Vehicle Service: What You Don't Know Can Cost You!

Today's automobiles are complex, computer-designed machines that need to be serviced periodically to keep them running dependably. But, the technological advances in car manufacturing have altered how much -- and how often -- you need to service your car. Some mechanics don't want you to know this, since it costs them money.

Years ago, vehicles required more frequent maintenance to keep them running well. The latest vehicles have been designed to eliminate much of this. In fact, some of the maintenance performed on cars by unscrupulous mechanics can actually harm your car!

Do It Yourself and Save Money

Even if you don't know a piston from a steering wheel, there are a number of simple services you can do yourself, rather than paying a service facility to do, since they'll charge you twice as much for the part as an auto store will. Things like windshield wipers, air filters and tail lights can be purchased and installed in a few minutes with just a screwdriver.

Many service facilities will insist that you need new wipers or an air filter. The fact is that air filters will usually last at least 20,000 miles and wiper blades have a life-span of from one to two years. Changing them more often is just throwing money away! Tail lights can be replaced by removing a couple of screws. (Although headlights can be replaced, too, they need to be adjusted properly after installation for safety and proper illumination at night. This task might be better left to a professional.)

Engine Service

Most mechanics want you to replace engine oil every 3,000 miles, but that's not necessary with today's automobiles. Manufacturers currently recommend oil changes every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. Dirty oil is also an environmental hazard, so not only do you waste money, but if you change oil too frequently you're affecting the environment. That oil has to be disposed of, and not all mechanics do it properly.

Many service facilities will insist that you get your transmission "flushed" periodically. In the past, this was necessary to get rid of impurities that built up in the fluid. Now manufacturers do not recommend a transmission flush, since it could actually harm your car by putting too much pressure on its system.

Replacement Parts

If your car isn't running correctly, and you do need service, be wary of fast-talking mechanics that tell you that a big repair is necessary. Dishonest mechanics, aware that many people aren't well-versed in car maintenance, will agree to a repair that is either not needed, or is much too extensive for the problem. There have been documented instances where the mechanic has simply put the same part back in the car since there was nothing wrong with it. Before any service is performed, ask the mechanic to show you what the problem is, and always ask to see the part that was replaced.

Know Your Car

The unfortunate reality is that mechanics make money off your mechanical ignorance. While most vehicle service facilities are not dishonest, it’s easy for them to make a quick buck from what you don’t know. Your best bet is to learn about your car as much as possible to avoid the cost of a dishonest mechanic.

Source: drivesteady.com

Why Restricted Licenses for Teens Are Necessary

Teen Driver’s Graduated License Systems in Effect Throughout U.S.

Gone are the days when a 16-year-old could take his or her driving test and, if they passed, drive over and pick up their friends to head out for a 'spin'. Too many times these inexperienced drivers, with a car full of their friends, were involved in serious auto accidents or other driving violations. It was a lethal combination, and states were forced to institute restrictions on teen-age drivers in an effort to reduce fatalities.

Graduated licensing, designed to provide beginning drivers with an opportunity to gain experience behind the wheel under conditions that minimize risk, was introduced in New Zealand in 1987. All 50 U.S. states now have graduated licensing systems, although the systems vary in strength. Evaluations of graduated licensing systems in the United States and Canadia have shown they reduce crashes substantially.

A young driver is first required to complete a supervised learners period before obtaining an intermediate license that limits driving in high-risk situations until their 18th birthday. Only then can teens get a drivers license with full privileges. Washington state puts even more restrictions on young drivers, requiring teens to pass accredited driver training classes and have a clean driving record to lift restrictions before age 18.

Washington State Requirements

Learners Permits
To get a learners permit, you must be a minimum of 15 years of age, and be enrolled in drivers education classes; otherwise the minimum age is 15 years, 6 months. A learners permit allows you to drive with a licensed adult (21 or over) present in the vehicle at all times.
Restricted Drivers Licenses
You must be a minimum of 16 years of age and have passed a drivers education course; otherwise the minimum age is 18.

