Electric Car Charging Safety Tips

You can easily plug in your electric car, walk away, and let the battery recharge — much like your mobile phone. However, an electric vehicle’s (EV) battery is bigger and more powerful than the device you carry in your pocket or purse, and its charging cord carries far more electricity. While EV charging is safe when using the right equipment, you must follow some steps to help ensure the car’s battery health and your own well-being.

Safe Charging at Home
Home charging is the easiest and most practical way to recharge your electric car. If charging at home is an option, you can choose from two types of charging.

Level 1
Level 1 is the slowest method for charging an EV. However, using this trickle charging is easy and requires no special installation. A Level 1 charger comes with many electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) to connect to a standard 120-volt AC outlet, which many garages have. Aftermarket Level 1 charging cables are available for purchase.

Select charging equipment that is certified to meet safety standards.
Plug Level 1 charging cords directly into an outlet that can handle the amperage.
Never use an extension cord or multiplug adapter for EV charging.
Charging cables are a tripping hazard, so be aware of the cable’s location.

Level 2
Using a Level 2 charging station at home allows many EV and PHEV owners to plug in overnight and replenish the mileage range used in their daily commute.

Level 2 chargers require a dedicated 240-volt circuit to avoid overload.
Qualified electricians must install the equipment.
Maintain the charging station’s parts and replace damaged or worn components that can malfunction.
Cover outdoor charging equipment to prevent water damage.
Pro tip: It is generally safe to charge an electric car when raining. However, the owner’s manual has the manufacturer’s specific guidance for charging in wet conditions.

Public Charging
Electric car drivers can utilize more than 50,000 public charging stations nationwide when away from home. Constant exposure to the elements and having many users make these chargers susceptible to excessive wear. A damaged charger is an unsafe charger, one that could cause harm to you or your EV when plugging it in.

Before plugging in your car, inspect the charger for apparent signs of damage.
Ensure the plug fastens snugly into the car’s charging port, as broken clips may prevent a secure and unsafe connection.
Level 3 DC Fast Chargers account for about 6,800 of the country’s public chargers. They are safe to use, but for EV battery health, it’s best to limit taking advantage of these high-voltage chargers that charge a battery rapidly. While convenient for out-of-town road trips, DC Fast Charging strains the battery, and frequent use can negatively affect performance and durability.

Pro tip: Keeping your battery’s state of charge between 20% and 80% will maximize its useful life. There are exceptions to this widely accepted rule of thumb, and your owner’s manual will say what’s best for your EV.

CARS

Why is your check engine light on?

When your car’s internal computer identifies a problem with the engine or transmission, it turns on the check engine light. The reasons for a check engine light turning on can range from something minor like a loose gas cap to something more serious like a faulty catalytic converter. It could even be a sign of internal engine failure. Ignoring the problem can turn a potentially quick fix into a costly and time-consuming repair.

Why is your check engine light on?
Common minor and major reasons for a check engine light to turn on include:
Loose gas cap
An internal problem in the engine
An issue with or even theft of the catalytic converter
Faulty spark plug, spark plug wires, or ignition coils
Malfunctioning oxygen sensor
Damaged mass airflow sensor
A bad tank of gas

What to do when your check engine light comes on
Once you notice your check engine light has come on, pay attention to how the car is driving. Does something feel off? If so, reroute yourself to the nearest mechanic to get the car checked out. If the car seems to be running fine, you can check a few things on your own before heading to the mechanic.

There are a couple of simple solutions if your check engine light came on after getting gas. A loose gas cap is one of the most common reasons for the check engine light to go on. Check that your gas cap is screwed on securely and that it’s in good condition.

If you have a tank of bad gas in the car, your check engine light may come on. For example, if your vehicle is designed to run on premium gas (octane grade 91 to 94), the engine may struggle to run on regular gas (octane level 87). You can safely solve this problem by having a professional drain your gas tank. If you must drive until the tank is empty again, this may not cause severe damage, as long your car doesn’t show signs of overheating or poor engine performance.

Do you suspect something else caused your check engine light to turn on? The most foolproof method to check the engine light is to read the diagnostic code in the car’s internal computer. If you have experience working with cars, you can do this at home with an OBD-II scanner. Otherwise, head to your local service station where a mechanic can read the diagnostic code and determine the correct fix.

Why you shouldn’t ignore your check engine light.
The check engine light is sometimes confused with the maintenance required light, although the two are unrelated. The maintenance required light goes on when your car is due for routine service. Examples of routine services include an oil change. However, the check engine light is an indication that something unexpected has occurred.

