Standard Car Parts Bite the Dust
By Chuck Mai, AAA
Quite a few longtime (and beloved) car parts are slowly fading away or gone altogether.
** Ash trays and cigarette lighters (although the power ports remain).
** Crank windows – even the most basic car today has power windows.
** Cassette players. Are you kidding? Some manufacturers are doing away with CD players and there is even talk of eliminating the AM band on radios.
** Whitewall tires. However, I believe they’ll come back at some point. Probably the same time spats make a return.
** Sealed-beam headlights, which have been replaced by xenon and halogen bulbs.
** Glass fuses. These days, they’ve been replaced by spade fuses of different types and styles.
** Vinyl tops and vinyl seats. Now, everything is either cloth or leather.
** Drum brakes. Although still around, many cars have four-wheel disc brakes, which were once only found on sports cars.
** Front bench seat. The middle passenger has been replaced by cup holders and storage boxes.
** External door locks on both front doors.
What’s next to go? My prediction is windshield wipers. They’ll be replaced by high-pressure air nozzles that sweep across the windshield, blowing off rain and drizzle. I just made that up. But then again, who ever thought we’d never see hubcaps again?
The Older and Wiser Driver
By Chuck Mai, AAA
Helping your parents determine whether they should still be driving can be stressful — especially for Mom and Dad. No one wants to lose a freedom they’ve had for nearly as long as they can remember. On the other hand, they don’t want to hurt someone, or themselves, while behind the wheel of a car.
While seniors often get a bad rap for their driving abilities, the fact is they are the safest drivers on the road.
That’s because of one thing – experience. “Teens, for instance, are at much greater risk on the road because of their lack of experience. People get upset with older drivers because they are driving slow and taking their time. Yeah, they are being pretty safe.
Additionally, seniors tend to drive familiar routes, and not after dark.
Still, mature drivers need to do a self-check of their skills.
If you are an older driver, and every time you go out, people are honking and mad at you — that’s a signal that maybe you shouldn’t be on the road.
AAA maintains that age should never be used as the sole indicator of driving ability, though it’s typical for some skills that are necessary for safe driving, such as vision, reflexes, flexibility and hearing, to begin to deteriorate with age.
If there’s concern over whether an elderly person should continue driving, here’s an online source that might help. Go to http://seniordriving.aaa.com to take a 15-question self-evaluation with facts and suggestions. There is a wealth of tools and resources at this website.
Those who have suffered some kind of medical condition, or those stopped by the police for a driving infraction, may be told that they need to have their driving evaluated. Generally they are the most cooperative because the request is not coming from one of their children – the doctor or police officer is a neutral, third party.
You can’t force somebody to do (the evaluation) unless you have legal guardianship,
Sometimes Mom and Dad need to relinquish their keys, but are worried about what happens if they do. Some think it means an end to their activities, that they will be reduced to occasional visits from friends, family and health care aides, and that life as they know it is about to end.
A growing number of families will have to deal with the issue as baby boomers age. And boomers as a whole might cop an unexpected attitude when the subject is broached. Today’s mature drivers may be a little old lady in a convertible or a graying guy on a Harley.
Mature drivers today have changing attitudes and different needs than those who came of age on our highways years ago
To address the older folks’ concerns that they’ll be doomed to a boring sedentary lifestyle, plan how your loved one will get around after his or her license is retired. In addition to family and friends committing to providing transportation, explore public services.
In the end, if Mom and Dad’s budget allows, they may need to move to a retirement community where activities are on the grounds and a shuttle taxis them to dinner, shopping — and for the spunky boomers, maybe the tattoo parlor.
Tornado Safety Tips
By Chuck Mai, AAA
Mother Nature’s fury has been paying quite a bit of attention to the Sooner state lately. Our hearts and prayers go out to all so severely impacted by the recent storms. In the aftermath of the May 31 tornadoes, there has been some discussion about the best things to do when a twister is imminent. AAA’s advice has not changed over the years:
Seek Shelter
Do not try to outrun a tornado. Instead, stay calm and seek shelter.
• At home or work, seek shelter in the central part of the building, away from windows. Basements or storm shelters are the best havens. If this is not an option, take cover in the bathroom, closet, interior hallway or under a heavy piece of furniture or mattress.
• If you are in your car, abandon your vehicle and seek shelter in the nearest building. Never try to outrun a tornado. Your vehicle will offer no protection from a twister. Plus, it is impossible to know which direction a tornado may decide to go.
• If you are caught in the open, with no buildings available to you, find a ditch, ravine or low-lying area and lie flat. Stay away from roadway overpasses.
• People living in mobile homes should leave them and seek shelter elsewhere.
Protect your Property
Prepare before the storm strikes.
• If a tornado watch has been issued, move cars inside a garage or carport to avoid damage from hail that often accompanies tornadoes. Keep car keys and house keys with you.
• If time permits, move lawn furniture and yard equipment inside. They could be damaged or act as dangerous projectiles causing serious injury or damage.
• Shut off the water supply to your washing machine when not in use.
• Make an inventory of possessions and store the list off-premises. If belongings are damaged, this list will help facilitate the claim-filing process.
