Is Your Radar Detector Up To Date With The Latest Frequencies?

If you’ve ever had the joy of riding along, radar detector online, only to be pulled over by a hidden cop, then there is some news that you might have an interest in hearing. Many of the radar detectors on the market today are not as functional as they claim. In fact, many of them absolutely do not work under real, working conditions. This is due in large part to the development of new radar guns which the police have been only too happy to put into use.

The newer radar guns use a cutting edge radar technology that is called digital signal processing, or DSP. This new technique makes new guns so fast that they are always faster than your twitch reflex of hitting the brakes. By setting them at standby and waiting for a car to come into range, a policemen can lock on and measure the speed of a vehicle in less than four tenths of a second. You don’t have to be a fortune teller to know who’s going to get a ticket in that situation.

Coupled with this new speed is a lower power footprint that previous detectors. Modern radar guns use Ka band frequency, which uses a very high bandwidth, which is more than fifty times higher than previous, X band radar guns. This means that detectors have a much harder time finding the signal from radar guns. Now, detection signals can work anywhere in the spectrum available, and a radar detector isn’t sure which will come at it. So it has to scan the entire length of possibilities, which takes time and reduces detection range, which means that they become less effective.

What’s more, instead of having to measure the speed of each car individually, modern radar guns have a program which allows them to measure the speed of the fastest moving vehicle in their range. That means that even if you are hiding behind a semi he he he truck, the police will be able to find your speed. Tough luck, eh?

And things are getting rapidly worse. As the number of old style X band radar guns decreases and the new ones increase, the number of effective radar guns will go down as well.

So, now you will have to do some homework and check out the ratings available that treat radar detectors. Depending on your particular situation you may want to look for a detector that is rated highly for hi way driving. Or if you do most of your commuting in the city, then you may want a detector that has a well designed filter that will cut down on false alarms but not greatly lose range of detection.

Whatever detector you choose, you’re going to have to live with the fact that detectors are going to have to continue evolving to match the continually evolving threat of radar guns, and that no one detector will keep you safe now, or forever.

SUV Rollover Injuries: Just the Facts, Ma'am

Starting in the mid-1990s, sport utility vehicles, known colloquially as SUVs, began to receive a lot of attention when accidents became prevalent due to poor body design, faulty tires, and excessive speed. As SUV rollover injuries increased, sport utility vehicles went through a period of extreme unpopularity, as consumers became wary of the level of safety available.

Although manufacturers have made many improvements to sport utility vehicles since that time, accidents still occur. Before heading out in your SUV, keep in mind the current statistics on the safety of your vehicle, as well as some tips to keep yourself and your family safe on the road.

The United States government has tracked statistics on accidents involving sport utility vehicles for over a decade. When considering the millions of accidents that occur on American highways and local roads every year, studies have shown that an SUV is more than sixteen times likely to be involved in an accident causing injuries or death than a four-door sedan.

Similar studies noted that the number of SUVs involved in rollover accidents has risen considerably. SUV rollover injuries have also risen as a result of the increased amount of accidents. In 2003, more than four thousand people died as a result of an SUV rollover, and non-fatal injuries numbered substantially higher.

In the face of these grim statistics, there are steps you can take while driving to ensure that your trip to the mall doesn’t include injuries as a result of your SUV rolling over. These steps are beneficial to both you as the driver, your companions as passengers, and the drivers and passengers of the other vehicles who traverse the roads you frequent.

Although no amount of safety and foresight can guarantee one hundred percent that you will not be involved in an accident, prudence and planning can increase your chances of avoiding incidents substantially higher.

First, before getting into your vehicle, give it a careful visual once-over. SUV rollover injuries can sometimes occur as a result of some kind of damage present on a vehicle long before it encounters trouble. One important sign to look for is if your vehicle is canting to one direction or another.

This could be indicative of either tires not balancing correctly, flat tires, or much more serious problems with the suspension and frame of the vehicle. A thirty-second once-over could prove to save your life. It is important to remember that if you find anything that makes you feel uncomfortable about riding in your SUV, you have it taken care of immediately.

