Category: Blog

Study: Voice Activated Car Control Can Prove Distracting

Car voice controlsTwo new studies focused on analyzing how onboard voice controlled automobile features affect the driver suggest that even managing your smartphone or radio with just your voice can prove distracting.

Voice activated automobile controls were marketed as a way to keep a driver’s eyes on the road while a person attempted to send a text message or change the radio station, but new studies suggest they still negatively affect the most important control mechanism – your brain.

The studies conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the University of Utah examined how distracted drivers became when tasked with using certain voice controlled systems. The first study examined the onboard handsfree infotainment systems on some of the more popular car brands, and the second study looked at driver performance when tasked with using Siri, Apple’s voice-operated system, to preform functions like posting to Facebook or calling a friend.

The systems were graded on a 1-5 scale, with 1 representing no distraction and 5 being comparable to doing complex math problems or word memorization.

Siri scored the worst on the test, receiving an average grade of 4.14 out of 5. Twice, drivers in a car simulator rear-ended another vehicle, and oftentimes Siri would misinterpret the driver’s commands. One of the drivers had to scramble to end a call after Siri mistakenly thought the driver asked to be connected to 911.

Onboard Tests Also Poor

The onboard infotainment systems didn’t fair much better in the tests. Chevrolet’s MyLink received the worst brand rating, posting a distraction level of 3.7. The onboard systems of Mercedes, Ford and Chrysler also all registered as more distracting than if the driver were simply talking on a handheld phone.

Deborah Hersman, president of the National Safety Council said the voice controlled systems need to be properly regulated.

“It is like the Wild West, where the most critical safety feature in the vehicle — the driver — is being treated like a guinea pig in human trials with new technologies.”

University of Utah professor David Strayer, who led the studies, said the more complex task the driver asks of the system, the more dangerous it can be.

“When these systems become more complex, like sending text messages or posting to Facebook, it pushes the workloads to pretty high levels and may be dangerous while driving,” Strayer said.

Despite their concerns, two vehicle systems scored pretty well on the distraction test. Toyaota’s Entune system scored a 1.7 – akin to listening to an audiobook while driving – while Hyundai’s Blue Link Telematic System scored a 2.2.

“The good news is that really well-designed systems offer us the possibility to interact in ways that aren’t so distracting,” Strayer concluded.

Related source: AP

3 Minor Car Repairs That Can Save You Major Dollars

Tire RotationNobody likes to have repair work done on their car, but answer this question. Would you rather spend $200 now to fix a small problem, or $1,000 three months from now to fix a major issue? Obviously, you’d rather address the minor issue before it becomes a major headache.

The thing is, most people ignore or simply don’t think there’s anything wrong with their vehicle until it’s too late. So the next time you take your car into the shop and the mechanics suggest a few additional fixes, think twice before saying no, especially if the issue is one of the following problems that can snowball into a costly fix down the road.

1. Tire Rotation and Inflation – Keeping your tires properly rotated and inflated can keep you from having a major issue down the road. As you drive, your tires wear down unevenly based on weight distribution. If you don’t rotate your tires, eventually one of your tires is going to be preforming at a less than optimal level, and it can leave you susceptible to a blowout. Rotating your tires can extend the life of your vehicle, and nobody likes to pony up the $200-$400 for a new set of tires. Under inflated tires also affect your fuel efficiency, so keeping them properly inflated can lengthen the time between fill-ups.

2. Mind Your Spark Plugs – Spark plugs aid in fuel combustion in your engine. If they are worn or broken, they may not fire properly. This can cause your engine to rev, hesitate or have poor efficiency. If left unaddressed, a spark plug can blow and damage your catalytic converter, which is a costly fix.

3. Windshield Chips – A tiny chip in your windshield may not seem like a big deal, but they can be especially problematic in areas where the weather fluctuates so dramatically, and we Minnesotans don’t need any reminders about the summer heat or the cold winters. Moisture can seep into the crack, and as we all learned in 6th grade science, water expands when frozen. The resulting pressure can cause the glass to spiderweb, which is a much more costly repair, not to mention extremely dangerous if it cracks while you’re driving. You can seal the crack on your own, but for best results, have the crack professionally sealed.

