How much is my car worth ? Is a question I hear often.

The thing is… when you go to sell your car; it’s common to run into a bit of a challenge when trying to figure this out.

All to often you may end up selling a vehicle that is worth far less than you imagined. And when the dealership hits you with the meagre number (far off what you expected), it can be a real rock to your confidence.

However the concerns that we are about to dig into when considering How much is my car worth – may play an important to role in realising the price of your vehicle accurately.

First up… what should you be looking, at when you think your car might be undervalued?

Car Dating Records

One thing that many people don’t think would matter, when asking How much is my car worth? – but almost certainly does, is how many “marriages” your car has had. By this, I mean how many owners; how many dates has the car been on with other people? Dealers rate this information highly as it gives the car a reputation of being reliable or one that you get rid of quickly.

Whilst a small grouping of owners over a significant period of time will not really hurt you too much, you do need to consider how a range of owners over a period of one or two years will look. It makes the vehicle look as if it has no real or genuine value, and can quickly be seen as a bit of a busted flush. However, it also comes down to the dealerships own personal successes with a vehicle; are they dealing with good sales on your kind of vehicle? Then they might look at your ownership rate a bit more positively.

Asking the question How much is my car worth? – is something that you do need to think about, as the company will be running with industry data to try and ascertain the fairest price, and if they are using Glass or CAP they will be getting plenty of information about the car, including an average price that is on the market. Things like the ownership record, though, could just rock the boat enough to see your price offered take a significant kicking. This is something to consider quite carefully as a car that is not producing a very positive ownership record could lose out to a car that is almost identical, but has had less owners.

Is The Heart Ruling The Head?

How much is my car worth?

When thinking about How much is my car worth? a major problem for those who are trying to sell cars is looking at the vehicle with their heart rather than the head. We’ve covered this further down below but it really is the biggest barrier to your success. You need to take off those glasses that are blocking your view and look at things like the body and the paintwork. Getting to grips with all those dull parts, scratches, bangs and bumps that never seemed to really matter until now is so important to getting the true value of a vehicle.

Take a forensic look at everything from the paint to the wheels and even the windows. Don’t forget about the interior, either – this has to be forensically investigated to make sure that you can get a vehicle that is easy to use and attractive to potential buyers. Is the car being serviced on time every year or are you delaying things? Because that will hurt you, too.

When considering How much is my car worth?, if you’ve paid a lot of money for spoilers and extras you will probably dent the final price, too. Most people aren’t keen on this kind of stuff and won’t be shy about letting you know. Take the time to be objective about the state of your car and you might get a whole lot more luck with ending up with a price that is actually reflective of its class.

Start by visiting places like WeBuyAnyCar.com, as they offer a very good range of starting points to do some research and to get a better idea of what your car is worth. The one thing we can say, though, is don’t be misled by looking at classified ads – they don’t tell the whole truth and will give you a rather poor perception of what you could be worth. Just because Joe from Brixton is selling his Fiesta for that much does not mean that you can, too!

Cars are like people. They have so many complex differences that when judging one against the other it is absolute folly. Lose the emotion and stop looking for logic to make sense to you – instead, find the actual facts behind the situation and you are more likely to lose the tinted glasses and start making smart, calculated and intelligent decisions about your vehicles overall price.

Understanding Dealership Valuations

When considering How much is my car worth? Another big part in establishing vehicle value and a fair price is the dealership valuation in general.

If you are using the average value based on what dealers are selling the car for then you will be in for a bit of a shock as this does not take into account the wide reaching ways they will find to reduce the fee that they are paying out to you.

Dealers will look at the model, specifications and the year of your vehicle before going any further. Your vehicle could have things like a manual gearbox, or come in a really undesirable colour that would need to be changed. You could, though, be sitting with the King of the car that you own with the best specifications and a classy, well-received colour. This all comes into play when looking at the price you’ll get.

One fancy spoiler to many

How much is my car worth?

Another big problem when considering How much is my car worth?, is when you jazz up your car too much. Fancy rims, spoilers and tinted windows might make you feel like you are in a racing movie, but the next buyer might not be so eager to drive around like this and that will impact on the value.

Whilst you will get away with having an older vehicle that has a bit more mileage on the clock compared to others, you won’t be able to get away with having an old car that is the vehicle equivalent of an OAP. If a model upgrade has happened to your vehicle since you bought it you can expect the price to have hit the floor with your model. Factor in things like warranty periods being expired and the value you expect and the value you get could be two totally different things.