Second, always ensure that you and your passengers are wearing your seatbelts at any time when your vehicle is in motion, or during times when your vehicle is idling in traffic. The latter is extremely important; drivers and riders often assume that just because their own car is not moving, there is no danger. This is far form the case, as you could become involved in an accident while you are parked in place, and so the protection offered by wearing your seatbelt is paramount.

If you will be traveling with any minor children, ensure that they are safely and securely buckled into approved child-safety equipment. It is always preferable that a child be seated in the back seat of your car; the deployment of the passenger-side airbag can have a devastating effect on a car seat.

Every state and many countries have different requirements as to what age special restraint much be used through and what types of restraints are necessary. Always use, at a minimum, what is required by your locale. It is always best to have as much insurance against SUV rollover injuries as possible.

Finally, remain alert and aware of your surroundings each and every time you operate your motor vehicle. This is not necessary only for your own driving; it is also necessary to remain alert and aware of the passengers in your vehicle, and alert and aware of the drivers with whom you share the road.

Even if you are the most cautious driver in the world, you could still encounter trouble on random occasions. Remaining alert will enable your reflexes to kick in when necessary to avoid an accident.

Sport utility vehicles are both fun to drive and a tremendous storage and transport solution. By understanding the danger that may accompany their usage as well as observing a few easy techniques to stay out of accidents, you can increase your chances of avoiding SUV rollover injuries.

A Look At The Function Of Your Car's Suspension And What You Need To Know

Although the steering and suspension system of a car are very important components of the vehicle, most drivers really don’t know much about these things. Most drivers just take for granted the functions of the different parts of their car. In most cases, as long as their cars don’t really have some major breakdowns, a lot of drivers really don’t bother to acquaint themselves on how the systems of their car works. Why is it important to know how the systems of your car work? There are times when you need to make necessary trouble shooting in your car. If you have some ideas on how the systems of your car work, then it would be easier for you to figure out what is wrong with your car.

When we talk of suspension in your car, we are talking about the springs located in the front and the rear of your car. These springs suspend the “sprung” weight of the vehicle and absorb shocks when you go through some rough surfaces. All trucks and cars have suspension systems that are composed of such components as the sway bars, the shocks and the struts. The suspension system has two main functions; to keep the car firmly on the road and to give you a comfortable ride. On the other hand, the function of the steering system is to let the driver control the course of the car through the steering wheel.

It is very important that the systems of your car are functioning properly. Malfunctioning car systems can often lead to accidents that could cause a lot of damage and possible loss of lives. To be sure that the systems of your car are functioning as they should, one should only go for cars that are proven to be safe and comfortable on the road.

Currently, Ford Motors is one of the companies that have been trusted by clients all over the globe when it comes to cars. For many years, Ford Motors have proven beyond doubt that they only produce vehicles that are reliable and that the state of the art car engineering technology of the company makes its products both safe and comfortable. Ford Motors are known as one of those companies that do not compromise on quality. The good news about Ford Motors is that it does not only produce very reliable cars, it also provides state of the art spare parts for its cars.

Wherever you are around the world, you can always find genuine Ford Motors auto parts in many authorized outlets around the globe. You can even find some of these authorized dealers online where you can order the parts you need and have them shipped to your location.

Comparing Vehicle Navigation Systems for your Ford F150

Finding your way through complex city streets and freeways has never been easier. Before you take your next trip to an unfamiliar location or try discovering new routes to shorten your trip, you should forget the maps and instead consider the GPS navigation system.

The first thing you will find is that there are a lot of choices out there. How do you know what to look for through the maze of models and price ranges?

The items that are of concern should be:

* map coverage, accuracy & detail

* Quality & speed of route calculations

* map storage capacity

* ease of use and installation

Most navigation systems sold in the United States include maps for at least the 48 contiguous states. Others also include Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Make sure maps are included for areas you are likely to drive to.

Make sure the navigation system has a large and clear screen so that you can easily read the maps.

Focus on a global positioning system that is easy to use, the ones that would not require you hours to learn how to operate. A good device should make navigation easy for you.

With several different GPS navigation devices on the market, focus on the ones that have available software that could be installed easily on your navigation system. This software should contain detailed road mapping and streets, as well as landmarks such as restaurants, hotels, and gasoline stations.

Ideally, a GPS navigation system should come with a voice-enabled system that communicates the right direction to the driver without requiring the driver to take his/her eyes from the road.

