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Over the years, EPA standards and industry-led initiatives for fuel economy have made it easier and easier to get more miles per gallon. As technology improves, estimates will continue to rise. Your Clinton Area Honda dealer explains just how technology is creating better fuel efficiency. Variable Valve Timing Valves control the airflow in your engine and cylinders (pistons) lift to create combustion. It used to be that valves would open and cylinders would lift with one set timing. The problem was that your engine needs more air at higher speeds and less air at lower speeds. Variable valve and lift timing adjust to the needs of the engine, using less fuel. Department of Energy Estimate: 5% efficiency improvement Continuously Variable Transmission Traditional engines use a set of gears to create speed from the engine. First gear is meant for acceleration from a stop and sixth gear is meant for high speed travel. Continuously variable transmission uses a pulley system that can create or reduce tension depending on the speed required. The result is an endless number of combinations to make the engine for efficient. Department of Energy Estimate: 6% efficiency improvement Direct Fuel Injection One of the best improvements to fuel economy is far from the newest. Older engines mixed fuel with air before it got into the cylinder. Today, fuel can skip the mix and be sprayed directly into the cylinder on its own. Because it doesn’t need to be mixed beforehand, the fuel use can be much more precise and less wasteful. Department of Energy Estimate: 12% efficiency improvement

There’s nothing we take more seriously than the safety of our children. It’s at the top of most of our research lists and the number one motivator when it comes to buying a new or used car. Your Hackettstown Area Honda dealer wants to review a few guidelines to help keep your little ones safe. Car Seats There is nothing more effective at keeping a child safe than a car seat. It is the very first step in ensuring your child stays safe in the car. It should go without saying that kids should always ride in car seats, but it’s also important to think about where they are. Car seats should always be in the back seat of the car and the child should be facing the rear window. Front seat airbags can be dangerous to kids, especially small ones, and facing the rear helps protect their necks in the event of a forward collision. Preventing Heat Stroke It’s terrible when we hear in the news that a child has died because of being left in the car. Most of us know not to do this, but it’s also important to be aware of your child. Too much sun or a car that’s too hot, even when you’re in it, can prove too much for their systems to cool down. Toys It may be obvious that very small children probably shouldn’t be left alone with very small or very sharp toys, but this is especially important in the car. If a bump at the wrong time from someone following too close can result in injury.

Are you a nervous driver? Do you start to get anxious even before you get behind the wheel? Anxious driving isn’t just a matter of “calming down.” Not everyone understands it, but an anxious driver can’t calm down and the advice tends to make things worse. Well, your Phillipsburg Area Honda dealer has some tips to help diffuse the anxiety bomb. Determine How Serious It Is There are plenty of people who get anxious when it comes to driving in snow or driving at night or driving in the city. If you only experience anxiety around a certain set of circumstances, it can be easy to avoid those situations by taking other modes of transportation or having someone else drive. Passengers If you’re one of those folks who are always wound up no matter where or when you’re driving, it can often start with passengers. Limit the number of people who tend to be in your car whenever possible. Whoever is in your car, make it clear to them that you’re a little bit of a nervous driver. Let them know what works best for you: no radio, windows down, no chitchat. It’s better to be thought rude for a few moments than risk an accident. Timing One of the simplest things to do is to plan a useful schedule. If you can, leave well before or after high traffic times. Look for alternate routes like side roads that might ease your mind, even if they take a little bit longer.

All motorists at some point will probably be faced with the unexpected and highly annoying occurrence of a flat tire. This can happen for a number of different reasons, and it is always best to make sure that you are prepared for it. Learn the basics of changing a flat tire from your Clinton Honda dealership. Tools Of course you can’t change a flat tire if you don’t have the proper tools on hand that are needed to get the job done. Be sure that you always carry these items in your trunk. Obviously you will need a spare tire, or at least a donut to hold you over. Then you will need something to secure the vehicle with, like some bricks or wedges of wood. The rest of the items include a jack to raise your vehicle up, a wrench, and a screwdriver. Changing the Tire Before you begin, be sure to secure your vehicle with either your bricks or your wedges of wood to block it from rolling. Then you need to raise your vehicle up with your jack. Once your vehicle is in place, remove the wheel cover with your screwdriver. Use your wrench to loosen all of the lug nuts, and then use your hands to actually remove them. Grasp the tire and pull it straight towards you to take it off. Then put your spare tire or donut on and replace the lug nuts. Lower the vehicle back down, tighten everything, and put the wheel cover back on.