Before obtaining a license or restricted license, you must:
1. Wait a mandatory holding period of 6 months
2. Have a minimum of 50 hours of driving time, 10 of which must be at night

Restrictions during intermediate or restricted license stage:

Nighttime restrictions: Not allowed to drive during the hours of 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Passenger restrictions: For the first 6 months, no passengers younger than 20 years old allowed in your vehicle; second 6 months, no more than 3 passengers younger than 20 (Family members excepted unless otherwise noted.)

Minimum age at which restrictions may be lifted:

Nighttime restrictions: 17 years of age
Passenger restrictions: 17 years of age
Intermediate or restricted license holders with a crash or violation history are ineligible for an unrestricted licenses until age 18.

Source: Insurance Institute of Highway Safety

Why are Teen Drivers Considered so High Risk?

Many teens and their parents cringe when confronted with the cost of obtaining auto insurance. How could the rates be so high when Emily or Ethan hasn’t even driven yet? They’re very responsible young adults, and promise to be careful drivers and obey all the laws.

The problem with that is, whatever their intentions, most teen drivers get behind the wheel of a car and think they can handle any situation, when in fact they cannot due to inexperience and poor driving habits. Many of them speed, text or talk on a cell phone, oblivious to the dangers, and don’t know how to handle unusual driving situations when they suddenly appear. Statistics bear this out; auto crashes are the leading cause of death among people 13-19 years old. Analyses of fatal crashes indicate that when it involves teen drivers, it’s more likely than not to be driver’s error. Furthermore, the crash risk among young drivers is particularly high during the first few months of getting a license.

Teenagers' fatal crashes are more likely to involve speeding than those of older drivers, and teenagers are more likely than drivers of other ages to be in single-vehicle fatal crashes. In addition, teenagers do more of their driving in smaller and older cars and at night than adults. In 2010, 17 percent of teenagers' deaths occurred between 9 p.m. and midnight, and nearly one in four (24%) occurred between midnight and 6 a.m. 55 percent of teenagers' fatalities occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, when weekends mean hanging out with other teens.

Not surprisingly, alcohol also contributes to the high rate of accidents involving teenagers. Among teenage drivers (16-19 years old) who were fatally injured in 2010, 26 percent of males and 19 percent of females had high Blood Alcohol Content (0.08 percent or higher), even though every state has a legal minimum alcohol purchasing age of 21 and a zero BAC threshold for teenage drivers.

At SAV-ON Insurance Agencies, we'd like to help you get the most affordable insurance possible. As an agency, we have more than 30 insurance companies to choose from, and can usually find you the best rate available. Call us at 888-867-2866 or go to www.sav-on.com and find out how much money we could save you!

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Texting While Driving Can Have Deadly Results

The obsession with texting that is rampant in teen-agers and young adults has a deadly downside. When someone gets behind the wheel of a car and can't stop texting, it can change or even end their life. 

Statistics show that someone who texts while driving is 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident that someone who doesn't. This is on par with the accident rates of drunk drivers, but many texting accidents are more horrific. The drunk driver, while impaired, still has his or her eyes on the road ahead, while texters are staring at their phones for 3, 4 or 5 seconds, not looking at the road at all. A vehicle can travel the length of a football field in that time, and has not reduced its speed at all. The result is much deadlier, whether it's a tree, guard rail or another vehicle that they collide with.

AT&T has begun a "Txtng & Drivng Campaign" which urges drivers to refrain from texting while driving. It can -- and does -- happen to anyone. Just a few words of text on a screen can mean suffering and death for many young people.

Just putting the phone away while driving could save your life, and someone else's, too.

The Dangers of Social Media: What You Do or Say Can and Will be Held Against You

Spending every waking moment on social media sites is all the rage now. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, SodaHead or one of the hundreds of other social sites on the internet, it’s simple for anyone to post or tweet various announcements or observations to the world. But, with the that freedom is a devastating downside. A moment’s weakness can end up costing you dearly -- for a long time.

