Can You Spot An Impaired Driver ?

You can help protect your family from impared drivers by looking for these signs of intoxication among other motorists. What should you do if you see one?? It happens every day. Impared drivers get on the roads endangering our friends and loved ones. Sometimes we witness these drivers on the road, weaving in and out of lanes or traveling down a highway going the wrong direction. Quite often, we are left asking ourselves what do I do? Stay as far away from the other vehicle as possible. Do not try to pass the vehicle or signal the driver to pull over. Doing so could result in a collision. Take notice of the license plate number of the vehicle along with details including make, model and color. However, make sure you don’t compromise your own safety trying to obtain this information. Pull over and call 911. Give the exact location of the vehicle, including the name of the road or cross streets and the direction the vehicle is traveling. Give a complete description of the vehicle and the manner in which the vehicle is being driven. Car-Lotta reminds you that by looking for these signs and taking the correct action, you could help save a life.

How Do You Spot a Drunk Driver?

When you see an erratic driver, do you think, is that person texting or drunk? There are differences between someone who is texting while driving or too intoxicated to drive. To help in identifying possible drunk or impaired drivers, Car-Lotta would like to offer the following information provided by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). How to Spot a Drunk Driver You can help protect your family from drunk drivers by looking for these signs of intoxication among other motorists: Quick acceleration or deceleration Tailgating Weaving or zigzagging across the road Driving anywhere other than on a road designated for vehicles Almost striking an object, curb, or vehicle Stopping without cause or erratic braking Drifting in and out of traffic lanes Signaling that is inconsistent with driving actions Slow response to traffic signals (e.g., sudden stop or delayed start) Straddling the center lane marker Driving with headlights off at night Swerving Driving slower than 10 mph below the speed limit Turning abruptly or illegally Driving into opposing traffic on the wrong side of the road

Distracted Driving is NO JOKE

Did you know that Distracted Driving crashes killed more than 3,000 people and injured over 416,000 last year Reaction time is delayed for a driver talking on a cell phone as much as it is for a driver who is legally drunk. More texting leads to more crashes. With each additional 1 million text messages, fatalities from distracted driving rose more than 75%. People under the age of 20 are involved in more fatal crashes due to distractions than any other age group. Studies show that drivers who send or receive text messages focus their attention away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. At 55 mph, this is equivalent to driving the length of a football field blindfolded! Car-Lotta encourages you to visit The U.S. Department of Transportation website (www.distraction.gov) provides updates and information on the national campaign to prevent distracted driving.

What's In Your Emergency Car Kit?

A first-aid kit in the car can come in handy for all sorts of purposes while you're out and about – not just in the event of a car accident. These are the essential items that you should pack in your car's roadside emergency first-aid kit. Standard Emergency Items Bandages, adhesive tape, antibiotic ointment, and gauze pads are some of the most common first-aid items that should be in every kit. A first-aid manual should also be easily accessible in your car in case of an emergency. Some of the other important items that you should include in your kit: Instant/chemical cold and hot packs Disposable gloves Plastic bags Scissors Tweezers Cotton balls and Q-tips Sterile eyewash Thermometers Soap and hand sanitizer In addition to these medical items in your kit, you should always have emergency items in your car if you experience trouble on the road. These are some of the most important emergency items to have with you at all times: Cell phone and charger Emergency contact numbers Waterproof flashlight and batteries Candles Blanket Flares Sunscreen Car-Lotta reminds you that another important point to consider is how and where you will store your first-aid kit in your vehicle. The most common options are a pouch or a box, but you can really use many of the containers that you may already have lying around the house

What Questions Should You Ask?

Buying your very first car is exciting, intimidating, and terrifying all at once! It's also a rite of passage for new drivers and a milestone to remember for the rest of your life. There are some key questions that you need to ask yourself, and you should probably consult with your family before committing to such a major purchase. With the weight of these factors on your shoulders, here are a few car buying tips for teen drivers. Questions to Consider These are some of the first questions that we feel you should ask yourself and discuss with your family before even setting foot in a dealership: How much money do I have to spend on a car? Should I buy a new or used car? What kind of car would best suit my needs? What are the most important safety and design features to me? Car-Lotta Car Sales is here to make we answer all of your finance questions.