Some later car models have check engine lights in different colors and modes to help you determine how severe the issue is. If your car has this feature and your check engine light flashes on and off intermittently or glows red, it’s a sign you should get your car to a mechanic as soon as possible. Depending on your car’s make and model, a solid yellow or orange light may indicate lower severity. However, it’s still a sign that you should make an appointment to diagnose and fix the problem.

What are the implications of ignoring your check engine light?
Ignoring the light and putting off a visit to the mechanic could result in more costly and time-consuming issues you’ll have to deal with in the future. The problem that caused your check engine light to turn on in the first place may get worse or impact other aspects of your car’s engine or transmission. Ignoring the problem could lead to more long-term damage that your car insurance may not cover.

You also won’t be able to pass your next car inspection until the check engine light is off and you have resolved the problem. Your best option is to get the issue resolved quickly. If you’re concerned about affording unexpected engine repairs on your car, consider mechanical breakdown insurance.

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7 reasons you can be ticketed for your license plate in NJ

Who knew license plate laws could be so complicated? Ever since you put your license plates on your vehicle, you probably haven’t thought much about them.

Well, somebody with a state job at the MVC certainly has given them some thought.

New Jersey has a host of rules that you must follow pertaining to your license plate, mostly put in place to ensure that police, cameras, and plate readers can easily read your license plate, according to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
I’m betting there are even a few license plate rules you weren’t aware of.

Here are seven reasons you can be ticketed for your license plates in New Jersey:
You Must Have Two License Plates
In New Jersey, all motor vehicles are required to have a license plate on the front and the back of the vehicle. This goes for all types of motor vehicles, except for motorcycles, which are only required to have a license plate on the back.

Your Plates Must Be Secured
This may come as a surprise, but you can’t simply put your plates in the front and back windows of your car. If you do so without firmly fastening the plates so that they can’t slip or slide around, you may be ticketed.
What’s more, even if you manage to properly secure your license plates in the windows of your car, you may still be ticketed. This is because, in New Jersey, it is against the law to drive with anything blocking any area of your front or back window.

Distance From the Ground
In New Jersey, your license plates must be affixed to your vehicle, such that it is no more than 48 inches above the ground and no less than 12 inches from the ground. This one was news to me. Do police actually get out and measure? They just might.

Inadequate Illumination
Your plates must be adequately illuminated at night. This is why vehicles are constructed with small lights around the area where your license plates should be attached. Make sure that these lights are in working order, or you may be ticketed.

Snow And Ice
You must also be sure to remove any snow and ice from your license plates that might prevent them from being read. If any letters or numbers on the plate are unable to be read, you may be ticketed. You will see many people breaking this rule every time it snows.

No glass or Plastic Covers
New Jersey forbids the use of any plastic or glass license plate covers, or any other covering or coating that may distort or obscure your license plate, such that it cannot be properly read or photographed. I am not breaking this rule, but that’s completely by chance. I had no idea about this one.

Parked Or Driving
You can be ticketed for a license plate violation, whether your vehicle is parked or being driven. If the violation was noticed while you were parked on a public road or highway (as opposed to being parked in your own driveway or garage), the violation will result in a parking ticket.

If the violation was noticed by law enforcement while you were operating the vehicle, it will result in a moving violation.

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7 reasons you can be ticketed for your license plate in NJ

Who knew license plate laws could be so complicated? Ever since you put your license plates on your vehicle, you probably haven’t thought much about them.

Well, somebody with a state job at the MVC certainly has given them some thought.

New Jersey has a host of rules that you must follow pertaining to your license plate, mostly put in place to ensure that police, cameras, and plate readers can easily read your license plate, according to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
I’m betting there are even a few license plate rules you weren’t aware of.

Here are seven reasons you can be ticketed for your license plates in New Jersey:

You Must Have Two License Plates
In New Jersey, all motor vehicles are required to have a license plate on the front and the back of the vehicle. This goes for all types of motor vehicles, except for motorcycles, which are only required to have a license plate on the back.

Your Plates Must Be Secured
This may come as a surprise, but you can’t simply put your plates in the front and back windows of your car. If you do so without firmly fastening the plates so that they can’t slip or slide around, you may be ticketed.
What’s more, even if you manage to properly secure your license plates in the windows of your car, you may still be ticketed. This is because, in New Jersey, it is against the law to drive with anything blocking any area of your front or back window.

Distance From the Ground
In New Jersey, your license plates must be affixed to your vehicle, such that it is no more than 48 inches above the ground and no less than 12 inches from the ground. This one was news to me. Do police actually get out and measure? They just might.

