We’ve all been in horrible traffic on the highway where you’re completely stopped for awhile, can take your foot off the brake to travel 10-15 mph for a few yards, and then totally stop again. Personally, I’ve always wondered why it is indeed “stop-and-go” traffic instead of everyone just moving along at a constant, average speed.

A man named William Beaty in Seattle had the same thoughts, and did an experiment when driving in stop-and-go traffic one day. He began hitting the usual “waves” of stopped traffic, and instead of filing in line with the other cars only to stop a short distance ahead, he decided to hang back and move at the average speed of traffic. He left a huge gap in front of his car and arrived at the next clump of stopped cars as the brakelights were being turned off. Beaty kept up this behavior for about thirty minutes, continuing to leave a large space in front of him and driving at a constant speed.

As he looked in the rearview mirror, he was shocked to see that in the lane behind him for miles, there was a total uniform distribution of the cars. However, in the lanes beside him, there were the usual stop-and-go waves of cars. Everyone ahead of him was also caught in the stop/go cycle, but behind him cars were able to drive at a smooth 30-35 mph. By driving at the average speed of the traffic around him, he had erased miles of stop-and-go traffic.

The next time you’re driving in heavy traffic, remember Beaty’s actions, and apply them to your own driving. According to him, traffic patterns are in our own hands.

A single solitary driver, if they stop “competing” and instead adopt some unusual driving habits, can actually wipe away some of the frustrating traffic patterns on the highway.

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Tags: General Auto, travel by Melissa - 2 Comments »

Roundabouts. Why are these calming traffic circles so scary and unfamiliar to some people when in reality, they are statistically much safer than traditional intersections? The answer probably lies in the fact that up until the last few years, roundabouts have been a relatively scarce occurrence in most parts of the U.S. However, in North Carolina alone, over 60 roundabouts have been built in the past decade, and the DOT state congestion management engineer says the state could see 600 more in the next ten years. With similar projects being launched in states all over the country, drivers would be wise to familiarize themselves with the rules of roundabouts.

A roundabout is a kind of road junction where traffic flows one way around a central island. Drivers entering the circle must yield to drivers already in the circle, and speeds are slow, around 25 mph or less depending on the size of the roundabout. Different-sized roundabouts can be used on different types of roads; freeway interchanges, T-intersections, and four-way or multi-leg intersections are great places for roundabouts.

How safe are roundabouts? A study of a sampling of roundabouts in the U.S. found that compared to the intersections they replaced, roundabouts resulted in 40% fewer vehicle collisions, 80% fewer injuries and 90% fewer serious injuries and fatalities. Additionally, roundabouts are cheaper to build than intersections with traffic lights, they require almost no maintenance, there is no threat from power outages, and trees, fountains, or statues can be placed in the central island. Another obvious added benefit of roundabouts is that there’s less time wasted waiting for green lights, and as a result, less gasoline is used which puts less pollution into the air. So the next time you’re driving throughout the southeast and you encounter a roundabout, proceed slowly, yield to cars already in the circle, and be thankful for the time and gas you’re saving.

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Though gas prices where I live in Raleigh have dropped almost 40 cents over the past month, the era of higher prices is most likely here to stay. Nevertheless, there are numerous things drivers can do to save gas and maximize their miles per gallon. Two of the biggest changes drivers can make relate to how they drive: traveling at lower (or the posted) speeds, and accelerating and braking smoother.

Driving on the interstate can often be a harrowing experience, but I’ve actually noticed less of a frenzied pace on I-40 than I used to. Maybe it’s my imagination, but I think more and more drivers are realizing that reducing their speed just a little can translate into big savings at the pump. According to a CNN Money article, gas mileage for most cars decreases exponentially over 60 mph. For every 10 mph faster, fuel economy is reduced by 4 mpg. So if your SUV only gets 24 mpg on the highway to begin with, remember that it could be as little as 20 mpg if you’re going 70 or higher.