Damage and decay

Another big issue when considering How much is my car worth?, is the condition of the car. If any kind of damage or decay can be seen, you will be charged for it in the final price. Leaks, tyre wear and tear, service history, MOT history and various other little things all come into the mind of the mechanic when looking at your vehicles service history. Everything that they need to fork out fixing up this stuff is going to come out of your final price.

Mileage

The last thing to think about when considering How much is my car worth? is the mileage on the clock.

If you’ve spent plenty of time going from Southampton to Inverness then your overall pricing is going to be a whole lot worse than it could have been. A car with low mileage despite its age can balance out, but if you like to go everywhere in the car you might find that it will hurt you when the time comes to sell.

I’m I being scammed?

How much is my car worth?

If you turn up to sell or exchange your car expecting a right few quid and you get offered buttons in exchange, no doubt you’ll be more than a little frustrated.

The question How much is my car worth?… may blurt out your mouth in alarm!

You may feel like the mechanic is out to get you. After loving your car and taking care of it soundly you might soon find that the mechanic who wants to buy it is not quite as impressed with your diligence. You’ve now been told that – after all that work and care – it’s worth less than half of what you were expecting. “Surly these guy are trying it!”

A rather broad a question…

When you ask How much is my car worth?,  you are asking a rather broad question. Whilst you’ll find morally dubious individuals who buy cars for a song and leave you out of pocket and with no other option, you will find that most of the markdowns are actually a bit fairer than they might appear. Keep in mind that you are going to a motor professional who knows that you want to sell; you have less knowledge, and you have no advantage as you initiated the process. This leaves you in a bit of a challenge, do you listen to their words and get a bad fee, or do you say no and risk being dropped?

The chances are, though, that the lowballing will start to incrementally rise until you get to a figure a bit more like what you were hoping for. Never ever accept the first offer provided; because it might be the lowest offer they could have provided you with!

By taking a running guess at your cars value and doing no research, or just going with arbitrary numbers based on what you paid for X and Y, you will get nowhere. However, if you are look at car ads you will be a bit more accurate, but not quite there yet. The best way to actually understand the price of your vehicle is quite simple; you need to remove the emotional aspect.

When considering How much is my car worth?, think of it as if you were a buyer, not the one who has had so many good memories and fun times in the car. Take out the emotional side of things and you will find that it could be much easier to negotiate a price that make sense.

A mechanic will always presume you don’t have a clue about this kind of thing so you need to be prepared to get on the web and get reading. Look into the reasons why you might be getting a poor value return and then work out why they might be trying to use industry data to try and tie you up in knots. Take the time needed to learn before you try and sell and get burned.

My car’s name is Daisy

How much is my car worth?

Your car may be called Daisy, and it may have got you to the moon and back, but the bottom-line is that the salesman does not care. They see an arbitrary figure and a chance to buy a car that could be worth something to them for next to nothing.

Funnily enough, you want to try and avoid this scenario and concentrate on the most effective way to stop this from happening. Without a doubt, this is by looking at your car as a Peugeot, not Peter the Peugeot. It’s not an actor, it’s not a superstar – it’s a car.

Finally…when considering the question How much is my car worth?, try to drop the emotion, do your research and line yourself up for a successful sale.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post How much is my car worth? appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Driving can be a fantastic privilege, and one that we can all enjoy at any time of the day or night. However, one of the big problems with the roads is that they can still be fatal if you aren’t careful about what you are doing, or indeed where you are going. If you are someone who believes that motor problems and breaking down on a dark, empty road is only for the horror films; think again.

Here are some of the most dangerous road situations that you can encounter, that can leave you in a blind panic should they ever occur;

Road Hijackings

It might sound like a nightmare but it happens far more than anyone would like to admit. one of those most dangerous road scenarios is if you are getting into your car and notice someone hanging around a parking lot or nearby street clocking you. If you feel concerned lock your doors immediately. You might not like to cast negative aspersions about everyone you see in the street, but this could be one of those most dangerous road situations you don’t want to take a chance with!

Most dangerous road situations

If you need to move things around in the car, do it once you have locked the doors and have got yourself secure and alone in the car. If you find yourself in a real hijacking – situation whether it’s the car or the purse – don’t resist. Your life is far more precious than the contents of a bag or your vehicle. If you are ever caught in the vehicle from behind, the easiest way to get out and escape is to yank one of their fingers back all the way. Used with all of your fingers and enough force, you should be able to snap the finger and give yourself time to escape.