Inadequate Illumination
Your plates must be adequately illuminated at night. This is why vehicles are constructed with small lights around the area where your license plates should be attached. Make sure that these lights are in working order, or you may be ticketed.

Snow And Ice
You must also be sure to remove any snow and ice from your license plates that might prevent them from being read. If any letters or numbers on the plate are unable to be read, you may be ticketed. You will see many people breaking this rule every time it snows.

No glass or Plastic Covers
New Jersey forbids the use of any plastic or glass license plate covers, or any other covering or coating that may distort or obscure your license plate, such that it cannot be properly read or photographed. I am not breaking this rule, but that’s completely by chance. I had no idea about this one.

Parked Or Driving
You can be ticketed for a license plate violation, whether your vehicle is parked or being driven. If the violation was noticed while you were parked on a public road or highway (as opposed to being parked in your own driveway or garage), the violation will result in a parking ticket.

If the violation was noticed by law enforcement while you were operating the vehicle, it will result in a moving violation.

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The Right Type Of Gas For Your Car

You might think about it every time you pull up to the gas pump. What grade fuel should I use? Can I just go for the 87-octane the lowest price option? Is there really a difference in gas grade? Here’s what you need to know.

Is a Higher-Octane Gas Really the Best Gas for Your Car?
When it comes to gas for your car, it’s not about which octane is the best but which octane your car requires. If your car’s owner’s manual doesn’t say you need a higher octane than 87, there’s no reason to pay extra for premium gas. A higher-octane gas will not offer you higher performance.

On the other hand, if your car’s owner’s manual says that your minimum octane for your car is 91 to 93, don’t cheap out — it could end up costing you more in the long run. Go ahead and use the premium. The general rule is you should be putting the minimum acceptable octane gasoline in your car as per the owner’s manual.

Why Do Some Cars Require Higher Octane?
Before knowing why some cars need higher octane, it’s important to understand what exactly octane is. When you activate the ignition, this creates a spark that ignites the compressed air and fuel mixing in your engine, which is what allows the gas to power your car. Sometimes this mixture can ignite prematurely, a phenomenon known as preignition, which is signaled by a knocking sound coming from the engine. Modern cars usually have knock sensors that prevent this.

The octane of your gasoline has nothing to do with how much energy is in the fuel. It is a measure of how easily your air-fuel mixture ignites. Higher octane means the gasoline you are using has a greater resistance to preignition. That is to say, it requires greater agitation to ignite it. That is all that the octane level indicates.

Many premium cars generate greater power by using a higher fuel-air compression ratio in the engine. Because the mixture is more compressed, it generates more heat and thereby is more likely to ignite early. Higher octane gasoline is more resistant to this problem.

What Happens if You Don’t Use the Best Gas for Your Car?
Your gas cap or instructions near the gas cap should indicate if your car requires premium fuel. You can also check the owner’s manual for specific information on what kind of octane fuels are appropriate for your car.

If your car requires premium gas and you use a lower octane like 87, you can expect knocking, preignition and engine damage particularly if you have an older model vehicle. If you have a modern car, your knock sensor will kick in to prevent preignition, but this will reduce your engine power and diminish fuel economy, so you will lose more money than you save by using the cheaper gas. It’s also conceivable that your knock sensor could be faulty or slow, which could still result in engine damage over time.

Should I Always Use Premium Gas When It Is Indicated and Never When It Is Not?
Some cars may indicate something like “premium fuel recommended.” What this means is that your car is safe to run on regular 87-octane gas, but there can be benefits from using a higher octane. If this is the case, you may want to just go with the cheaper gas, or experiment and see if the amount you make up in fuel economy and the difference in power is appreciable enough to justify the higher cost of the premium fuel.

What about the other way? Does higher octane gas ever help a car not designed for it? If there is no premium recommendation for your car, putting in higher octane gas will not improve fuel economy, and you are just throwing away money.

If your vehicle calls for diesel fuel, you have a diesel engine, which is an entirely different system. There is no negotiating fuel if you have a diesel engine. You need to fill it with diesel fuel and nothing else. If you put regular or premium unleaded gasoline in a diesel engine, not only will the vehicle not run, you can do catastrophic damage to the engine.

Other Things to Know About Octane
If you are driving through very high-altitude places, you may see gas stations offering lower-octane gasoline than you expect. For example, you may see 85-octane gas advertised. If you are used to always just getting the least expensive gas at the station, you may be tempted to use lower octane gas than you are used to. Here’s why you should resist that temptation.

