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.
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.
Breakdown Basics
By Chuck Mai, AAA
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.
The Heads-Up Driving Quiz
So, you think you’re up on the risks of distracted driving? Take this quiz from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
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.
Front Bench Seats Taking a Back Seat
By Chuck Mai, AAA
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.
Racing was in their blood, families and friends in their hearts
John Saucier, of Midwest City, was a legend at the Ponca City Grand Prix, among the best to ever compete there in its more than 25 years.
Bill Stengle, of Enid, didn’t run at Ponca, but he did make build and drive midget racers, and he enjoyed motorcycles. He raised a son, however, who DID race at Ponca City.
I saw John race many times while growing up in Ponca. But it wasn’t until years later, when I returned to The Oklahoman, that we became friends, all because of one column I wrote recalling the PC Grand Prix. He thanked me “for the memories” and gave me an update on some of the drivers I had mentioned.
I never met Bill, but I saw his son, Jim, race a few times in Ponca City. Jim and I became close friends while I was living in Enid. We met through my association with others in the Sports Car Club of America and we both were members of the Enid A.M. Ambucs.
Jim was the only guy I ever knew who had a Corvette … in his attic. Disassembled, of course. I wouldn’t have believed it if his wife, Dixie, hadn’t gotten him to show me when my wife, Becky, and I visited them one night. Dang if it wasn’t true.
John died Jan. 25 at age 74, I’m sad to say. Scott Munn of The Oklahoman noted that John won 28 SCCA championships and was a member of the organization for 55 years. Scott said John was the only person to race in each of the 26 Ponca City Grand Prix events.
Jim’s dad, Bill, died Jan. 11 at age 95. His obituary included points about his innovative, mechanical abilities, such as this: “For extra income, he began drilling water wells with a rig he built himself.” That takes some skill, for sure.
Both men had served in the military, both men had loving families, both men were well respected and both were extremely talented.
I’m proud to say I knew John and I know Bill’s family. All because of shared interested in racing that has circled the track for many years.
New Cars – Cool New Electronic Features
By Chuck Mai, AAA
As car-makers add more and more electronic distractions to new cars (giving traffic safety folks fits), they are also, thankfully, making cars safer.
Cameras and Sensors
John Paul, AAA’s Car Doctor, reports Subaru has introduced something they call the EyeSight system that uses a 3-D camera mounted at the top of the windshield, giving drivers a panoramic view of the road.
Honda has a device that gives the driver a view of the right side blind spot of the vehicle when the right turn signal is activated.
Mercedes-Benz has a new system called Collision Prevention Assist, available on M-Class SUVs, that uses radar sensors which monitor the distance from the SUV to a vehicle in front of it as well as to stationary roadway objects. If CPA detects an imminent collision, it sounds a warning and flashes a light.
Volvo has taken this idea a step further by autonomously hitting the brakes if it detects a low-speed crash is about to occur.
And don’t think it’s just the luxury cars offering these exciting new technologies. The latest Chevy Malibu has a forward collision alert and lane departure warning system.
Sleepy?
About a quarter of a million people fall asleep at the wheel every day in the U.S. Good thing car-makers have systems in development that can watch us. Most use in-car cameras that keep track of what your eye lids are doing as well as absence of steering wheel movements. If they note something wrong, it sounds an alarm, vibrates the seat or tugs on the seat belt to alert the driver.
Lights
Here’s an idea from the past – from the 1948 Tucker Torpedo to be exact: headlights that move in the direction the car is turning. A growing number of vehicles have what they’re calling adaptive headlights. Good for illuminating dark curves.
Some car-makers are adding light amplification and infrared cameras that not only allow drivers to see more at night, they also identify and warn drivers of pedestrians and critters by the side of the road.
Talking Cars
One of the most exciting new technologies is vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The idea that cars can talk to each other, while monitoring the roadway and overall driving environment, will make driving safer and less stressful. Car doc John Paul says these systems could warn drivers of slow-moving traffic, roadwork, traffic lights, school zones and weather conditions.
And by now, you’ve probably heard about Google’s driver-less cars that have received the go-ahead in several states. But wait – maybe a Massachusetts company is on the right track … or maybe the right altitude. They have created a flying car.
