Riding in Cars With Dogs

By Jim Gorzelany, CTW Features

Pet safety is paramount when traveling. Here are a few tips to help make the trip less ‘ruff’ for everyone

Whether undertaking a short jaunt or a major excursion, family road trips can be hard enough on mom and dad, but adding one or more dogs to the passenger list can prove stressful for both human and canine riders.

Before hitting the highway with dogs in tow, it’s a good idea to consider the following tips, which come courtesy of PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Chicago, the city’s largest no-kill shelter, and Cesar Milan, TV’s “Dog Whisperer” (ceasarsway.com):

• Ensure your dog can handle the trip. If you’ve never taken Fido along for a ride longer than to the vet, take a few practice runs before undertaking a longer journey. Some dogs do better than others in this regard - canines with anxiety issues and/or who bark excessively may be calmed with chew treats, but resist the urge to give him or her a sedative or other medicinal calmative. “You don’t want to start a pattern that ends with a reliance on pills for you or your pet,” says animal expert Milan. “You possess all the tools to keep your pet calm with your voice, attitude, and body language.”

• Properly restrain dogs while the vehicle is moving. Not only is this recommended for their safety and yours, it’s required by law in many states. Depending on the size of the dog and vehicle, use a safety-certified, crash-tested crate or any of a number of products available to comfortably restrain canines in the backseat or hatchback area (never close an animal in a sealed trunk). Especially if you have an older dog and/or a taller vehicle, consider buying an access ramp to help the dog enter it more easily.

• As with small children, don’t let a dog ride up in front because he or she could be injured or killed in a crash by a deploying airbag. And never be foolish enough to let your pooch, however tiny and lovable, ride on your lap while driving.

• Bring along water and a bowl. Even when taking shorter trips, it’s prudent to give your dog access to water in case of a breakdown or other delay. Keep a bottle stored in the trunk as part of an emergency kit.

• Go easy on the dog food before hitting the road. Dogs are often prone to motion sickness. Also, don’t feed Fido while the car is moving. Rather, wait until you’ve stopped and can give him or her a small snack, preferably one that’s rich in protein.

•. Switch off the power windows. Use the car’s child-lock function to prevent your pooch from inadvertently lowering a backseat window. Your dog might enjoy sticking his or her head out into the breeze, but overexcited canines have been known to leap out of a moving car. Plus, one misstep and the window could close on a dog’s neck and cause choking or other injuries.

• Take a break. As with kids, expect to pull over at a rest stop every two or three hours to let a dog do his or her business and run off some excess energy.

•. Never leave a dog alone in a car. On a hot day, even with the windows cracked open, a parked vehicle can become dangerously hot and your pooch can quickly develop heatstroke. In the cold, hypothermia can set in.

• Take the dog for a long walk once you reach your destination. Never just open the door and let him or her run freely. “Make sure you keep your dog on a leash while they explore your new destination,” says Joan L. Harris, PAWS Chicago director of training and canine behavior. “Even a well-trained dog may feel out of place until they are comfortable in a new location.”

Why Presidents’ Day is slightly strange

By Valerie Strauss, The Washington Post

Most federal holidays are clear-cut. On the Fourth of July, for example, Americans celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. On the other hand, Presidents’ Day is a slightly strange holiday for three main reasons:

*There is no universal agreement on the actual name of the holiday.

* There is no universal agreement on which presidents are being honored.

* There is no agreement on something as simple as whether is an apostrophe in “presidents.”

Ask  a handful of people who the holiday is meant to recognize, and you aren’t likely to get the same answers. In fact, what is generally called Presidents’ Day is still recognized by the U.S. government as Washington’s Birthday. USA.gov lists it like this: George Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day) – February 17 and it describes the holiday this way:

Washington’s Birthday

Washington’s Birthday is observed the third Monday of February in honor George Washington, the first President of the United States. This date is commonly called Presidents’ Day and many groups honor the legacy of past presidents on this date.

