Auto News & Features, Car Information » Defensive Driving

The Basics With Getting Chevy Car Parts

Author — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:25:16 +0000

Anyone that knows cars will know that when you are looking for parts for a chevy, you have to get chevy car parts. You simply cannot put bmw car parts into a car or truck that requires chevy car parts. These vehicles are made in unique ways to where most parts are not interchangeable so that each manufacturer can have their fair share of the car parts profits. Now, there more expensive the make of the vehicle in question, the more expensive the parts are going to be.

But generally speaking, chevy car parts are not too expensive when you look at what other makes are charging for their parts. It all has to do with how the part was made and what it cost to make it, along with the fact that you are paying for the name of the type of vehicle that you are trying to repair. For example, everyone thinks of a BMW to be extremely expensive so therefore, they would expect the parts to be as well as it would only make sense.

Where To Buy

The great thing about having to buy chevy car parts is that a lot of people own these types of vehicles and you can often find a lot of parts being sold for them. If you do not mind purchasing used parts, you will find a lot in the local papers or even the Internet. By going this route, you will save yourself a lot of money. But if you cannot find the part you need being sold currently used, then you may have no choice but to buy your chevy car parts new. Or maybe, you would just prefer to put nothing but new parts in your car and that is fine too.

Buying new when it comes to chevy car parts is not too bad as the parts are generally pretty fair in terms of price. A lot of the parts that you will end up needing over time can be found at your local car parts store. But once in a while, there is going to be that part or two that is a dealer part only. This means that the only way you are going to purchase these chevy car parts is to go directly through the dealership. These parts cost a little more, but when compared with other types of makes, they still are not that bad. Just keep your eyes open and you may find the prices that you want or can afford.

Just What Is Defensive Driving, Anyway?

Jennifer — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 22:21:18 +0000

There are a lot of bad drivers out there. Accidents happen on the evening news every day. Traffic control cameras have captured some incredible crashes. So, along with the horrible sights of motor accidents, the news might talk a lot about the need for defensive driving. What is defensive driving? Despite the name, driving defensively has nothing to do with weaponry. It’s based more on preventing accidents from happening, rather than giving you the excuse to drive a tank down the highway to the music of The Ride of the Valkyries.

Stay Awake, Stay Alive

What is defensive driving about? It is about keeping aware at all times about your surroundings and what the other drivers around you are doing. It is also about keeping a safe distance from other drivers, driving at safe speeds and being well enough to drive. It also means being a considerate, responsible driver who takes care of his or her car’s maintenance, so it doesn’t cause an accident. There is an ancient practice of stress management and spiritual enlightenment called meditation. In meditation, you basically focus all of your attention on one thing at a time. Meditating in a car is what defensive driving can be seen as.

You ever see The Blues Brothers? One car, the Bluesmobile, is responsible for dozens and dozens of pile ups along the entire state of Illinois. Although all the cars in the movie were driven by stunt drivers, it does illustrate the need to be awake and alert when driving.

Some Other Tips

What is defensive driving for? To keep your perspective about other drivers. Other drivers do things that annoy us – they don’t mean to do things TO annoy us. Try not to take every tailgater, lane-cutter, left turn signal stuck, finger flying driver so seriously. Do you really want to risk getting killed over who is in front of who on a road? If you do have to vent anger, do it AFTER pulling over so you do not risk yourself or any other driver. It is better to be an hour late to a meeting calming down from a near-accident than to go to the hospital because you drove with thoroughly shaken nerves.

What is defensive driving for the non driver? Don’t distract the driver. Help the driver by keeping your trap shut. What is defensive driving at its best when you decide to take public transportation? Not being responsible for driving can give your nerves, and your entire body’s health, a break. The bus driver takes all the blame, then, leaving you an innocent passenger.

A Defensive Driver Course Could Save Your Life

Jennifer — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 22:00:16 +0000

Many people are injured in car accidents every year, and these accidents often cause traumatic emotional, physical and financial hardships. People can be seriously injured in an accident that they did not cause, and these accidents might affect them and their family for many years to come. Most of the people operating motor vehicles are careful and responsible as they proceed, but accidents happen. Some of these accidents are caused by a few people who act irresponsibly. This means that drivers should be careful as they proceed, but they must drive defensively to avoid those that are careless.

People can take advantage of a good defensive driver course to help them operate their vehicles to compensate for the irresponsible moves by other drivers. A good defensive driver course can be found in many cities around the country. Those interested in defensive driving could find one online as well. Each defensive driver course is designed by experts who have studied the problems that occur on the roads. Enrollment in a course will help each driver as they proceed in their vehicles, and a defensive driver course could also save some money on insurance costs. Drivers should use the skills and techniques acquired in a defensive driver course to protect their passengers in the future.

