Hands-free driving is about to have a new meaning!

Hands-free driving is about to have a new meaning!

Hands free driving is about to get a new meaning. One of the first self-driving cars will debut in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania next week. And the company debuting this vehicle is Uber. This past February, the ride-sharing company announced that they would be partnering with Carnegie Mellon University to open its Uber Advanced Technologies Center in Pittsburgh. It is preparing to launch autonomous vehicles in to its fleet by 2020.

“Self-driving cars have the potential to save millions of lives and improve quality of life for people around the world,” Uber said in a blog post on its site, citing a statistic that 94% of car accidents that result in the loss of live involve human error.

Uber`s rival Lyft, is also trying to get in on all of this action. Lyft has released a statement this month that they are currently in the same process. “Executives at Lyft and Uber have said one of the top hurdles to their success is navigating a patchwork of regulations that govern the use and liabilities of autonomous vehicles. Federal regulators are working to help companies figure out how to meet safety standards when designing cars.” This project is still in the early stages for both Lyft and Uber. With all the pros and cons to this, it’s interesting to see what will happen.

Winterizing Your Vehicle

Winterizing Your Vehicle

Winterizing your vehicle is a wise idea! Taking an hour or two out of your day to have your vehicle checked is all it takes to have peace of mind. The time spent now will avoid the cost and hassle of a breakdown during severe weather.

Here is a checklist to follow when winterizing your car this season:
1. Have the battery and charging system checked for optimum performance.
2. Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in the cooling system.
3. Make sure heaters, defrosters and wipers work properly.
4. Check the tire tread depth and tire pressure.
5. Be thorough about changing the oil and filter at recommended intervals.
6. If you’re due for a tune-up, have it done before winter sets in.
7. Have the brakes checked. The braking system is the vehicle’s most important safety item no matter what time of year.
8. Have the exhaust system checked for carbon monoxide leaks.
9. Keep your gas tank at least half full at all times to decrease the chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing.
10. In your trunk, make sure to include an ice scraper and snowbrush, jumper cables, flashlight, flares, blanket, extra clothes, candles/matches, bottled water, dry food snacks and needed medication.

Preparing yourself and your vehicle will insure safe travels this winter.

For more information on auto insurance, call C.H. Edwards, Inc. and one of our representatives will be happy to help you.

Be safe!

Written by: Amanda Haase

Summer Driving Safety Tips

Summer Driving Safety Tips

summer driving 1Summer is finally here and it’s time to start preparing your vehicles for long summer trips. Ensuring that your vehicle is safe and ready to drive is imperative when keeping you and your loved ones safe. If you haven’t done so already, these are the top five things you should begin checking on your vehicles:

 

1. Tire Tread – make sure theresummer driving 2 is enough tread on your tires to guarantee an efficient grip on the pavement when driving and braking.

2. Suspension – if your car dips or rocks when you go over bumps, or drift around corners (even at low speeds) it may be time to replace your vehicle’s shocks or struts.

3. Alignment – potholes and rough road surfaces from winter weather don’t just make for a bad ride, they can affect the alignment of your wheels. Misaligned wheels can cause a multitude of problems, including uneven tire wear.

4. Under-inflated Tires – make sure your tires have enough air in them to prevent them from going flat.

Turning on the AC in a hot car5. Air conditioning – make sure your air conditioner is working properly to prevent heat exhaustion when taking long trips. This is especially important when traveling with young children and the elderly.

If you have not already, make an appointment with your local Auto Care Facility, so they can properly inspect your vehicle to determine any existing or future problems.

Remember, if you are involved in an automobile accident and need to report a claim, make sure to contact your Insurance Agent as soon as possible so the claims process can begin and you and your car can get back on the road safely.

If you are interested in receiving a quotation for automobile insurance, give C.H. Edwards, Inc. a call at 516-249-5200, and one of our automobile specialists will be happy to help you find coverage while saving you money.

For more information visit our website at www.chedwards.net
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Drive safely this summer!

Written by: Amanda Haase