Flat Tyre

If you ever find yourself with a dreaded flat tyre in a tunnel or on a road, you need to stop and take a deep breathe and think. When something goes wrong with your car, don’t get out of the vehicle to investigate this is potentially one of those most dangerous road situation . You aren’t a mechanic, and you are just making yourself an open bulls-eye for anyone of a negative persuasion.

If you cannot make a phone call for whatever reason to get the police, do not get out of the car – you will need to wait for a passerby to help. Even the emptiest piece of road will have someone come along eventually; stay within the car and talk o them through the window. Ask them to phone the police immediately as soon as they arrive, and if they refuse to do so roll up the window. Make sure there is always someone on the way.

Off A Bridge

A most dangerous road situation is the dreaded scenario of being run off, or driving off accidentally a bridge into the water. Bridges can be a terrifying accident waiting to happen and, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly 384 people die per year on average from submersion with their vehicle crashing into the water.

Once you hit the water, you typically have a minute or so to get out. The side windows will be your best bet whilst the vehicle is still floating hasn’t yet started sinking. When the vehicle is floating, you simply need to make your exist – leave everything, don’t call for help, just get out. You have a very limited amount of time, so you need to move fast.

You can keep a Life Hammer for this exact situation in your car – they can smash in the windows quickly and allow you to get out to safety quickly. It also has a razor that can go through the seatbelts with ease, helping you escape if this function is broken from the crash.

In fact, the life hammer can be equally useful for the first two situations as a last act form of defence! Keep it in an easy to access location when driving like your pocket, so that you have instant access to it should anything occur.

To health and vehicle happiness

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Most Dangerous Road Situations appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Recently, we wrote an article about the benefits of driving an UK electric cars. Electric cars have been an excellent addition to the world and have gone a long way to giving the green-minded ones of us, a bit of hope for the future of the planet once again. However, they are not all sunshine & rainbows – you need to be aware of some rather specific issues that can arise from driving an electric car, including;

It’s Not “Here” Yet

One thing you need to think about is the fact that whilst UK electric cars seem like something in the future, they are technically still in the future at the moment. There is a lot of uncertainty about using these cars, and as we mention below, the cost of using an electric car can be quite massive. This means that the majority of us would struggle to afford one, making the technology itself a little pointless – how can it make a difference if only those who are doing well can afford one?

There’s also no long-term guarantee that UK electric cars will make it in the long-term interests of the industry. There’s nothing to say that they are going to die out, but in a decades time UK electric cars might have been replaced by something else entirely. Technology moves fast and this can leave you at a big disadvantage if you sink all of your money into a long-term purchase, only to watch it fall flat right in front of you and be replaced by something even better!

Limited Distance

You will typically cover around 60 miles of distance when driving typical UK electric cars at motorway speed; this will run through your juice very fast, though. This is a big problem and will typically mean that you can’t get to where you are going without having to stop at one of the – albeit many – charging stations in your city. Whilst going at around 30-40mph will give you roughly 120 miles, you might want to go elsewhere for now if you are going to be making long and arduous drives with regularity.

Tax Credit Downsides

In the other article, we mentioned how useful it is to have tax credits coming into your pocket for buying this kind of car. However, you will notice that the cost of repairs and general upkeep of UK electric cars be quite staggering in comparison with your normal car. This can mean that those extra pennies you are being provided will be gobbled up fairly quickly if you are someone who drives almost everywhere.

A UK electric cars battery change alone could leave you with almost all of that gone right away. Bottomline, you need to be prepared for the big costs of taking on  UK electric cars.

To health and vehicle happiness

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Cons of Owning UK Electric Cars appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

In the last decade or so, the prominence of the electric car UK has become far more popular than many expected it; it’s been a relatively fast take off for a revolutionary part of the vehicle industry. Especially in packed cities like London, being able to get access to gas-free vehicles can cut down on their rather staggering petrol costs that you might incur along the way. Due to the size of the capital, it’s important to be able to drive around at your leisure without the constant cost of petrol being factored in.