A Defensive Driver Course Presents Clear Strategies For Safety

A good defensive driver course will use many tools to make the course valuable and interesting. These courses often use videos to show clearly the strategies that are helpful for defensive driving. The videos will often show actual street scenes of drivers using the important techniques. A good defensive driving course will often use animations that show mistakes that drivers make on the roads. These animations are often used to show drivers how they should proceed when entering or exiting from a busy freeway. The lectures in a good defensive driver course usually explain important highway rules and regulations.

A good defensive driver course can be used to clear a driver’s record that is marred by a previous accident or traffic ticket. The online courses can be completed at any time so the students enrolled in the course can complete the course without interrupting their usual schedules. The best courses have quizzes and tests that help students demonstrate their knowledge of the important concepts in the course. Many of the defensive driver courses award completion certificates to those who have performed successfully on the required material.

What You Should Know About AARP Defensive Driving Program

Jennifer — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:38:13 +0000

Things are getting harder for senior drivers. In a May, 2007 report, USA Today finds that drivers over 65 have claimed 72% more car accidents than in 1999. Ask a Floridian what driver he or she is more scared of – a teenager or a senior citizen – and chances are they will pick the senior. Even though they may easily pass the state’s eye exam, their reactions are slower.

Outlawing all senior citizens from driving is impractical and unfair. Loosing driving privileges can be a frightening and humiliating experience at any age. Now the Baby Boomers are becoming seniors, there are more senior drivers on the road than ever before. The answer could be to better educate senior citizens in defensive driving. That’s what the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) thinks. The AARP is a powerful group looking out for the rights and safety of all Americans 55 or over.

The AARP Driver Safety Class

The AARP Driver Safety Class should really be called the AARP Defensive Driving class. It is not only a refresher on driving safely, but it can help seniors not get into accidents in the first place. And, many car insurance companies will accept AARP defensive driving classes as a qualification for a discount.

As the scary statistics about senior drivers keep coming in, car insurance companies will want to use that as an excuse to really raise seniors’ insurances rates. At least taking an AARP defensive driving class will show not only save seniors’ money, but it can show the insurance companies that seniors are committed to safe driving.

It’s easy to find an AARP defensive driving class being held near you. You can go online to the AARP website and do a quick search to see what classes are nearest your zip code. Or, you can call the AARP for free and they will search for you. Their number is 1-888-AARP-NOW (1-888-227-7669). If you use the phone number, you will leave a message and an AARP volunteer will call you back with the information you need about AARP defensive driving classes in three to five business days.

The AARP defensive driving course usually takes two days with about four hour classes per day. The cost to seniors is only about $10 (as of 2007). It also teaches you to recognize any physical signs that you may really be too old to safely drive. This is not a substitute for a driver’s license.

A Few Good Reasons Why Defensive Driving Training Is Required And Is Beneficial To You

Jennifer — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 22:22:22 +0000

When you enroll for a course in defensive driving at a defensive driving school, you will receive specialized training which is in the main intended to teach you to become more experienced as a driver. The reason for why you need defensive driving training is that you will learn about traffic as well as vehicle safety that is so important to becoming a safe driver. In addition, another reason for why defensive driving training is important to you is that it teaches you the correct and safe driving attitudes as well as techniques.

Traffic Tickets Are A Common Reason

Another reason for why defensive driving training is required is because you may have been cited for traffic moving violation like having been caught speeding or driving in an unsafe manner by changing lanes in a manner that is deemed to be dangerous and even for not yielding to traffic. Another reason why defensive driving training is required is because you may have met with an accident as well the need to learn how to avoid accidents and damaging property.

Thus, defensive driving training is required to acquire skills on the best way to protect yourself as well as others from injury. Defensive driving training is also required in order to learn all the existing as well as latest traffic laws that are in force. Anyone can learn defensive driving and it will help them hone their driving skills as well as qualify for discounts from car insurance companies, which are two more good reasons for why defensive driving training is good for you.

If you have been referred to a defensive driving school because of a traffic violation and depending on the laws of the municipality, on completing the defensive driving course and getting such completion documented, it would entitle you for obtaining a dismissal of the ticket, which is a pretty good reason why defensive driving training will be to your advantage.

There are also several different types of defensive driving courses available that target various needs of drivers including those who are chocoholics, lovers of coffee as well as cigar connoisseurs, which adds another good reason for why defensive driving training is required and why it is also gaining in popularity.

The ultimate reason as to why defensive driving training will benefit you is no doubt that you will improve your overall skills as well as awareness and thus keep the roads in your state and country safe for yourself as well as for others.