Aggressive driving, like accelerating and braking faster than necessary, can also waste gas and money. If your light turns green, but you see the light a block away is red, why peel away only to have to slow down again? Fueleconomy.gov reports that aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by about 5% around town; a Consumer Reports study said that starting and stopping rapidly lowered a Toyota Camry’s mileage by 2-3 mpg. While you don’t need to crawl away from traffic lights or stop signs, a smart move would be to look down the road to anticipate potential slowdowns. So whether you’re driving around town or taking a road trip, there are actions you can take to squeeze more miles out of your gas tank. Driving a little slower and less aggressively will go a long way.

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Tags: Auto News, General Auto, travel by Melissa - 2 Comments »

We’ve all been there. You’re driving on the highway, and up ahead either your lane is ending or you need to switch lanes because the road splits. To make matters worse, this situation has somehow slowed traffic to a crawl. Do you anticipate what’s coming and move over with plenty of time, even while knowing you’ll have to sit and wait while other people zoom past you to cut in late… or are you one of the drivers who zips ahead and cuts everyone off to save a few minutes?

In his new book, “Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What it Says About Us),” author Tom Vanderbilt investigates our patterns and behaviors on the roadways. Having always been an “early merger,” one day while driving Vanderbilt impulsively drove ahead in the ending lane and merged in at the last minute. Afterwards, his action bothered him so much that he posted a question on the internet about merging behaviors. Stunned by the amount of passionate responses he received, he began researching the psychology of driving behaviors and eventually organized all his research to write the book.

So which is better - merging early or late? Supporters of late merging claim that it uses full capacity of the road, while early mergers think that late mergers are cutting in line. According to “Traffic,” studies have shown that late merging can improve traffic flow by 15% when vehicle volume is heavy.

Whether you’re a late or early merger, the most important thing to remember is to be aware of your surroundings when driving and anticipate problems before they arise. There will always be someone who cuts in at the last minute - giving yourself enough room between you and the car in front of you can be a key factor in preventing an accident.

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In the past few weeks gas prices have thankfully begun to decline, but the damage continues to wreak havoc on our wallets when filling up at the pump. This has recently begun to challenge automakers to try and create more fuel-efficient vehicles for people to drive, and Volkswagen has stepped up the plate in a big way and hit the challenge right out of the park.

It’s been dubbed the super-thrifty One-Liter Car because that is how much fuel the car requires to go 100 kilometers, or about 62.14 miles. The amazing bullet-shaped concept car has been tested and reportedly gets a miraculous 235 miles per gallon. Could this be the reason that Volkswagen has bumped up the car’s production by two years to have it available in 2010 instead of 2012? Possibly. Or it could just be the fact that the automakers are excited to introduce this new concept to the world. The one-liter car has not only made great leeway in the areas of fuel-efficiency but it has also defied the weight traditionally held by an average sized car. Thanks to its highly aerodynamic design, coming in at 11.4 feet long, 4.1 feet wide, and 3.3 feet tall, this new concept car only weighs an astounding 660 pounds. Engineers used an extensive amount of magnesium, titanium, and aluminum in order to reach this weight, which is actually one-third of the Toyota Echo. So despite being a dream car in terms of fuel-efficiency, it makes me wonder whether a car this small in size and weight can be safe for consumers to drive?

According to Volkswagen representatives, the car is fully equipped with safety measures such as anti-lock breaks, stability control and airbags and is as safe to drive as the GT sports car that is meant for high speed racing. So I guess my concerns are null and void because it seems as though Volkswagen has conceptualized the perfect balance between safety and efficiency. And if you’re worried whether or not this gas saving vehicle will drain your wallet in price, don’t be. The sticker price is estimated to be between $31,750 and $47,622, which isn’t too bad considering how much money you’ll be saving at the pumps.

So what do you think? Have gas prices finally met their match?

Check out some of these links for more automotive information:

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Tags: Auto News, General Auto, travel by Ashley - 2 Comments »

The personal trends and styles that people add to their cars are what make each and every vehicle unique. Sure, I see hundreds of the silver Toyota corollas, which is the car I own, but how many of them have a dog bone lodged in the back window (like mine)? These little additions and quirks are what make driving such an enjoyable experience. The wonderful thing about personal style is that it can be incorporated into a car in a number of different ways. The owner may choose to cover the interior with a flame print, or line the undercarriage of the car with neon lights. Some may even decide to express their right to freedom of speech through personalized license plates and bumper stickers, but can this expression become dangerous to other drivers?

