Category: Automotive
ContentRally is a leading source of reliable news and trending topics on Automotive. Get hard-to-find insights and advice on Automotive from industry-specific leaders.
Car Leasing Tips: How Leasing a Car Has Changed?
Ever wondered why so many people opt for leasing a car? In essence, a leasing contract these days can be flexible and even economical, if you know how to properly customize your contract and make it fir your financial situation. During the last few years, leasing has grown significantly in popularity. With that growing popularity, there are a number of new options now for consumers. The problem is, most people still don’t know about these options. Read also: Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe in a Car Make a Number of Deposits and Reduce Interest Rates In most contracts, your security deposit is equal to your monthly payment rounded up to the closest 50 dollars. Let’s say you’re monthly payment is 525 dollars. In this case, your security deposit will be 550 dollars. Now, if you agree to pay more than two refundable deposits, the leasing company will reduce the interest rate, because they figure that their risk is lower. However, not all leasing programs have this option, so it’s best to check with the company yourself. Continue Leasing until You’re Ready for a New Car At the end of their contract, some people go into “panic mode” because they are not sure what car they want next. One option is to keep the car on a month-to-month basis, until you decide whether to buy the car you’re leasing or opt for a new one. We should point out that this a short-term solution, so don’t get carried away. Nonetheless, it will give you some additional time to think about the next car. Transfer the Lease Before the Contract Ends Around 80% of leases can be transferred with no strings attached. But some companies out there require you to keep some liability for the vehicle. This means if anything happens, you as the original leaseholder will be held accountable – so you can end up paying for additional mileage. With that being said, this option is good if you find yourself in the situation where you need to end your lease. Adapt Your Mileage to Suit Your Personal Needs If you’re afraid you’ll end up driving more miles than the contract says and paying additional money to the leasing company – which is one of the main concerns when people think about leasing – you shouldn’t worry too much. Before, the cheaper option was to buy miles upfront than it was to pay the so-called penalty miles later. Today, you can easily see the same costs for both up front and backend miles. The Bottom Line And there you have it – a few leasing strategies that will help you get a better deal on your new car. If you want to know more about leasing, browse the Internet for a few hours or go down to your local dealership to get familiar with your options a bit better. Read also: Will Self-Driving Cars Replace Human Error?
READ MOREDetails
5 Ways to Avoid the Rip Off While Buying a Used Car
When it comes to buying a used car, you need to be very careful even if you are good with cars and their tools. Buying a used car is not easy at all, it requires planning and research. However, some people still don’t get what they are looking for because they overlook the simplest yet most important aspects of buying used cars. Some people get cheated while others pay more for a used car than they should. Whether you have purchased a brand-new car or used one before, you must take some precautions not to have any bad experience with buying procedure. Following are the five ways that you should consider before buying a used car. Do Your Homework Researching about the car that you intend to buy is very beneficial. It helps you to understand more about that certain car. For instance, if you go to buy a car without doing any homework you will only waste your time or you will make the wrong decision. Use the internet to do your homework properly and get to know about the resale price, spare parts, and fuel consumption. Also, involve a mechanic to help you buy the right kind of used car. Don’t Let Your Impulse Win Don’t let your emotions overcome the facts and figures. Most people fall in love with a car’s exterior, buying it without any research. Make sure you see the car practically as well. Get details about insurance, making, model, financing, and other important information. The car that looks awesome from the outside usually does not meet your expectations when you take it out on the road. So, make sure to avoid impulse buying. Know Your Needs There are many people who end up buying a car that they don’t need because they can’t figure out what kind of car they are looking for. First, ask yourself about car needs and then start finding a car for yourself. For example, ask yourself whether a truck will suit or a saloon car? Also, get to know about fuel consumption and fuel economy so you don’t have to break the bank account. Know Your Budget Most people overlook this aspect, thinking that they will go for the monthly payment but it is not a good idea. In fact, it creates trouble later. Car dealers have attractive monthly payment packages which you say yes to but regret later. Make sure to ask the price of all used cars you check before finalizing one. Ask the dealer/owner about taxes, car parts, and price. If it doesn’t suit your budget then be willing to walk away. Don’t hesitate to ask questions to the car dealer/owner, it’s okay to ask questions than regretting later. You can always get something that fits within your budget when looking for cars for sale in San Diego". This takes me back to the first point where you need to take time and do your research well. Ask Your Mechanic for Assistance Spending a few dollars for pre-purchase car inspection is far better than spending thousands of dollars on repairs of a used car. We all know a mechanic we can count on when it comes to buying a used car. They know cars very well and immediately notice any fault. When he is done inspecting it, ask for his advice and consider it before making any purchase. If you need more info about car parts, car accessories, etc, visit CarCareNinja. Take the Car for a Long Test Drive Most people go for the test drive because it tells you so much about the car’s condition. You might not know it with a smooth start-up of an engine but once you drive it for a little longer, the test drive tells you the whole story. Also, notice whether you are comfortable while driving or not and if you have children, take them to the test drive and know their opinion, too so you can get to know whether they are comfortable with the car or not. Don’t Stick To One Spot Purchasing the best-used car requires research and lots of patience. Don’t be hopeless and end up buying any car just because you can’t find the one you are looking for. Don’t only search in the nearby places that are convenient, instead, move around different car sales and spots to get the best. Not only this, ask your friends who have knowledge about used cars, this will also help you. Even if you consider all these aspects, you must still be careful after buying a used car. Whether you are planning a road trip or going to the office, always keep wire cutters, pliers, torque wrench, and other important car tools to avoid any bad experience. Also, there is no doubt that buying a used car takes a lot of your times and effort but once you find the perfect car for yourself, it will be all worth it in the end. So, make sure to follow these tips to have the best-used car while saving your money.