If you aren’t sure on where to go in terms of your vehicle, we would highly recommend picking an electric car UK for the following reasons;

Avoid Petrol Stations

Whilst petrol stations are an expense that we could all do without, they also come with another issue that many of us might not factor in; they are quite dangerous. Petrol stations in big cities like London can typically be surrounded by a variety of hazards, from “dirty rain” to muggers. If you are driving around in an electric car, though, this problem literally disappears for you.

Helping The Environment

You’ll also be helping out the environment, which definitely needs all the input we can possibly put into it! Choosing a car that is good for the environment is going to be good for your own health, as well as the health of your ancestors. Make the right choice if you are an environmentally conscious person.

Cash In

Another excellent benefit of buying an electric car UK is the fact that drivers in the UK are being rewarded for doing so. In fact, up to £8,000 can await from you in the form of tax incentives if you go down the green route and get an electric car. In the US, you can get up to $7,500 for your troubles; so you will be getting a nice little reward for making a conscious decision to help out the planet and your wallet!

Charging Stations on the Up

The big problem with using electric cars UK in the past was the fact that charging stations were few and far between. However, they are beginning to pop up all over the place and you’ll be able to park up with ease at charging stations, making it easier than ever to park. In fact, charging points also double as parking spaces so you can find a parking spot easier than many of your fellow Londoners! This is the case for many big cities in the UK and the US, though, so you can benefit almost anywhere!

To health and vehicle happiness

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Benefits of Owning An Electric Car UK appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Car ownership is like owing any other gadget or item – if you don’t look after it properly, you will eventually need to replace it.

Here are just five of the key car ownership mistakes that people have made in the past, that have cost them far more than they could have imagined.

The Wrong Wheels

Believing that you are a car expert, when you are new to the world of automobiles can be a disastrous car ownership mistake to try and pull off. For instance, installing oversized wheels is a rookie mistake and will eventually cause you nothing but massively expensive problems. You can eventually damage the fenders and wheel wells for your vehicle and leave yourself with a huge bill to pay and no car for quite some time.

Unaligned Tyres

Car Ownership Mistakes

Tyres care is a big part of car ownership, and aligning them in the wrong manner is a mistake that plenty of people do. If you’re putting on new tyres make sure they are properly aligned. Failure to do so will see your tyre’s running out much quicker than you ever thought possible!

Ignoring Oil Changes

Just like anything else that uses oil, it has to be changed and re-mixed from time to time. Whilst oil technology has improved in the last generation or so, it’s still vital to make sure that your car gets an oil change from time to time. If you fail to do so, this car ownership mistake will eventually start to cause your engine to wear out, as there will not be efficient enough lubricant. This can be an expensive problem to clean up, in more ways than one.

Buying Cheap Batteries

Sometimes, trying to save money on vehicle maintenance will only cost you far more in the long-term. A dead battery as you might imagine is useless. When buying a car battery, look online for the exact battery type for your vehicle and try going for one of the better ranges. Buying a cheap replacement to save a few pounds may cost you extra money for a battery charger and a replacement, so try not to scrimp and save in this department.

Unprofessional Body Work

The last thing that your vehicle needs is cheap bodywork – if you have dented or damaged your car, get a professional to fix the problem. Your mate with a hammer or that DIY specialist with his own garage out the back, might not be the best people to really help you, as it may end up costing you far more in the future.

If you can think of any other car ownership mistakes you want to shout, about feel free to let me know.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Five Disastrous Car Ownership Mistakes appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

As you might imagine, car maintenance is very important because the majority of cars can be relatively fragile if you don’t look after them. Bad car habits tend to be entirely self-inflicted, and therefore can cause vehicle damage that may prove to be expensive. So if you find that your car is beginning to incur problems a touch quicker than you are used to, it maybe it’s due to the way you drive.

Okay… so this post isn’t a dig, or a way to preach about road safety, it’s a legitimate concern, as certain bad car habits can directly cause crashes and accidents. Equally, the following bad car habits are going to put a severe dent in the lifespan of your vehicle.

Bad Car Habits

Dodging Maintenance

If you were to go through life without ever doing any exercise, or looking after your body in any fashion whatsoever, it would no doubt lead to shorter lifespan than normal. Right? Well a car is the exactly same. Delaying going for regular service checks ups and maintenance may turn into one of those bad car habits, meaning that your car will never get its proverbial exercise check up. If you want to avoid this dilemma, you should take your car for a regular service for things like oil and filter replacement, transmission fluids, air filters and replacement brake pads.