Older cars were able to operate with lower than normal octanes at high altitudes because of the thinner air, but this does not hold with modern fuel-injection engines. Therefore, if you usually use 87-octane gas, going for the cheapest option if it is lower than 87 is not recommended. It is better for your car to use 87, 88 or even 91-octane gas than to go too low. If you have a luxury car that needs premium gas, try to fill up before driving to a high-altitude location in case you cannot find a gas station that provides the octane you need.

Foreign cars that are designed for sale in the U.S. should have standard octane ratings, but those purchased or intended for purchase outside the U.S. may call for a RON, or research octane number. The RON number and the U.S. octane number do not match up exactly. If your European car calls for RON 95, for example, it requires regular or 87-octane gas. If it asks for RON 98, use premium 93-octane fuel.

TIPS

Crucial Things To Know Before You Start Driving In The Rain

Driving in rain, whether a sprinkle or a heavy downpour, can be one of the most difficult driving situations a driver encounters. Rainy conditions are directly associated with higher accident rates. No matter what part of the country you live in, it is almost certain that you will be required to drive your vehicle in the rain at some point. Knowing how wet roads and reduced visibility affects the way your vehicle handles will help you drive safely in rainy conditions.
Tips for Driving in the Rain
1 Wait Until the Weather Improves if Possible
If you feel uncomfortable driving in the rain and can postpone your trip or commute, wait until the weather improves before driving. There is no reason to put yourself in danger if driving in wet conditions is not necessary.
2 Double Check Your Car’s Equipment
Make sure that your car’s equipment is in working order before encountering rainy weather. Check your headlights, tail lights, and windshield wipers to make sure that they will work efficiently when they are needed. Also check the tread of your vehicle’s tires. Balding tires can severely reduce traction on wet roadways.
3 Slow Down
Not only should you adhere to the posted speed limit when driving in wet weather conditions, you should drive considerably slower than you normally would. Wet roads are very dangerous. Your vehicle’s reaction time is much slower when it is raining. Reduced speed is imperative in rainy weather.
4 Turn On Your Headlights
Most states require drivers to turn on their vehicles’ lights while driving in rain. Even if it is only misting, turning on your vehicle’s headlights will increase both your own visibility and other drivers’ ability to see your car on the road.
5 Use Your Windshield Wipers
While this may seem like common sense, some people forget to turn on their windshield wipers in light rain. Most cars’ windshield wiper speed is adjustable to clear moisture from the glass in a light mist or in a heavy downpour. There are also several products available that can be sprayed or wiped onto the glass and claim to defer the collection of rainwater.
6 Maintain a Safe Distance Between Cars
Keep a greater distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you. Stopping your vehicle will be more difficult when driving in the rain. Maintain a distance of several car lengths between your car and other vehicles.
7 Avoid Heavy Braking
Try to slow your vehicle by taking your foot off the accelerator earlier than you normally would in preparation to slow down or stop. Don’t use cruise control so your attention on using both the gas and brake are in tune.
8 Watch Out For Standing Water
Driving through standing water can cause hydroplaning to occur. Which is when you lose traction and skid across the surface of the road. To avoid hydroplaning, drive around places where water has collected by changing lanes or safely steering around such areas.
10 Let Off The Gas When Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is one of the most common car accidents in the rain because drivers can lose control. If your car hydroplanes, calmly take your foot off the accelerator and steer in the direction that the front of your car needs to go. Avoid making sudden turns or slamming on your brakes. 10 Ventilate Your Car
Rain causes humidity levels to increase. You may find that your vehicle’s windows become foggy when you operate your vehicle while it is raining. Most cars’ ventilation systems include a function that will work to reduce this type of fog that develops on the interior of your windows and windshield. It may be necessary to pull over if you are no longer able to see through your windows.
Staying safe while driving in the rain is simple if you make a conscious effort to employ these safety precautions. Remember that reducing your speed and turning on your lights are two of the simplest and most effective ways of reducing the chances of an accident caused by wet weather.

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Top Tips For Tyre Maintenance

Do you maintain your car well? Most of us would answer this question in affirmation because as soon as the word ‘maintenance’ hits our ears, we directly relate it to services like regular oil change, the functioning of brakes, fuel efficiency, engine servicing and performance etc. But we overlook to maintain or take proper care of the tyres of our vehicle/car, which are the real beasts of ‘our’ burden.

In today’s hectic urban life, our care is mostly restricted to the outer look of the car, whilst the other crucial components of the car, like tyres, go for a toss. So let’s quickly learn some tyre maintenance tips that will prove helpful in upholding the health of this essential unit of your car.

