Month: July 2014

Zipper Merge: A Rude Move That Speeds Up Traffic Flow

Zipper MergeMinnesota is in the midst of construction season, and with construction comes lane closures. As if driving in the Twin Cities around rush hour wasn’t painful enough, the presence of construction often means that some lanes may be blocked off.

Odds are you’ve ran into this situation before, either because of construction or if you’ve tried heading downtown during rush hour when the carpool lanes are flowing out to the suburbs. Up ahead you can see that three lanes are becoming two, or worse, two lanes are becoming one. You’re then faced with a choice: Get in the lane that will remain open and wait in line, or zip up the closing lane and cut in 100 feet from the orange barrels. According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, you’re actually doing the people behind you a favor if you speed ahead and cut someone off at the merge point.

Ok, so maybe the verbiage of “zooming up” and “cutting off” another person make you seem like a bad guy, and you’ll likely endure a few evil stares and the occasional horn if you appear to budge a row of patiently waiting cars, but the Minnesota Department of Transportation said this style merge – called a Zipper Merge – can reduce backups by 40%.

The Zipper Merge

According to MN DoT, when preformed successfully, the Zipper Merge can greatly reduce wait times for all parties involved. If cars evenly fill the lanes and begin merging alternatively at the point of construction, drivers can continue without hitting the breaks.

“I’ve been amazed at how consistent the flow is,” said Ken Johnson, a Minnesota State Work Zone, Pavement Marking, and Traffic Devices engineer . “You don’t have to put your foot on the brake at all. You just coast ahead and take turns at the merge point.”

That said, if traffic flow in constantly flowing in one lane, motorists will want to merge over earlier to avoid being the one that sends brake shockwaves to all the drivers behind them.

Minnesota first began openly advertising the Zipper Merge in the early 2000s, and it’s recently found another advocate in Washington. Advocates for the Zipper Merge in Washington said that it’s not easy to get drivers to view those in the closing lanes as allies, not line-cutters.

“There can be a weird idea going through people’s heads of, like, ‘Oh, these people are cheating, cutting in line!’” Washington State Department of Transportation representative Travis Phelps said. “Well, it actually lets traffic flow if you can let folks in. Play nice. Treat traffic like a team sport. You gotta play the assist role. It’s gonna help lessen the backups.”

Related source: ARSTechnica

More Minnesotans Opting For Electric Cars 

Electric Cars MNMore Minnesota families are searching for an electrical outlet instead of a gas station after a summer road trip.

The Star Tribune recently published a story on the surge in electrical cars, saying that Minnesota is one of the more popular states for hybrid vehicles.

“According to the Electric Power Research Institute, the state had about 2,400 electric plug-in vehicles as of 2013. Per capita, Minnesota is among the top 10 states with the highest number of electric vehicles in the county,” the Tribune uncovered. They also noted that sales of electric vehicles have risen more than 500 percent nationwide over the last two years.

Adding Charging Stations

One of the biggest reasons electric car ownership in Minnesota is booming is because many cities are adding charging stations that makes it easier for drivers to stay charged. Minneapolis added 36 charging stations near downtown parking ramps back in May, and they dish out electricity at an extremely affordable rate. The city charges $0.80 an hour to recharge, and most cars are fully charged within four hours. Essentially, a person can fully recharge their car for a modest $3.20 in electrical fees.

But Minnesota didn’t stop there. Back in May the state instituted a law that requires companies to offer discounted to drivers who recharge during non-peak hours. The new law will go into effect in 2015.

“This law is a win-win-win,” said J. Drake Hamilton, science policy director for an advocacy group called Fresh Energy. “It’s a significant savings to the customer, an extraordinary market opportunity for electric utilities and timely action for Minnesota.”

At Affordable Auto, we can service your electric car if it needs a tune up. We can handle most tasks, but be sure to give us a call if you have questions about your car issue. We want to get you back on the road as quickly as possible, so don’t hesitate to contact us today.

 

 

 

Minnesota Window Tint Quiz

Window tinting mnWith summer in full swing, many Minnesotans are considering tinting their car windows in an effort to keep their car cool when the temperatures rise. We specialize in window tinting, and while some people prefer to tint their windows on their own, you’ll want to make sure you stay in line with the law. We know the laws when it comes to window tinting in Minnesota, but let’s see if you can pass the Window Tinting Quiz!

Before we begin, we want to quickly explain Visible Light Transmission percentage. VLT is the amount of visible light the window allows in. So if a window has a VLT of 80%, the window allows 80% of light in. Along the same lines, a window with a 10% VLT only allows 10% of visible light to pass through the window.

1. You can tint your car’s front windshield in Minnesota, but only if the Visible Light Transmission (VLT) percentage is 90% or higher.

