Justin Stoltzfus
With all of the concessions made by hotels and other businesses for their customers’ furry companions, it’s easy to make pets a part of the family. In fact, about two-thirds of American motorists drive with their pets, whether on vacation or a trip to the store, according to a September 2011 survey by insurance company The Hartford and the American Kennel Club (AKC).
But when it comes to taking a pet on the road, some pet owners buckle themselves in without taking the same precautions for their pets. Auto insurance (depending on your coverage) might cover your injuries but, chances are, it would not cover vet bills. So it’s vital to keep your pets safe while they’re along for the ride.
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Justin Stoltzfus
States are cracking down on distracted driving. But they might be going about it the wrong way, according to a recent study. Research from the University of Arkansas suggests that the urge to use a cellphone behind the wheel is tied to obsessive-compulsive disorder, rendering much distracted driving legislation ineffective.
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Justin Stoltzfus
A used car can be a bargain. But you might not know that car’s full story — past repairs, past accidents or even past encounters with natural disasters. It may even be possible that the person who sold you the car is trying to hide a car’s history through a scam called “title washing.”
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Jill Overmyer
Purchasing a car is often a gamble. In fact, you may have bought a new or fairly new car to avoid that baggage that can sometimes come with used ones. At first, the car seems to look and run well. But after a couple weeks, it’s spending more time in the shop than on the road. If that’s the case, your car may be a lemon.
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Mary Lou Jay
Jail time, fines and license suspensions are some of the consequences that those convicted of drunken driving face. In some cases, they also face an additional hurdle — an ignition interlock device that prevents them from committing the same crime twice.
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Mary Lou Jay
Do you consider yourself to be a good driver? If so, you’ve got lots of company.
In a recent survey of 1,000 U.S. drivers by Allstate Insurance, 64 percent of respondents rated themselves as either “excellent” or “very good” drivers. But that confidence in driving ability doesn’t extend far; the respondents said that only 29 percent of their close friends and only 22 percent of people their own age deserved an excellent or very good rating.
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Marcus Pickett
Uninsured motorist insurance will cover you if an uninsured driver crashes into you. It will even cover you if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run. Sometimes, however, another motorist may cause you to crash without actually making contact with your vehicle. Maybe the motorist swerves unexpectedly, forcing you off the road and into a tree — and then flees the scene. There’s no proof that you didn’t just get distracted and drive into the tree yourself.
In such cases, the other car is called a “phantom vehicle.” Depending on your state’s laws, you might not be covered.
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Mary Lou Jay
Trips to the Department of Motor Vehicles are regarded by most drivers with the same enthusiasm they have for a visit to the dentist. The endless lines and the long waits for service at the DMV can be daunting for even the most patient individuals. Here are some tips for making your visit as quick and painless as possible.
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Jill Overmyer
Driver’s education classes are designed to teach new drivers the basics: parallel parking, speed, merging, safe following distances and road signs — things drivers will encounter every day. But what about extreme circumstances like skidding, sudden braking or driving in emergency situations?
A number of driving schools across the country are offering extreme driving classes designed to teach drivers how to successfully handle emergency situations. Taught in parking lots or even on race tracks, extreme driving courses focus on behind-the-wheel training and drills to help students get used to dangerous situations.
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Mary Lou Jay
Need an incentive to keep your eyes (and your attention) on the road? Consider a recent survey of the driving and cell phone habits of students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). It found that more than more than one-third of the students surveyed use some mobile phone app while behind the wheel, even as they’re maneuvering through traffic.
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