READ MOREDetails
Invest In A New Car, Without A Financial Liability
Purchasing a new can present to you a heavy financial commitment. Following the initial ecstasy of getting the ticket to convenience and freedom, you will immediately realize that as the car you purchased sits idle in the parking lot, the responsibility of paying for the installments is constant, and these monthly installments will continue for several years. Nevertheless, now you have the opportunity of finding a way around the high new car prices coming from shared ownership concept that originated from one of the leading companies in India. Zoomcar has introduced ZAP, a platform where you can list your car for earning extra income. When you earn back the EMI that you are repaying for your car, it is crucial to avoid compromise your normal lifestyle and enjoy the privileges of being a vehicle owner. Many individuals have decided to take advantage of this innovative opportunity to buy a car. Zoomcar possesses a great relation with top car makers of India like Maruti, Hyundai, Mahindra, Tata, and much more. You can end up buying your car at new car prices that are discounted, thereby helping you to save before you start listing it on the platform. As a member of ZAP, you will have access an extensive network of a large database of car loan providers, and you get the choice of settling on a particular loan repayment plan that will suit your situation well. When you want to get your vehicle to start earning, there are several prerequisites that you need to meet. Compliance needs you to register the car with a commercial license of Zoomcar. This license also protects you from liabilities as your car gets listed. For this reason, you can sit back and start counting the extra income you are getting without being worried at all. Do you have any maintenance concerns? Zoomcar is a firm that works under technology and it applies to the car you are registering under it. The Cadabra is a proprietary tool which monitors the distinct aspects of the health of the car and gives you alerts through the application. When you have this powerful preventive and maintenance mechanism, you will end up saving a lot of money as compared to regular routines of maintenance. As a poster, you have the liberty of tracking your car at all times because it is enabled with GPS. It is also not necessary to be present when you list your Zoomcar because there does not exist a direct interaction with the customers. You have the independence of listing the car on the platform as per your schedule, regardless if it is on the weekends or weekdays. Putting your car underemployment when it is not in use to generate an income is a good way of negotiating the worthy investment you made. You need to do this in the most assured mode by taking part in the national success story of Zoomcar, built on unflinching professionalism and tech. When you want to buy a car and register in with zoom car, you need to ensure that it has a liability insurance cover regardless of its condition when purchasing. You also need to give it other coverages like comprehensive and collision but are not mandatory at the point of purchasing and registering your car. It is crucial to consider the value of the vehicle, the risks it may face, and the basis of the optional insurance covers for the car. As a poster, getting the optional insurance cover will help you tailor the specific needs you are looking for when registering your car. Insurance may raise your EMI installments but once you are on Zoomcar, you will count on getting back the installments you pay. You will cover your vehicle during emergencies and maximize on the instalments you get from this program. It is time to buy a car with the prevailing new car prices resulting from being a Zoomcar partner. Read also: How To Shop For A Car With Your Teen Driver? Will Self-Driving Cars Replace Human Error?
READ MOREDetails
How to choose and install the right fog lights tint?