Related source: The Fiscal Times

Minnesota Among Fastest States For Auto Repair

Fastest mechanicsWhile our main goal at Affordable Auto is quality service, speed is also another factor we keep in mind. We know how important it is for you to have your vehicle, as the daily commutes to school, work or the post office simply can’t wait. That’s why we are honored to work in a state that constantly ranks among the nation’s best when it comes to getting your repairs done in a timely manner.

According to data provided by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Minnesota is the second fastest state for auto repair.

To determine which mechanics do the quickest work, Enterprise collected data from their Automated Rental Management System (ARMS). The ARM system tracks how many days a customer uses a rental car when they take their car into a body shop for major work. The average consumer rents a car for 10.7 days.

Quickest States For Auto Repair

Minnesota just missed out at the top spot, falling behind North Dakota by just a few hours. Take a look at the five fastest states for auto repair below:

1. North Dakota (8.0 days)

2. Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota (8.1 days)

3. Iowa (8.3 days)

4. Utah (8.8 days)

5. Idaho, Maine, Vermont (8.9 days)

Minnesota mechanics are 2.6 days quicker at returning your car than the national average, which can save you money in the long run. Although Enterprise boasts about renting cars for $9.99 a day, the average consumer spends between $30-$60 a day depending on the vehicle you rent. If we round that difference up to three days, considering it probably will take you some coordination to get to the repair shop and then drop off your rental car, Minnesota residents can reasonably expect to save about $150 on car rental expenses compared to an average consumer, simply because they won’t have to rent a car for an additional three days! That $150 will certainly go a long way in cutting into your car repair bill.

We’re proud to work in a state with so many great mechanics, because it means we can’t cut corners. If we want to be the best, we’ve got to keep up with the best, and these numbers certainly show were headed in the right direction. Let us preform your next auto repair. We think you’ll find our work quality, quick and affordable.

Cars May Soon Be Able To Park Themselves

Car companies have been boasting about features like blindspot monitoring and active park assist for some time, but a French automaker is looking to make the next parking enhancement by fully automating the parking experience by simply hitting a button on your smartphone.

According to the French car company Valeo, technological ingenuities like ultrasonic sound-wave sensors, 360-degree cameras and laser scanners will allow cars to park themselves safely. All a driver will have to do is hit a button on his or her smart phone. The fully-automated system is called “Connected Automated Valet Parking.”

“Driving around looking for a space is not dead yet,” said Eugene Tsyrklevich, CEO of Parkopedia, an app that helps drivers find open parking spaces. “But it will be.”

Self-Parking Benefits

Unlike cars that can parallel park for the driver, the Connected Automated Valet Parking would go beyond simply turning the wheel. After a driver parks on a connection deck near the lot’s entrance, the driver would hit a button on their smartphone. The car will sync up with the parking lot and travel at a blistering 3 miles an hour towards the most efficient parking spot. The car would then back itself in, making it easier for the driver to exit the space when desired.

Valeo said the technology would have numerous benefits, including:

  • More orderly parking
  • Less driver frustration
  • More efficient parking, squeezing more cars into parking lots
  • Hazard detection that may not be visible to human drivers

While the benefits are numerous, the technology still has a long way to go before you’ll see it on a parking ramp near you. Once the technology is sharpened in the vehicle – think perfected sound-wave sensors and laser scanners – car manufacturers would have to get parking lot owners on board. This would require a hi-tech communications system and a unique radio frequency with government approval. On top of that, government regulations and legal liabilities still need to be hammered out, and currently only nine states allow driverless cars on public roads.

So while the technology may seem cool, economists and automakers say the technology is still a few years away. Automakers hope to have self-parking cars with the sensors and laser technology within the next five years, but they expect that it would be in the form of an on-board control, not a smartphone app from a designated platform. Once that technology is perfected, then automakers will turn to apps and remote valet parking.