You should also consider the factor of the memory capacity of the GPS. If you want better and larger storage capacity, which lets you install all the maps you need, then you should opt to have a GPS with large memory capacity.

Maps used by navigation systems are usually at least a year or two out of date. If you travel on roads with recent changes, you should look to see if the changes are included in the navigation system’s maps.

A few things to check:

* new freeway exits

* roads for new housing developments

* roads closed to reduce through traffic

Route quality can be difficult to compare, but it’s one of the more important features in everyday use. Poor quality routes include unnecessary turns and detours or can take you on roads you want to avoid. Better systems allow you to choose the type of route you want.

Calculation speed is especially important in situations where you’ve missed a turn. Slower systems may not be able to recalculate your route in time to catch the next turn and get you back on track. Better systems take only a second or so to recalculate. Slower systems can take 10 - 20 seconds (or more) to figure out a new path. In some situations, you may pass a turn it was planning to take before it finishes recalculating the route.

Many newer navigation systems come pre-loaded with a full set of maps. Frequent travelers who visit a lot of different cities should get a system with enough capacity to load a full set of maps. People who usually stay in a particular region will probably be satisfied with 100MB - 200MB for map storage.

Other features can add up to make a system a lot easier to use:

* spoken directions guide you through turns and let you keep your eyes on the road

* choose a screen size that’s easy to read, but not too large for the vehicle(s) you’re planning to use it in

* a touch screen or keyboard makes it easier to enter destination addresses

* simple menus save time and frustration

* color screens make it easier to view map details

A lot of new users focus attention on accuracy values stated by the manufacturer. In practice, you’ll probably find that GPS position accuracy is adequate with any newer GPS model. What usually counts more is how quickly the system processes position and map data to keep your navigation instructions up-to-date. Extra accuracy doesn’t do much good if the system is too slow to make use of it.

Magellan

Ever Heard of Booster Seats?

Well a lot of people may not be aware of booster seats. When one hears about it, the one thing that comes to mind is maybe a rocket ship on the way to the moon. Nope, you can’t find booster seats in there. It is not what astronauts sit in while on their way to space. Actually, it’s is more down to Earth as you might otherwise think. A booster seat can be found (or added) into your family car and it can actually save your child’s life in case of an automobile accident.

Booster seats are a specialized kind of seat for children and designed to protect them from injury in a car accident. As you well know, car seats are designed with adults in mind. The safety seatbelts are in the same way designed only for adults to use. Using the seatbelts on kids can sometimes even prove more than a hindrance rather than an effective safety device. That is where booster seats come into play.

It is said that most car accident casualties are results of improper seatbelt use. Injuries occur when people inside neglect to put on the seatbelt properly. But how do you put a seatbelt on kids when they are designed for adults? That alone already makes it improper.

Booster seats can solve this problem by letting the kids sit inside the car in the proper sitting position. The proper sitting position for children is for children to be able to sit up with their backs straight against the vehicle seat’s back cushion and with their knees bent over the vehicle’s seat edge without slouching. If they’re still not able to achieve that, they need a booster seat. Children 12 and under should sit in booster seats because they are not yet big enough for the adult seats.

Booster seats for kids are needed because most 40 pound kids are still not yet big enough to fit the adult lap and shoulder safety belts of the vehicle. Booster seats help protect the child’s upper body with either the shoulder belt or with the shield. The booster seat raises the child so that he or she can fit with either the vehicle’s lap or shoulder belt. Booster seats are comfortable for children because it allows for their legs to bend normally. Booster seats can also reduce slouching, which is a cause of poor lap belt fit.

There are several kinds of booster seats. There are belt-positioning boosters, which are booster seats without shields. This booster seat should only be used with the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt. Some of these booster seats have a high back to give head support taller children.

There are also booster seats with removable shields for children weighing below 40 pounds. The removable shields are there as an added protection for small children. Once the child reaches over 40 pounds, the harness is removed and used like a belt-positioning booster.

There are also high-backed booster seats for large children who reach a weight of 40 pounds before they reach the age of 3. They may not be mature enough to stay properly seated in a belt-positioning booster so they m ay still this kind of booster seat that has its own clip or strap to hold the vehicle’s shoulder belt in place.