Despite the fact that these expressions of style are distracting to other drivers, a new study has found that people who have bumper stickers plastered on their cars, may not be the most forgiving when it comes to road rage. Researchers at Colorado State University concluded that personalization items including license plates, bumper stickers, and even as much as items on the dashboard are better predictors for road rage than things such as vehicle value, and condition. The study observed the aggression of 500 drivers in the form of honking, tailgating, and blocking traffic.

Researchers believe that it all comes down to the concept of protecting one’s territory on the road. Many of these cars are owned by drivers who feel as though their personal interpretations function as territory markers, and when threatened, drivers who had at least one marker in or on their car were 15% more likely to retaliate in a negative way. This aggressive driving behavior can inadvertently lead to a number of problems, including accidents, traffic jams and even death.

Although this is only one scientific study, it does bring up an interesting issue on whether or not the expression of freedom of speech on one’s car is dangerous to the other travelers on the road. So the next time you head out on your summer road trip, and get stuck behind a passenger van boasting a sticker that displays “proud parent of an honor roll kid,” you may want to think twice before cutting them off.

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Driving can be one of the most exhilarating activities that a person experiences, but studies have shown that driving can also be one of the dangerous activities that a person can engage in. According to recent reports, the lifetime risk of dying in a motor vehicle accident for U.S. residents is 1 in 100, and roughly around 57% of deaths take place on rural roads, the Federal Highway Administration has found.

Many accidents are largely due to the fact that drivers may be driving along unfamiliar roads, many of which can be extremely fatal due to the curves and bumps along the way. Believe it or not, rural highways have been found to be some of the most dangerous in the country and because of this researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Excellence in Rural Safety have created an interactive website map that allows drivers to actually see how safe or how dangerous a particular road can be to drive on. The site, which goes by saferoadmaps.org, gives the driver the ability to enter in their address and then a map of the roads will appear displaying those roads that have experienced the most fatalities. The website also informs drivers about each and every fatality with details about whether age, weather conditions, or alcohol were factors in the accident.

The website has been created in order to bring a better driving safety awareness. By advertising the applicable driving laws that are required for that particular area as well, drivers are given an extensive and in depth view of how safe or unsafe their environment may be to drive in. The site itself has just opened up to viewers recently, so its success is still undetermined, but hopefully drivers will take heed to the wonderful service that is being offered to increase the safety and knowledge of car owners everywhere.

Although driving may be a dangerous activity, there are many ways to prevent an accident. By driving responsibly (i.e. no aggressive driving, keeping the radio at a reasonable volume and buckling up), following speed limits, and being aware of your surroundings at all times, you may not be able to stop an accident from happening, but you can certainly reduce the risk of causing one.

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Tags: Auto News, General Auto, travel by Ashley - No Comments »

Believe or not, but there is a miracle afoot in Raleigh, NC. When traveling to work everyday, I pass the same gas station and over the past week alone I have witnessed a ten-cent drop in the price of gas per gallon. Imagine my surprise when I had passed by this station last week and had noticed a one-cent change in price. I immediately thought to myself, “wow, maybe things are about to change.” Well amazingly enough, my thought process was right. I watched that gas price drop a few more cents every single day and I truly thought I was witnessing a miracle.

Now, whether or not the drop in gas prices truly fits the definition of a miracle is not my call to make, but after the past few months of a struggling economy and exorbitantly high gas prices, this new change sure brings hope that a miracle isn’t too far off. So why the sudden change? According to a recent article, the change is gas price is due to a drop in crude oil price over the past two weeks. With oil being cheaper to buy, gas stations are now able to sell gas to us for a cheaper price, hence the reduction in price. However, the change may have come just a little too late. Because gas prices have been so high for so long, many drivers have looked for alternative ways to get themselves around. In May of this year, Americans drove 9.6 billion fewer miles than the same time last year, as reported by the Federal Highway Administration. This is because a large number of people have flocked to using mass transportation services such as metros, trains and buses. Also, in hopes of creating a green environment, many people have begun to bike and walk to places causing them to ditch their cars and reduce the number of miles that they drive.