Fog lights, which are installed to ensure that the driver can see the road even through dense fog and climate conditions, usually come in limited color options. The most popular ones being white. In some of the best fog lights available; one would either use the blue fog light tint or yellow fog light tint. If you are confused as to which is better, you should read more. Fog lights tint popular colors: 1. Yellow Fog Lights Tint The drivers might prefer yellow for the lights as it pierces through the fog easily and even in rain and darkness. A lot of people prefer replacing white lights with yellow bulbs or try to use super bright and powerful white lights. However, yellow is considered the best for fog and rain to aid the driver's invisibility. The main cons of this colored tint are that once you switch the lights off, the yellow flashes remain for a while and it is not ideal for daylighting as it is really warm for a sunny day. 2. Blue Fog Lights Tint The Blue tint will give a bright color and are very popular in European regions. Blue Lights are considered useful as it cuts through fog, rain and bad road conditions. They are better than halogen lights and are considered highly energy-efficient and consume low power. However, they take time to power up. Blue lights will take a little time to reach their maximum brightness. At times, blue lights, if powerful can be blinding and takes a while to do away with the flashes which may affect the driver while driving. You should always choose the tint for your lights depending on how and where you want to use them. It is always simple to tint your existing led fog lights if it’s one of the best fog lights available with a yellow or blue vinyl film which is easily available in your nearest hardware store or even online. Also, it is a super cheap alternative and provides you with the option to change it as per your liking. It can be easily peeled off. In addition to this, the vinyl film will also protect your lights and are resistant to corrosion. This helps you to change your fog light color in case you decide otherwise. Tints are easy to install and since they are not that expensive, they can be replaced in case you are not happy with the finish. Install a tiny film in 6 easy steps by yourself Step 1: Purchase the right colored film Evaluate your weather conditions and your usage of the vehicle. Ask your friends if they have used a tint before to see what color is the best. Also, keep in mind the traffic laws. A lot of traffic regulation certain colors as it can be blinding. Step 2: Gather your tools You will require a cut-kit, which is simply a collection of different sizes of blades to help achieve the perfect finish. You will need a clean cloth and cleaners to clean your lights, a dry cloth, a water spray, and a hairdryer. Step 3: Clean your headlights It is very important that you clean your headlights well. If there is any dust left, you will end up getting it stuck on your headlights. Clean it using a cleaner liquid and ensure it is clean and that there are no dust particles left behind. Step 4: Position your film Remove the back of the tint film and uncover the adhesive part of the film. Now place t carefully on the flat side of the headlight so that you get a good start on the film. Step 5: Apply the film uniformly. You can spray water on the top of the film so you can easily glide it through the entire headlights. Once you position your film, try to swiftly but steadily cover your entire headlights. In order to cover the curved areas of the lights, use a hairdryer to heat the tint so t can easily get curved out as per your need. Make sure that you do not use too much heat as it might just damage the vinyl film. Step 6: Trim the excess Vinyl Film After you are done applying the film, ensure that you trim the excess parts carefully using adequate sized blades with clarity so that it looks neat. Seek help if needed. Check if there are any bubbles and then try to use heat on them with a hairdryer such that the bubbles go away. You can also choose to pop the bubbles with a needle if required. Now that you know more about the different colors of tint and how to install them, you can decide which color is most suitable. Also, choose a good quality tint for the best fog lights that you purchase. On the other hand, always buy extra tint because you might not get the perfect finish in the first attempt. You can also buy hella fog lights or motorcycle fog lights if you want. Image source Read More : A Rundown Of The Basic Led Lighting 5 Places you should see if you’re visiting Hong Kong for the first time
READ MOREDetails
Why You Should Use Quality Wiper Blades
When it comes to almost every product, especially wiper blades, expensive doesn’t always mean better quality. Even though we all like to buy products that our friends or family recommend to us, the best way to find out if a product is what you are looking for, is to try it out yourself. We often forget about wiper blades, even when we clean the car. Only when we end up with dirty windshields, heavy rain or snow blinding our sight that is the time when we wish we changed our wiper blades for better ones. They are a safety feature of the car after all, and we should pay more attention to what kind of product we are buying. Many accidents are the result of poor visibility, caused by low performance of the wiper blades or because we forgot to maintain them and clean them every once in a while. This is the main reason why you should always use quality wiper blades. Read also: Will Self-Driving Cars Replace Human Error? What kind of wiper blades you should be looking for? If you have already tried a lot of products and you are not satisfied with any of them, you must be dealing with wiper blades that lose their performance in a short time. This way you are not only losing your money by changing the product too often, but it can also damage your windshield in the long run. However, the most important - having blades that are not performing well can be very dangerous. Life of Windshield Blades Whatever blades you buy for the windshield of your car, they will all work great at the beginning. Many expensive wiper blades will provide excellent performance, but after only a few months of regular use, there is a possibility that they will degrade, almost fast as cheaper ones. Wiper blades that lose their performance quick enough will first start leaving lines of water behind, then comes the smearing of the water or missed areas of wiping. This is a sign that you are not dealing with a quality product. However, if you leave the blades dirty or you don’t clean them good every once in a while, it will cause the wiper blades to wear out quickly. Also make sure you keep your windshield clean, preventing the blades from having to run over a rough surface and wear out soon enough. When it comes to wiper blades, the goal is to find ones that will perform with quality but for a long period of time. However, it doesn’t mean that you should overuse them. It is recommended to change your wiper blades at least once a year, preferably twice – maybe at the beginning of the winter and then again for the summer. Value worth it If you can’t decide between a few wiper blades, take the one that you think you can rely on. Wiper blades that can perform perfectly in harsh conditions are worth every dollar. Dirt and road grime abrades wipers over time and sunlight because the rubber edges to break down faster. You must remember that if the blades scratch your windshield, your insurance will not cover the damage as it is your fault. Therefore, in the end, you will appreciate having the blades that can resist all the harsh weather, especially if they don’t trust easily and give you a safe driving experience. Read also: How To Shop For A Car With Your Teen Driver Image source: Featured image: dupont.com