Seat Belts: Safety On The Road

Volvo has the honor of being the first to implement seat belts in 1849. The first U.S. patent for automobile seat belts was issued to Edward J. Claghorn of New York, New York on February 10, 1885.

This patent was described as a Safety-Belt for tourists that was “designed to be applied to a the person, and provided with hooks and other attachments for securing the person to a fixed object.”

Failure to wear seat belts is responsible for more fatalities than any other single traffic behavior. In all of the traffic accidents reported for 1999, 63% of fatalities were not wearing seat belts.

Wearing a seat belt use is still the single most effective thing we can do to prevent unnecessary traffic deaths and injuries on America’s roadways.

Traffic data suggests that education alone is not enough to convince young people, especially males from ages 16 to 25 of the dangers of not using seat belts. This age group is caught up in the belief in their immortality due to their young age.

It is this age group that also exhibits the most violation of drunk driving laws. They are also the most prone to speeding, and other traffic related law violations.

Because of this, it has been suggested that stronger seat belt laws and higher visibility enforcement campaigns be enforced to make them buckle up.

Seat belts are the most effective safety devices in vehicles today, estimated to save 9,500 lives each year. If 90 percent of Americans buckle up, it could prevent more than 5,500 deaths and 132,000 injuries annually.

The cost of unbuckled drivers and passengers goes beyond those killed and the loss to their families. Everyone pays for this negligence. It may be in the form of higher taxes, higher health insurance fees, and higher medical costs.

Imagine running as fast as you can, into a wall. You’d expect to get pretty banged up. What if while running at full speed a wall suddenly appeared in front of you? Would you be able to stop instantaneously?

This is exactly the situation one faces when the front of his or her car hits something at only 15 miles an hour. The car stops in the first tenth of a second, but you keep on at the same rate you were going in the car until something stops you, the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield, if you’re not wearing your safety belt.

If this could happen at 15 miles an hour, imagine what a 30 mile per hour collision would result in? It would be the same as hitting the pavement after a 3 story fall.

A properly worn safety belt keeps that second collision - the human collision, from happening.

“Properly worn” means with both straps safely fitted to transfer the impact of the collision to the parts of your body that can take it, the hipbones and shoulder bones.

With just the shoulder strap on, one can still slide out from under and get strangled. The lap belt alone doesn’t keep one’s face from hitting the steering wheel or other parts of the car.

Wearing seat belts is the law in most countries. There really isn’t any reason not wear them aside from plain laziness. But imagine, that investment of a couple of seconds before you carry on to drive could save your life. Why not make that commitment to invest now?

How To Gear Up Your Kids For A Safe Motorcycle Ride

For those of us who have kids and motorcycles we have to realize that the same inner pull that drives us to the biker lifestyle very often is in our kids as well. If you have kids you know what I am talking about, you can barely get away for a ride by yourself because they always want to go, right? I enjoy taking them out anyway but we do have to remember that there are special precautions we have to take for them before we take them for a ride.

The first thing we need to do is be sure that we equip them with protective riding gear just like we wear beginning with protective clothing such as long heavy denim or leather pants and jackets, full gloves, good quality heavy shoes or boots, and of course last but certainly not least a helmet that fits them properly. You can’t just have an extra helmet that anyone wears, your kids need to have their own that fits them properly. You should also be sure that they have a pair of good quality high impact resistant sunglasses to protect their eyes from the damaging UV rays of the sun.

Make sure that your kids know the rules of the road before you take them out, such as no quick movements and staying seated on the bike at all times. You also want to be sure that they are comfortable and have a sturdy safe place to rest their feet. You may have to get something customized if your kids are really small.

You have to be aware that having a kid on the back of your bike is totally different than having another adult riding with you. Kids move around a lot more, just like they do any other time! They don’t think about the dangers as much as an adult and may tend to stick their hands out to play in the wind and things like that. Just watch them and keep them safe.

Another issue I have noticed with my kids, especially when they were smaller is that the sound and vibration of my bike would sometimes make them sleepy, you don’t want them falling asleep and falling off the motorcycle! Just be aware that this can happen so that if and when it does you are prepared for it.

Riding your motorcycle with your kids can be a very pleasurable experience, just be cognizant of the fact that with that experience comes some additional responsibilities that you have to take into consideration.