Pennsylvania Auto Dealers

You might be sick of reading about the dangers of texting and driving, but it seems like nobody is listening or paying attention to the message.

According to a new poll, at least 26 percent of drivers surveyed are still texting while they are supposed to be driving. We say “at least 26 percent” because that is the number of those surveyed who admit to texting behind the wheel. There are probably many more doing it.

With younger drivers, those numbers are even scarier. About 60 percent of new drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 have admitted to texting while behind the wheel. The numbers are not much better in the older age group as nearly half of drivers between 20 and 29 are doing the same thing.

Now here is something that seems to make the least amount of sense: Some of the highest number of young drivers texting come from states that have imposed a ban on cell phones or texting while driving.

More than 80 percent of drivers think texting while driving should be illegal, yet many of these drivers are still doing it. Do you still text while you are driving? Or have you changed your habits for the sake of safety? Your Trenton area VW dealer would like to know about your texting habits so leave your thoughts below. Don’t worry…nobody will know who you are.

We have told you who the worst drivers in the nation are and who the best drivers are by state, according to a GMAC Insurance study. But there were some more interesting findings in the study. Here are some things you may find useful, interesting or just simply amusing.

• GMAC Insurance has conducted this study for the last five years.
• In those five years, geographic regions tend to have similar rankings on the list.
• Drivers in the Northeast tend to have the lowest average test scores in the nation while drivers in the Midwest region tend to have the highest averages.
• Men are more likely to pass the test than female drivers. However, the gap between the two groups is getting smaller. In 2009, 79 percent of females passed the test while 81 percent of males passed it. That’s closer than the results in 2008 in which 87 percent of males passed compared to 80 percent of females.
• Older drivers tend to score better on average than younger drivers. Men over the age of 45 had the highest test scores overall while drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 had the highest rates of failure.

Your Springfield area Pontiac dealer asks: How would you do on this driving test? Where would you fall in the rankings? You can take the test online at NationalDriversTest.com and find out how you would rank. You can also see where your particular state comes in on that website.

With the Toyota Motor Corporation being the leader in hybrid vehicle technology, it might sound odd when officials there say they are not very fond of plug-in hybrids. It does not sound so odd when you hear their reasoning though.

The main reason Toyota has not given in to the plug-in hybrid technology is because consumers simply are not fond of it. Toyota estimates that these plug-ins would sell, at the most, 50,000 units each year. When thinking more realistically, however, officials estimate the numbers would be closer to 4,000 units per year and maybe even fewer than that. Those numbers are basically “chump change” (my words, not their words) when you figure that the Toyota Prius sold nearly 160,000 units of the gasoline-electric hybrids last eyar.

Bill Reinert, the U.S. national manager for advanced technology, explained that there may one day be a market for plug-in hybrids, “but their success depends on advantages over existing hybrids.” Currently, however, plug-in vehicles seem inconvenient to consumers as they need constant recharging and there simply is no infrastructure to support this need.

Who knows? Maybe one day you will be able to pick up a plug-in hybrid at your Doylestown area Toyota dealer and drive it for a few hundred miles on one charge. Until something like that happens, though, the Prius is your best bet.

One of the ways that states have tried to curb people from being repeat drunken drivers is to install a device in their car that measures their breath-alcohol level before they turn the ignition. Here are some things you may want to know about these ignition interlock devices and then we would like to know how you feel about them in the section for comments below.

• The device works like a breathalyzer in that the person blows into it and it measures the breath-alcohol concentration. If the concentration is too high (which is often determined by individual state rules and regulations), the car will not start.
• Ignition Interlock Devices, or IIDs, also require random breath samples after the engine has been started. This prevents someone else with clean breath to blow into the device to start the car for the drunken driver.
• One criticism of the device is that it is unsafe to do one of the randomly-timed breath tests when driving because it takes the driver’s focus off the road. One driver even claimed that he crashed while taking one of the random tests.

Your Glenside area Toyota dealer would like to know how you feel about these IIDs. Do you think they are a good idea or more of a useless device with too many ways to get around it?

On Monday, we told you which states have the worst drivers according to an annual study conducted by GMAC Insurance. Today, we want to tell you some more interesting findings from the study.

According to the National Drivers Test for 2009, two states tied for the highest average score – Wisconsin and Idaho. Drivers in those states scored an average of 80.6 on the driving test that looks at basic knowledge of driving laws. However, the national average has gone down overall. Last year the nation’s drivers had an average score of 78.1 percent on the test. This year, that number went down to 76.6 percent.

GMAC issued a press release based on the findings of the test. Here is a quote from that press release: “Results from the 2009 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test released today found that 20.1 percent of licensed Americans – amounting to roughly 41 million drivers on the road – would not pass a written drivers test exam if taken today.” It went on to say that many drivers even had problems answering basic questions about safe following distances and even yellow lights!

Your Media area Pontiac dealer wants to know if you have any solutions to the dropping test scores. Are we not training our new drivers well enough? Or should drivers be required to take regular tests even after getting their license so they can keep the rules fresh in the minds and be better drivers? Let us know some of your thoughts below.