Defensive Driving Statistics – Risk Management For Your Life

Jennifer — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 22:05:07 +0000

41,000 people die from car accidents in America each year. About two million get injured. And that’s just America. Think about those teens you see doing stupid and dangerous stunts on their skateboards. They grow up to be drivers. Armed with defensive driving, statistics, risk management and common sense, you can avoid joining the ranks of the 41,000 or the two million.

Everyone Is Out To Get You

In most areas of your life, paranoia is rippling. But in driving, believing that every other driver on the road is out to get you can save your life and your bank account. Some defensive driving statistics, risk management statistics, and car insurance statistics reveal that every thirty minutes someone is killed by a driver either high on drink or drugs. And boy, is that person ticked off. Albert Einstein said, “There are only two constants in the universe – hydrogen and stupidity.” You can’t stretch your arms out in a good yawn without encountering a dangerous driver these days, when the roads are getting more and more crowded.

You can take defensive driving courses, or refresher courses. Contact your car insurance company – you may be able to get a discount on your insurance by going back to Driver’s Ed. Car insurance companies compare defensive driving, statistics, risk management to those drivers who don’t take defensive driving courses. They are always looking for ways to charge drivers more money, but in this case you can use their logic to save money. They might even have a list of defensive driving statistics risk management schools for you to choose from.

Here are some basics you need to know to not join the defensive driving statistics. Risk management driving could be another name for them:

Stay at least three seconds behind the car in front of you when driving at 35 miles per hour, longer if you are going faster.
Do not drive when you are dizzy, disoriented or drowsy.
Just drive – do not try to do a crossword and fix the radio at the same time.
Make sure your car is in good working order, so it won’t be the cause of an accident.
Give lots of room to big trucks. They can’t see you too well.
Calm down. It’s not the end of the world if you come home five minutes later than usual.
When on very long drives, be sure to pull over at least once an hour to get out, stretch and wake back up.

Advanced Driving Course: What Every Driver Should Take

Jennifer — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 21:38:14 +0000

So you know that you are already a good driver and you want to broaden your knowledge in driving. There are many offline and online classes that offers advanced driving course which would help you in honing your driving skills to maximize your safety and others’ as well on any public road type. But sad to say, the term “advanced driving” is being abused by many for quick profit and does not understand what the term really should evoke.

Advance driving means that it is the ability to control your position and the speed that you have safely, systematically, and flawlessly always regardless of what road and traffic condition you are in. This requires a positive, knowledgeable, courteous, and an all-around good attitude while driving.

Advanced Drivers Of America

Probably the most recognized and reputable organization that offers advanced driving course is the Advanced Drivers of America. The company started when the IAM or the Institute of Advanced Motorists were formed in the year 1955 after hearing that there has been a tremendous reduction of accidents in the United Kingdom after they have used the advance driving techniques along the metropolitan area. Then it branched out to Advanced Drivers of America, offering advanced driving course to people of the United States and Canada.

The Advanced Drivers of America aims to enhance the standards of driving and highway safety across North America and anywhere else in general. They believe that the key to being a good driver is their “system of car control” which is taught all throughout their advanced driving course. There are six levels of qualifications that is introduced by the organization in their advanced driving course and the remaining five levels which are called, “bronze”, “silver”, “gold”, “platinum”, and “world” correspond to the progressive stages that one undergoes when taking the advanced driving course.

Their ADA’s advanced driving course is currently being offered in the state of New York and Texas. Other states may be included later and new schedule is always posted.

What The Studies Tell Us

Studies have shown that people who undergo advanced driving course helped in reducing the numbers of crashes since it seriously could improve your road skills, protect the lives of your passengers and other drivers, and minimize the cost of your insurance. Also, by taking the course, it also makes the older drivers more vigilant and responsible since it was shown that the leading cause for occupational fatalities in the United States are mainly older workers. And lastly, it is a great motivation to take the course especially for those people who lack confidence behind the wheels. Advanced driving course would help you overcome those fears and at the same time, make you a better, responsible driver.

Just What I’ve Always Wanted – Advanced Driving Lessons!

Jennifer — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:56:40 +0000

Ever watch NASCAR or a high-speed chase in the movies? Ever think you could do that? Well, you can but not instinctively. Advanced driving lessons require learning different skills than every day driving. Many police are required to take advanced driving courses so that they can safely and effectively handle their squad card while pursuing a criminal.

Most criminals crash, anyway, because they just aren’t The Blues Brothers. So you can give yourself the gift of learning how to drive at high speeds with a minimum of being shot at. Advanced driving lessons are becoming a popular and unique gift, so you may be able to get someone else to pony up for them.

Is It Safe?

