Keeping Kids Safe during Holiday Road Trips

Christmas holidays are full of fun and excitement, but driving to your vacation destination can be difficult if you and your family are not suitably prepared. With a lot of traffic on the roads, a fully loaded vehicle and everyone eager to get to the end of the journey, safety can be jeopardised. Keep your family safe this Christmas holiday period with these tips.

·      Sleep and rest - As the driver you need to be alert at all times. Get to bed early the night before your trip to ensure you are well rested. If your journey is a long one, stop along the way for some rest time, or even an overnight stay halfway into your trip to break up the driving.

·      Check child restraints - It is of utmost importance to get your child restraints installed or at the very least, checked by professionals. Also check that your child is in the right restraint for their age, weight and height.

·      Charge it up - Kids tend to get bored on long drives, so to keep the whinging and sibling fights at bay, charge up the electronic devices before you leave home and buy a movie or two for the long haul. This will provide at least a couple of hours before “Are we there yet?” gets played on repeat.

·      Play a game - Once the devices have gone flat, have your passenger play games with the kids such as Spotto or Eye Spy. Keeping children busy is the best way to avoid those back seat distractions that may lead to unsafe lapses in your driving concentration.

·      Pack some snacks - A healthy protein-based snack can keep you alert at the wheel for a while longer, as will keeping hydrated with lots of water. Packing snacks is an additional way to keep those back seat enquiries at bay while you concentrate on the road.

·      Safety service - Before you leave, booking in for a complete safety service of your car will have it running smoothly and give you peace of mind that your family will arrive safely and enjoy the trip. Book your family car in today at http://www.cooperautomotive.com.au/book-online-now.html

The 5 Most Common Crashes and How to Avoid Them

Unfortunately, vehicle accidents happen every day and many could be easily prevented. Let’s take a look at the most common crashes on Australian roads and how you can avoid becoming a statistic.

1.     Nose-to-tail - Also called the ‘rear-ender’, nose-to-tail car accidents account for the highest number of crashes on Australian roads. The main cause of a rear-ender is not enough space between cars. As a general rule, it is advised to keep a three second gap between your vehicle and the one up ahead (more in poor conditions, such as wet weather).

2.     Side-on - Adjacent direction crashes are second on the list and are mostly caused when a vehicle fails to give way. The reasons for this are usually to do with reduced visibility such as poor or blinding light or obstructions, but can also be caused by carelessness. To avoid side-on accidents, check and double check before crossing intersections, always proceed with caution and prepare to brake in a hurry.

3.     Head-on - Opposite direction collisions are usually caused by vehicles up ahead wanting to cross your path. This is mostly to do with time and gap judgement. If you are in the car waiting to turn in front of an oncoming vehicle, remember the old saying ‘it’s better to be safe than sorry’, and just wait it out if you’re unsure. If you are in the moving car and see another vehicle waiting to cross your path, back off the accelerator and be prepared to brake.

4.     Off path in a curve - Speed is a major factor in cars running off roads in a corner. Remember to always stick to the speed limit and use caution on bends. There are often signs along windy roads with recommended speeds for entering each corner, so take note and slow down!

       5.  Off path in a straight - Driver fatigue, swerving to miss an unexpected obstacle and other distractions such as mobile phones, can all result in driving off a straight road. Minimise these by ensuring you are always well rested and alert before getting behind the wheel of your car. If an obstacle appears on the road ahead, slow down and take note of your surroundings; try to avoid swerving. As for the mobile phone, turn it off or on silent and place it somewhere out of reach so you are not tempted.

As a driver, the best advice if you are unsure is, slow down and proceed safely.

Ethanol in Petrol. Is it ok for my car?

With more than one bowser to choose from at most service stations, we thought we'd give you the low down on Ethanol. What is Ethanol? Ethanol is a by-product of the processes of fermentation and distillation. It comes from crops and plants that are high in sugar including sugarcane, barley, wheat and corn. In the current climate of global warming (said to be caused by high greenhouse gas emissions such as those produced when burning fossil fuels), governments around the world have started to look for alternate ways to do things to reduce their carbon footprint. One of these things is fuel production and use. Ethanol used as fuel has been around for many, many years, but in the last 15 years it has become more popular as fuel for cars. There has been much debate about using Ethanol as fuel in vehicles, so let’s have a look at some of the pros and cons. Advantages of Ethanol in fuel ·      It is a renewable resource, meaning less use of fossil fuels such as oil. ·      It is a good use of by-products, which equates to less waste disposal. ·      Ethanol burns more cleanly than petroleum, which produces less carbon monoxide, making it better for the environment. ·      Ethanol increases the octane rating of fuel, which means less damage to car engines. ·      Ethanol production is good for agriculture as it adds value to crops and creates employment opportunities. Disadvantages of Ethanol in fuel ·      Ethanol has a shorter shelf and tank life due to the fact that it absorbs water which can contaminate it as a fuel. This factor also makes it harder to ship through pipelines. ·      To maintain high production of Ethanol, large amounts of land are required to grow the crops, which can lead to deforestation and other associated problems including erosion. ·      Some of the emissions of certain pollutants caused by burning ethanol may be increased. ·      As Ethanol is more corrosive than traditional petrol, older cars may experience engine damage, so it is best to avoid using it if your car was manufactured prior to the years 2000 - 2005, depending on brand. See your car’s manual or local service centre for whether Ethanol based fuel is right for your car. If you still have concerns, speak to us for advice on your particular vehicle.