Your Allentown area VW dealer believes there are some things that every driver should know how to do. With the various auto clubs today, however, many drivers have simply forgotten or never learned how to do some of the simplest things. Knowing how to do these three things may save you some time and money while making your life easier, too.

1. Change a flat tire. You may not want to get your hands dirty if you are going to a special event, but knowing how to change a flat tire in an emergency is helpful. What would happen if you got a flat tire, your cell phone was dead and you left your charger at home? You would be up a creek if you did not know the basics of changing a tire.
2. Check the oil. It’s a good idea to know how to check the oil on your car so you can tell if you have a leak or some other problem before it becomes too serious.
3. Get unstuck. If you live where it snows, chances are you may get stuck sometime in your life. Getting stuck can ruin your entire day if you are unable to get out of it.

Stay tuned to this blog for tips about how to do some of these and other things that will help you be a better and more self-reliant driver.

Your PA auto dealers want to bring your attention to a recent article that discusses where the worst drivers in America live. You probably think they live in your state, but you would only be 100 percent correct if you live in New York.

GMAC Insurance conducts a national test of drivers each year. The test typically measures the basic knowledge of driving laws of drivers in each state. This year, the study involved more than 5,000 drivers from all over the nation and those results were released in last week’s report.

As I already mentioned, New York came in at the top of the list for the nation’s worst drivers. Last year’s “winner” was New Jersey. That state dropped to the second spot on the list as the scores of drivers in that state improved. (Maybe it was the embarrassment that made some drivers look over their driver’s education book this past year). Drivers in Hawaii, California and Georgia rounded out the top five list.

This is an interesting study and an interesting topic. Come back on Wednesday for more highlights gleaned from the results. Until then, visit your Newtown Square Pontiac dealer for a great deal on a new or used car and always keep your eye out for “the other guy.”

In today’s economy, people are looking for ways to get more life and longevity out of their cars. Luckily, there are several things you can do to make your car last longer. Your Philadelphia area VW dealers offer these tips to help you stretch your car’s life as long as possible.

1. Consider leaving it parked in the driveway. You might be thinking, “Why should I have a car if I am going to keep it parked in my driveway?” But the less you drive it, the longer it is going to last. Instead of driving it to the corner store or a few blocks away, try walking or riding your bike. It’ll make your car last longer and it will be better for your health.
2. Get a car from a reputable company. It’s better to choose a reputable brand of vehicle because it will be easier to find parts and mechanics who are experienced at repairing your vehicle. Many people simply junk their cars because it becomes nearly impossible to find parts.
3. Look for the warning signs. When you hear something weird or see something that does not seem right with your car, take it to the mechanic as soon as possible. Allowing minor problems to go too long causes undue stress on your engine and becomes major problems.

Use these tips to keep your VW cars running for as long as you want them to. You will save money and frustration in the long run.

Have you ever seen a driver go through a railroad crossing when a train was coming? If so, that’s “playing chicken” with the train…and it’s not a smart thing to do. You may win the game, but there are dire consequences if you lose the game.

This story out of Texas is about a man who thought he could be the train. The gates were down, the lights were flashing and there were cars sitting there waiting for the train to go by. But this driver was in such a hurry that he decided to try to “beat” the train. But the speeding locomotive crashed into his SUV and killed him. According to witnesses, the man “disregarded the railroad crossing signal lights and bells and drove around a vehicle that was stopped at the crossing arms.” When his vehicle was hit, it “rolled multiple times and the drive was ejected. The passenger was not killed, but she is in serious condition at a local hospital.

Your Conshohocken area Toyota dealer urges you to be patient at railroad crossings and wait for the train to go by. A collision with a speeding locomotive is not a contest you can win. Don’t take the chance.

With this weekend being Memorial Day and gas prices lower than they were last year at this time, the roads are likely going to be crowded as soon as you get off work. With traffic congestion comes accidents, frustrations and in some cases, road rage. But there are some things you can do to minimize the chance of these things happening. Your PA dealers offer these tips to help you stay safe, calm and happy during your Memorial Day road trip.

• Use your GPS device. If you don’t have one of these handy portable devices, get one before you get on the road. A decent one will tell you everything you need to know along the way, including weather, alternate routes, and nearby services, not to mention directions to where you’re going.
• Be patient. Everybody is in a hurry to get where they are going this weekend. That’s how preventable accidents occur. Just be patient and look out for other drivers and you will enjoy your weekend even more.
• Bring stuff for the kids. Even if your road trip is an hour long, you should plan for the worst and bring enough stuff to entertain the kids for a couple hours. It’s better to have too much stuff than not enough when you are stuck in a car with cranky kids!
• Enjoy the drive. Half the fun of a road trip is getting where you are going. Take some time to appreciate the scenery along the way and you will enjoy your drive even more.

These are just a few tips from your Trenton area VW dealer to help you enjoy you Memorial Day road trip to the fullest.