Did You Ever Sneeze While Driving?

You might not hear much about the dangers of sneezing while driving, it fits into the category of distracted driving and causes more accidents than you might think.

Accidents happen for various reasons, but even fatal accidents can be  caused by something as simple as a sneeze.

What should you do if you have to sneeze?

 Pull over

Probably the most effective way to avoid a sneeze-induced automobile accident is the simple act of pulling over to sneeze. Most people can feel a sneeze coming on, and that means you should have enough time to pull your vehicle over to a safe shoulder before giving yourself over to the sneeze. Drivers may travel up to 50 feet with their eyes closed while sneezing so, if possible, pull over to sneeze.

 

Stop the sneeze

It’s not comfortable or technically healthy to stop a sneeze in its tracks, but it is possible. If you have very intense sneezes and think you could endanger yourself and your passengers if you don’t do something, you can try these techniques if you feel a sneeze coming on to stop your sneeze:

• Pinch your upper lip
• Put your finger under your nose
• Squeeze your nose
• Grab the spot between your eyebrows
• Distract yourself by thinking about something else
• Flick your forehead

 

How Well Do You Know PA School Bus Laws?

   

               RED Light Flashing Means NO PASSING! 

Can you believe that it's that time?  The kids are  back to school. 

 

Where did the summer go??

 

Every year children are needlessly injured or killed by

 drivers passing stopped school buses.

      Pennsylvania's School Bus Stopping Laws Are :

  When you meet or overtake a stopped school bus with red signal lights flashing and stop arm extended, you MUST STOP.

  

  When you approach an inter section where a school bus is stopped with red signal lights flashing and stop arm extended,  you MUST STOP.

 

  You MUST STOP at least ten (10) feet away from the school bus.

 

  You MUST WAIT until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm has been withdrawn before moving.

 

  DO NOT MOVE until all the children have reached a place of safety.  

  

Penalties if convicted of violating

Pennsylvania´s School Bus Stopping Law include:

*$250 fine

*Five points on your driving record

*60-day license suspension

Car-Lotta reminds  you to drive safe! 

Doing Anything Fun For Labor Day?

Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. In high society, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable for women to wear white.


 Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. NCAA teams usually play their first games the week before Labor Day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day. Most school districts that started summer vacation in mid June will resume school near this day.



The first Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, in Boston, by the Central Labor Union of New York, the nation's first integrated major trade union. It became a federal holiday in 1894. Singed into law as a National Holiday by Grover Cleveland.


All Car-Lotta Credit locations will be closed Monday September 2nd  in observance of Labor Day.



We will re open Tuesday September 3rd  at 9:00 am.

How Much Is Your Insurance Deductible?

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR DEDUCTIBLE....

 

It’s all about your budget – and your comfort level with risk.

 

Here are some things to consider about  when choosing your deductible.

1. Your budget: Ask yourself: What’s the amount of money I would be comfortable paying if I need to repair my vehicle? The lower your deductible, the less you will have to pay out of pocket if you have to file a claim, but your overall car insurance premium will be higher.
   It works the opposite way, as well.  If you have a high deductible, you will have a lower car insurance premium – but you’ll pay more out of pocket if you file a claim. This decision comes down to personal preference and what you can afford within your current budget.
    
2. Drive time: Think about the amount of time you spend driving on a daily or weekly basis. If you’re in your car a lot – or driving in more accident-prone areas – you might be exposed to more risk than someone who drives less.
    
3. Value of your vehicle: The more expensive the vehicle, the more it costs to insure. In that scenario, a high deductible could help you save on your premium. However, if you have a car loan, some lenders stipulate that your deductible should not exceed a certain amount. Check with your lender to be sure.

 

Car-Lotta Car Sales Suggests you keep your deductible at NO MORE THAN $500.00 but the decision is ultimately yours.

Is Your Oil Light On?

 

All vehicles  have a "low oil pressure" warning light. If the light comes on while you're driving, it may mean that your vehicle is dangerously low or completely out of oil.

It can mean that your auto has a serious leak that's causing a pressure drop, a clogged oil passage that's causing oil starvation, or the oil pump has failed or is failing.


 When the light comes on, pull off the road immediately and shut off the engine. Then check the oil level using the dipstick. If the dipstick shows you're out of oil or dangerously low, you should add more oil before restarting.

Driving a vehicle when the oil is  dangerously low or completely out of oil can destroy your engine in just a few minutes, and that can easily cost you $4,000.

 Don't think you can drive to the nearest store to get more! It's not worth the risk.

You should …. call a friend or family member and ask them to bring the oil to your location ( you can find the  recommended type and viscosity  in your owner's manual). Add it to the filler port and check the dipstick to make sure it's full. Do not overfill.
If the dipstick shows you've got oil, then the problem is even more serious and must be checked out by a mechanic.

There's really nothing you can do while you're on the side of the road. If the dipstick shows the engine is full, or you can't reach a friend to drop off more oil, call a tow truck! If you can't afford a tow, then you surely can't afford a new engine.

Car-Lotta Reminds You.....Never Drive When Your Oil Light is On!

How Often Do You Check Your Tire Pressure?

 

You can find testimonials from people  on the Internet who claim they upped their mileage simply by inflating their tires to the maximum pressure listed on the sidewall. What they don't tell you about is the rougher ride, premature tire wear, longer stopping distances and increased repair costs due to worn-out suspension components.

The recommended tire pressure for your automobile  is listed on a label inside the driver's door frame and it is 
based on vehicle weight along with the best possible handling.

Inflating your tires to the maximum pressure listed on the tire is okay if you're hauling a heavy load. You should reduce the tire pressure to the recommended pressure once you remove the load.

Driving a normal load on over-inflated tires reduces rolling resistance and that can increase your mileage slightly. This means you have less rubber in contact with the road, which reduces traction.

Over-inflation increases stopping distances, causes the tires to slip and/or  hydroplane on wet roads and reduces the life of the tire. Much harder tires also absorb less impact vibration so they transmit more road shock to your entire suspension system, causing a rougher ride. Additional tire bounce  can wear out your car's struts, strut mounts, shocks, springs, ball joints and control arms much faster.

 Any mileage gains you get from decreased rolling resistance are more than offset by decreased safety factors and increased suspension repair costs.

Car-Lotta wants  you to k now the facts so you can be safe.

Do You Leave Your Pet In Your Auto ?

Did you know the temperature inside your vehicle can rise almost 20º F in just 10 minutes. In 20 minutes, it can rise almost 30º F...and the longer you wait, the higher it goes. At 60 minutes, the temperature in your vehicle can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Even on a 70-degree day, that's 110 degrees inside your vehicle!

Your vehicle can quickly reach a temperature that puts your pet at risk of serious illness and even worse, even on a day that doesn't seem hot to you. And cracking the windows makes no difference.

Car-Lotta Car Sales reminds you....  before you put your pet in the vehicle, ask yourself if you really need to take your pet with you – and if the answer is no, leave your pet safely at home. If you must take your pet with you, make sure he or she is properly restrained so the trip is as safe as possible for both of you.