Pretty much no matter where you drive you will be faced with street signs. Each and every street sign is put in place to alert you to or warn you about something, which is why it is so important that you follow them. Our Honda dealer near Phillipsburg is urging you to pay attention to street signs. Warning Signs Warning signs are put in place to warn you about things that could potentially be dangerous and cause you to have an accident if not followed. Some common warning signs will let you know about upcoming intersections, traffic lights, sharp turns, curvy roads, and speed bumps. Others will alert you to school zones, crosswalks, railroads, detours, construction sites, and wild animals. Following these warning signs will not only keep you out of trouble with the law, but they could save your life, and the lives of all others around you. Regulatory Signs Regulatory signs are put in place to give you instructions on things you must or must not do while driving. The most common example of a regulatory sign is a stop sign. Obviously a stop sign is alerting you to stop because either there is traffic that could be coming in the opposite direction, or there are pedestrians that could be crossing. Another very common regulatory sign is a speed limit sign, which will alert you to how fast you are safely and legally allowed to drive. Others include one-way streets, illegal moves, and parking restrictions.

You know how difficult it is to survive the day on very little and no sleep.  Now, try dealing with that on a daily basis.  For some people, sleep issues are a chronic battle that they cannot overcome, despite how hard they try. Flemington area Honda is talking about insomnia and driving. Who Suffers from Insomnia? Insomnia is not picky; it can consume anyone.  People who are most at risk for insomnia include: People who work odd shifts People on certain medicines or suffering from a medical condition People with physical pains People who suffer from mental illness or anxiety Women going through menopause How Insomnia Affects Driving Sleepiness and fatigue can cause a host of problems when drivers get behind the wheel.  According to Forbes Magazine, after staying awake for 17 to 19 hours, your brain activity, or lack thereof, mimics that of an intoxicated driver with a BAC of 0.05, which is just points away from illegal intoxication. Delayed and sluggish reactions Irritability and impatience Poor judgment Trouble focusing Decreased motivation, performance and awareness What to do About Insomnia If you suffer from nightly bouts of insomnia, contact your health professional about solutions to get your sleep cycle back on track.  Some suggestions include: Medications prescribed and monitored by a physician No caffeine or alcoholic beverages Increased physical activity Electronics off before bedtime Keep your bedroom cool Get rid of unnecessary light Read before you go to bed, instead of watching TV Take a relaxing bath Get a massage When you leave work, stop working

Well, you went on vacation or rented a car for work, and you were caught in a hailstorm.  What is the first thing that runs through your mind?  Do you suddenly regret not purchasing the extra coverage?  Do not fret; it is easier to resolve a hail claim than you think. Honda dealer in the Bridgewater area discusses hail claims on car rentals. What to do if Car Rental is Damaged by Hail First, whether or not you purchase the insurance, you should be covered under your primary car insurance policy. First thing’s first, take pictures and email them to yourself.  Doing so creates time-stamped proof of what happened and what the vehicle looks like.  Make sure you take photos of every panel, the doors, hood, roof and bumpers, even if there is no damage.  You will have proof that there is no damage if the company tries to claim otherwise. Call your insurance company and open a claim. When you drop off the car, take photos again and fill out the damage report with the car rental employee. If you purchased the company’s insurance, you should be finished once you pay the deductible.  The claim could take up to six months or more. Keep reviewing your credit card statement for claim-related charges. If your own insurance company is handling the claim, you do not have to deal with the car rental company once you drop off the vehicle.  Your insurance company can do that.  Any correspondence from the rental agency and concerns about the claim should be directed at your insurance company.

Think about how much you really rely on having your driver’s license.  A driver’s license is our key to freedom, allowing us to drive wherever we want.  There are many things that can ruin your ability to hop in the car, and a license suspension is one of them. Clinton Honda explains license suspensions in NJ. Scenarios That May Result in a Suspension A handful of scenarios can result in a license suspension in the state. Failure to appear for a court date or pay fines Failure to pay for surcharges Failure to pay child support for six months or more Driving on a suspended license, which can land you in jail for five years Fraudulent use of a license Driving under the influence Abandoning vehicle on the highway At-fault in an accident Unable to provide proof of auto insurance Certain medical condition Reckless driving License in Suspended, Now What? Fortunately, a suspension is not a revocation.  If your license is suspended three times within 36 months, you will lose your license for three years.  If the reason is for child support, noncustodial parent must contact the NJ Office of Child Support Services to discuss their options.  All others may take steps to restore their driving privileges. You must wait to reinstate until your license period has passed or you have made the appropriate arrangements. Pay a $100 restoration fee online, in person or by mail Follow NJ’s 6-point identification system for renewal Pay a processing fee