AAA: 62% of Americans That Drive Their Cars In Severe Conditions Do It Unknowingly

A study by AAA this month has found that the majority of Americans who drive their vehicles under one or more sever conditions do so unknowingly. AAA looked at the typical maintenance schedules of vehicles, which usually contain 2 different sets of maintenance schedules. One for normal driving, and one for severe driving. They found that many people are using the wrong maintenance schedule due to now knowing they are actually participating in one or more severe driving conditions regularly. They list these as the typical severe driving situations:

-- Drive on short trips of less than 5 miles in normal temperatures or
less than 10 miles in freezing temperatures.
-- Drive in hot weather stop-and-go traffic.
-- Drive at low speeds of less than 50 miles per hour for long distances.
-- Drive on roads that are dusty, muddy or have salt, sand or gravel
spread on the surface.

-- Tow a trailer, carrying a camper (if a pickup truck) or transport
items on a roof rack or in a car-top carrier.

Most Americans wouldn't consider most of these. Specifically the short trip ones since a lot of these are done like running to the store, gas station, etc. Living up north you are very likely to do this in the winter both as short trips and in salt infested roads. Living in the south you will do it in the other extreme of heat. What about that new RV you just got rv financing for and are stuck in traffic every time you take it out as you roll into a traffic jam for an hour or two trying to get into a campground?

I'm sure you can think of countless examples of yourself doing this, and it is likely that most of these are your typical driving experience.

AAA advises motorists they should:

-- Read their owner's manual and/or maintenance booklet.
-- Learn what the manufacturer considers normal and severe service
driving conditions for their vehicles.
-- Make an honest assessment of their driving habits.
-- Schedule service in accordance with the appropriate maintenance
schedule.

All common sense obviously, but most importantly is to figure out what kind of driving they do. You may actually be using the wrong maintenance schedule yourself all the time.

Auto Repair Help and Locators Online

For those of us that aren't exactly great mechanic finding an auto repair shop just got a bit easier. Besides looking at a directory to find a repair shop, you can even compare car repair prices online now. A very helpful tool so that you know you are getting a fair deal.

The listings are helpful for virtually anywhere as well. Take for example you can find
San Francisco car repair with that example and see shops that will work on your car. You can even search all the way down to the make and model to find repair information. Take a look at this example for
Ford Taurus repair.

Not only is there information for repair shops online, but these sites actually allow you to discuss repair issues with other owners of your specific make and model. So if you actually are a decent mechanic, but need a tip on something you are trying to repair, you can get into a discussion about parts, the best procedure for making the repair, , or just figure out if you have what it takes to do it yourself. A very good site for automobile owners of any site is RepairPal.com. definitely going ot help you with car repair, and maintenance problems.