Take the case of Jean-Sun Hannah Ahn, the reigning Miss Seattle. In a moment of candor – or weakness – she sent a couple of tweets awhile back that are coming back to haunt her. The first was “Ew I seriously am hating Seattle right now…”, and the second one complained “Take me back to az!!! Ugh can’t stand cold rainy Seattle and the annoying people.”

While many Seattleites would agree that the weather here is lousy most of the year, the part about “annoying people” really didn’t sit well with people, especially after Ms. Ahn was crowned Miss Seattle recently. With the notoriety came media attention, and there was her tweet for all of Seattle (and the world) to see. Representing Seattle as she was, it is bad mojo for her to be annoyed with the people she will represent soon in the Miss Washington pageant. She has apologized for her lapse of judgment, but the damage is already done.

Social Media has allowed people to keep in touch easier than ever, and makes it a breeze to collect “friends” and pontificate on every subject imaginable. But, being out there also means your privacy is compromised, and anything you say will be compounded by the internet. Sharing too much can get you in plenty of trouble, whether it’s just complaining about a city's rainfall,corrupt government, admitting to crimes, or just posting revealing photos of yourself on the Web.

Naw, It Won't Happen to Me

Vanessa Hudgens, a young singer and actress who became famous after she co-starred with Zack Effron in the High School Musical TV movie, was just a wannabe in 2007 when she posted a collection of nude photos of herself that went viral after she became well-known. It was not a big deal at the time, but once she was a rising star this compromised her “squeaky clean” image. It was a publicity nightmare for her, and those photos are still haunting her. Recently, it was reported that she had posted new nude photos of herself. Whether that's true or not, she doesn't get the benefit of the doubt any longer.

There are many, many examples of celebrities and athletes hurting or destroying their careers by an ill-conceived tweet, text or post. But, the average young person can fall into the same trap. An underage girl who puts a sexy, pouty-lipped photo up on social media site is looking for trouble. Not only might her parents see it, but strangers who may have bad intentions see this, too. They can get all the information they need to stalk their victim from the internet, so once you show everyone “you’re sexy and you know it”, you’re putting yourself in a potentially dangerous situation.

Bad language is another ‘no-no’ on the net. Not only is it offensive to some of your ‘friends’, but parents have software that they can install that will notify them of vulgar language on your posts, even if they aren’t part of your network. Watch what you say and how you say it.

Bad for Business

In the business world, a post or photo that boasts of drunkenness or dishonesty can keep you from getting the job that you really want. Potential employers regularly check social media sites when doing background checks on job applicants. If you’ve bragged about shoplifting, vandalizing or doing drugs, you can be sure that your potential employer will think twice before hiring you. (On second thought, they probably won’t think more than once, and the answer will be 'no'.)

Social media can be fun and entertaining, but the downside can be pretty devastating, especially if you don’t take precautions when socializing on the Web. With freedom comes responsibility. Be very careful what you write or photos you post and remember that, once it’s out on the internet, there’s no way of getting it back. You may very well live to regret it!

Sources: Seattle Times, Associated Press reports

Beware: Piercings Can Lead to Gum Bleeding and Other Dental Diseases

Piercings, especially to the lips and tongue, can cause serious dental complications, such as gum bleeding and broken teeth, according to research conducted by the University of Tel Aviv.

In the study of 400 consecutive patients, who were aged 20 years on average, every fourth person with a piercing in the tongue or lips revealed symptoms such as gum bleeding. Some 13.9 per cent had broken teeth or other dental complications, the study found.

Dental professionals were warned of the increasing number of patients with oral piercings and to provide appropriate guidance to patients regarding the health risks.

Studies have shown that people who have piercings in their mouth are much more likely to have injuries to their teeth and gums. Of concern to health personnel are the associated risks, which include damage to dentition, infection, speech impediment and nerve damage.