A. True

B. False

2. On a passenger car, the VLT percentage for the front and back side windows must be at no less than _____ VLT.

A. 90%

B. 75%

C. 50%

D. 25%

3. On a passenger car, the VLT for the rear windshield must be at no less than _____ VLT.

A. 90%

B. 75%

C. 50%

D. 25%

4. On a larger vehicle like an SUV, truck or minivan, the VLT for the rear windshield only needs to be above _____ VLT.

A. 60%

B. 50%

C. 30%

D. 20%

5. Car windows cannot reflect more than a certain percentage of light. This is so drivers don’t blind one another with super reflective windows. Under Minnesota law, windows can’t reflect more than ______ of light.

A. 50%

B. 35%

C. 20%

D. 10%

6. Since window tinting isn’t a perfect science, Minnesota law gives drivers a little leeway when it comes to tint and light reflection laws. All drivers must be within state regulations of VLT and light reflection within:

A. +/- 2%

B. +/- 3%

C. +/- 5%

D. +/- 8%

7. Three vehicles are specifically mentioned in the Minnesota Statute as being allowed to have more tint on their rear and side windows. Name one of the exempt vehicles. (Bonus points for correctly knowing all three!)

Answers

Here are the answers to the quiz questions.

1. False, no tint is allowed on the front windshield. 2. C, 50%. 3. C, 50%. 4. D, 20%. 5. C, 20%. 6. B, +/- 3%. 7. Police car, Limousine, Hearse.

We hope you enjoyed the quiz, and please don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to have your windows tinted!

Top 5 Summer Auto Repair Tips

Oil Change MNAlthough the July 4th holiday is in the rearview mirror, summer is still in full swing and that means more miles on the odometer. Before you go on your next adventure, consider these five car care tips that will keep your car in top shape during the hot summer months!

Oil Change – Regular oil changes are one of the best ways to keep your car running in pristine shape. You don’t need to change your oil every 3,000 miles, but try not to go over 5,000-7,000 miles between changes. Old oil or dirty filters can reduce your car’s efficiency and gas mileage.

Check Your Coolant – Check your coolant reservoir to make sure you are at the appropriate level. If you are low or out of coolant, there may be a leak in one of your hoses. If your car can’t properly get rid of excess heat, it can overheat and cause major issues. The summertime is usually filled with hot temperatures, heavy traffic and constant running of your air conditioner, all which cause your car to work harder. Make sure it has the ability to properly cool itself.

Brake Check – The summer months are free of snow, so it’s often the time when people drive the fastest. Greater speeds means it’ll take more time to bring your car to a halt, which can be problematic if your brakes are worn. Have a mechanic take a look at your brake pads and rotors the next time you bring your car into the shop, and keep in mind that you should replace your pads every 20,000 miles and your rotors every 70,000 miles.

Battery Basics – The cold Minnesota winter left many people in need of a jumpstart at one time or another, but heat can be just as damaging as cold weather on a battery. The excess heat can speed up the chemical reaction inside a battery, causing your battery to become overcharged. An overcharged battery can shorten the lifespan of your battery, meaning you may have to grab a replacement earlier than planned. Good battery maintenance involves keeping the terminals clean, making sure the battery is secured while moving and properly securing the battery cables.

Tire Maintenance – You’ve probably taken your winter tires off of your car by now, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook regular tire car. Hot summer temperatures can increase your tire pressure, so make sure your tires are properly inflated. Now is also a good time to try the Penny Test to see if you have a healthy amount of tread left on your tire!

Related source: How Stuff Works

Car Repairs in Minnesota Cheaper Than Most

Cheap Car Repair MNBack in January we wrote a post on how Minnesota was among the cheapest states for auto repair. Although the findings were based on 2011 data, we’re happy to contribute to a statewide auto industry that puts its customers first. After all, we don’t call ourselves Affordable Auto for no reason!

Just this week, CarMD.com came out with updated figures, and although average repair costs in Minnesota have increased since 2011, nationally we moved closer to the bottom of the list of states with the most expensive repairs. Back in 2011, 18 states boasted cheaper average repair costs for “check engine” light issues. Today, only 17 states have cheaper average check engine repair costs!

To calculate the data, CarMD looked at two average check engine light costs, the cost of parts and the cost of labor. The national average cost of parts was $235.26, while the national average cost of labor was $157.23, for a total of $392.49. Not surprisingly for a state that ranks well among states with the cheapest auto repair, Minnesota comes in south of both of those averages. On average, parts are $10 cheaper and labor is $5 in Minnesota, putting the state $15 cheaper than the average for regular check engine light maintenance.

The Best and Worst

The data also provided a best and worst list for states when it comes to auto repair. The five cheapest states for car repair are:

1. Nebraska – $323.57

2. New Hampshire – $336.85

3. Vermont – $339.50

4. Michigan – $339.63

5. New Mexico – $351.86

On the flip side, these five states ranked as the most expensive states for check engine light repairs.

1. North Carolina – $426.45

2. Massachusetts – $424.55

3. Delaware – $423.91

4. New Jersey – $421.90

5. Virginia – $421.49

For more information on how the states stack up against one another, check out the data from CarMD.com.