Advanced driving instructors, as well as the schools they work for, all need to pass examinations and be licensed not only to drive, but to teach driving. You’ll often be given safety equipment like a helmet. You won’t be tearing the city streets, but will most likely be on an empty racetrack.

The instruction car tends to have brakes on both the driver and passenger’s side. The course is usually only for a couple of hours in one day. You won’t be able to make Dario Franchitti jealous, but you will at least learn some basics of advanced driving that may help you for the rest of your life.

The only danger to you is to your wallet. The lessons cost from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on what kind of car you drive or if any extras are thrown in. Be sure to check their cancellation or refund policies before buying any advanced driving lessons.

The Nitty Gritty

Advanced driving lessons are more of a fun mini-vacation than school, but it often begins with some classroom instruction. If the weather is extreme, the classes will be cancelled for the day, but mild rain won’t be a problem. Dress in lightweight clothes. You will have to prove that you are a legally licensed driver. You will often have to sign a legal release form, too.

The key to advanced driving lessons is being completely focused on what the car is doing and where it is going. This is no time to talk on the phone and sip coffee. At high speeds, you have to begin braking for turns long before you would at 35 miles per hour. You also need to learn how to regain control of a car if it goes into a skid. Be sure to bring your Dramamine.

Army National Guard defensive driving course: A Good Way To Bring Down Accident Fatalities And Injuries

Jennifer — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:57:10 +0000

It is a worrying statistic that shows that more than half of all fatalities in the armed forces of the United States are attributed to automobile mishaps and it should raise the need for ensuring the safety of US army personnel both in times of peace as well as during wars. According to studies for the year 2002, it is believed that as many as one hundred eighty six soldiers lost their lives in road accidents of which they were supposed to have been one hundred ten that occurred from driving private cars and there were as many as eleven fatalities involving National Guard soldiers.

Available Online

The Army National Guard defensive driving course is meant to drive down the incidences of fatalities from automobile accidents and this course is also available online. It is now possible for soldiers to access this Army National Guard defensive driving course at any time and it is also replete with all the information required to be able to learn how to drive defensively and teaches safe driving techniques as well.

The Army National Guard defensive driving course makes it possible for administrators of the military services to follow the progress of each participating soldier and prepare general reports while also validating the military driving license when the participant successfully completes his or her course.

Army National Guard defensive driving course has been developed by the Professional Development Associates as well as the National Safety Council and is aimed primarily at the Army National Guard. Though there is no way of knowing exactly which plans of the Army National Guard defensive driving course are instrumental in bringing down accident statistics, such a course forms a part of the Strategic Accident Reduction Plan and it is hoped that the course will protect soldiers from death as well as injury.

Furthermore, using the online version of the Army National Guard defensive driving course, a participating soldier can complete this self-paced program in a mere three to four hours. It is believed that the Army National Guard defensive driving course has taught as many as fifty-five million drivers to protect them against mishaps and the goal of such a course is to teach drivers how to prevent collisions as well as foster an attitude of mutual understanding as well as courtesy and cooperation while driving on the road.

There Is Such A Thing As A Cheap Defensive Driving Course

Jennifer — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:57:53 +0000

The good news is that you can get a car insurance discount if you take a defensive driving course. The bad news is that you have to pay for the course. Check with your insurance company to check for how much of a discount you can get. So, is there such thing as a cheap defensive driving course? Yes.

Cheap Checklist

By cheap defensive driving course, this article means $50 or less. There are some real world driving schools that will charge $50 or less, but they may not be available in your neighborhood. By going online, you have access to a cornucopia of online driving schools. Yes – online driving schools. You can do just about anything online these days…except move out of your parents’ house, but that’s another article topic. One of the best places to check for a cheap defensive driving course is with the National Safety Council, which oversees a national Defensive Driving Course, known as the DDC.

Before you plunk your money down on the first cheap defensive driving course that you find, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

Is the cost of the course more than whatever discount I would get a year?
Am I absolutely sure this cheap defensive driving course will qualify for an insurance discount?
What proof does my insurance company need that I completed the course? (Usually, it’s a certificate).
Do I already have a driver’s license? (A cheap defensive driving course will NOT get you a driver’s license or renew a suspended license). Some cheap defensive driving courses will not allow unlicensed drivers.
Does my computer have all the system requirements to run the cheap defensive driving course software?
Can I finish the course once I start it? A lot of online driving schools will not give refunds if you should decide to drop out of a course. That’s the same as in a real world college; you pay just as much for the classes you finish as the classes you drop put of.

If you can answer “YES” to all of these, then you’re off!

Now What?

When you sign up and pay for a cheap defensive driving course, you go to their website and download the software. It’s like having a private tutorial on your computer screen. This software connects your class progress to the driver’s school computer, which is the one that decided if you get that all important certificate.