Our Favorite Instagram Photos of the Month

Every once in a while, we’ll find some really awesome photos that deserve some recognition.  These photos embody the style and panache we aim to achieve with our vehicles.  In today’s blog, we’re providing our FAVORITE Instagram photos for the month of May.  Vote for your favorite below!

http://statigr.am/p/466515314881194386_368479473

audidaily

http://statigr.am/p/466497743344839616_277651481

a__lessard

http://statigr.am/p/466490914240493297_362784124

madalineforshawMads

Preventing Auto Theft

The restaurant is dimly lit; creating an ambiance that is both inviting and tasteful.  You bite into your steak, looking through the window outside as you measure the flavor of your first morsel.  It’s then; you see a shadowy figure huddled by the drivers’ side of your car.  You watch, as if in slow motion, as the individual quickly enters your car via force and drives off in your brand new car.  The scariest moment during theft is watching your hard earned vehicle being taken by someone who wanted a quick buck.

            

In today’s blog, we discuss some solutions for protecting your car from theft.  Theft begins with opportunity, as we all know.  The thief sees a opportune moment to strike.  Diminish these opportunities by being prepared.  An alarm system is a good beginning, however most thieves have a full understanding of most theft systems.  Here are some ways to protect your vehicle:

Obviously, you should never do any of these things:

• Never leave the windows down or the sunroof open;
• Never leave the keys in the ignition, or someplace else in the car such as under the visor;
• Never leave the car running and unattended, even for only a few minutes;
• Never leave car unlocked

• Don't leave your spare key somewhere a thief is likely to look, like magnetically stuck to the exhaust pipe or sitting on top of the tire;
• Only leave the ignition key with the valet, and make sure that the key to the glove box is a different cut;
• When you park on the street, turn the front wheels sharply into the curb and always use the emergency brake;
• Disable the car in some way, either by removing the electronic ignition fuse or by some other method;

Stolen vehicles are usually sold as parts because it’s more difficult for police to track hundreds of vehicle parts, as opposed to an entire car.  Want to keep your car immune from theft?  Consider these options:

• Ignition and fuel kill switches;
• Floorboard, gearshift, tire/wheel and hood locks;
• Vehicle tracking device
• If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, back into the driveway; if you have a front-wheel drive vehicle, drive straight into the driveway;
• If you have a garage, clean it out and park your vehicle in there, and always lock your garage doors;
• Install a motion-sensor light or alarm system on your garage doors;

We hope that we provided some great tips for you, guys.  Have a great week! Feel free to share any experiences you might have had, or additional tips.  Thanks!

The worst experience is watching someone drive away in your hard earned vehicle.  If a thief sees an opportunity, he’ll take it with relentless force.  In today’s blog, we’re delving into the protective nature of the average individual, and providing some great tips on avoiding auto theft. 

We all have an appreciation for the vehicles that transport us daily.  In today's blog, we've decided to provide some tips on protecting that asset.  Check it out!

7 Facts About Texting That Can Save a Life

Multitasking has increased in the last few years to astronomical heights.  With one hand and a smartphone you can watch a YouTube video, send an email, play a game, voice chat and place a call in a five-minute span.  However, with much power comes much responsibility because NOW that we have this access 24-7, it has carried over into our driving habits. 

For some time, researchers have been telling us to focus only on driving, quoting a greatly increased chance of accident, injury and death when we distractedly call a friend or answer a ringing cell phone.

Now, new research has revealed the most dangerous driver distraction of all: texting.

A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, along with prior studies by Liberty Mutual Insurance and state-funded organizations located online, reveals the shocking statistics of texting behind the wheel:

• ·  Texting while driving increases the risk of accident 23.2 times over unimpaired driving.
• ·      Texting while driving results in longer response times than even drunken driving. While an unimpaired driver can respond quickly to changes in traffic and begin braking within half a second, a legally drunk driver needs four additional feet to begin braking—and a driver who’s texting needs 70.
• ·      In the moments before a crash or near crash, drivers typically spend nearly five seconds looking at their mobile devices—enough time at typical highway speeds to cover more area than the length of a football field.
• ·      Though 95 percent of drivers surveyed said texting behind the wheel was unacceptable and unsafe, at least 21 percent admit to doing it anyway.
• ·      Especially amongst teens, texting results in erratic driving behavior, like lane weaving and speeding up and down, increasing the likelihood of hurting pedestrians and running into other vehicles.
• ·      Texting behind the wheel is generational: 37 percent of drivers 18 to 27 admit to texting while driving, compared to 14 percent of 28 to 44 year olds, and 2 percent of 45 to 60 year olds.
• ·      An accident can happen in two to three seconds while texting.

