AUTO INSURANCE APPRAISAL”MISUNDERSTANDING OR MISTAKE”

This article is published in the March 2011 issue of AUTO BODY NEWS.

http://www.autobodynews.com/columnists/danalevich-walter.html

AUTO BODY KEYLESS IGNITIOIN TIPS

Keyless ignition raising safety issues

By: Restyling News

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Keyless ignition might be a convenient feature for your automobile, but recent complaints and tragic incidents prove that it can also open up a whole new set of safety concerns, according to Edmunds’ AutoObserver.com.

Recent news reports, together with data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaint database, suggest a growing pattern of keyless-start-related mishaps. The issues range from simple failures to lock cars to more serious cases such as carbon monoxide poisoning. In the latter case, it appears that some drivers are forgetting to shut the engine off after parking the vehicle in their garage, even though these systems are supposed to alert drivers when the key fob is removed from the cabin while the engine is running.

“Most drivers have spent years inserting a key and turning it to start the engine, then removing the key to shut the engine off, but keyless start completely does away with this familiar process,” says Edmunds.com’s senior analyst, Karl Brauer. “Now that modern engines are so smooth and quiet, people are not surprisingly walking away from their vehicles with the engine still running.”

Accidents and complaints with keyless ignition are becoming more common as the technology continues to rapidly spread. Since 2006 the number of models offering keyless start has grown from 40 to 163, which is over half of all new car and light truck models sold in the U.S.

Complicating the issue is the debate over who’s at fault in mishaps tied to the technology. As demonstrated by the introduction of anti-lock breaking systems more than 20 years ago, a change in driver behavior is necessary for many new car features to work most effectively and safely.

“While these ‘technological backfires’ can’t be directly tied to design flaws or vehicle defects, they are yet another example of the unforeseen consequences that often accompany technological ‘advancement,’” said Brauer. “You can bet automakers will be re-evaluating keyless start and driver behavior in an attempt to quell this latest technological backfire.”

CHOOSING AN AUTO BODY SHOP

Unless you are a car expert with experience in repairs, chances are that you are going to need to find an auto body repair shop in order to get your vehicle fixed. Whether you were in a major fender bender or just need to get a few scratches fixed, an auto body repair shop will usually have the tools and expertise necessary to get your vehicle fixed and get you back on the road. But don’t just take your car to any old auto body repair shop. Do your research beforehand to make sure that the repair shop you are dealing with is ethical, professional and does high quality work

www.sbautobody.com

http://tinyurl.com/sbautobody

DRIVING SAFTY TIPS

Tips on Safe Driving   by Harry Pateroulakis

in Autos (submitted 2011-02-15)

Driving defensively and safely will drastically reduce the risk of being in an accident and more importantly in a serious or life threatening car crash. It is no secret that most auto accidents are due to driver not following safe driving tips. Safe defensive driving skills can easily be learned. Learning and following a few rules can help you avoid accidents and traffic fines and more importantly can save your life.

Always keep your eyes constantly moving. You should be aware of everything around you on the road and not just staring at the line between lanes. You should also be monitoring the rear view mirrors to know what is happening behind your car. By keeping yourself aware of your surroundings you can avoid any sudden breaking or movement due to last minute surprises.

When driving always leave yourself an out if any danger appears. For example if you are driving down the highway in the center lane right behind a car and there are cars to your left and to your right, if the car in front of you breaks you left yourself no out. If you don’t have an emergency out than you are relying on other drivers to drive safely and that is never guaranteed. Never assume another driver will do something. Leaving plenty of distance between yourself and the car in front of you will help give you more time to make any maneuvers if necessary. Never assume other drivers are aware of you, stay out of peoples blind spots by either slowing down or speeding up till they are able to see you. The use of turning signals is very important in alerting other drivers of your intentions.

Speed, in all probability, is the most important of all the safe driving tips. Reckless driving and exceeding the speed limit endangers not only yourself but everyone else on around you on the road. Maintaining a speed near the legal limit allows you the optimum control of the vehicle if you need to avoid anything or make any sudden maneuvers. You should be at average traffic speed when you enter a highway and be at average speed when you approach the exit ramp.
Before rushing up a freeway entrance ramp, look back and gauge the average speed. When you see other cars on the entrance ramp trying to enter the highway it is common courtesy to change lanes safely if possible to allow them to merge.

Remember to always buckle up. The seatbelt is there to keep you safe and remember it’s against taw to not buckle up. Having said all of that, one of the most important things to remember is to never get behind the wheel if you are fully awake, fresh, and sober. Do not drive under the influence of anything that will slow down your reaction time and decision making skills. A great place to learn a lot more skills and driving tips is by taking a defensive driving course.

About the Author

Harry Pateroulakis
Mercedes Driving School

Long Island Driving School from NY, USA

SANTA BARBARA AUTO REFINISHING

————————————————————-

PROFESSIONAL AUTO BODY REPAIRS !!! "QUALITY YOU CAN TRUST SINCE 1979"

SANTA  BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 93103

www.sbautobody.com

http://tinyurl.com/sbautobody

SANTA BARBARA AUTO BODY SHOP INFORMATION

http://tinyurl.com/sbautobody

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEE DINGS,DENTS & CRASHES TO YOUR BOTTOM LINE!

http://www.autobodynews.com/news/industry-news/item/4804-credit-card-pro