Some states do in fact honor both Washington, who was born Feb. 22, and Abraham Lincoln, who was born Feb. 12. But other states honor Washington and Thomas Jefferson, but not Lincoln, on this holiday and some states honor all the presidents. Then there are a handful of states, including Illinois, that have declared Lincoln’s birthday a state holiday — whatever day of the week Feb. 12 happens to fall — while also marking the federal holiday. In Virginia, Washington’s home state, the holiday is called George Washington’s Day. In Alabama, it is called “Washington and Jefferson Day” (although Jefferson was born on April 13).

How did this holiday come to be ?

Washington’s actual birthday, Feb. 22,  became a U.S. government holiday back in 1885. In the early 1950s, there was a movement led by a coalition of travel organizations to create three-day weekends by moving the celebration of some holidays to Mondays. One of the suggestions was to create a Presidents’ Day between Washington’s birthday and Lincoln’s birthday, which was a holiday in some states. A few states tried the new arrangement, but it was not universally adopted across the country. Also in the early 1950s there was a proposal to make March 4 — the original presidential inauguration day — a holiday to honor all presidents, but that went nowhere.

The National Holiday Act of 1971 passed by Congress created three-day weekends for federal employees by moving the celebration of some holidays to Mondays, although states did not have to honor them.

So, today, though the federal holiday is marked on the third Monday in February, there is no agreed-upon name, no universal agreement on who is being celebrated, and the use of the apostrophe in the name is varied: Sometimes it isn’t used at all (as in Presidents Day), sometimes it is placed between the last two letters (President’s Day) and sometimes it is after the last letter  (Presidents’ Day).

Put all this together, and it seems fair to see that Presidents’ Day, or President’s Day, or Presidents Day, is a slightly strange holiday.

Brushing Up on Winter Driving Skills

By Jim Gorzelany, CTW Features

Last winter was certainly a doozy, with wide stretches of the nation registering crippling snow totals and frigid temperatures with little relief. Unfortunately, the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts we’ll ride another polar express in the months ahead, with above-normal snowfall throughout much of the nation.

“Colder is just almost too familiar a term,” says Almanac editor Janice Stillman. “Think of it as a refriger-nation.”

Of course the prudent course of action to take when the weather takes a turn is to simply stay home, but that’s not always practical. Fortunately, it’s possible to take on Old Man Winter safely, provided one hits the road prepared and is willing to “drive according to the conditions.”

According to winter driving tips provided by the North Dakota Department of Transportation, travelers should dress according to the climactic conditions (anticipate both departure and arrival points), always carry a cell phone and notify friends or relatives when they’re leaving, the route they’re traveling and their expected arrival time. Never hit the road with less than a full tank of gas, and avoid using the vehicle’s cruise control to keep reaction times to a minimum.

If inclement weather sets in, turn on the headlamps, slow down and leave extra room from the traffic ahead - your car’s brakes won’t grip as tenaciously on wet pavement. Beware of frozen patches, especially over bridges and overpasses that tend to freeze sooner than paved roads. Accelerate smoothly when climbing hills to avoid spinning the wheels and maintain your car’s momentum without stopping; reduce speed and drive as slowly down hill as possible. Periodically apply the brakes with moderate pressure to determine the available traction; modify your driving if the antilock brakes kick in (the “ABS” light flashes briefly) or you feel the vehicle slipping.

If the roads become too slick or conditions are compromising visibility, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends turning on the hazard lights and pulling off the road when it’s safe to do so. Unless there’s a safe haven in the immediate area in which you can take refuge stay in the car and either wait for a break in the weather or for help to arrive. Switch on the inside light so rescuers or workers can see you.

If the storm continues for an extended period run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm, but crack open a downwind window for ventilation. Keep snow away from the exhaust pipe to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

If your vehicle becomes stuck in the snow, avoid spinning the tires. Switch off the car’s traction control, engage the lowest gear and gradually “rock” the vehicle back and forth - perhaps only an inch or two at a time - to get it moving. If that doesn’t work, wedge the floor mats (or cardboard or even tree branches) under the tires for added traction. If you can’t get free after several minutes, call a tow truck to avoid damaging the transmission or other components.