READ MOREDetails
6 Quick Tips for RV Beginners
If one is just starting out with an RV, you need some tips to avoid costly mistakes. It may sound like a little issue but having a well-equipped RV requires good knowledge of what you need and how to go about it. The most important RV parts are the car and what you put in it. No matter the length of your trip, here are some tips to start you off. 1. Renting or buying Whether you want to rent an RV or own one is entirely a subjective choice. If you want to try out the RV experience before going all in, you can rent one. This option will save you some money especially if you rarely go on RV trips. If you are the bird on the road, buying one with save you money in the long haul. The option is entirely yours as you can buy one then rent it if you are not a trip person. 2. Practice makes perfect Actually, only perfect practice makes a perfect skill. You need to know that driving an RV is far much different compared to a normal car. So, take one and take it for a drive on different types of terrain to know how you can keep the drawers shut and the glasses from breaking even on right terrain. 3. Have a solid plan Most people make the mistake of going on a trip with only the departure and arrival locations marked out. You need to plan the exact route, your expenditure, the locations on the route you will be visiting, camping grounds and other areas. This way, your trip will be easy to handle. You can have a little fun along the way but avoid deviating too much from the primary plan. 4. Familiarize yourself with the RV It does not require you to be a mechanical engineer to know how to take care of a car. The issue is that this is not your common everyday vehicle. You need explicit instructions on how to handle the car including the most common mistakes and issues one is likely to run into. Whether you are hiring or buying the RV, these skills will save you from the pain of incurring unnecessary costs. Read also: TIPS TO KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE IN A CAR 5. Be equipped Equipping yourself for the trip will go beyond packing enough food and clothes to include spare parts for the car. Ensure you have packed enough spare connectors, fuses, bulbs, spanners, screwdrivers, nuts, bolts, jumper cables and many more. Keep in mind that if you do not have a specific part and your car breaks down, you may have to wait for days before it is shipped to you. Read also: How To Shop For A Car With Your Teen Driver? 6. Prepare for the campground The campground is one of the most involving areas when going on a trip with an RV. Make sure that ground has no obstacles such as branches hanging low or boulders. Find the sewage, water and electricity systems to know how you can charge up yourself for the next trip. Once you have chosen your spot, chock your wheels to avoid any crazy situation of your home running off. Make sure you correctly connect your rig to the sewer and electrical lines. If you are not sure of how to go about it, ask for help. These tips will make you a bit of an expert before you start your first trip in an RV. While your focus is on the fun and experience of going about with the RV, staying safe and within the law will make the whole experience far much better than you can ever imagine.
READ MOREDetails
How To Operate A High Lift Jack Safely And Effectively
High lift jacks have been in use for over a century now. It first hit the market in 1905, when Bloomfield Manufacturing Company introduced it as the Automatic Combination Tool. After the first launch, the jack has found many uses because of its simple design and sturdy layout. It is certainly not the safest product and does not involve any high-end technology, but it is still in extensive use and also one of the most copied designs in the automobile care industry. As far as safety is concerned, it is very capable of sending you to a hospital bed with a lot of work for the surgeon. Read also: Along For The Ride: Passenger Rights In Vehicle Accidents Jack of All Trades The high lift jack has one of the most straightforward designs among all tools of car care and maintenance. In its basic avatar, it is just a massive mechanical lever. This uncomplicated design is perhaps the reason for its multipurpose utility. Some of the common uses of the high lift jack are given below: Lift up the vehicle to change the tire. Its got plenty of power and speed to lift your 4-wheeler effortlessly. This is the most basic and mostly used the role of the jack. It can even lift up much higher for other uses. It can be used as a winch to get you out of trouble. I also use it for breaking the tire bead so that it can be cleaned. It is good to be used as a spreader or a clamp. You could turn the vehicle around on the spot by lifting one end of the vehicle and then pushing it to a side away from the jack. Read also: Will Self-Driving Cars Replace Human Error? How to Use? Being a high-risk tool, it is very important that you take all the precautions to get the best use from the high lift jack. Before you put the tool in operation, you should first understand how to use a high lift jack. Some critical points regarding the use of the jack for its main roles are mentioned below:- Lifting Up Steps to be followed are given below: Check the ground, level it if required, use a base plate if the ground is soft to avoid sinking and falling off. Switch the reversing latch at "up" after positioning the jack firmly. Put one hand on top of the jack to maintain balance, pull the handle to get the jack toe to touch the vehicle bumper. Check that the rack should be vertical and the jack on a firm base. Hold the handle and push it down to lift the vehicle. Follow the reverse with basic common sense to get the load down after the tire changing is done. Read also: How To Shop For A Car With Your Teen Driver? Getting Unstuck The same procedure as above will be used to lift the vehicle and then stack some rocks etc under the wheels to provide for a stable base before removing the obstacle from under the vehicle. You might have to push the vehicle's lifted up portion to aside in order to rescue it from a difficult situation. Winching Operation When the need arises, use the jack as a winch with a shackle and a chain. It is a powerful but slow winch, so you have to be patient. Put a chain, wire rope or a recovery strap to join the jack's toe with the recovery point on the vehicle. Put another chain from the top of the rack to the anchor. Remove all slack in the chains and proceed by operating the jack in the same manner when you are lifting the vehicle up. Miscellaneous Uses The jack's capability to lift is not limited to cars, it can be used to lift any other item as well. The main operational precautions will remain the same as mentioned above. Some of its additional uses are:- It can become a great hoisting tool when used in conjunction with a couple of shackles. The top clamp of the jack makes it very good for use as a huge clamp as well as a spreader. Even a bent tie rod end can be straightened using this amazing tool. If you only know how to use a High lift jack and take basic precautions then this tool is the most amazing piece of engineering that you will ever encounter. However, if you ignore the safety precautions, you could land in a hospital bed very soon. Read also: How To Get An Auto Loan At A Low-Interest Rate Along For The Ride: Passenger Rights In Vehicle Accidents
READ MOREDetails
Racing games and accidents; is there a link?