1. Changing tyres at the right time
The experts suggest that the right time to discard the old tyre and go for a new tyre is between 6-10 years. Here, 6 years is suggested ideal, however, 10 years is the extreme limit, that too, when you find every bit of the tyre good. The wear and tear of the tyres also depend upon several factors like driving style, the total number of kilometers driven, weather conditions in the region etc.

During the manufacturing process, car tyres are fed with an anti-oxidizing chemical compound in order to furnish them with longevity. Here the chemical actually decelerates the usual ageing process of the untreated rubber. But the tyres still deteriorate with age, though gradually, and invite the danger of tyre malfunction. Nevertheless, there are ample ways by which you can spot the wearing of the tyres such as cracking or bulging marks on the side walls of the tyre, deformation of tyre tread grooves and distortion in the overall carcass of the tyre. Furthermore, every tyre carries a the tread wear indicator, which can be of great help when you are pondering over ‘to-change’ or ‘not-to-change’ the tyre with a brand new one. The tyre tread wear indicator for a four-wheeled vehicle is placed within the grooves at 1.6 mm height. And tyres worn beyond these limits are suggested unsafe to drive.

Another important thing to look for can be the tyre manufacturing date inscribed on the side walls of the tyre, which can also play a decisive role in the replacement of tyre.

2. Size of the wheel bolts
Generally, the wheel bolts are provided by the vehicle manufacturer; just assure that the bolts used aren’t too short or too long. In both the cases, they can turn foes. If they are short, there are chances of the wheel popping out, or else, if they are too long, they might injure the suspension of the car. Examine them and get them replaced with the ideal size ones.

3. Tyre rotation is important
Tyre rotation is recommended after every 5000 kilometres or if you find any uneven wear of the tyre positions. While rotating tyres make sure that all the tyres get equal chances of road exposure. Tyre rotation at regular intervals ensures all the tyres wear evenly and no tyre is under or over-worked.

4. Be smooth while driving
Knowingly or unknowingly (or say, ignoring-ly), many-a-times you drive harsh or at high speed, and after spotting a hazard on the road, try to stop the car immediately by applying emergency brakes. Though the car stops but the entire wrath is endured by the tyres. Rough braking takes a direct toll on the life of your car tyres, which leads to premature wear of the tyres. Hence, it is always advised to drive at a neutral speed that will eventually prevent you from applying brakes frequently. Rash driving and regular stoppages (at high speeds) also invite tyre skidding, which not only asks for a mishap but also pushes the tyre to lose tread much quicker than expected.

5. Beware of monsoon hydroplaning
Rainy season brings numerous challenges to the urbanites, especially to the car owners/drivers. In this weather condition, the tyres are more exposed and prone to premature wear and tear. During rains, it is difficult to drive through a heavily waterlogged road or street and, it becomes a nightmare with the company of worn out tyres, as the risk of hydroplaning is always involved. However, preventative driving and good treads can lessen the threat.

According to the experts, one of the best weapons to shun hydroplaning is new tyres. The approach is simple, compared to limited tyre grooves, the new tread will allow more water to channel through the grooves of the tyre, resulting in more grip of the surface and hence keeping hydroplaning at bay.

6. Need to be cautious with the jack
At the time of swapping the tyre, a hydraulic car jack should be used, which is safe and easy to work with, alongside is also termed reliable for the person replacing the tyre. If hydraulic car jack is not available, the regular jack provided by the car maker will also solve the purpose. Always remember that the area/base where the punctured tyre is being swapped should be even and rigid.

7. Check air pressure
A regular check on tyre pressure will not only keep tyres away from frequent punctures but will also play a vital role in achieving better fuel efficiency. In order to upkeep and ensure maximum tyre lifespan, safety, cornering at speeds, general performance and handling it is vital to maintaining tyre pressures at certain levels as suggested by the manufacturer.

Overinflated or underinflated tyres, both will adversely affect your vehicle’s day-to-day performance. Overinflated tyres have less amount of contact with the road surface; also the side wall decreases flexibility and affects road-adhesion ensuing limited control of the vehicle. Moreover, the underinflated tyres reduce overall tyre diameter and increase sidewall flexion leading to difficulty in handling the vehicle at different stages.

8. Store tyres at a safe place
In order to store the tyres, you should first clean the tyres and choose the position (lying or standing) of the tyre. Always store tyres in a cool and dry place that is away from chemical and substances like grease and petroleum products. Furthermore, the storage area of the tyres should not have any supply of sunlight or heat, and should also be kept away from hot pipes and electric motors. Stagnant water is another enemy of tyres, hence you need to ensure that there are no chances of water collecting inside the tyres. Continuous exposure to the aforementioned elements can lead to inner weakening and early deterioration of the tyres that are subjected to abrupt breakdown.