Head ups! Your vehicle should have come with a maintenance manual. If you can’t find it, you may be able to pick one up online. Following the advice found in your vehicle manual will help you to create a nice maintenance routine to follow.

Shifting When on the Move

Gear shifting when on the move is a foolish tactic, it’s another one of those bad car habits, it’s costly, and will wear out the transmission fairly quickly. Don’t shift from drive to reverse whilst you are moving as it’s like a kick in the face to the transmission. Too many of these jerks and jabs, and you will eventually need to replace the transmission. In many cases, this can almost be as expensive as buying a new car outright!

Computer Game Driving

Do you tend to drive at the maximum speed possible, only to come to grinding halt at every stop you encounter? If so be prepared to put your car in the scrapper early. This type of driving will accelerate the deterioration of the key parts of your vehicle, it’s again another one of those bad driving habits, and eventually it will leave you with a hulking mess of a vehicle. For a good car life span, take it nice and smooth and don’t make computer game driving a bad car habit.

Ignoring Dash Lights

It’s fairly self-explanatory – if you decide to ignore the clear warnings that your vehicle is giving you, then hands down you will eventually regret it! Bad car habits are not paying attention to dashboard warning lights, they are there for a reason. And if you do come across a legitimate problem, please do yourself a favor and hot foot it down to the local garage or your trusty mechanic to have the problem repaired.

Tire Replacements

Are your tires balding or damaged? Then you need to bite the bullet and get replacements. It might be expensive, but it may cost you more than and “arm and a leg” in the long-term if you decide to just ignore it. Bald tyres are dangerous full stop, and if you live in weather torn areas it’s asking for serious trouble. You’ve been warned, if your tyres are balding pick new ones up as soon as possible or you run the risk of having no car at all!

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Five Bad Car Habits That Will Cost You appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

So, you’ve just got back from a “fun” trip to the mechanics, where he had a lot of really boring information to give you about your car that you didn’t understand. Throughout the conversation that was filled with dizzying price estimates and various platitudes you never really caught, you may have heard the term “winter air in tires” being mentioned. Basically, winter air in tyres is something that is used during the winter to help boost your tires.

With winter air in tires, during the summer months, the warmer temperatures add on an extra couple of Pounds per Square Inch, or PSI, to your car tires. Even if you were to deal with this small adjustment day-in, day-out in the winter it would always seep out at night when the temperatures hit their lowest. You’ll need to regularly add a couple of pounds back into the tires during the winter, and make sure that you check for the need for winter air in tires before you setoff in the morning.

The side of your tires should come with a little notice for what the recommended cold tire pressure level should be. This also implies that when you take any pressure readings, you should do so in the cold so you aren’t getting that little bit of a boost from the heat, giving you an artificial reading. Tires do work at their peak when they are warmed up, so making sure that you try and get the heat in your tires is also important to improve functionality on the roads.

Why Does This Happen?

Winter air in tires

Put simply, this all occurs due to the perplexing nature of physics.

Static quantities of gas in a container will push against the sides of the container, trying to get out. To solve that problem, you would add heat to help expand the inside because the air molecules inside can then move freer & faster, and make sure that they collide with each other more inside which increases pressure. Using the example above, you can apply the exact same methodology to your tires!

If you are sick of your winters being a little bit more confusing than they need to then make sure that your that the winter air in tires are checked regularly, specifically when the cold weather comes in. your best bet, usually, is to try and do this once every few days and fill up your pressure levels when needed as it can be problematic otherwise.

To health and vehicle happiness

Your fearless Mechanic,

Phil.

The post What is Winter Air in Tires? appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Auto financing irrespective of  the type vehicle you are looking at, opens up a plethora of options and possible situations.

A high percentage of vehicles that get picked up today are on some form of long-term credit or auto financing agreement. After all, how many of us have a few thousand pounds just sitting spare in the bank ready to buy the car outright?

The problem is that a lot of us just go with the first option offered to us for auto financing, and months down the line find ourselves involved in an uncompromising payment scheme that we cannot afford. Before making you final auto financing decision, make sure that you take these key considerations into account first.

What type of auto financing is available to you?

The majority of car purchases are taken out in some form of Hire Purchase, or HP auto financing. In modern times though it is more common to take the car out on a Personal Contract Purchase, or PCP. The different types of auto financing that are available to you will depend on your own credit score and other factors, but it’s very much worth pursuing.

