Wednesday, August 28, 2013

The Psychology of Merging

Merging may be one of this biggest stressors for drivers, especially on busy roads. Merging into heavy traffic can be a headache because sometimes other drivers won't let you in. And once you are in you have to worry about other merging drivers swooping into your lane. Sometimes drivers don't merge soon enough, or else there are those drivers that just make it impossible for anyone else to merge because they refuse to leave a space open.

But why does merging make us so angry? And why can people never seem to figure it out? This article from Edmunds.com explains the psychology of merging, and even tells you how and when to merge without losing your cool.


Why Late Merging Ticks Us Off
Merging is only one of a long list of driving situations that stir deep emotions. Yet, when best-selling author Tom Vanderbilt began his 400-page book Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (And What It Says About Us), he zeroed in on merging as a universal measure of a driver's personality. The prologue of his book is titled "Why I Became a Late Merger (and Why You Should, Too)."

Vanderbilt suggests that a driver's merging style reveals his personality. There's an old cliché in driving studies," he says: "'A man drives as he lives.'" New York Times columnist Cynthia Gorney boiled the debate down to two main driving personalities: "lineuppers," who take their turn, and "sidezoomers," who race to the head of the line and dart into an opening at the last second. This is maddening to the well-behaved lineuppers. In fact, a Minnesota Department of Transportation study revealed that 15 percent of drivers actually admitted to straddling lanes to block late mergers in construction zones.

Gorney finds her description of sidezoomers gets a spirited response from everyone she questions. "When I raised [this] with my father, who is 83, he startled me by suggesting a longer label that included more bad words than I believe I have ever heard him use at one time." She even found a University of Washington engineer who had his own name for the two main merging personality types: cheaters and vigilantes.

Leon James, a.k.a. "Dr. Driving," whose Web site has a string of articles under the heading "The Great Merging Debate," says merging areas are especially challenging because there are basically two styles of merging that are often incompatible. When early mergers see the late mergers zip by, "most drivers feel irritated, some angry and roadrageous," he says. Trying to block them is "dangerous, illegal and begging for a confrontation."

James sees a connection between the different merging styles and a driver's personality. "Motorists who are less aggressive and more accommodating tend to be early mergers," James says. "They are more community-spirited drivers." On the other hand, late mergers are "more aggressive and opportunistic." And they don't necessarily think of themselves as an exclusive club, either.

"They feel that everybody can be a late merger, and if they choose not to be, it's their choice," James says.

The Case for Late Merging
When you apply the term "sidezooming" to late merging, it conjures up all kinds of negative images. But there is an argument for late merging: It's a more efficient use of the road.

Highway lanes offer a limited amount of space and, because of the volume of traffic, that space is becoming increasingly restricted. So the question becomes this: How can the maximum number of cars quickly move through a set space as that space narrows? Traffic engineers sometimes equate this situation to grains of rice flowing through a funnel. The analogy breaks down, however, when you realize that the grains are touching and sliding against each other as they move — we obviously don't want that with cars. But the comparison is still relevant.

High accident rates in construction zones triggered the Minnesota merger study, says William Servatius, construction programs coordinator in the Minnesota Department of Transportation's Office of Construction. He adds that when drivers are instructed to merge at construction areas: "Many times crashes occur due to aggressive driving, abrupt lane changes or sudden stops."

Using speed-sensing devices that display different messages depending on the speed of traffic, Minnesota DOT engineers developed what they call a "zipper," which meshes cars quickly. Signs advise drivers of the upcoming lane closure, tell them to use both lanes up to a point and then direct them to take turns merging. When traffic is flowing, drivers merge early to avoid unsafe maneuvers. But when traffic is congested, motorists make full use of both lanes. The data revealed that the change reduced traffic lines by 35 percent and also brought down "lane changing conflicts," says Craig Mittelstadt, Minnesota DOT's work zone safety specialist.

But most highways' merging zones don't display friendly signs that tell drivers it's OK to merge late. And so the conflicts continue. And along with the conflicts comes the inevitable finger-pointing (or finger-giving, in many cases).

Kinder, Gentler Merging
The morning after reading these merging studies, I decided to create a third category of driver for myself. I would be neither a lineupper nor a sidezoomer. Instead, I would be a "sidesignaler," politely cruising along by about a quarter-mile of stopped traffic with my turn signal on, requesting an opening. Sure enough, I reached the zipper and saw a gap between cars. In fact, it was a huge gap. I slid into the opening and held my breath. No blaring horns, flashing lights or angry shouts followed my maneuver. I risked a look in the rearview mirror and saw why. The driver was on a cell phone.