9. No playing mix and match
Nowadays, nearly all the passenger vehicle tyres are radial tyres. Experts suggest using the same size and same type of tyre on all four wheel positions until and unless the vehicle manufacturer defines different sizes to be used for the front and rear. This can be checked with the manual of the vehicle. If for instance, two radial tyres are fixed with two non-radials, the radial tyres are to be mounted on the rear. If you come across different types of tyres mixed on a vehicle in any configuration, avoid using them for a longer period of time and always keep speed in check. Mix and match of tyres on the 4×4, all wheel drive and 4-wheel drive vehicles require special care. Here, look for vehicle maker’s handbook for their suggestions and recommendations.

10. Wheel alignment is vital
A wheel alignment is nothing but an essential aspect of regular vehicle/car maintenance, wherein the angles of the wheels are adjusted as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. The point of these adjustments is to get maximum life out of a tyre, ensure even wear of all four tyres and check for the vehicle-travel that is upright and accurate when it is driven along a straight and level road. Wheel alignment is a must after every 5,000 kilometers or whenever you find any lopsided wear on the tyre.

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How To Check Your Oil In 8 Steps

Checking your vehicle’s engine oil is a quick and simple maintenance project that almost any driver can do themselves. Even if you don’t feel up to the task of changing your own engine oil, chances are that you will be able to check it yourself. Most models should have an oil change about every three months or three thousand miles. In between your regularly scheduled oil changes, you can check your engine oil levels to ensure that it has not become too low or dirty.
Follow these simple steps to check your vehicle’s engine oil:

Find a Lint Free Rag
Locate a lint free rag or a scrap of old fabric to use when checking your oil. An old t-shirt usually works great

Read Your Owner’s Manual
If you are extremely unfamiliar with what is under the hood of your vehicle, you will find a detailed description of where your dipstick is located in your owner’s manual.

Warm Up Your Car
It is best to check your oil while it is warm. A great time to check you oil is after a quick trip to a local market or around your neighborhood.

Turn Your Car Off
Make sure that you turn your vehicle off before you begin the process of check its oil.

Pop the Hood
Pull the handle located on the inside of your vehicle, usually on the side of the driver side door, and the press the lever located underneath the center of the hood. Make sure that the hood of your car is securely propped. There’s no point in feeling embarrassed if you do not know how to open your hood. Check this short video for a clue

Locate the Dipstick
On most models, the dipstick is located on the left side of the engine. The dipstick usually has a yellow or orange circular handle that is clearly visible. When you pull this handle, a long piece of metal will slide out of the engine.

Clean the Dipstick and Reinsert
Once you locate and remove the dipstick, clean it with your rag and slide it back in. Make sure that the dipstick is inserted all the way back in.

Remove the Dipstick and Inspect
Next, remove the dipstick once more. Look at the end of the dipstick. Some models will have a line marked “full” while others will have a textured area that represents the capacity of the oil pan. The oil will appear amber in color. It should be easy to discern the oil level by looking at the dipstick.

– Normal Oil Level
If the dipstick indicates that the oil level is normal, reinsert it.
– Low Oil Level or Dirty Oil
If the dipstick indicates that the oil level is low, touch the end of the dipstick with two fingers and feel of the texture of the oil. If the oil is clean, you can add new oil using a funnel. If the oil is gritty, it is necessary to have your oil changed as soon as possible.
Checking your vehicle’s oil level is a simple task that takes only a few minutes to perform. Knowing how to check your oil will enable you to ensure that your engine is being properly lubricated.

CARS

Truck Driver Safety Tips to Minimize Risk

Keeping your drivers safe on the road isn’t just essential for their health and well-being. Their safety directly impacts other motorists on the road, as well as your bottom line. The Department of Labor (DOL) singles out trucking as one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. In fact, transportation and logistics fleets have some of the highest numbers of injuries and fatalities on the job—and those numbers seem to only grow year over year. By improving the safety of your drivers, you not only ensure their protection, but you can also reduce costs associated with accidents, claim payouts, and rises in insurance premiums. The good news is that you can improve your truck drivers’ safety by creating a work culture that actively coaches, trains, and rewards the safest drivers. Read on for our best truck driving tips and advice on how to improve the overall safety of your fleet.

1. Encourage your truckers to practice defensive driving
Defensive driving is a form of driving that encourages truckers to consistently be on the lookout for potential hazards and changes in driving or road conditions. Drivers are encouraged to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries by anticipating potentially dangerous situations and making safe, well-informed decisions while behind the wheel. By using defensive driving techniques, drivers are less likely to be involved in accidents—so you can worry less about costly repairs, claim payouts, and insurance premiums increases.