The steady improvement in the gaming industry has brought driving reality right into gaming consoles. Unfortunately, most racing games advocate reckless driving, including performing dangerous stunts, over speeding, ignoring traffic signals among others. This has significantly affected how the games drive. According to a recent study, there has been a rise in the number of accidents due to careless driving but not by the combative driving in racing games. The research showed that racing games influenced driving behavior but not negatively. Subjects who had not played racing games before made life-risking decisions when on the road. People who have never played racing games in their lifetime are more than the ones who have played driving games. These people are also involved in accidents and hence it is improper to suggest that racing games and accidents could even have a link. A previous report claimed that the racing games’ intensity has long-lasting effects on the brain, which affects the conditioning of the gamer on the real road. On one hand, racing games amplify emotions while suppressing composure levels on the other. Allegedly, adolescents who indulge in racing games find it hard to manage their self-control and restraint levels 100% in real-life circumstances. But all adolescents are difficult to manage. It is that time of life when they are growing up and they need all the support. The pent up rage dissipates when they play these games and hence they are far more restrained. Just imagine their anger if they did not have an avenue to vent it. Hence racing games are a godsend for many parents. Little gamers are more likely to be influenced Today, kids are initiated to racing games at an early age. Certainly, this may affect the driving behavior of these future drivers. They will be more inclined to careless driving than the previous generations. New racing games need to teach kids the importance of driving safe. Racing games can be a great learning experience for little gamers. Will racing games rank among the major causes of motor crashes? Despite the popularity of racing games, there are no tangible statistics for it to be considered as one of the major causes of road accidents. Currently, distracted drivers rank first, followed by drunken driving, fatigue, over speeding, and finally bad weather. Reducing the speed in racing games is probably the solution to this On the brighter side, speed can help you evade a crash. However, the disadvantages are devastating; speeding not only increases the risk, but it also intensifies the severity of the accident. In fact, all the other major causes are linked to over speeding. If speed in racing games are reduced then the chances of reducing risks in real life also increase. Reasons why people continue to indulge in racing games Racing games actually make sense and are easy to learn. Everything done in a racing game can be achieved in real life. You are absolutely sure of what to do, where to go, and how to do it. In fact, anyone including your grandpa can compete on the first attempt! If you love racing games then take it up seriously because even world-class racers take these games seriously. They learn a lot from racing games. There’s not much difference between the game track and the real one, being good at one takes care of the other. The fans want to play what their heroes are playing. Finally, even the most recent versions of racing games are quite affordable compared to their counterparts. Though accidents happen it should not be due to over speeding and recklessness of the driver. Hence gaming companies need to put in speed breakers or even reduce speed in their games. Read also: TIPS TO KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE IN A CAR Along For The Ride: Passenger Rights In-Vehicle Accidents Overcrowding In Cities Causes Increase Road Traffic Accidents
READ MOREDetails
Will Self-Driving Cars Replace Human Error?