Related source: Business Insider

The 7 Best Cars For Dogs

Best Cars for DogsNearly 80 million Americans have a dog, so it’s no wonder that finding a car that’s comfortable for man and his best friend is important for many car buyers.

According to a report by Autotrader.com, about 55 percent of customers on their website search for cars and trucks that can safely transport their K-9 companions, and roughly 75 percent of dog owners drive with their pet in the car at least once a month.

Cesar Milan, the well known TV personality and dog trainer notes that as pets become part of the family, car buying needs shift.

“You wouldn’t take your baby for a drive without a car seat, don’t take your dog without a crate,” said Milan.

While new drivers may look for features like heated seats, Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control, dog lovers opt for extras like rear lift gates, rear cargo attachments, space for a gate between the back seats and a connected trunk area, and rear climate control.

Best in Show

So which cars top the list of the best cars for dog lovers? Surprisingly, no car company has more than one vehicle on the list, which likely means all manufacturers are aware of pet owner needs. According to the Humane Society, the best cars for dog owners are:

1. Subaru Outback

2. Nissan Juke

3. Volkswagen Tiguan

4. BMW X3

5. Volvo V60

6. Kia Soul

7. Honda Odyssey

And always remember. If your vehicle is making funny noises and it isn’t coming from Fido in the back seat, bring it in to Affordable Auto today.

U.S. Moving Forward to Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications

v2vNot too long ago, we wrote a blog post supposing that car-to-car communications could be coming to an intersection near you in the not so distant future, and it appears the U.S. is moving forward with the idea.

According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. is preparing a report that will examine security concerns, technological issues, costs and safety benefits of vehicle-to-vehicle communications. Previous research by the U.S. Department of Transportation suggests that inter-vehicle communications would significantly reduce the number of annual automobile accidents.

The DoT’s report includes two interesting points of research. The findings suggest that two key features of vehicle-to-vehicle communications – Left Turn Assist and Intersection Movement Assist – could help prevent more than a half million crashes each year and save an estimated 1,083 lives each year.

As the name implies, Left Turn Assist prevents drivers from turning across traffic if another vehicle is approaching from the opposite lane, while Intersection Movement Assist helps drivers navigate intersections with heavy traffic.

“Safety is our top priority, and V2V technology represents the next great advance in saving lives,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “This technology could move us from helping people survive crashes to helping them avoid crashes altogether – saving lives, saving money and even saving fuel thanks to the widespread benefits it offers.”

In addition to the above technologies, the DoT are also studying:

  • Forward collision monitors
  • Blind spot monitors
  • Stop light warnings
  • “Do not pass” warnings 

The department believes the report as well as a commission on proposed rules will be ready by 2016. Once V2V technologies have been perfected, the DoT plans to focus their attention on personal driverless cars.

Related source: Motor Trend

 

How Does An Airbag Work?

Car AirbagAirbags have been saving lives since 1967, but unlike their seatbelt cousin, most people don’t give their airbag a second thought until they need it. Today, we’ll explain how the modern airbag functions.

A Little History

Before delving how an airbag functions, it’s worth understanding how the airbag came to be. Credit for the invention of the airbag goes to two men – American John Hetrick and German engineer Walter Linderer. Ketrick submitted the first patent for an airbag in 1951, and he received his patent on August 18, 1953. Linderer received his patent three months later, but the design of the airbags differed.

Although they can be credited with inventing the airbag, they can’t be credited with creating the first functioning and widely accepted airbag. Linderer struggled to get his compressed air bag to inflate quickly enough to fully protect a passenger, while Hetrick found little support from automobile makers while pitching the idea.

It wasn’t until 1967 that airbags really started making waves. Inventor Allen K. Breed created an electromagnetic sensor that used sodium azide in lieu of compressed air to inflate an airbag to capacity in under 30 milliseconds. Automakers began offering cars with built-in airbags in the early 1970s, and they’ve been saving countless lives ever since.

How Airbags Deploy

There are three key components to the airbag system. They are:

  • The bag
  • The crash sensor
  • The inflation reaction

The first component is the bag. Made out of nylon fabric, the bag can be compressed into the steering wheel, dashboard, seat or door. The second component, the sensor, tells the bag when to deploy. When a crash occurs and the force is greater than roughly 15 miles per hour (as documented by an accelerometer), a mechanical switch is flipped signaling the airbag to deploy.

