Here are a few water cooler tidbits about used cars that might make you say "hmm."




1. Three out of four automotive transactions in the U.S. involve previously owned vehicles.

2. The average vehicle will likely have three owners in its lifetime.

3. Industry experts believe one of every 25 air bags that have been deployed have not been properly replaced. They’re also the most stolen item from a vehicle (having surpassed radios).

4. About half the cars that are flood damaged end up back on the road. As far as Hurricane Katrina is concerned, estimates are that about 200,000 vehicles were dried out and resold.

5. The most frequently searched price range for a used vehicle is under $5,000.

6. Consumers lose as much as $4 billion a year due to odometer fraud, with the average rollback being 15,000 miles.

7. There are more used Silverado pickup trucks for sale than any other model (nearly 120,000 throughout the U.S.)

Summer Time Driving Safety Tips

Driving safety tips are applicable all-year round, but in the summer there are some special safety issues that should be kept in mind.

         Watch out for children and pedestrians on the road. With summer and holidays, more children will be playing in the streets, and people will be out cycling, skating or walking.

          Pay attention to stress and fatigue. The additional heat in summer and traffic delays can make you feel more tired and less alert than usual. 

           Look out for road constructions and detours as most road constructions take place during the summer.

         Get your car tuned and serviced. All fluids, such as coolant, brakes, power steering, windshield…, should be checked and topped off.

           Change belts and hoses. Heat and humidity can deteriorate rubber.   

            Optimize tire pressure. Be sure to check your car manual for optimum pressure level. Use seasonal tires if possible.

           Keep drinks and health snacks in your car when going out on long drives or if you expect delays on the road.

           If you are going on long-trips, take regular rest stops or take a break when you stop for fuel.

          Keep a first-aid safety kit in your car. Make sure the contents of the box have fresh supplies.

Weather conditions in summer can pose special threats to driving safely. For example, overheating or sudden storms can create emergency situations.

Hot weather conditions can make you car overheat resulting in engine breakdowns. You should refer to your vehicle manual for proper cooling guidelines. Ideally the cooling system in your car should be completely flushed and refilled for maximum performance in the heat.

In case your car overheats and you need to refill the radiator do not open the radiator cap immediately after stopping the vehicle but wait until the engine has cooled down. The cap will be hot and pressurized steam might burst out from the radiator causing you injury. Also you must be take precautions to avoid contact with coolant. Additives in the coolant, such as anti-freeze, may contain chemicals that are injurious to health.

[Addendum] Cars are becoming increasingly complex. Modern cars have alternatives for adding coolant that does not require direct direct access to the radiator. Some have positive restraints and some cooling systems are sealed. In other words, if your vehicle overheats, it is generally advisable to call and wait for knowledgeable help.

Sudden storms in summer can create driving hazards that you might not have expected. Flash flooding, tornadoes and rain may require you to take immediate precautionary measures. If you come across water-crossings, get out of your car and check for the water depth before you attempt to cross it. Do not attempt to cross if the water is moving. Moving water is extremely dangerous and can easily sweep the car off the road.

If you sense bad weather approaching, turn on your radio and monitor the weather news. In case of tornadoes, seek shelter immediately. If the road is wet due to rain, reduce your car speed and drive carefully especially on curves.

What Costs Society $44,193 per minute?

We’ve repaired a lot of cars over the years at Holmes Body Shop and can agree with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s conclusion that going too fast is one of the biggest factors in whether you have to see us…or don’t. If you have an accident, we’re here to help. If you’d like to avoid our kind of help, consider the information in this article from the NHTSA…..
What costs society$44,193 a minute?

For the answer…check your speedometer as you drive home!

Exceeding the posted limit or driving too fast for conditions is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. Speed is a factor in nearly one-third of all fatal crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed-related crashes cost society more than $23 billion a year.

Too few drivers view speeding as an immediate risk to their personal safety or the safety of others. Yet, speeding reduces a driver's ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, and it extends the distance required to stop a vehicle in emergency situations.

Crash severity increases with the speed of the vehicle at impact. Inversely, the effectiveness of restraint devices like air bags and safety belts, and vehicular construction features such as crumple zones and side member beams decline as impact speed increases. The probability of death, disfigurement, or debilitating injury grows with higher speed at impact. Such consequences double for every 10 mph over 50 mph that a vehicle travels. Many drivers don't consider this. They slow their speed in residential areas, or when the weather turns bad. To them, a few miles an hour over the posted speed limit is an acceptable risk. Their
excuse -- other drivers do it. They believe the worst that can happen to them is to receive a speeding ticket. Drivers like this are wrong. Maybe even dead wrong, because driving too fast for conditions or exceeding the posted speed limit can kill you.

Consider These Speed-Related Facts
Rural roads account for over 60 percent of all speed related fatal crashes.
Sixty six percent of speed-related crashes involved a single vehicle.
Sixty percent of all speed- related fatal crashes occurred at night (6 pm to 6 am).
Drivers involved in speed-related fatal crashes are more likely to have a history of traffic violations.
On average, 1,000 Americans are killed every month in speed-related crashes.

Youth and Speeding
Of all drivers aged 15-24 years of age involved in fatal crashes, 32 percent were speeding.
Of drivers under age 21 involved in fatal crashes, 38 percent of the male and 24 percent of the female drivers were speeding.

Economic and Environmental Costs of $peeding
Fuel consumption increases steadily above 45 mph with passenger cars and light trucks using approximately 50 percent more fuel traveling at 75 mph than they do at 55 mph.

Have a Safe Day!