The public is understandably skeptical when it comes to the introduction of new technologies. This has been a constant in virtually every innovation since the dawn of civilization. People were skeptical about the railroads when they first became a staple of American life in the 1830s. People were skeptical about aviation when it became a major part of travel in the early part of the 20th century. The automobile itself was viewed with a healthy dose of scorn and hesitation when it first drove onto the scene. Today, we find ourselves in a similar situation with regard to the emergence of self-driving vehicles. Just like with these other technologies, some of our skepticism is caused by the novelty of the technology and our unfamiliarity with it. However, just as it was with the transportation modes listed above, many of our reservations are well-founded and stem from shortcomings that the technology has yet to overcome. Still, the bigger question that we find ourselves asking is: Will we be safer in self-driving vehicles than we would be in vehicles that have a human driver? Human Error Causes Vehicle Crashes The vast majority of crashes on our roads are caused by human error. Some estimates put this figure at around 90 percent. We experience this firsthand every single day on our roads. Consider how many crashes are caused by reckless driving, distraction, fatigue, and intoxication. In each of these cases, it is a person’s mistake that leads to a vehicle crash. People are far from perfect, and we make mistakes regularly. When these mistakes occur on our roads, the consequences can be devastating. One mistake made at 55 miles per hour can cause fatalities, serious injuries and incredible amounts of property damage. In that sense, the less we can be subject to lapses in judgment or negligent driving, the safer we will be. How Do Self-Driving Cars Stack Up Against People? Thus far, there is not enough information available to make a completely accurate comparison of automated vehicles and human drivers. Think about how many miles people have driven since the launch of the automobile and how many miles have been traveled by self-driving vehicles. This disparity leaves us with an incomplete picture. However, self-driving automobiles have been around long enough for us to get a clearer idea of how safe these vehicles could be and what dangers they could present if manufacturers don’t do their due diligence. Last year, Google touted the fact that its self-driving vehicles had traveled well over a million miles and been involved in only 17 crashes, all but one of which were found to be caused by another driver’s error. Meanwhile, Tesla, another company that has a big stake in the self-driving automobile industry, has come under fire from critics about its aggressive implementation of automated technology after the death of a driver in Florida in May of 2016. In September, the New York Times reported a similar incident involving a Tesla automobile that occurred in China earlier this year. The criticism from safety advocates is largely over the company’s willingness to make available technology that has not been thoroughly tested. While these were reportedly the first driver deaths in over 130 million miles of travel, it still raises a debate about the degree to which automation will be deemed safe for drivers. Concerns About Semi-Autonomous Vehicles Part of the skepticism about automated technology stems from automobiles that will be only partially operated by a vehicle and handed over to a human driver in case of emergency. In certain types of automated vehicles, such as vehicles equipped with Tesla’s Autopilot function, drivers must still be aware enough to take over driving duties in certain situations. This might prove to be a difficult task for drivers, and it could even require a certain level of proficiency or training on the part of a vehicle's operator. It should also be noted that we already have some forms of automation in many of our vehicles. Automated braking has been used in vehicles for several years and has likely helped reduce the occurrence of many crashes. There is great promise for more automation, but there are still many unanswered questions. Accountability Will Always Be a Central Issue Just as it is in today’s human-operated vehicles, crashes in tomorrow’s self-driving cars will stem from some sort of error. Today, it is usually the drivers who are held accountable for their mistakes, but as self-driving automobiles become a bigger presence on our roads, that accountability will be shifted to other entities. Rather than human error is to blame, it might be the case that a particular crash will be deemed to be the fault of a vehicle manufacturer, or a software manufacturer. For the safety of all drivers, accountability will be a very important issue, one that will need to be fought for and pursued by the institutions providing oversight and regulation, and by drivers and citizens themselves. The Self-Driving Revolution is Beginning People might be reluctant to embrace self-driving technology, but it will be thrust upon them whether they are ready for it or not. In Pittsburgh, for example, Uber has launched self-driving vehicles in a pilot program. Uber’s chief rival in the ridesharing world, Lyft, has said that our roads will be filled with automated vehicles in five years, and the company is taking its own steps toward releasing self-driving cars. Read also: How To Shop For A Car With Your Teen Driver? Several companies are locked in a fight to be first when it comes to self-driving vehicles. This competition will no doubt lead to the rapid advancement of the technology. As consumers, we have to hope that the release of the technology is not hasty and that road safety is the top priority. The Future of Our Roads People are debating when, and not if, self-driving vehicles will become the norm. It’s only a matter of time before more vehicles will be completely or at least mostly operated by automated systems. We know from the history of transportation technology that we can expect certain things. We can expect resistance, adoption, innovation, and missteps in the implementation of the technology. We can also expect that one day soon we will be riding in, or sharing our roads with, self-driving cars. The Law Offices of James C. DeZao is a personal injury law firm in New Jersey. Contact them by visiting their website or calling them at (973) 808-8900. Read More: 5 Ways To Avoid The Rip Off While Buying A Used Car Invest In A New Car, Without A Financial Liabilit Turn The Tables For Helpless Children With Car Donation In New Jersey Fred Loya Insurance Company
READ MOREDetails
How To Shop For A Car With Your Teen Driver?
