It’s not that unusual for Canadians to go out to a frozen lake in the winter, right? Get some peace and quiet, enjoy the fresh air for a bit, rest from your phone… But are you sure you know what to expect and what to do if something unexpected happens? Read on! When going out on a lake for ice fishing, skating, or even snowmobiling, you should prepare yourself as much as possible to avoid going through the ice and having to deal with thin ice. Here are some dos and dont's: Never go out on the ice alone. Go out with another person and keep a good distance apart as you move about. If … [Read more...]
Highway Car Breakdown: Dos and Dont’s (Infographic)
It’s never pleasant to have your car broken down on the side of the road - especially a highway. You can’t just stop to repair a punctured tire, you may not even be able to call for help depending on your location. Take a look at the infographic to see what you should and what you should never do in such a situation. Should you have any issues with your car or just want a regular checkup, come to our repair shops in Hamilton and Stoney Creek. … [Read more...]
Best (and Worst) Cities for Driving in Canada
Driving can be stressful no matter where you are in Canada. Even though some Canadians think they have it worse, on the world-wide stage the best places for drivers are in Canada. The best driving cities in Canada are actually the best in the world. A new report by Mister Auto ranked 100 cities from around the world to figure out which were the best and worst cities for drivers in 2019. It turns out that no fewer than 3 Canadian cities are some of the best driving cities in the world. From infrastructure and congestion, to driver behavior, driving and parking costs, their … [Read more...]
Bumper-to-Bumper: Dangerous Driving
There are many things that get annoying while driving and increase stress, like taking phone calls while driving, speeding in a school area, taking a turn without giving the signal, but one of the most annoying things is when you are in the middle of bumper-to-bumper traffic. According to recent research in the UK, as many as 9 out of 10 drivers found that they had such an experience, and a quarter of those surveyed admitted to having personally driven unsafely close to another driver. The crash results show that 1 in 8 road accidents is caused by such driver behavior, leading to the fatal … [Read more...]
Car Corrosion: The Hazard of Road Salt
It’s common knowledge that snow and icy road conditions can cause car accidents. That is also why salt is used on the roads, since it helps to melt snow and ice, but it also provides some extra traction when combined with sand. That is why washing your car in the midst of winter is important aside from it looking clean, but also in order to remove the salt that accumulates. Cleaning road salt from your car’s surface is the best practice to help prevent rust damage. Brake lines are typically another of the areas affected, so having them checked frequently is important. Road salt is … [Read more...]
Do Electric Vehicles Work Well During Winter? (Infographic)
Electric vehicles are an unknown to a lot of people even today - you wonder how far it can travel, how everything works, what maintenance is like, and of course, how much it costs. With winter closing in, one of the questions most frequently asked about cars powered by electricity is also How well can they stand harsh winter conditions (especially in Canada). Take a look at our new infographic for the answer to this question. If you have any issues with your car, or just want to do a checkup, come to our repair shops in Hamilton and Stoney Creek. … [Read more...]
13 Fuel-Efficient Driving Techniques
Driving in a fuel-efficient manner is good not only for your car and other traffic participants, but also for your wallet and the environment. Yes, the Carbon Tax also gets the latter two points across, but every individual must be willing to go through with the change in order for it to be successful. In that sense, adjusting our driving habits can go a long way. With modern cars, you are already driving more fuel-efficiently as they cave certain features and capabilities previously unavailable and nature-friendly. However, that in itself is not enough. Here is what more you can do. 1) … [Read more...]
What to Do When Your Car Is Hydroplaning in the Rain
Rainy (fall) weather can be a particularly difficult time for drivers, especially if they are less experienced in driving in this kind of conditions (or in general). Nearly half of all traffic accidents - 46% - happen because of wet driving conditions. The main problem is not the ponds that are created in the streets whenever it rains, whether it’s a downpour or a sprinkle, but the fact that any kind of damp film between the tires and the road surface can cause the vehicle to “float” or hydroplane. This can lead to the inexperienced driver panicking and making a serious mistake which can lead … [Read more...]
How to Tell Your Car Needs Alignment (Infographic)
Regular car maintenance is a must if you want to avoid vehicle malfunctions and road accidents, and one of the things to pay attention to certainly is alignment. It can be caused by a variety of things - potholes, curbs, worn suspension, problems with the steering system, etc. During a visual check of your car, you can even spot the signs of misalignment by simply looking at your tires, but the feel of the car itself during the drive is a tell-tale sign that something is wrong. However, leave the diagnosing to pros, and drive your car over to your trusted mechanic for a check-up the moment you … [Read more...]
Reduce Carbon Footprint While Driving
With the Carbon tax officially being implemented in Ontario and the rest of Canada, it’s important for all of us to do what we can do reduce our carbon footprint in all areas of life, starting with driving. There are factors that affect fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For one, when buying a car, you can choose a vehicle with the most fuel-efficient technologies. And then, once on the road, you can make a conscious choice to use fuel-efficient driving techniques. Stick with us to find out more. Before we go on, let’s recap on the Carbon tax. What is it? It’s a … [Read more...]
