Drive Pickups Safely

Understand the safety difference when driving a car or truck!

Around 3 million pickup trucks are purchased and used for various reasons across the country each year. With so many light trucks on the road, the wise driver can take heed of safety precautions when driving this type of vehicle.

Pickup trucks tend to be the safer of the two vehicles in a collision with another car. This is called "passive safety." The larger size and the higher stance means the vehicle will probably suffer less damage than the smaller car. Its height also puts it on par with the bumpers of other trucks and SUVs.

However, pickups do have some disadvantages that will need to be taken into consideration in order to drive safely. Pickups have a higher rollover potential than passenger cars. Therefore, turning should be done slowly and corners shouldn't be taken like one is driving on a racetrack. According to the Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, in 2007, the most recent year from which statistics are available, rollovers accounted for 59 percent of SUV fatalities, 46 percent of pickup truck deaths and 25 percent of car fatalities. Although pickups have a lower center of gravity than SUVs, they can still rollover if driven aggressively.

Another thing to consider is the heavier weight of a pickup, which causes the pickup to have a longer stopping distance. This means pickup drivers will need to add an even greater space cushion between the pickup and other vehicles on the road to be able to avoid road hazards.

Something else to consider is that pickups are not designed to be nimble, overly responsive vehicles. They are primarily designed for hauling. That means swerving around obstacles isn't achieved as easily as it may be in a passenger car. Again, this drives home the point of leaving more space to react to the road.

Pickup drivers should also note that many pickups, with the exception of a few, are rear-wheel drive vehicles. This means that the back wheels power the forward movement of the truck. When the cargo bed is full, this can work out fine. However, when the cargo bed is empty, the front half of the truck tends to be the heavier part of the vehicle, and essentially the lighter half of the truck -- the empty back -- is pushing the truck along. On slick roadways this can cause fishtailing or poor breaking. An easy fix is to keep some sort of cargo in the bed to weigh down the rear of the vehicle, but this isn't something all drivers remember.

The height of pickup trucks (and SUVs for that matter) create blind zones in the back of the vehicle and below the front grill. The organization Kids and Cars, which works to improve child safety, says that roughly 90 children die each year when drivers back over them while they are in blind zones. Items lying in the driveway, such as bicycles and toys, may also be the victims of blind zones. Pickup drivers should be aware of blind zones and make efforts to check these areas before backing up or pulling out. Backup cameras can also provide assistance.

Pickup trucks are largely used for transporting personal belongings or for commercial purposes. They are much safer to drive when pickup owners know the particulars of truck design and maneuverability. 

If you're in the market for a previously owned truck check out our wide selection at Cars Plus in Califonia Maryland.  SC113542

Make Your Vehicle More Earth Friendly

Few social trends of the 21st century have been more popular and produced more positive results than the 'go green' movement. An effort to adopt a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, the go green movement is perhaps most prevalent in the automotive industry. More and more drivers are looking for ways to conserve fuel and even considering hybrid cars as a means to being more mindful of the environment.

But even less drastic measures can make a big and positive impact on the environment. For instance, altering driving habits and taking good care of your existing vehicle are easy ways to make a positive impact.

"Regular vehicle maintenance and better driving habits are two strategies that virtually every vehicle owner can embrace," says Martin Lawson of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair.

What's more, according to a survey of ASE-certified Master Auto Technicians, a well-maintained vehicle can last up to 50 percent longer than a poorly maintained counterpart. To help ensure your vehicle not only lasts longer but helps the environment along the way, ASE offers the following tips.

* Keep the engine running at peak performance. A misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30 percent and filters and fluids should be replaced in accordance with guidelines in your vehicle's manual.

* Keep tires properly inflated and aligned to reduce the engine's effort and conserve fuel.

* Find a good technician.  (Be sure to come see us at Cheseldine Tire and Auto....)
Check out any prospective technicians' credentials.

* Have your vehicle's air conditioner serviced only by a technician qualified to handle and recycle refrigerants. ASE-certified auto technicians have passed one or more national exams in specialties such as engine performance and air conditioning. Older air conditioners contain ozone-depleting chemicals, which could be released into the atmosphere through improper service.

* Avoid gas-guzzling habits like speeding and sudden accelerations. When waiting for friends or family, shut off the engine, and do your best to consolidate daily errands to eliminate unnecessary driving.

* Remove excess items from the vehicle, since less weight means better mileage. Remove that rooftop luggage carrier after vacations to reduce air drag.

* If you do your own repairs, properly dispose of engine fluids and batteries. Some repair facilities accept these items. If you can't find one that does, call your local government for information.

Visit www.ase.com for more seasonal car care tips and for information about the benefits of using ASE-certified technicians for auto repairs and service.

That Tire Guy- Coming Soon to Answer your auto repair questions

Do you have an auto repair question in southern maryland?  We'd love to hear from you.  The auto repair guy will be here to answer your questions and give you tips on taking care of your car to keep it running longer.  In these hard economic times the auto repair specialists of Cheseldine Tire and Auto understand it's important to keep your car running every mile possible.  They're going to tell you when to bring your  car in for the most important repairs and what to do for the winter check up .

We'd love to hear from you.


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