So maybe the recent decline in gas prices really won’t have that much of an effect on people, seeing as though many have taken matters into their own hands. But for those who can’t use these options either because of their geographical location or because they live too far away, the change in gas prices currently may just be the miracle that a number of people need.

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Tags: Auto News, General Auto, travel by Ashley - No Comments »

The debate over increasing gas prices has just about everyone talking. Most of the arguments weigh heaviest towards negative connotations about the subject but are there any positives to gas prices hitting $4 a gallon and continuing to rise? According to a recent U.S. study, researchers believe there just may be some silver lining around the high-priced fuel debate.

Professors Michael Morrisey of the University of Alabama and David Grabowski of Harvard Medical School have found that for every 10% increase in gas prices there is a 2.3% decline in the number of automobile deaths. Breaking the numbers down even further they found that for drivers between the ages of 15 and 17 the decline was around 6% while those who fell between 18 and 21 years old had a 3.2% drop in auto deaths.

The number of automobile deaths in the U.S. typically ranges from 38,000 to 40,000 deaths a year and researchers are predicting that if gas prices continue to rise, that amount could possibly be reduced by a third. Of course, there is a vice versa complex that is at work here as well. If and when gas prices decline, there’s a great chance drivers will begin to increase the amount of driving they do thus raising the risk for automobile deaths again. But for now, the possibility that high gas prices may save some lives is actually very encouraging and plausible. Since the beginning of 2008 the number of drivers on the road has decreased drastically as many families are deciding to engage in staycations, enjoying certain summer activities around their hometowns, because of the hole that gas prices are burning into people’s wallets.

So it would appear that what was once viewed as a very negative economical change may now have extremely positive effects for drivers. Only time will tell where the debate goes from here.

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Tags: Auto News, General Auto, travel by Ashley - 1 Comment »

If you’ve ever taken a vacation to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., or Atlanta, the driver in you has undoubtedly come face to face with some of the worst traffic jams in the nation. I can attest from personal experience of living in all three cities, that the traffic is horrendous. From having to sit in traffic for up to 2 hours at a time, seeing a line of cars over 3 miles long, and trying to avoid obnoxious cab drivers, big city driving brings with it a variety of unpleasant feelings. And now there is one more to add to the list: high gas prices.

Right now, gas prices are resting right around $4 per gallon, give or take a few cents, in almost every state. Thus, it is becoming more difficult for people to actually want to get in their cars to drive anywhere because of the fear of how much it will cost them in the long run. Even Utah is taking heed, as they’ve recently become the first state to switch to a four-day workweek for thousands of government employees in hopes of reducing the amount of travel and possibly helping drivers to save money. So how will the unstable economy affect drivers who live in these high traffic cities? Now, instead of solely worrying about getting to work on time, drivers will be more concerned with the money it’s going to take to get to work. In big cities such as D.C., LA, and Atlanta, due to the unbelievably high cost of living, a number of employees live in the suburbs and are forced to travel into the city. In past years commuting to work has never really been an issue, but with gas prices continuing to teeter and threaten reaching some of their highest amounts ever by the year’s end, that is no longer the case.

Thankfully for many drivers in these largely populated cities, public transport is easily accessible and gives drivers an alternative choice to get to work. And they certainly have been taking it. Mass transit has experienced a 3% increase of riders since the beginning of 2008 and that number doesn’t appear to be slowing anytime soon. But for those drivers like myself, who just can’t seem to separate from their beloved vehicles, the economic problems are just something that we’ll have to deal with…for now.

Apparently driving in the big cities is still a possibility, but there is no telling what changes the future may bring. Truthfully, I’m not too sure I want to know.

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Tags: General Auto, travel by Ashley - 1 Comment »