Click the link to read the full article from Edmunds.com: http://edmu.in/GM4Aos

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Disasters of Apocalyptic Proportion: What Car for Which Situation?

Public Service Announcement: The zombie apocalypse is here! Well, not really.  But if it were true, would your vehicle be properly prepared for it?  If not, check out this blog on the necessities for different disaster scenarios:

We all have that one friend who is prepared for any and every disaster.  At least once a week, they utter something about an “apocalypse” of brain-starved zombie hordes or a green giant monster running rampant through the streets and ravishing your city.  If this ever occurs, you will have to get to a safe place, but how will you get there?  Which method of transportation do you use?  Therefore, transportation is essential in “Surviving the Apocalypse 101”.

This great infographic from Jalopnik.com and Dailyinfographic.com provides us a little sight on which car would (theoretically) be the best for various disaster situations.  For instance, if you’re trying to fend off a zombie horde, you’ll need shatter proof or barred windows.  A push-shovel in front of your vehicle is a must as well.  After striking a zombie with your killing machine of a car, the push-shovel will properly set them aside, without running over them and damaging the vehicle’s undercarriage.

For more information and to check out the necessities for your apocalyptic vehicle, take a look at the infographic and original article: http://bit.ly/11qDX2S

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Tips for Washing Your Car You Wouldn't Normally Think Of

With all the muck and grime on the roads, washing your car is a necessary evil. But sometimes we don't always want to pay for a fancy car wash. Here are some tips and tricks most people wouldn't think of that are cheaper and will actually keep your car cleaner for a longer period of time.

Hair conditioner for shine
Wash your car with a hair conditioner containing lanolin. You'll become a believer when you see the freshly waxed look, and when you find that the surface will repel rain.

Fizz windshields clean with cola
When it rains after a long dry spell, a dirty windshield turns into one big mess. Get rid of streaks and blotches by pouring cola over the glass. (Stretch a towel along the bottom of the windshield to protect hood paint.) The bubbles in the cola will fizz away the grime. Just be sure to wash the sticky cola off thoroughly or your cleaning efforts will end up attracting dust

A one-step window cleaner
Clean your windshield and car windows by rubbing them with baby wipes stored in your glove compartment. What could be easier?


Baking-soda car cleaner
Pour 1/4 cup baking soda into a gallon-sized jug, then add 1/4 cup dishwashing liquid and enough water to fill the jug almost to the top. Screw on the cap, shake well, and store the concentrate for later use. When it comes time to wash the car, shake the jug vigorously and then pour 1 cup of cleaner base into a 2-gallon water pail. Fill the pail with warm water, stir to mix, and your homemade cleaner is ready to use.

Avoid air drying
Also according to Consumer Reports, air drying your car—or driving it around while it's wet—after washing can leave unsightly watermarks on its exterior. Use a chamois or a soft terry cloth, plus a squeegee to soak excess water up—just make sure it doesn't pick up dirt that can scratch the vehicle.

Click the link to read the full article and learn even more weird tips to keep your car clean: http://bit.ly/Kz661P

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Why Do Cars Rust?

One thing that scares car owners is rust. This pesky problem can make a car almost undriveable. However, you can keep your car from declining into a rusty junkheap. It requires monitoring and regular maintenance, but with some work, you could keep rust at bay. What causes rust in the first place? Here’s a technical explanation for the curious:

Rust is iron oxide, a molecule consisting of two iron atoms and three oxygen atoms. It's the product of an electrochemical process called corrosion. To create rust, three factors must be present: an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte. An anode is a piece of metal that will readily release electrons under the right circumstances. Cathodes are metals that will accept electrons. Electrolytes are liquids that facilitate the movement of electrons.

As electrons flow from the anode to the cathode via the electrolyte, the anode metal corrodes. In the case of metals with iron in them, part of the anode metal becomes rust. As the metal corrodes, it weakens. That's not something you want to have happen to your vehicle.

There are several points on your car that are more susceptible to rust. For example, your car's engine, frame, chassis, exhaust system and trunk compartment can develop rust. Optional equipment, like trailer hitches, can also fall prey to corrosion. Rust can even attack painted surfaces on your car.

Getting rid of rust is challenging. It's easier to take steps to prevent rust than it is to eradicate it. In the case of rust, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Read the full article (and get some great rust prevention tips!) here: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/vehicle-maintenance/prevent-automotive-rust.htm

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