411 Pain Blog: Road Trips and Rest Stops

Road Trips and Rest Stops

Road trips are a great way to travel. They allow you to move at your own pace
and offer the opportunity to see parts of the country, airplanes fly over and trains
speed past.  The key to making the most of this slice of Americana is maintaining
comfort by getting enough rest.

Rest Stop Safety

411 Pain recommends all who will be driving on the road trip get plenty of sleep
the night before the journey.  Being alert and well rested is the safest way to hit the road.
When you need a break or a chance to stretch your legs, rest areas may be
the way to go.  But it is best to visit them in broad daylight and when you have an
adult traveling companion.   While the rest areas can be a valuable oasis to weary drivers,
they have also become a place for criminals to find easy targets . Motorists have been robbed, raped,
carjacked, and even killed while simply trying to get a cat nap or a break at highway
rest stops.  411 pain advises drivers to consider logging on to the Interstate Travel Guide.
It is a directory of  rest stops across the country that offer security and other services like gas and food.

Car Comforts

Another option for a brief break from the road, can be the parking lots of 24 hour businesses.
411 Pain has this word of warning, before pulling into that parking spot, look for signs which prohibit
trespassing or loitering. Failure to do so and that quick 15 minute nap in the front seat could lead to a fine as
high as the price of a night at a hotel.  It can't hurt to go into the business and ask to speak to
the manager to get permission to park in the lot.   Also if you chose to sleep in your car, be very, very
careful.  Be aware of your surroundings; cover your windows with sheets or tarps so passers by can't see you sleeping; the key is to draw as little attention to yourself so as not to become a crime victim.
Make sure you have things to make your car stay comfortable.  Books and magazines are a good
choice.  Music not so much, it may prove distracting and if too loud, will alert others to your presence.

For a Few Dollars More

If your road trip budget can be stretched at bit more, the safest option is always to spend the night
in a hotel. There are plenty of affordable options listed on both travel websites and smartphone
apps.  Also, if traveling with small children, consider a campground. It can add an adventurous aspect
to your road trip. Most are clean, secure and offer lodging choices ranging from tents to cottages so there's
something for every comfort level.

Remember the Sleep Bank

So when you are saving up for that road trip, short or long, include time and money for rest in the budget.
No one knows better than you how much sleep you need a night or how comfortable you need to be to get
good rest.  411 Pain reminds us,  no one wants to risk their life riding with a drowsy driver. And nothing puts the brakes on fun faster on a road trip than an irascible captain of the ship.

411 Pain: Taking Care of Your Tires to Prevent Car Accidents

Ever ask yourself, are my tires safe? and when is the right time to change them? Not a lot of drivers realize that car tires are critical to the safety, performance and efficiency of their cars.

Taking care of your car’s tires has a lot of advantages, such as durability, handling, and performance, as well as offering you with a smoother ride and better gas mileage, not to mention driver safety.  According to the N.H.T.S.A. about 400 fatalities annually may have been attributed to tire failures.

 411 Pain understands that tires, like any other car part, need proper care to perform and last. The good news is that proper tire maintenance is quite simple.

Many drivers don't realize that tires have an expiration date. Tire makers  state 8 years is a reasonable useful lifespan for a tire, depending on how often they are used. At some point they start to loose traction and braking ability.

There are many reasons why tires start wearing out. Sometimes an alignment problem on a vehicle causes tires to wear unevenly. This can cause a tire to need replacement long before it normally would. Also examine your tires to make sure any harmful objects, such as glass, nails, debris, rocks or metal is not causing any gradual damage to your tires.

Tire Tips

The most important aspect in caring for your tires is maintaining the correct  pressure. More than a quarter of all passenger vehicles on U.S. roads have significantly low pressure on their tires. Drivers should check their tires regularly  and before every long trip to see that they’re properly inflated. Keeping your tires properly inflated not only increases your car's fuel efficiency but also improves your car's handling, braking ability and ride quality.

Make sure to avoid potholes and other road debris if you can, since those things can knock your tires out of alignment or damage the tires themselves. Considering that the average cost of a replacement tire has jumped nearly $40 over the past ten years, getting more use out of your tires makes a lot of sense.

You always want your best tires on the front. A blowout in the rear is dangerous and problematic, but a blowout on the front is more likely to lead to a car accident. You also need the traction on the front for stopping much more than you need traction on the rear for acceleration. To further extend the mileage you get from your tires, it is important to rotate your tires every 6,000 to 7,500 miles to even out the wear.

For our drivers that live in warmer areas, remember that tires tend to age faster in warmer climates.

Knowing how to take care of your tires will help you save money, protect you and others. 1-800-411-Pain recommends to take five minutes a week to check and care for your tires to increased tire life, improved economy, increased safety, and peace of mind. Additionally, making your tires last as long as possible is the environmentally sound thing to do. Unfortunately car accidents still can happen. and when they do 411 Pain is there for you.