For example, some people will hire their vehicle on a business lease, but you need to make sure that you fully understand the terms & conditions of this type of arrangement. PCP is preferable to the manufacturer, as it increases their chances of both getting upsells from you and in general it works out better for the seller in the long run. Don’t be pressured into taking a PCP contract if it’s not for you, though!

Take the deal that suits you best – but make sure to explore every avenue of auto financing first.

Always Plan Ahead

You might find yourself going dizzy looking at all these big auto financing APR counts, but you need to make sure that what you may have to pay100% works in line with your financial budget, before jumping in. Auto financing assumptions will get you nowhere, so know your numbers, especially in expensive purchase. For Instance, auto financing HP payments are usually more expensive monthly but general far more flexible should any problems occur with payments, or there has to be a readjustment of your plan.

PCP can be much cheaper in the long run, but before long another financial commitment may have come along – so always make sure that your auto financing plans make sense in five years, not just today.

Part 2

Auto financing

Check Your Credit Rating

Auto financing will mean credit checks. So even if you think your credit score is absolutely perfect, and you think you know this for a fact, it’s better to have your credit rating checked anyway.

Use a reputable name like Experian, as this will update any outdated references to your credit that a company may get when they do a credit check on you. Keep in mind that if your credit record has recently improved dramatically, you may still get rejected, as your old rating may be the most recent copy they have on record.

Read Everything

With auto financing, don’t give anything a half glance. Every letter of your contract must be read to make sure you understand it completely and totally. Understand every fee involved and every single step and procedure along the way. This is the only way you will know that your auto financing financial future won’t flag up nastiest surprises down the line!

In line with FCA requirements, all auto financing agreements should be provided to you in writing, verbal quotation is not enough. Pre-contract information must also be provided, and should have an adequate explanation of every single aspect of the agreement you are about to sign. There should be no pressure. You have every right to take as long as you wish to read the contracts, so don’t let the dealer talk you down with half answers, and if n doubt seek answers from a third party.

Ask Questions

With auto financing no matter how basic the questions don’t feel like you are being silly by asking them. This is the future of your finances and potentially your life you are dealing with.

Auto financing can be complicated so make sure you asked the financial experts the right questions; don’t leave any questions in your head. Ask the person conducting the interview to explain every letter, and if you aren’t satisfied seek a second opinion. A good salesman will be able to deal with questions both basic and extremely complex, so make the salesman work for your money and make sure you have 100% confidence in the process ahead.

Be Honest

For auto financing I would advise to try and be totally honest from the start. Making false applications is a criminal offence so don’t be silly. Give truthful answers to every question, even if it’s potentially going to hurt your application. It’s far better to fail with one firm for telling the truth than get accepted on a short-term lie that could literally ruin everything in the future.

Expect the honesty to be reciprocated. Give the dealership all the right answers, and make sure that you see all the details they are entering on your behalf. Any credit applications that you apply for should be completely legitimate, and if you feel anything is slightly off key go elsewhere – it’s not worth the risk.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Auto Financing Considerations appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

The other day I was reading this article in the Daily Mail

Mother impaled by pole through her thigh and buttocks after she veered off highway while texting and driving

Now perhaps that incident was a one off situation, but I’m sure at one time or another we’ve’ve all been guilty of texting while driving, the question is how hazardous is it?

A recent study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M found that even voice-activated text-messaging while driving is dangerous. The study wanted to examine whether hands-free technology is actually safer than traditional texting while driving. The results were surprising.

Although you might expect voice-activated texting to be less distracting than traditional text messaging, the study found that the voice-activated texting while driving method was equally dangerous. According to study director Christine Yager both methods resulted in reaction times that were twice as slow, with eyes less focused on the road often than they should be.

The study used a tracker to detect when drivers on a closed course looked at the roadway, and measured how long it took each driver to complete the texting task set for them. On the course was a stoplight that changed periodically, used to measure reaction times. The drivers were tested on both approaches to texting while driving the traditional and voice-activated texting methods, and on both Android and iOS devices. The study result found that the voice-activated technology didn’t result in any increase in driver safety when compared to regular texting.

Texting while driving distracts drivers

Texting while driving

In the UK, using any hand-held phone or device has been banned behind the wheel since 2003. Getting caught doing so results in a hefty fine of 60 Euros and three penalty points on the driver’s license. In spite of this, nearly 21 percent of respondents to the RAC’s polls on the subject admitted to using their mobile while driving or when waiting at a traffic light. Another 11 percent openly admitted to taking a peek at email and social media or texting while driving while behind the wheel.