Drive Safely!

How Radar Detectors Work

Picture this scenario:  You’re cruising down the highway with your family, enjoying the lush greenery surrounding the open road.  A game of eye-spy is heating up as you look around the landscape, trying to find a spot of yellow your daughter has found on the road trip.  Before you know it, you spot a state trooper, his badge reflecting off the afternoon sun, and a radar gun pointed directly at your vehicle.  You panic, looking down at your speedometer; that’s when you realize you’re doing a couple miles over the speed limit.  Your hands clam up and before you know it, POOF! You’re being pulled over. 

So, how exactly do these radar guns work? Well, “Radar” is an abbreviation for Radio Detection and Ranging.  Speed Trak Police Radar can be found in almost every police vehicle.  It’s estimated that 20 million speeding citations are issued annually and that police radars are used in 13 million of these cases. 

Radar Guns send out a signal of radio waves at specific frequencies in a specific direction.  Then, those waves bounce off objects, including vehicles, and return to the radar gun’s receiving station.  When the waves reflect off a moving vehicle, a measurable frequency shift, called Doppler Shift, occurs.

So, police radar guns perceive a vehicle by transmitting a pulse that reaches the target and then comes back to the observer.  What ensues is the Doppler Effect, in which the frequency of the pulse is compared to the frequency of the reflection and speed is calculated using the difference.

And…that’s how it’s done!  Had any crazy radar gun experiences?  Feel free to comment

Top Reasons Drivers Are Pulled Over

Picture driving down the interstate with your top down while the wind is hitting you at a perfect angle, throwing a soothing, cool air through your flowing hair. Then, out of the blue, you hear a clearly distinct cop car sound-off behind you, causing you to jump out of your comfort zone into an all out panic.  You’ve been here before; you sift into low gear and head for the median, realizing you were going over the speed limit.  It’s happened to ALL of us.  Yes, including us at the dealership.  In today’s blog, we're discussing the top reasons why people are pulled over by the cops.  Feel free to share your comments below.

1.    Speeding – this entry is the most predictable, and the most common.  The faster you drive, the shorter your reaction time and control.  Braking distances also increase as speed builds, and it takes about 120 feet for a vehicle to stop when it’s traveling 60 mph.  Our advice? STOP driving so fast!

2.    Illegal Phone Use – Talking and texting on the phone while you’re driving is extremely dangerous to your safety and the safety of those around you. Although just a couple of states have banned phone use in the car, more than 30 have banned texting behind the wheel.  “I’ll just send a quick text.” Is the usual response, but individuals should drive as if their life depends on it.  "The really horrific stories about texting make the news," a traffic expert says, "But we see accidents and even just fender-benders from it every day."

3.    Hazardous Driving – these practices include stop sign and stoplight violations, illegal U-turn’s improper lane changes, failures to yield and unsafe speeds.  This also includes shaving, eating and even changing clothes.  We can’t imagine trying to pull off a shirt while having one foot on the gas pedal!

4.    Equipment Violations – Individuals who have heavily tinted windows, burned-out headlights, broken windshields, expired tags and loud exhaust modifications are prone to the bait of State police officers.  Always check your equipment to make sure that it meets road standards.

5.    Following Too Closely/Improper Lane Changes – Police are on high alert for these current violations.  On the freeway especially, it’s important to keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you.  Add this to cellphone use and you’re brewing a recipe for disaster.  Driving too close equates to a slower reaction time.  So keep at least three car lengths away, that should give you more than enough time to react

An improper lane change is another phrase for “cutting someone off” by changing lanes without looking or indicating.  A failure to signal can add fuel to the fire, but it won’t initiate a traffic stop—just because the failure to signal is SO common.  However, speedily changing lanes without indication that you’re doing so can result in an accident and subsequent ticket. 

So, Fans please practice safe driving habits and feel free to Comment below!