While tornadoes are deadly, a severe storm can be just as dangerous due to lightning, heavy rain and the possibility of flooding.
Oklahomans Set to “Drive” into Summer, Says AAA
AAA highlights 4 Memorial Day travel trends.
AAA Oklahoma, May 22, 2013. The first three-day weekend of the summer has nearly arrived and according to AAA, Oklahomans will be “driving” their way into summer. The Memorial Day holiday commemorates those who have died in service to our country, while also serving as the unofficial kickoff of the summer season.
According to AAA Oklahoma’s Memorial Day travel forecast, 611,500 Oklahomans are expected to travel over Memorial Day, representing an increase of 0.9 percent from last year. Nationwide, 34.8 million Americans are predicted to travel, a decrease of 0.9 percent from 2012.
“Memorial Day travel is a mixed bag this year,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Travel, the largest leisure travel agency in North America. “A decline in air travel has pulled overall travel down below year-ago levels, but auto travel remains strong. This is consistent with patterns seen by AAA Travel agents and counselors.”
Four trends from AAA’s 2013 Memorial Day forecast for Oklahomans include:
- Road trips rule
According to a AAA survey, 521,000 Oklahomans – 85 percent of holiday travelers – plan to drive to their destination, representing an increase of 2.2 percent from last year. However, this survey was conducted April 8 to April 12 when gasoline prices were substantially lower than they are today. Although AAA believes gas prices in Oklahoma have now peaked and will begin to decline, the statewide average for self-serve regular today is $3.909 per gallon, 63 cents more than the price recorded as recently as April 29. - Air travel takes a dip
80,500 Oklahomans plan to fly to their Memorial Day destination, a decrease of 4.3 percent from last year.AAA attributes this decline to travelers who are deterred by airfare prices. For many travelers’ budgets, road trips make more sense this summer, according to AAA travel experts. - Trip distance highlights popular drive destinations
The average roundtrip distance traveled by Oklahomans is expected to be a little less than 830 miles. However, 70 percent of Oklahomans will travel 700 miles or fewer, which encompasses trips to many popular drivable summer destinations including state parks and lakes, Branson, Eureka Springs and Dallas. - Food, beverages & accommodations consumes 39% of holiday budget
Median spending this Memorial Day is $567. Of this, 20 percent will go for food and beverages while 19 percent will go for accommodations. The remaining expenditures will be divided among entertainment and recreation (18 percent), shopping (16 percent), fuel (12 percent), other transportation (10 percent) and miscellaneous expenses (5 percent).
In addition, AAA reports car rental rates are the highest they’ve been in four years, with a weekend daily rate average of $43, which is 19 percent above last year.
AAA offers a variety of mobile travel resources including AAA Mobile, a free app for Smartphone users. The app uses GPS navigation to help travelers map a route, locate nearby discounts, summon roadside assistance, and find current gas prices and more. Travelers can learn more about this resource at AAA.com/mobile.
Research for Memorial Day travel projections are derived from IHS Global Insight, which conducts special research for AAA. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as trips that include travel of 50 miles or more during the five-day period from Thursday, May 23 to Monday, May 27. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.
AAA is a full-service travel agency. For more information, visit AAA.com/travel.
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 branch offices, a regional operations center and the Internet at AAA.com.
AAA to offer free “Tipsy Tows” over long Memorial Day weekend
AAA Oklahoma will be offering Tipsy Tow over the extended Memorial Day holiday period. The service is free and open to the public.
A tow for your car and a ride home for you are available from AAA Oklahoma if you think you’ve had too much to drink at a Memorial Day party and feel unsafe behind the wheel.
AAA Oklahoma’s Tipsy Tow community service program runs from 6 p.m. on Friday, May 24 until 4 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28 in metro Tulsa and Oklahoma City, as well as in Lawton, Enid, Ardmore, Bartlesville, Tahlequah, Shawnee and Muskogee.
“In some situations, even one drink can be enough to impair your driving abilities,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “And the more you have to drink, the greater the chances for tragedy behind the wheel. We hope Tipsy Tow gets a lot of calls over the holiday. This way, everyone, including the vehicle, gets home safely.”
To call for Tipsy Tow, dial (800) AAA-HELP – 800-222-4357 – and ask for Tipsy Tow. AAA will provide a free tow and a free ride for the vehicle and up to two people, no questions asked, within a 15-mile radius from point of pickup.
However, Tipsy Tow will take you to only one place: home.
The service is offered at no charge to AAA members and non-members alike.
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 branch offices, a regional operations center and the Internet at AAA.com.
Air Conditioning’s Impact on your Car’s Fuel Economy
By Chuck Mai, AAA
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.
Kids, Pets and Hot Cars Left Alone = A Deadly Combination
The consequences of leaving kids or pets in hot cars, even for a minute, can be deadly. Each year, AAA along with Safe Kids works to prevent children and pets being left in hot cars by educating the public of the dangers.
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.
Heading out of Town? Hold on – Check these Home Protection Tips Before Leaving Home
By Chuck Mai, AAA
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.
Road Rascals
By Chuck Mai, AAA
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.
Car Stuff You Auto Know
By Chuck Mai, AAA
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.