For most parents, buying a car for their teenager is a necessity to encourage independence and free up your schedule from having to drive them everywhere. Guess what? Your child feels the same. Upon receiving their driving license, they cannot wait to put those skills to good use. If your teen is not persistently nagging you for a set of wheels, count yourself lucky! Pondering what type of car to buy can become an arduous task and may often lead to frustration. Selecting the perfect car model to gift your teenager is further complicated with varying tastes. You, being the parent, wish to find an economical car that is safe to drive. If you are planning to buy a car for your teen, you have probably encountered different opinions that left you a tad confused. In this article, we aim to share insights on how to shop for a car with your teen driver. 1. Prepare A Budget While buying a car for your teen is an adventure, do not get carried away by expensive models at your local dealership. Start by deciding how much money is available to spend. Think about other pressing needs in the future while allocating the family budget. Remember, college tuition is right around the corner. Discuss the final budget with your teen and explain the argument behind it. Talk about the various options that can fit your budget. Old cars are cheaper, while new vehicles may not need much maintenance. Understandably, your teen may be upset if they expected a fancy ride only to have the budget slashed by half. Reason with them and reach a compromise. 2. Safety Features When choosing between different car models, safety should be the top of the list of concerns. You want your child to be safe as they drive to school or their summer job at the local fast-food joint. Inspect the car to ensure it has updated safety features such as electronic stability control and front and side airbags. Even the best-trained drivers can get into a fender bender in traffic or worse, a car wreck on the highway. Naturally, you fear more for your teen as they are new to driving and you want to be sure they are safe while on the road. Request the dealer to give you the car safety report that indicates what happens in the event of an accident. Do not forget to purchase sound insurance over. Compare different options and select wisely. 3. Other Features Once you have the handle on safety, you can get down to the fun part. Your teen is likely to suggest a car with modern interiors and high-quality sound. If you are buying an old car, they may not have advanced features that your child desires such as door speakers for bass. No worries, you can install quality door speakers at an affordable price. This upgrade is bound to make your teen happy! 4. Establish Ground Rules As you may have observed, teenagers are prone to distractions even while doing mundane tasks like watering the plants, washing the family dog or even putting cereal in a bowl. Do not fault them; their frontal lobes are still developing. Driving a car is not a mundane task. Each time you get behind the wheel, you stand the risk of getting involved in minor or major accidents. Your newly minted teen driver needs to understand that owning and operating an automobile calls for a high sense of responsibility at all times. Make it crystal clear that they are not allowed to take calls, read or respond to messages or any social media. All this can wait till they get to their destination safely. Agree on what time they need to get home by and the consequences of failing to adhere to stipulated curfews. As difficult as it may sound, your teen could easily be drinking behind your back. Add this to the column of DONT'S! Drunken driving will not only earn them a DUI and probably ruin their chances of getting into a good college; it can cause permanent damage or worse. Conclusion Buying a car for your teen can be difficult with the different choices available. Make a list of possible models they are interested in and investigate each model. Bring your teen to the dealership, so that they can get firsthand information from a car expert. Be open to making a few adjustments like installing door speakers for bass, so your teen can enjoy his favorite jams. Read More: Invest In A New Car, Without A Financial Liability Will Self-Driving Cars Replace Human Error? Tips To Keep Your Kids Safe In A Car Turn The Tables For Helpless Children With Car Donation In New Jersey
READ MOREDetails
Why Times Are Tough For Truckers and Why It Concerns You
It wasn't all that long ago that truck drivers were paid competitive wages and offered benefits for doing their jobs. But in recent decades, a job that once provided stability and a comfortable paycheck has become much more trying for truckers. When the trucking industry was deregulated in the 1980s, there was a rise in the number of trucking companies, leading to an increased demand for drivers. That need for more drivers has been a pox upon the trucking industry virtually ever since, and it shows no signs of letting up anytime soon. The American Trucking Associations says that the industry is currently short about 48,000 drivers. By 2025, that number will rise to approximately 890,000 drivers. Ask a commercial driver who has been working a big rig for a long period of time and they will tell you how much times have changed. In many ways, drivers feel as though they are under siege, either through regulation or by the companies that find more and more ways to save the money they pay some of their hardest workers. The changes in the trucking industry are important to everyone who shares the road with tractor-trailers. The fact that the industry is in limbo is a big concern for all of us. Truck Driver Pay Isn't Keeping the Pace The trucking industry has been struggling to retain the number of drivers that they need in order to meet shipping demands. While the industry refers to this as a shortage of drivers, many labor experts also believe that it is really a shortage of truck driver pay. Workers that used to gravitate toward the role of a truck driver are finding other sectors that offer more pay, or at least similar pay for more optimal working conditions. Truck drivers spend long stretches of time away from their homes and families. Unless adequate pay entices those workers to get behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler, they will find other sources of income. This means that the current workforce is stretched thin. Truck drivers are increasingly being hired as independent contractors, which means they lack the benefits that they used to enjoy and end up footing the bill for downtime. Self-driving Trucks are on the Horizon Though not an immediate threat to those who choose truck driving as a profession, the possibility of self-driving trucks is an ever-present entity in the trucking