Here are a few key defensive driving strategies and practices to encourage your drivers to use:
Watch out for blind spots: For drivers who operate tractor trailers or refers, being in such a large truck that’s so high off the ground can make it difficult to see cars behind or even next to their vehicle. A blind spot is any area around a vehicle that cannot be directly seen by a driver. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 840,000 accidents per year are directly due to blind spots. Most of these accidents occur when drivers are changing lanes. Since rear-view and side mirrors aren’t always effective when checking for blind spots, make sure you’re encouraging drivers to look over their shoulders and out the windows when changing lanes. Also, encourage them to leave plenty of room around their vehicles when merging.

Practice the three-second rule: When it comes to avoiding forward and rear collisions, a best practice is for drivers to follow the three-second rule. This rule states that truck drivers should allow three full seconds to pass between the time the car in front of them reaches a particular spot on the road and the time it takes the truck driver to reach that same point. If heavy rain or winds are present, drivers should increase the follow time to five seconds. If the roads are icy, drivers should increase the follow time to 10 seconds.

Be prepared for emergencies: When driving, especially over long distances, conditions can rapidly change. Encourage your drivers to be prepared for a variety of potential emergency situations—like bad driving conditions or breakdowns. Drivers who stock their cabs with water, snacks, a first aid kit, a change of clothes, and blankets can comfortably and safely weather unexpected conditions that may require them to pull off the road or wait long periods for vehicle repairs.

Stay calm, cool, and collected: Road rage is a serious threat to safe driving. When truckers are cut off, honked at, or otherwise harrassed by other drivers, it can be tempting to indulge in road rage behaviors, like tailgating or weaving between lanes. Drivers who allow their anger to control their driving put themselves and others at risk for accidents. Encourage your drivers to de-escalate road rage situations by increasing the distance between themselves and angry drivers.

Always signal: For drivers who operate on longer stretches of roads or during non-peak traffic times, it can be tempting to complete lane changes and exit highways without signaling. But failing to signal can increase the likelihood of collisions. Remind drivers that signaling before changing lanes or turning is required by law, and they should still signal even if they don’t see any other vehicles nearby.

When in doubt, slow down: Train your drivers to always default to slowing down in response to changes on the road, including bad weather or poor visibility. Slowing down offers drivers extra time to take corrective action or respond to sudden changes, like an animal running onto the highway or slippery roads when it starts to rain. Slowing down can prevent accidents altogether or, at the very least, decrease the impact and severity if an accident does occur.
2. Develop preventative maintenance schedules
The safety of your drivers really starts with the safety of the vehicles they’re in. Trucks and tractor trailers that aren’t up-to-date with their regular maintenance—like oil and brake pad changes—are more likely to break down on the road. Telematics devices, like Samsara’s Vehicle Gateway (VGs), offer real-time visibility into odometer and engine data, including fault codes.

Using this data, your mechanics can build out robust preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, days, previous breakdown history, and more—plus get real-time alerts for critical fault codes. Through regular upkeep and proactive repairs, you can ensure your vehicles are in top shape so drivers can avoid breakdowns on their routes.
3. Ensure comprehensive pre-trip and post-trip inspections
Hand-in-hand with increasing driver safety through maintenance is using thorough vehicle inspections to ensure all trucks are safe before drivers start driving. While pre-trip and post-trip inspections are required by the DOT, not just any inspection will do. To protect the safety of your drivers, use tools that ensure all inspections are thorough and accurately documented.

The Samsara Driver App, for example, allows drivers to submit electronic DVIRs directly from their phone. Our app walks drivers through every part of the inspection and allows them to upload photographs of any vehicle issues. This ensures that every inspection is thorough. And if an unsafe DVIR is submitted, your management team can be notified in real time, so they can arrange repairs to ensure your drivers are safe.
4. Coach drivers to avoid distractions
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has identified distracted driving as the number one cause of accidents for truck drivers. Distracted driving is anything that causes a driver to take their eyes off the road or their hands off the steering wheel. Distractions can range from eating lunch while driving to turning out the window to stare at a billboard. But the most common form of distracted driving is cellphone usage, in particular texting while driving.