Should the car’s battery become depleted and require a jump-start, have the running car parked as closely to yours as possible, preferably head-to-head, and switch off the ignition. Open both hoods and locate the batteries (often hidden under a plastic cover) or charging points. Connect the positive (“+”) end of the cable onto the good battery and then the positive terminal on the dead battery, followed by the negative (“=”) connections.

Have the driver of the running car start the engine, and attempt to start the car with the dead battery; if you get no immediate response, ensure the cables are firmly attached to the terminals. If the car doesn’t start after several tries, call for service.

How Much Car Insurance Do You Really Need?

By: Coverhound.com

Car insurance can be a major headache. There are a lot of factors to consider when figuring out how much coverage you need. Of course, there are state requirements drivers must meet, but generally it’s best to get more than the bare minimum. Read on to find out how to select the level of insurance that’s right for you.

Insurance Policies

The first thing you need to know is that there are different types of policies that make up your overall auto insurance. These include:

•  Liability Coverage: Covers liability and expenses when you are the one at fault in an accident.
• Bodily Injury Liability (BIL): Covers the medical expenses of people that were injured in an accident in which you were at fault.
• Property Damage Liability: Covers damage to the other vehicle in an accident in which you were at fault.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Covers your medical expenses as well as those of your passengers after an accident.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Covers costs if you are involved in an accident with another motorist who has minimal or no insurance.
• Collision: Covers your vehicle’s repairs after an accident.
• Comprehensive: Covers expenses if your vehicle is damaged or stolen even if not during an accident.

This is where the factors come into play: If you owe money on your car, your lender requires you to carry comprehensive and collision coverage. However, if you have a very old vehicle that doesn’t have much value, you can probably get away with simply having collision coverage.

Minimum Insurance Coverage Levels
Almost every state has minimum requirements for car insurance. For example, California’s minimum coverage requirements (at the time this was written) are 15,000/30,000/5,000. These numbers stand for the following, respectively:

Bodily injury liability for 1 person in an accident

Bodily injury liability for all people injured in an accident

Property damage liability for one accident

These numbers are what allow you to legally drive, but they’re not necessarily enough if you get involved in a car accident. If costs exceed your coverage limits, you’re responsible for paying the rest, and that can get expensive. If you have assets like a home, savings, etc., you’ll want to consider getting covered for an amount equal to these.

If you want to keep your premium low, choose collision coverage with a high deductible; this way you pay less each month. It’s great to have coverage to fall back on if you end up in an accident, but you don’t want to pay too much for something you may never use.

The Bottom Line
When it comes down to it, you need to at least meet your state’s requirements for car insurance, but each situation is unique. Shop around when you are buying car insurance, and be sure all of your own requirements are met before you choose a provider.

Must-have safety and connectivity features

By Jim Gorzelany

CTW Features

The term “basic transportation” is all but a misnomer in the automotive business these days, as even the smallest rides on a dealer’s lot can be fitted with a fanciful assortment of high-tech features.

Looking for a car that comes with an in-dash cassette player? You’ll be lucky to find one fitted with a CD player, as many models instead play digital music files and stream data from smartphones. Want a car that best protects its occupants in a crash? Many models can now help the driver avoid getting into an accident in the first place.

Here’s a quick look at the latest safety and connectivity features newcar shoppers will encounter on a wide range of models for 2015, though be aware that some of them might only be offered on higher trim levels in a given model line.

Safety first. Sophisticated accident avoidance features are fast becoming optional on a wide range of mainstream models, with the most effective in this regard being forwardcollision alert systems. The best of them not only warn the driver if the car is closing in too quickly on another vehicle or other obstruction, but will actually apply the brakes if he or she is not reacting quickly enough to help prevent, or at least minimize the effects of a crash.