The study found receding gums, a problem that can lead to tooth loss, in 35% of those who had pierced tongues for four or more years and in 50% who had worn the long-stemmed barbells for two or more years. Researchers say that during tongue movement, long-stemmed barbells are more likely to reach and damage the gums than short barbells.
Long-term lower lip piercings can lead to tooth loss, according to a German dental organization.

If the back of the piercing pushes against the gums, it can wear them down and lead to bone decay, says proDente, a Cologne-based organization of dentists, dental technicians and industrial and dental suppliers.

Given information recommend you discuss potential risk factors with your dentist before mouth piercing. Taking precautions now will increase your chance of keeping your teeth for a lifetime.

Published in World Dental.org May 26, 2008

Binge Drinking Epidemic Among Underage Drinkers

It’s always been typical for college-age kids to have beer “keggers” or drink too much hard alcohol at parties, getting tipsy or even passing out from the imbibing. Frowned upon by authorities, it was largely a harmless activity as long as there were no automobiles involved.

That has all changed with the popularity of “binge drinking” by underage youth. Many hospital emergency rooms are seeing young people arriving with blood alcohol levels in the mid-.3s and even .4, which is four to five times the legal limit.

“That’s the level at which 50% of  people die,” says Dr. Mary Claire O’Brien, an emergency medicine doctor  and assistant professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina. “Ten years ago we only saw those levels in chronic alcoholics.”

Soda Pop with a “Kick”

The reason is that adolescents don’t consume alcohol for the same reason as adults. Their goal is not to sit around and enjoy a drink or two, but to get as drunk in as little time as possible. Unfortunately, now there are many more ways to accomplish this. The alcohol beverage industry as developed new recipes for combining more alcohol with caffeine, while appealing to the “soda pop” taste preferences of young people, has caused a huge increase in overdoses. In addition, the shift from beer to hard alcohol among teens and young adults has exacerbated the problem.

Even social media sites, such as Facebook, have contributed to the problem, as kids share high-alcohol-content drink recipes and their exploits with binge drinking with their Facebook friends.

This extreme drinking isn’t rare, either. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 90% of all teen alcohol consumption occurs in the form of binge drinking!

41% of high school seniors say they’ve had an alcoholic drink within the last 30 days, and by the time these kids are in college that number jumps to 72%.

Alcohol and Caffeine: A Dangerous Combination

The recent craze of combining alcohol with highly caffeinated energy drinks is a recipe for disaster. “The caffeine blocks the part of alcohol that makes you sleepy and might otherwise cause you to pass out,” says Dr. O’Brien. “This enables you to drink far more than you normally would, raising your blood alcohol level to dangerous heights.”

Four Loko, one of the most popular products to hit the market in the last few years, has caused so many problems that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) stepped in and forced the manufacturers of that and other similar products to remove the caffeine. Four Loko has been reformulated and is back on the store shelves. It is still the equivalent of drinking four or five beers.

Drinking Games

Young people are turning to hard liquor more, and away from beer, especially in drinking games and contests. Shots of hard liquor are far more intoxicating due to the much higher alcohol content, and the fact that the undiluted alcohol hits the stomach and gets into the bloodstream extremely quickly. While drinking beer would take quite a while to affect the binge drinker, shots of hard liquor can almost immediately be felt. For those participating in drinking games, that is the whole point.

What Parents Can Do

If you’re worried that your teen may be binge drinking, consider this:

• Know the warning signs. Signs of extreme drinking include a drop in grades, changes in behavior and mood, a new set of friends, memory lapses, and difficulty concentrating

• Have a talk. Ask your kids what kinds of experiences they’re having, make your personal values clear, and calmly lay out the risks.

• Establish a code word. Agree on a phrase they can say if they are in an uncomfortable situation and need to give you a signal to come and get them, no questions asked.

Sources: Parade Magazine, CDC, FDA