“But officer...”

 

“But officer...”

The two most universal feelings among drivers are the annoyance and dread we feel when a police officer pulls us over. When we’re stopped it’s common to want to try to make an excuse and not get that ticket the officer’s ready to issue. No one wants to pay a fine or deal with the points that may be slapped onto their record.

Sometimes our excuses may be valid, but most of the time the police could probably say them in sync with us. Can you guess which excuses are most commonly heard (and not accepted) by officers of the law? Write a couple ideas down, then click here to find the answers and see which ones you got right!

And then remember: drive safely. We’d prefer that you not be pulled over in the first place!

 

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When Is The Most Dangerous Time To Drive?

 

Every driver knows the basic ways they can both prevent and increase their chances of escaping injury in an accident. They know that they should drive more slowly in bad weather, always wear their seatbelt, be aware of the other drivers on the road around them, and so forth.

But sometimes even the most careful of drivers can find themselves in an accident. And now, statistics are adding another layer to the puzzle by revealing what times of the day or year are the most dangerous to drive. Would you have guessed that the most dangerous time to be on the road, going by statistics, is a Friday in September between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.?

Just remember: this doesn’t mean that drivers can relax every other day of the year. An accident can happen at any time while you’re on the road; it just so happens that statistics show that accidents are more likely to happen at certain times, and that some days require a little extra caution on the driver’s part. That’s not bad information to have on hand!

Check out this great infographic to get more statistics on when car accidents are most likely to happen.

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6 Most Common Tire Myths

What is the most important part of your vehicle? Well, we admittedly can’t say that one particular part is absolutely the most important, but we can say that your car’s tires definitely belong near the top of the list. 

Naturally, this means that properly caring for and maintaining your tires must always be a priority. But unfortunately a number of wives tales and myths about tire care could put you at a disadvantage if you don’t know what advice to ignore rather than follow.

Fortunately, Popularmechanics.com is here to save the day with an article about the 6 most common tire myths:

Tires are arguably the most important component on your vehicle. They are, however, among the least understood features. Allow me to list and pop a few common misconceptions about tires.

1. The tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) in my new car makes sure my tires are adequately inflated.The truth: TPMS isn't required to issue a warning until pressure is 25 percent below the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation. That's "well below the pressure required for safe driving," according to AAA and "barely adequate to carry the vehicle's maximum load," says the Rubber Manufacturers' Association. TPMS is intended as a last-minute warning before imminent tire failure, not as a monitor to make sure your tires are properly inflated.

Buy a quality tire gauge and set your tire pressure to at least the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation, which is found on the driver's door jamb. I'd rather you set your tires 3 or even 5 psi high rather than 1 low. Tire-pressure gauges can be inaccurate, and tires leak as much as 1 psi per month. Higher pressure improves hydroplaning resistance and, if you're like many folks, you may not bother to check your tires again for six months.

Check out Popular Mechanic's full article to read more about common tire myths you need to ignore: 6 Common Tire Myths Debunked - Popular Mechanics

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Regular vs. Premium Gas

What’s the difference between regular and premium gas? And which one should I use?

The difference between regular and premium gas is the octane level. Regular gas has an octane rating that is usually around 87, midgrade gas is usually around 89, and premium is usually somewhere around 91. The octane level determines how quickly a fuel burns. If a fuel has a higher octane level, it will burn slower because it has a higher compression level and is less likely to combust without the ignition of the spark plug. When fuel combusts before it is ignited by the spark plug, this means that not all the fuel in an engine will burn and it will most likely leave debris and gunk in the engine.

If you’re unsure what your car should take, check the owner’s manual. While a higher-octane fuel is a better quality fuel, not every car needs that. Premium gasoline is made for better quality engines and will only be wasting the money of the person who uses it when they should be using regular. In the same matter, if your car needs premium, putting regular gasoline in it will most likely lead it to “knock” which is the term used for an engines early combustion.

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How To Survive A Car Crash

We’ll be the first to admit it, driving can be dangerous. And yet, at the same time driving can be safe! If you’re taking the correct precautionary measures, like those mentioned in this article, How to Avoid a Car Accident, safely driving a car can be a sinch! Unfortunately, however, somtiems accidents are unavoidable and it is no longer a question of how to avoid an accident, but rather how to safely get through one!

This graph provides some quick tips on how to survive an accident! So keep your head back and your eyes focused and took a look at this!

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Make Your Tailgate Tail-Great!

Spring is here! And what comes with spring? Baseball! That’s right, baseball season is almost here and with these five tips, you can have the perfect tailgate!

1. Plan Ahead. Make sure you’re not rushing around in the morning trying to gather up what you’ll need. The day before a tailgate is the day you should go out and buy your burgers, drinks, snacks, plates and any other necessities you might need. Additionally, make sure you know where your grill and cooler are... those are sort of essentials.

2. Show Up Early. You’re going to want to show up 3-4 hours before the game starts. This gives you enough time to find the perfect parking spot and set up the perfect tailgate. It will also give you a head start on all the fun!

3. Bring A Tent. It might seem a little drastic to have a tent with you, but you won’t regret it. Not only do tents provide a great place to hangout in the shade, but they also provide a great dry area when it rains!

4. Bring Chairs. This one may be obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people forget chairs! Chairs are perfect for a tailgate in that they provide a place for people to hangout, congregate and easily eat their food.

5. Clean Up. No one likes the person who leaves all of his or her garbage behind after the tailgate. Trashing a parking lot can lead to both a bad reputation and tickets and fines! Respect the area, clean up after yourself and have fun.

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10 Coolest Car Facts

 

The history of the automobile is lengthy in America! Cars have been on the road for over 100 years across the country. Wondering what the weirdest things about cars are? Check out these fun car facts from eHow!

The Early Days

• The first speeding tickets were given out in 1902, when the top speed of most cars was around 45 miles per hour.
• Some of the first cars ever made used a pair of levers to steer. Steering wheels weren't introduced for several years.
• Even before the Model T, the first popular American car was the Curved Dash Oldsmobile, which sold new for $650.
• The first car ever produced in America for sale was known as the Duryea. Only one model is known to still exist.
• Before the 1920s, cars didn't have gas gauges. Drivers had to estimate how much fuel was left, or risk running out.

For Drivers

• Cleveland was the first city in the United States to get a traffic light in 1914.
• In 1972 the average speed of cars on Los Angeles freeways was 60 miles per hour. Ten years later, the growing traffic problem dropped that number to 17 miles per hour.
• The average American will spend two weeks of her life stopped at red lights.
• To drive on all of the paved roads in the United States, you would have to drive nonstop at 100 miles per hour for over four years.
• The first car insurance policy was issued in Westfield, Massachusetts, in 1897.

Read the original article here: http://www.ehow.com/about_5280598_funny-cars.html#ixzz2OHBzl0H0

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