Volvo and Mazda offer low-speed collision avoidance systems that will automatically engage the brakes to avoid hitting other vehicles (and in Volvo’s case, pedestrians and cyclists) in low-speed city traffic. Meanwhile, some Nissan and Infiniti models offer systems that can automatically stop the car while in reverse gear to avoid a crash as it’s backing up.

Other widely available collision prevention systems include blind spot and lane departure warning systems. The former warns motorists of the presence of other vehicles to the side and rear he or she might not be able to see in a side mirror (some further warn of cross-traffic while backing out of a garage or parking space). Meanwhile, the latter issues an alert if the car inadvertently crosses highway lane markers; a few lane departure systems can gently “nudge” the car back into a lane or prevent crossing the markers via brake or steering intervention.

Infotainment everywhere. Automakers are trying to attract younger and more tech-savvy buyers with an increasing array of smartphone connectivity features. Most cars offer a simple Bluetooth interface that enables hands-free calling and digital song downloading via the audio system. Many now leverage mobile phones as a gateway to access Internet radio services, navigation, dining and travel information, news headlines, sports scores, weather forecasts and gas prices.

A number of systems can read aloud text messages via a synthesized voice, with some allowing the driver to likewise respond on a hands-free basis, either by voice command or via preset replies like “driving, can’t text,” or “running late.” Several models now offer the Siri Hands Free feature that enables owners of recent-model iPhones to access the virtual digital assistant while driving via a steering wheel-mounted button.

Several models — most notably from General Motors and Chrysler — further offer in-car Internet connections that enable their vehicles to act as rolling Wi-Fi hotspots for mobile devices (albeit on a monthly subscription basis). For added convenience, a few models allow occupants to keep their smartphones powered without physically having to plug them in via a handy inductive charging tray.

And some vehicles even allow motorists to remain connected when they’re otherwise separated via smartphone apps that can, for example, remotely engage or disengage a car’s door locks, start the car and/or check tire pressure, fuel levels and vehicle diagnostics. Some can even help mom and dad keep tabs on teen drivers and guide owners back to their vehicles in crowded shoppingcenter parking lots.safety

HOTTEST (FOR THE WRONG REASON) CARS

By Jim Gorzelany

CTW Features

While heads will turn whenever a flashy sports car assumes a prime parking position — and one can bet that its owner has fitted his or her coveted ride with every anti-theft device available — it’s the Plain Janes of the automotive world that actually draw the most attention from thieves.

That’s according to the annual “Hot List” of the most stolen rides on the road, compiled by the National Insurance Crime Bureau in Des Plaines, Ill.

This year there are actually two separate lists, one each for new cars and those from previous model years, and you won’t find the likes of a racy Chevrolet Corvette or pricey Mercedes-Benz S-Class on either of them. Rather, they’re populated with cars, trucks and crossovers that would otherwise get lost in a supermarket’s parking lot.

To that end, the most stolen car during 2013 was an older model Honda Accord, with 53,995 units registered missing according to the NICB; other hot models included well worn Honda Civics (45,001 units), and Chevrolet Silverado (27,809 units) and Ford F-150 (26,494 units) pickup trucks. High volume used cars are the most valuable in this regard, largely for the sum of their parts. They’re typically swiped and immediately dismantled at so-called chop shops, harvested for their components (water pumps, catalytic converters, starters, engine blocks, etc.), which subsequently are marketed on Internet sites and/or sold to unscrupulous auto parts dealers.

New cars more often are taken and resold intact, usually with doctored paperwork, with higher-end sports cars typically shipped abroad for resale. On the plus side, recentmodel cars are more difficult for casual car thieves to “hot wire” and drive away, thanks to the proliferation of computer-chip-coded keys and built-in engine immobilizers.

Fortunately for all car owners, the Federal Bureau of Investigation says car thefts of all kinds are on a downward trend after seeing a slight increase in 2012. The FBI predicts its final 2013 statistics (to be posted later this year) will see a 3.2 percent reduction, registering just less than 700,000 units, which would be a 50 percent drop since the crime’s peak year in 1991.