For more of the latest information on driver safety and accident news, visit www.411Pain-News.com. Robert Lewin, owner of 1-800-411-Pain, reminds you not to drink and drive and to always wear your seat belt. 

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Two Car Accident Shut Road Down

in Cranberry, PA

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A two car accident in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania shut down traffic in the northbound lanes of route 19 at Rowan Road for over an hour on Rowan Road. The accident occurred just as the annual family event, Cranberry Community Days was ending. This only amplified the traffic build caused by the accident. Cranberry Township Police reported that the driver of a Chrysler 200 was responsible for the accident. Police say that the driver was “Traveling north on the highway at about 10 p.m. when he collided with a Subaru turning left from Route 19 onto Rowan Road in the opposite direction (cranberry.patch.com).”

The driver of the Subaru was required medical treatment, as well did her passenger. Their injuries were not life threatening. The driver of the Chrysler 200 refused medical treatment. Police are investigating the accident further. As of now, no charges have been made.

An auto accident can happen in any place at any time. 1 800 411 Pain would like to see the roads a safer place for all drivers. This is why they continue to provide drivers with the latest information on driver safety and accident statistics. 1 800 411 Pain is dedicated to keeping motorists informed with ways in which they can make driving a safer activity.       

Robert Lewin, owner of 1 800 411 Pain, reminds you not to drink and drive and to

always wear your seatbelt. 

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Three Vehicle Accident on the 411 Pain blog

Three Vehicle Accident Sends

Two to the Hospital

A three vehicle accident in Hickory, N.C. on July 8, 2012 resulted in a married couple having to be transported to the hospital. Witnesses say that the accident was caused by the driver of a white Honda Civic, who ran a red light and collided with an SUV. After striking the SUV, causing it to flip over, the Honda then struck a separate vehicle that was waiting at a red light.

The driver of the Honda Civic was traveling with her three children. None of the children were injured in the accident. The driver did not sustain life-threatening injuries. The occupants of the SUV acquired the most severe injuries during the accident. They had to be cut out of their vehicle. Officers said that it looked as though she had a broken leg.

Terrible accidents can be avoided by simply following the law. Had the woman driving the Honda Civic not ran the red light, this accident would never have happened. 1 800 411 Pain strongly advises that all motorists adhere to traffic laws at all times. Something as simple as stopping at a stop sign or red light can be the deciding factor in whether or not an accident occurs. For more of the latest information on driver safety and accident news, visit www.411Pain-News.com. Robert Lewin, owner of 1 800 411 Pain, reminds you not to drink and drive and to always wear your seat belt. 

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Car Accident Injures Six Teens

An early morning car accident in Alameda, California has left six teenagers injured. The driver was a fifteen year old boy who had taken his parent’s vehicle without their permission. Four of the passengers involved were also fifteen year olds. One passenger was thirteen. The accident occurred at approximately 1:30 in the morning. None of the vehicle’s occupants had permission from their parents to be out at that time.  

The driver apparently crashed into a tree. The cause of the accident is currently unknown. Authorities are investigating whether alcohol was a factor. Every person involved in the crash suffered injuries, but none as seriously as the driver. 1 800 411 Pain understands that an auto accident can occur unexpectedly and usually allow little or no time to react. This is why 1 800 411 Pain advises that motorists be as alert as possible while driving.  

For more of the latest information on driver safety and accident news, visit www.411Pain-News.com. Robert Lewin, owner of 1 800 411 Pain, reminds you not to drink and drive and to always wear your seat belt. 

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Driver Causes Estimated $13,000 in Damage in Accident

One driver is responsible for an estimated $13,000 in damage following an accident involving three vehicles, two of which were parked. Thirty five year old, Brent Otterson was under the influence of drugs when the accident occurred. Otterson was traveling on the 600 block of First Avenue South in Jamestown, VA at approximately four in the morning on June 5th. He reached down to adjust his radio and lost control of his car. He slammed into a parked vehicle, which was forced into another vehicle. Otterson immediately left the scene, but was apprehended shortly after. He was taken into custody for driving while under the influence of drugs and for failure to give immediate notice of an accident.

1 800 411 Pain strongly advises drivers against driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Not only is this illegal, but it is also extremely dangerous. Otterson is very fortunate that his actions did not harm anyone. Had there been people in those cars, the outcome could have been much different. 1 800 411 Pain wants to see the roads a safer place for everyone. Do not drive while under the influence of any mind-altering substances.

For more of the latest information on driver safety and accident news, visit www.411Pain-News.com. Robert Lewin, owner of 1 800 411 Pain, reminds you not to drink and drive and to always wear your seat belt. 

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