This has led to companies desperately trying to develop technologies that will allow drivers to stay connected and communicate while on the road. Both Android and Apple have created voice recognition software solutions to allow drivers to use their phones hands-free, which is legal in the UK and in most US states as well. Unfortunately, this new study based on texting while driving calls into question whether phone communication on the road is safe at all.

Governors Highway Safety Association director Jonathan Adkins says he’s not surprised by the study’s results. Hands-free communication still takes a driver’s attention away from the road, making it a dangerous distraction. According to Christine Yager, drivers in the study were familiar with texting while driving, but felt the need to look away from the road to ensure that the voice recorder was accurately typing their message. This suggests that the voice-activated software still needs some work before drivers feel comfortable enough to use it truly hands-free.

Driving Requires Your Full Attention

At times it may feel like you’re driving on “autopilot,” this feeling can be deceiving. Driving requires your full attention in order to be safe; talking on the phone, texting while driving, and even voice-activated texting all take your attention away from the task of driving safely. When you’re operating a vehicle, your attention should be solely dedicated toward the act of driving.

These recent texting while driving results mimic those conducted by Canadian researchers about the dangers of talking while driving. The bottom line is texting while driving simply pulls attention away from the road and can kill.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic

Phil.

The post Is Texting While Driving Dangerous ? appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

In this day and age in car gadgets for safety is a must.

As a new driver, finally embarking on your first time legally driving on the road can be quite an intimidating experience. However, the technological advancements made by car manufactures has seen a huge wave of new in car gadgets hit the market to make your driving experience as safe as possible.

Whether you’ve been on the roads for many years or this is an entirely new experience for you, picking up a couple of new in car gadgets can make all the difference to your safety on the road.

If you’re looking for some great in car gadgets to pick up, then be sure to consider some of these great ideas for ramping up your safety;

In car gadgets ?

‘Lifehammer’

Lifehammer is an incredibly powerful in car gadget tool, but it’s also very subtle. In fact, the majority of owners might never even use their Lifehammer installation. However, it could actually save your life in the rare occurrence that you do need to use it.

This is, in effect, a double-tipped hammer which is perfect for hammering through your windows. It’s also got a razor blade at the other end that can get through the seatbelt.

If you ever get stuck in your car, this can get you quick and safe access out of the vehicle in an emergency situation.

Camera Detectors

Camera detectors are a good in car gadgets solution that will help you avoid any unwanted speeding fines. The in car gadgets tool will allow you to pick up any black spot cameras that could catch you when you are over the limit. This is a very useful tool and although you should never be speeding anyway, it’s better to keep yourself covered.

Bluetooth Set

Bluetooth hands-free sets are incredibly useful in car gadgets tools for drivers. Driving while speaking on the mobile phone is illegal as it can use up valuable hand space, and outside of this you are putting others in danger. If you absolutely need to take a call, you can get a hands-free Bluetooth adapter that will let you answer your car while driving without impacting on your safety or anybody else’s.

Visibility Bulbs

Perhaps you may not think of these as a in car gadgets, but the headlights on your car should be extremely bright, and not only will this make sure that people see you coming from afar, but it will give you a longer visual range in front of you when driving as well, making you see like a bat in the dark, improving your confidence and safety when driving at night tenfold.

Make sure you consider changing your break lights, as well.

Breakdown Kit

In car gadgets like Emergency kits, can be found in stores like Halfords or you can get them online. You can buy them from garages but expect the price to be significantly higher. They can easily be packed into a small essential kit that will give you everything from a tyre pump to a jump lead for getting started on those annoying days where nothing else will work.

Phone Charger

Again, using your mobile phone when driving is dangerous and irresponsible. However, one of the worthwhile in car gadgets to consider is a phone charger.

It makes sense to have a car charger installed to keep your phone alive in case of emergencies. Emergency chargers can be bought from petrol stations, gadget stores and online, and tend to fit just about any phone, plus you can change the adapter if it does not suit your phone.

Fire Extinguisher

This should be fairly self-explanatory. In car gadgets like fire extinguishers are cheap, light and incredibly effective. They can deal with a Type B fire if you buy the right brand, meaning you should be able to contain any fires that start while driving. This can literally save your life – so make sure you buy one.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

The post Top Seven In Car Gadgets For Staying Safe. appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.