If your vehicles are equipped with dual-facing dash cams that have artificial intelligence (AI) built in, like Samsara AI dash cams, the camera can identify when a driver is distracted based on their head position (like if they’re looking down at their smartphone). Using this footage, you can coach drivers on how to correct their behaviors to avoid distractions and reduce their likelihood of causing an accident.
5. Have tools in place to respond to changes in road conditions
Road conditions can be unpredictable, especially for long-haul drivers working long hours across many regions or states. The two conditions most likely to impact the safety of drivers on the road are traffic and bad weather. Bumper-to-bumper traffic causes vehicles to constantly stop and go, which increases the likelihood of accidents. And bad weather conditions—like snow, ice, hail, or rain—can impact a driver’s visibility or can cause roads to become slippery, all of which contribute to a greater chance of an accident.

Dispatch management solutions, like Samsara, provide live weather and traffic map overlays that allow your dispatchers to see where road conditions may be unsafe for your drivers. With Samsara, your dispatchers can easily reroute drivers to avoid bad conditions and can directly send drivers their updated routes through our Driver App—which eliminates the need for manual back-and-forth calling.
6. Watch over your fleet with real-time GPS tracking
With a fleet management platform, like Samsara, that provides real-time GPS tracking you can always know the exact location of all your drivers. Real-time GPS is essential for ensuring the safety of your drivers, especially during breakdowns or other emergency situations. If a vehicle breaks down, it’s essential that you know its precise location so you’re able to assist the driver as soon as possible.

By knowing a driver’s exact location, you can either easily reroute them to the closest shop for a repair or can send a maintenance crew or tow truck directly to them. This ability to quickly and accurately respond to breakdowns means that you can reduce downtime and get your fleet back to work. Also, drivers won’t have to wait long hours off the side of the road, which can potentially put them at risk for collisions.
7. Encourage proper rest and breaks
Under HOS regulations, all drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) are required to take certain breaks before they can continue driving. For instance, under HOS truck driver limits, all CMV drivers must take a 30-minute break after eight hours of driving and a 10 to 11 hour break before coming back on duty.

Outside of taking these mandatory breaks, encourage drivers to always prioritize their safety and the safety of other motorists while on the road. This means encouraging your drivers to take additional breaks while en route if they are feeling sleepy or impaired in any way. Although this may require additional time taken out of their “On-Duty” period, it could play a significant part in reducing at-fault accidents due to fatigue. This not only keeps your drivers safer but helps you reduce accident-related costs.

8. Build out coaching and rewards programs with dash cams
An important part of building a safety-first culture is incentivizing and rewarding drivers who embody good driving habits and practices. One of the easiest ways to ensure safety in your fleet is through building out coaching and rewards programs. By introducing dash cams to your fleet, you can use real footage to actually show drivers how to improve their safety on the road.

Samsara’s dual-facing AI dash cams capture both external and in-cab footage. Plus, they integrate with our Vehicle Gateway, so it’s easy to detect when a driver brakes too hard, accelerates too fast, or turns too harshly. When one of these events is detected, you can receive a text or email notification. In that notification, you’ll have immediate access to footage of the event. You can review this footage with drivers to coach them on safer driving practices. And for on-the-go training, our dual-facing dash cams offer optional in-cab audio alerts for speeding and more, so you can minimize risk in real time.

With Samsara, you can track how your drivers’ safety is improving over time. Plus, every driver can see a safety score based on harsh events, miles driven, speeding, and more. Your fleet can use these scores to gamify safety by offering drivers with the highest score a reward. Our customers have offered everything from special plaques to the best parking spot to reward their safest drivers. But mostly it’s just the sheer recognition, not the reward, that counts.

TRUCKS

Car Seat Tips

How to Ride Safely
–The back seat is the best. It is the safest place to ride for all children under age 13. Not all cars allow for a car seat in every place that has a seat belt. Check your car owner manual to see where you can put a car seat.
-Be wary of toys in the car. Choose toys that are soft and will not hurt your child in a crash. Secure any loose objects in the car.
-Wear your seat belt. We know that when adults wear seat belts, kids wear seat belts. So be a good example and buckle up for every ride. Be sure everyone in the vehicle buckles up, too.
-Never leave your child alone in a car, even for a minute. Learn more about preventing heatstroke.
-Find a Car Seat Expert. Safe Kids hosts car seat inspection events across the country where certified car seat technicians can teach you to install and use your car seat properly. In some communities, they also serve in fixed locations called inspection stations during specific days and times. You may find an inspection station at a GM dealership, a hospital or even a fire house. Find a Safe Kids car seat checkup event near you.
-The Ultimate Car Seat Guide. For parents on the go, the Ultimate Car Seat Guide offers easy-to-understand tips on how to choose and use a car seat. You can fill in your child’s age and weight to get answers personalized for your child. Available in English or Spanish.

CARS