Flat Tires?

When talking about getting a flat tire, it's almost more of a "When" not "If" situation. It seems to happen to everyone at some point, and it can result from a variety of factors.

So what do you do when you get one? Maybe you're on your way to work... you don't want to get your business suit all dirty from the road, and your hands are bound to get greasy, and what if you're on a busy highway?

Here are some actions you can take to prepare for a flat tire.

1.) Pack a blanket... It may seem stupid, but keeping an old sheet or blanket in the trunk of your car can save you from having to lay on the dirty ground, and will protect your clothes from rips and tears.

2.) Buy a pair of gloves! They can be virtually any kind, you really only need something to block surface dirt and grease from getting on your hands.  In addition, be sure to keep some alcohol wipes handy as well in  case you to manage to get some grease or dirt on your hands.

3.) Stop in a safe place. Sounds ridiculous, right? Wrong! When you get a flat a thousand things might be rushing through your head, especially if you're on a busy highway. Most highways have a special pull-off zone marked by blue signs that you can utilize for such emergencies, and as long as it's only a few hundred feet away, don't be afraid to drive to it... you can't drive on a flat for miles, but tires and rims can take a lot of abuse (recommended don't drive more than 500 ft).

So if you get a flat, remember these tips, and stay calm... it's frustrating, but you'll get through it!

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Go Further On Your Trip

If you're taking a long road trip, there's more to saving a buck or two than finding the right car with a good fuel economy...There are also a couple of tips you can follow to make your gas tank stretch itself out.

Cruise Control:


 Don't forget to use your cruise control. Maintaining a steady speed and with cruise control can help your car consume fuel more efficiently.

The A/C:

When you're in the city, leave your windows down, but when you hit the highway, the air resistance can cause loss of fuel economy. Turn on the AC when on the highway and you could save 3-10% fuel economy.

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The Best Time To Drive

Looking at a long road trip with your rental car? You might be surprised to find when the best times are to be on the road.

Oddly enough, it's not evading lunch times and rush hours... it's best to drive when there's no sunshine at all!

During the early morning is the most opportune driving time to make your trip... the VERY early morning, as in 3-4am.

A writer from e-How writes:


For long road trips, the best time is to drive is at night. There are fewer cars on the road, which leads to less congestion and fewer stressful situations. It also will allow a driver to cruise through a large metropolitan area, such as Chicago or Atlanta, without losing time for the typically backed-up highway systems. Typically, at 3 or 4 in the morning, the only other drivers on the road are truckers.


Read more: The Best Time to Drive | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5256741_time-drive.html#ixzz1xt2uXRT1

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Packing For Your Trip? Don't Forget These...

Packing can be a chore, and let's face it... stuff gets left behind. There are a few items that should go on every checklist tho... just in case...

1. Chargers and Powerstrips: Electronics flood our world, we live and breath them, and nothing is more annoying than getting to your destination and forgetting a charger. Since so many people use them, bring a powerstrip too... this might seem like an item that goes low on the list, but it's important if your family wants to stay fully charged, you never know when your hotel might only have one set of outlets.

2. Duct tape: It really does fix everything... clothes rip, shoes get holes in them, cases break, and you don't want to be left with only the option of buying new stuff while on your trip. Take some duct tape, even just a roll can save you, and a lot of places, it can be a $2 fix for a $500 item.


3. Wet wipes: Seriously... they help. Maybe you have a small cut, use a wet wipe... Touch something sticky at that last road stop? ... wet wipes. These are also essential for pretty much anyone going on a camping trip, you can use them to clean cook-ware, and a variety of other things.


These are all small items, and they can fit virtually anywhere, don't forget them, they could save you in a pinch.

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Don't Let Speeding Ruin Your Roadtrip

As someone taking a trip, the anxieties of driving can result in a lead-foot. You may be frustrated at tailgaters, slow drivers, traffic congestion, loud kids, or more... but it's important to stick to a few guidelines to keep yourself in check, and to keep cops off your tail so you can get the most out of your driving experience.

AOL Autos writes:


Drive within 5-10 mph of surrounding traffic. Cops are usually looking for drivers who are going noticeably faster than the other cars on the road. If you're within a pack of cars all going 5 to 10 mph over the limit, you've automatically improved your odds of not being the one that gets pulled over for a speeding ticket, even though you're all technically speeding. The cop has to pick one car; if you go with the flow of traffic, it probably won't be you. And it definitely won't be you if you don't speed in the first place.


Try to stay in the middle of the pack. If you're the lead car, logic says you'll be the first car to run past any cop's radar trap up ahead and get a speeding ticket. And if you're the last car, you'll be the one the police officer rolls up behind. That means the safest place is in the middle -- just like a gazelle fleeing a hungry lion by seeking safety in the middle of the herd.


Find a "rabbit." If you can't find a pack of cars going the speed you'd like to maintain, the next best thing is to find yourself a rabbit -- a solitary driver traveling the speed you'd like to drive that you can follow discretely, about 50-100 yards back. If there's a cop using radar, hopefully the rabbit will trip the trap and get a speeding ticket, not you. And if he brakes suddenly, you have just received your early warning in time to take defensive action.


Read more: http://autos.aol.com/article/how-to-avoid-a-speeding-ticket/

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