“The drop in thefts is good news for all of us,” says NICB president and CEO Joe Wehrle. “But it still amounts to a vehicle being stolen every 45 seconds and losses of more than $4 billion a year. That’s why we applaud the vehicle manufacturers for their efforts to improve anti-theft technology and pledge to continue to work with our insurance company members and law enforcement to identify and seek vigorous prosecution of the organized criminal rings responsible for so many of these thefts.”

For its part the NICB suggests consumers heed common sense precautions that are so often forgotten. These include never leaving the keys in the ignition when the vehicle is unattended, keeping the windows and sunroof closed and parking it in a well-lit and well-traveled area. Also, use an antitheft device, however basic, which might be enough of a deterrent to convince a crook to instead choose another car on the block. Even better, install an ignition kill switch or fuel cutoff device in a hidden location to make it that much more difficult for a crook to start a car or truck and drive it away.

For even greater protection, consider a tracking device that uses GPS telematics to remotely monitor a vehicle via a smartphone or personal computer; the NICB says such devices are particularly effective in helping the police locate a car after it’s been stolen.

Most stolen new cars

1. Nissan Altima

2. Ford Fusion

3. Ford F-150

4. Toyota Corolla

5. Chevrolet Impala

6. Hyundai Elantra

7. Dodge Charger

8. Chevrolet Malibu

9. Chevrolet Cruze

10 Ford Focus

Most stolen older-model cars

1. Honda Accord

2. Honda Civic

3. Chevrolet Silverado

4. Ford F-150

5. Toyota Camry

6. Dodge/Ram Pickup

7. Dodge Caravan

8. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee

9. Toyota Corolla

10. Nissan Altima

The above lists are based on theft data collected during 2013. New cars are those from the 2013 model year; older cars come from all past model years combined.

Toyota bets big on fuel cell vehicles

By Dana Hull / San Jose Mercury News (MCT)

SAN FRANCISCO — California’s ambitious zero-emission vehicle goal is for 1.5 million hydrogen, all electric, and plug-in electric vehicles to be cruising the roads by 2025.

Toward that goal, the state is spending $200 million to build 100 hydrogen refueling stations, most of them clustered in Los Angeles and around the Bay Area.

There’s just one problem: Where are the hydrogen fuel cell cars?

Honda, Hyundai and Toyota are among the automakers placing their bets on hydrogen fuel cells, but only a few hundred of the cars are on the road in California. Most are leased as part of pilot or demonstration projects: Hyundai is leasing a fuel-cell version of its Tucson SUV, in limited numbers, in Southern California.

Now Toyota, which has spent 20 years on hydrogen fuel cell technology, says it is ready. The Japanese automaker has had success with its plug-in Prius, but is heavily promoting its 2015 FCV, or fuel cell vehicle. The FCV, which will be renamed, seats four, has a range of 300 miles and refuels in three to five minutes. It is scheduled to hit select California dealerships next summer.

“Automakers have made great strides over the last 10 years,” said Keith Malone of the California Fuel Cell Partnership, a collaboration of state agencies, automakers and fuel cell technology companies. “A lot of automakers see a light at the end of the tunnel: the technology is commercially viable.”

Like electricity, hydrogen can be produced in several ways; most is made from natural gas, electrolysis of water or from biomethane. Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity from the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, with water vapor as the only exhaust product; a fuel cell vehicle is refueled instead of recharged.

On a recent weekday in San Francisco, Toyota showed tech journalists its FCV, but the car — about the size of a Camry — is still largely under wraps. The windows were tinted black to keep the interior design a secret, and while journalists were allowed to drive previous demonstration versions of Toyota fuel cell cars, including a hydrogen-powered Toyota Highlander, the upcoming model — its first for a mass market — was off limits; more details will be revealed in the coming months.

The Japanese company has not released the actual name of the car, interior specs, production volume or U.S. pricing, but Toyota says it is expected to cost more than a Prius and less than a Tesla Model S — or somewhere between roughly $25,000 and $70,000.