industry. While many believe that the automated trucks of tomorrow will have a human being in the vehicle to oversee and intervene in case of an emergency, the possibility of self-driving trucks raises a number of questions that remain unanswered. Now that companies are throwing their hat into the automated truck ring, the recent fatal crash involving the Tesla Autopilot system has also raised major concerns about the effectiveness and safety of a human operator taking over from an automated system. Until this technology is truly road-ready, it will remain a big question mark in terms of its impact on road safety and trucking labor. Many Regulations Currently loom Over the Trucking Industry A number of regulations have been hanging over the trucking industry in recent years. Electronic logging devices are slated to be mandatory on all trucks. Speed limiters are expected soon. These devices are promoted as being a boost to road safety by slowing trucks down and holding drivers and companies more accountable for hours spent on the road and for traveling too fast. However, many in the industry, including drivers, are concerned that these devices could cause more problems than they fix. Some drivers feel as though logging devices are a way to shift blame for violations onto them, and there have been many concerns (and lawsuits) over how the information from these devices is used to harass and intimidate drivers behind the wheel. Likewise, many drivers are concerned about the implementation of speed-limiting devices, which inhibit the ability of a truck to exceed a predetermined speed. Some safety advocates say these devices will improve road safety, but others are concerned that speed limiters will limit the ability of a driver to be as flexible and adaptable as they need to be in order to avoid causing traffic congestion. Yet another concern with speed limiters is that they create large speed differentials with other vehicles on the road, which increases the likelihood of collisions. Trucker Health and Sleep Apnea One of the biggest challenges for truck drivers is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Driving a truck means being sedentary for long periods of time. Eating healthy while on the road is difficult. It's easy to see why truck drivers, when compared to the average worker in the United States, have twice the rate of obesity and diabetes. Sadly, they are also twice as likely as all other workers to not be covered by an insurance plan. These less-than-optimal conditions set the stage for the high rate of sleep apnea among truck drivers. The FMCSA says that close to one-third of commercial truck drivers have obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that affects the quality of sleep and diminishes daytime alertness, among other health concerns. One report found that truck drivers with sleep apnea are five times more likely to be involved in vehicle crashes. These issues represent some of the greatest obstacles in the path of the trucking industry. As long as there is a demand for shipping, these companies will no doubt find a way to meet it, but the price is being paid by those who are behind the wheel. The fact that we all share the road with them means that we, too, have a vested interest in these struggles. There will be many changes to come for the trucking industry in the years ahead. Unless those in charge find a way to keep these drivers healthy, happy and better-taken care of, many of the problems mentioned above will only get worse. Read More: Important Things To Transport During A Relocation Finding The Right Moving Company How To Get A Loan On A Day With Bad Credit?
READ MOREDetails
Role of messaging apps in enhancing a company’s market prospects
Business firms are always in search of new ways in which they can enhance the user experience of their customers. After all, that is the best way to retain customers in a market that is characterized by increasing levels of competition. Apart from maintaining strong lines of communication with their customers, business houses also need to promote their brands and products in an effective way without sounding too pushy. This can be only achieved with the help of a tool that creates strong ties of communication with the end-users while at the same time provides a creative platform for brand promotion. A messaging app is a great way to accomplish this and are light and easy to use. These apps come with numerous features that help in various tasks necessary for today’s businesses. By allowing a company to learn about the needs and preferences of their end-users, such in-app messaging tools really help to enhance the overall customer experience. The latest messaging apps are designed in such a way that they are not only convenient for day-to-day use but also perfect for keeping detailed accounts of customer conversations and transactions. A well rounded messaging app can be used on both desktop and mobile platforms for easy customer communication at any given time from any place. Since most people prefer to stay in touch these days via their mobile phones, a good messaging app needs to be made for smooth mobile use as well. Apart from offering the option for two-way communication via chat and messaging, these apps also allow a company to send emails and push notifications to their customers to let them know about the status of their account or orders and also about a product’s latest features. Over the last few years or so, in-app messaging tools have also gained considerable momentum as efficient email marketing tools. Email marketing is a direct form of marketing in which prospective customers send emails about products and offers that would interest them. A lot of research is carried out before sending such emails so that companies are aware of the kinds of products and services that are preferred by a specific customer. Messaging apps allow a company to learn not only about the personal preferences of the customers they are trying to appeal to but also about their personal habits through live interactions on the messaging app and analytics from their visits to the product or website. These messaging apps, therefore, make marketing automation easier and allow a company to make efficient plans for smooth marketing campaigns. If you are the owner of a business looking to find new ways in which you can garner customer satisfaction from your end-users, invest in a messaging app that will help you to communicate easily with them and implement effective marketing campaigns. By investing in such messaging apps, you will be able to enjoy greater ROI within a very short period of time
READ MOREDetailsPopular
Technologies For Creating A Startup Idea
20 Feb 2023
How to Download Facebook Videos on Android?
07 Feb 2019
7 Rules of Effective Ecommerce Web Design
28 Jan 2021
