Parking Lot Safety 101: Remembering YOLO when you're flying solo

Listen up!  This isn't just for women.  This isn't just for young new drivers.  This isn't just for those in a rough spot of town.  Regardless of age, gender, or location, situational awareness is key for all humans, and it becomes exponentially more important when getting behind the wheel all by yourself.  It may sound cliche, but it really is better to be safe than sorry. 

You've probably got one of these questions in mind:  How much extra effort is this going to be on my part?  How much will it cost for the latest safety gadget to keep myself safe?  What exactly are you trying to sell me?

You're in luck, dear driver.  This advice is easy, free, and largely common sense.  All you have to do is, well, do it:

Park in well-lit areas as close to the building entrance as possible.  Allow yourself extra time to spend finding a great parking spot-- the time you save by parking far away isn't worth the risk of walking the stretch of the parking lot all by yourself.

Of course, the best kind of safety is preventative!  Make sure your car is up-to-date on all maintenance and service appointments  You can even make an appointment with us online! 

If you consider lipstick more important than your life, don't worry about reading this.

Want to lower your chances of getting into a car accident? Stop grooming behind the wheel. Men, no more electric shaving!  Ladies, put the makeup down. Driving with these types of distractions, along with eating or using your cell phone significantly increases your chances of getting into an accident. Finish grooming before you leave the house-- because it's never worth the risk.

Thursday got you feeling blue? Cheer things up & write a Haiku!

Not only are we smack dab in the middle of Poetry Month, today is Haiku Day!  We tried our hand at tackling the ol' 5-7-5 syllable pattern and wrote one in honor of America's best car manufacturer.  

Pack up that Chevy,

it’s time to escape this place

And go find new roads

So... how'd we do?  Tell us what you think and post your own haiku on our Facebook page!

Canine Copilot Consideration: read this before emBARKing on your next trip.

It's not rocket science: you would never go on a road trip knowing your child can't be securely buckled up.  So why do so many of us pack up our cars and zip down the freeway without a second thought about our four-legged friends?  Many dogs weigh the same as a small child, yet the overwhelming majority of pet owners travel with their pooch unrestrained.  Invest in a harness or other device to secure that precious cargo.

It's Fact-Or-Fiction Friday! True or False: It's best to wash your car when it's hot outside

FALSE!  

If your car has been sitting in the sun or you’ve just taken it for a long drive, you should wait until it cools down before soaping up.  Park it in the shade for a couple of hours—or start with the interior.  A hot exterior speeds the drying of the soap and water.  While that may sound like a good thing, it makes washing more difficult because it increases the chance of spots and soap scum.  Avoid the hassle—wait until things cool off.

Embarrassing driving moments that will make you facepalm

Nobody's perfect, right?  We all make mistakes, but sometimes those little imperfections can become downright embarrassing!  Here's a list of uh-ohs that have probably happened to all of us at some point.

Leaving your turn signal on. We're talkin' miles after you've made that turn.

Cutting someone off in traffic by accident.  No matter how apologetic your courtesy wave, it will not help you here.

Not realizing the light has turned green!  Don't worry, though. The collective roar of cursing drivers and screaming car horns should rouse you from that daydream pretty quickly.

Messing up while parallel parking.  Repeatedly.  You swear, you do it perfectly every time when there's nobody else in the car!

Getting caught singing, dancing, digging for gold... Avoid the shame and keep these, er, personal habits at home.


How many of these cringe-worthy driving faux pas are YOU guilty of?  Join the conversation on our Twitter and Facebook pages!

Which bad driving habit gets on your nerves the most?

Think of the worst driver you know.  What is it exactly that makes them “bad” at driving?  This recent survey shows that sometimes what’s annoying actually IS unsafe!  Are you guilty of any of these?

The most annoying driving habits are:

1. Following others too closely: 14 percent
2. Driving too fast: 13 percent
3. Driving too slowly: 10 percent
4. Cutting off other drivers: 8 percent
5. Talking on cellphone while driving: 7 percent
6. Merging too slowly onto the highway: 6 percent
7. Getting lost: 6 percent
8. Taking inconvenient and/or long routes: 6 percent
9. Fiddling with radio/CD player: 6 percent
10. Failing to stay in their lane: 6 percent
11. Not signaling: 5 percent
12. Taking turns sharply: 5 percent
13. Looking at passengers while talking: 4 percent
14. Braking at green lights: 4 percent