“We really see this as the technology for the future,” said Jana Hartline, the environmental communications manager for Toyota. “The scalability of fuel cells is such that it’s not only appropriate for passenger cars, but buses and heavy duty commercial applications, with zero emissions. We’re looking long term: it’s not something that is going to happen over the next five or 10 years. There are still a lot of internal combustion engines on the road. It’s going to be a curve in terms of ramping up.”

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is one of the loudest critics of hydrogen fuel cells, calling them “fool cells” and telling analysts in August that the technology is inefficient and that “success is not one of the possible outcomes.”

Toyota begs to differ, saying that for longer range, larger vehicles, fuel cells make sense.

“When you talk about fuel cells versus electric vehicles, that conversation is really happening in the media right now,” said Hartline. “But it doesn’t have to be an either/or. Both technologies can peacefully coexist, and they serve different needs. What is interesting about a fuel cell is that it’s actually an electric vehicle. It just creates its own electricity onboard by combining hydrogen and oxygen.”

Toyota was an early partner with Tesla, investing $50 million in the Palo Alto-based startup and cooperating on the RAV4 EV, which produced roughly 2,500 vehicles. But Toyota is now firmly focused on fuel cells.

Toyota has also invested $7.2 million in FirstElement Fuel, a startup that plans to create a hydrogen fueling network. There are only nine hydrogen fueling stations in California right now that are open to the public, including one in Emeryville. Gov. Jerry Brown has approved a plan to construct 100 hydrogen fueling stations across the state by 2024, to be paid in part from existing vehicle registration fees. In May, the California Energy Commission awarded FirstElement a $27.6 million grant that will help the company create a fueling network.

In the race to offer an alternative to gasoline-powered cars, plug-in electric vehicles clearly have a strong head start. Many EV drivers regularly charge their cars at home, but home fueling for hydrogen fuel cell cars is not likely to happen. The question now, as the cars finally become available to consumers, is what the adoption curve will be.

“You need the infrastructure and the fuel cell vehicles for this to work,” said David Reichmuth, a senior engineer in the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. “But manufacturers now have vehicles ready to go, and California is funding the refueling stations. I can’t tell you in the future which ones we’ll have more of: plug-in electric vehicles or fuel cells. But we need both.”

Five Safety Tips For New Drivers

 In an effort to teach young drivers more about traffic safety, AutoMD.com is providing some handy tips about how to deal with breakdowns.

Get your car off the road:

It might sound obvious, but if your car isn’t working properly, its not wise to stop it in an active lane. If possible move it out of the way, and when safely off the road, apply the parking brake, and steer the wheel in the opposite direction of the road. This is so your car doesn’t roll into traffic.

Call for help:

It’s rare to find a teen these days without a smartphone, so it’s a good idea to put it to good use. Some car company’s offer roadside assistance, or if you have a membership with AAA give them a call. Make sure you have a flashlight, or something similar in your car for such an emergency.

Alert Others with lights and signals:

Whenever you are experiencing a problem also be sure to turn on your hazard lights or four-way blinkers. Having a flashlight, flare or triangle is especially handy when you run into issues late at night. Place a flare, or triangle about 50 feet away from your vehicle, and if you need assistance from police, try raising your hood, or tying a white cloth to your cars handle.

Stay in Your Car Unless it’s Unsafe to do so:

While it may be tempting to walk around your car trying to identify a problem; if you just don’t know, or are waiting for help, stay in your car. Especially on the highway, when leaving your car you can put yourself and others at risk of an accident. Standard stranger-danger rules apply here too: lock the doors, and roll up the windows. If you don’t trust someone offering help, roll down your window, rather than opening the door for them. If you must exit the car, use the door on the opposite side of the roadway, to prevent walking into the road.

Tire Trouble:

If you need to repair, or replace your tire, be sure to pull over on a flat, even surface so that you can use the jack safely. Often times cars have all the right tools for dealing with a flat tire, but it’s becoming commonplace for a vehicle to not have a spare tire, and only have a tire-repair kit instead, so make sure you’e familiar with what tools are in the trunk before driving.