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.

You Memorial Day Weekend

The unofficial start to summer will be a busy one this year. Plan your drive ahead of time to choose direct routes on safe roads and keep an eye on weather forecasts to avoid driving with dangerous conditions. Never drive after drinking (by dominguez), travel with anyone who has been drinking, or allow anyone who has been drinking to drive. Following are tips for travel to destinations near and far this Memorial Day Weekend: Prepare before you go: Before hitting the road, make sure your car is safe for driving. Vehicle owners should check the oil, put air in the tires, and check for and repair open recalls. Visit ChecktoProtect.org to see if your vehicle has an open recall, and get it repaired for free. Drive distraction-free: Put your phones away and just drive. Slow down: Drive the speed limit and do not exceed it. Be sure to pay attention to those walking and biking in order to keep all road users safe. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to get there so if you do not make it to your destination as planned, someone will know and be able to send help. Do not drink and drive. Always use a designated driver. Buckle up: Seat belts are estimated to have saved 374,276 lives. Buckle up, while also making sure you have appropriate car seats installed correctly. These suggestions are really instructions that apply to any time you are driving either by yourself or with passengers. Just make sure to exercise extra care now that you know of the increased risk of being in an accident on this particular holiday weekend. Car-Lotta Car Sales will be closed on Monday, May 29th 2023 in observance of the holiday.

Puddles and Potholes

. Heavy rain can wear down the roads, creating potholes. It’s usually best to try and avoid driving over potholes as long as there is a safe way to do so. If not, exercise the same cautions as if it were a puddle: keep away from other vehicles, drive slowly, and maintain control of your vehicle. Be wary of puddles of water in or beside the roadway. When you can safely do so, it’s usually best to avoid driving through puddles. Water can damage and degrade different parts of your vehicle. Of course, if there is no safe alternate route, you may need to drive through the puddle. If that is the case, leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles, drive slowly, and use both hands on the steering wheel to avoid losing control If you come across one that is too big or dangerous to avoid or drive across, your best bet may be to turn around and find an alternate route. Follow these tips, drive defensively, and enjoy the lovely Spring weather. Happy driving, everyone!