. 75%
c. 1%
d. 16%

3. Using a cell phone (handheld or hands-free) increases your crash risk by how much?
a. 10%
b. 50%
c. 100%
d. 400%

4. During the four seconds it takes to read a text message, how far will a car travel at 55 mph?
a. 50 feet
b. 10 miles
c. Four car lengths
d. Just over the length of a football field

5. What is the best way to manage your distracted driving risk?
a. Practice multi-tasking more
b. Roll down the window and play the radio loud
c. Buy a cell phone with more features
d. Put the devices away and zero-in on driving

Did you answer “D” for all the questions above? If so, you’re paying attention! Driving is a complex task that requires undivided attention and focus.

And if you really want to reduce your risk on the road, contact your state legislator and ask him or her to support legislation banning texting while driving in Oklahoma. House Bill 1503 by Rep. Curtis McDaniel will do just that, if it makes it through the legislature this session. Your help is needed right now. Thank you.

Steering column mounted gear shifters disappeared a long time ago, except on some pickups, and now front bench seats in passenger cars are about to also pass into automotive oblivion. Yes, they’re getting kicked by the bucket.

The 2014 Chevy Impala carries the distinction of being the last production car since the days of the horseless carriage to offer a front bench seat. Until recently, bench seats were also standard equipment on the Ford Crown Victoria and the Lincoln Town Car until those vehicles were both discontinued in 2011.

Will we miss the bench? Apparently not. During 2011/2012, only one in 10 Impala buyers chose the $195 option on the LS and LT models. General Motors says they expect the preference for front bucket seats to continue.

“A lot of people prefer bucket seats because they’re sporty, even in models that aren’t sports cars,” said Clay Dean, GM’s director of design. “Our customers also appreciate having the center console as a convenient place to store their phone and other personal use items.” Plus, it appears we’ve become used to those center console cup holders.

The first Chevrolet ever manufactured, the Series C Classic Six of 1911, featured a front seat bench and for decades, American cars were typically equipped with benches. In the days of larger families and one car families, they made sense because they allowed three passengers to sit comfortably albeit cozily in the front seat.

Bucket seats first came into vogue after World War II on small European imports. Not only did they do a better job of keeping passengers in place when making sharp or quick turns, they were necessary to accommodate floor-mounted shifters and parking brake levers in small cars.

By 1962, more than one million U.S.-built cars were factory equipped with bucket seats. Buckets really took off with the “pony cars” of the mid-sixties, cars such as the Ford Mustang and the Chevy Camaro.

Today, the need for six-passenger sedans is largely being met by SUVs or crossovers, which offer seating for up to eight. Chevy, for one, will continue to offer bench seats on pickup trucks and sport utilities.

But who knows? There’s a certain nostalgia for bench seats. Hard to snuggle up with your sweetie at the drive-in movie while sitting in bucket seats. Some experts say we may see bench seats re-emerge someday, possibly in very small cars like the EN-V urban mobility concept vehicle, in which the feeling of open space may be very desirable.