As soon as the switch is flipped, the third component, the inflation system, goes to work. Sodium azide is released the moment a crash occurs, which reacts with potassium nitrate inside the inflation system. The reaction creates a hot blast of nitrogen gas, which inflates the bag nearly instantaneously.

For more information on car mechanics, keep checking back with our blog!

Related source: HowStuffWorks

Car Ownership Costs: A State-by-State Comparison

Annual Car ownership CostsA new study of car ownership by researchers at Bankrate.com found that it’s cheaper to own a car in Minnesota than the national average, but just barely.

The study found that Minnesota ranked 21st in terms of annual cost of ownership, coming in just $38 south of Indiana, the 25th ranked state. To determine the total cost of annual ownership, researchers looked at three key factors:

  • Repairs
  • Insurance
  • Gasoline

Researchers found the average cost of each of those expenses to come up with a grand total. Minnesota ranked 18th for cheapest average auto repair, 16th for average insurance costs, and 36th for average gasoline expenditures. On average, Minnesotans spent $346 annually on repair costs, $782 on car insurance, and $1,033 on gasoline for a total of $2,162 a year.

The cheapest state for car ownership was Iowa, which boasts an annual ownership cost of $1,942. The most expensive state for car ownership was Wyoming. Residents in Wyoming spent an average of $2,705 a year on their car.

The Best and Worst for Car Ownership

As noted above, Iowa and Wyoming rank as the cheapest and most expensive states for car ownership. After Iowa, a slew of Midwest states dominate the Top 5 cheapest states for car ownership. Ohio comes in at second, followed by Illinois. Idaho and Wisconsin.

On the other side of the spectrum, it appears that it’s more costly to own a car in the southeast. After Wyoming, Louisiana slips in as the second most expensive state for car ownership, followed closely by Florida, Mississippi and New Jersey.

In all, the average Iowan spends $763 less each year in auto-related expenses than someone from Wyoming.

For more information on how each state scored in all three categories, head over to Bankrate.com to see the expanded findings.

Related source: Bankrate.com

Teens Less Likely to Drive Safe Cars

Old Car TeensA new report by researchers at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that teens are more likely to drive older, smaller cars than adults, which puts them at greater risk for accident and injury.

According to the survey, teenagers are at a greater risk of injury during an accident than an adult counterpart who may be better protected in a newer vehicle. The IIHS said many older vehicles don’t have certain safety features like side airbags and electronic stability control. In all, the study found:

• 82 percent of teenage motorists involved in a fatal automobile accident were driving a car that was at least six years old. Only 77 percent of adults in similar accidents were driving vehicles that were at least six years old.

• 34 percent of teenage driving fatalities occurred in vehicles between six and 10 years old, 31 percent occurred in vehicles between 11 and 15 years old, and 17 percent took place in vehicles that had been on the road for at least 16 years.

• 57 percent of teens who died while driving a car that was less than three years old were driving a car classified as a “small car” or “minicar.”

Researchers say there are two main reasons for their findings. First, they suggest that teenagers who get a car soon after receiving their license are often given a family heirloom car that has been in the family for years and is often older than six years old. They also believe that teens who purchase a car are often working with a limited budget, meaning they’ll only be able to afford an older car with a lot of miles, or a newer small car that doesn’t offer the same crash protection as SUVs or larger cars.

Four Recommendations

In conjunction with their findings, the IIHS listed four recommendations for parents who want to help the new driver in their family find a safe and reliable vehicle.

Avoid Horsepower – Cars with extra horsepower can tempt teens into testing their speedometer.

Big and Heavy – Larger and heavier vehicles offer better protection during a crash.

Stability – Look for a vehicle equipped with electronic stability control, which helps a driver maintain control of the vehicle.

Safety Rating – Do some research on the vehicle’s safety rating before buying to ensure it meets your standards and expectations.

Related source: NY Times

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