Toyota, as well as many other auto-makers, has invested a lot of time and effort into creating vehicles that can drive themselves. But Toyota has decided to pull the plug on the research for now due to shortage of technology and legal issues. Instead, they have decided to use some of the impressive safety technology in their newest vehicles. Toyota promises that by 2017 their vehicles will offer collision-prevention technology. While the vehicles will not be able to drive themselves completely, they will be able to steer themselves just enough to stay centered in the lane. Toyota also hopes to include cameras in their vehicles that monitor the drivers hands and eyes. This means if your hands come off the wheels or your eyes veer off the road, an alarm will go off. Even though self-driving vehicles are not right around the corner like we expected, these technology advances are incredible and should make driving even safer! Kudos to Toyota for taking this big step. To see incredibly safe vehicles that are available right now from Toyota, stop by Yokem Toyota and take one for a test ride.
Police officers in England stopped a wrong-way driver on the M6 freeway on Monday night, using their car as a roadblock to stop the driver.
Their quick action probably saved lives. The 77-year-old driver suffered from dementia as he drove the wrong way down the freeway, according to the West Midlands Police department, which uploaded video of the crash to itsYouTube account. The officers involved and driver emerged unharmed from the accident.
But others who encounter wrong-way drivers aren't so lucky. A 2012 special report from the National Transportation Safety Board on wrong-way drivers found such crashes account for three percent of all collisions but are disproportionately likely to cause death or injury. That's because head-on collisions are the most dangerous type of crash. The California Department of Transportation found wrong-way collisions were 12 times more likely to end in a fatality and the Michigan Department of Transportation found that such crashes increase the likelihood of a fatality by 22 percent. On average, 360 lives are lost in wrong-way accidents each year.
While the study included recommendations for clearly marking on and off ramps on freeways and building barriers so that drivers aren't confused, wrong-way drivers are hard to prevent. Many are mentally confused due to age. Drivers over the age of 70 are disproportionately represented in wrong-way crashes. Older drivers are involved in less than 3 percent of overall crashes, but 15 percent of wrong-way crashes.
However, mental confusion and unfamiliarity with an area cause a minority of wrong-way crashes. The vast majority of these crashes involve drunk drivers rather than confused motorists.
Sixty percent of wrong-way drivers had alcohol levels above the legal limit. Of those impaired drivers, nearly 60 percent had a BAC of .15, which is approaching the .16 benchmark used by many states as the threshold for 'super drunk.'
Staring down a pair of headlights on the freeway is a frightening scenario to consider, but there are a few simple steps for protection yourself in this situation.
Scan Ahead
Many drivers only keep an eye on the few hundred feet ahead of their car. Drivers who keep an eye on the horizon or at least far ahead of their own headlights stand a better chance of seeing the wrong-way driver.
Slow Down
No one likes to see brake lights on the freeway, but if a wrong-way driver is barreling toward you, slowing down can add precious moments to your decision making.
Swerve To The Right
Like the driver on the M6, wrong-way drivers often go all the way to the right because they think it's the slow lane, rather than the fast lane. Swerving to the right is always recommended in a head-on collision situation because it will deflect much of the force of the impact. It's much safer to hit a stationary object or roll into a ditch than a moving vehicle (especially if you've slowed down) so even if swerving seems equally dangerous, do it anyway.
Buckle Up
Wearing a seatbelt greatly increases the likelihood of surviving any type of crash. According to AAA, seat belts saved more than 12,000 lives last year. Buckle up every time you drive.
Original story at http://autos.aol.com/article/how-to-survive-a-wrong-way-driver/
Toyota’s newest sports-car concept is here! The FT-1, short for the Future-Toyota Ultimate, is a futuristic muscle car that is designed to look cool while incorporating vents, ducts and inlets to allow optimum airflow. Toyota worked with the creators of the Gran Turismo’s driving simulator to create a virtual driving experience for the FT-1. This vehicle was built with the idea to make driving enjoyable! Come into Yokem Toyota to see what awesome cars Toyota has to offer!
The newest family size sedan in the Avalon family is the 2014 model. The car has much to boast about with its modernities and technological advancements. It’s described as having a spacious and comfortable interior, but not only that, it also uses the finest materials in its interior. The Avalon is no cheap ride. It looks and feels like the luxurious sedan that it is. It ranks 4th out of 10 on US News’ list for top affordable large sedans. At Yokem Toyota, we want the best for our customers. The Toyota Avalon reveals its very best in this 2014 version
Winter is commonly thought of as the greatest threat to our cars. Battery life, in particular, is a concern for most of us who have a growing distaste for the high cost of car maintenance. Though not a misconception at all, summer is actually worse on your car battery life according to non-profit car care council. High temperatures can cause battery fluid to evaporate which contributes to the batteries internal damage and slow death. These easy to follow steps are the advice of the non-profit car care council which, here at Yokem Toyota, we agree is the best course of action to prevent unnecessary car battery replacement.
1. Keep the top of the battery cleaned. Dirt and other fluid leaks can create battery power loss.
2. Make sure the electrical system is working correctly. Overcharging from a malfunctioning electrical system can cause overcharging which will put you on the fast track to a dead battery.
3. Your battery is the type that needs to be topped off? Make sure to check this often!
With these steps in mind during the heat of summer, you are sure to give your car battery’s life the best chance of being replaced!
An estimated 192,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the U.S.
We are getting other local businesses to come together to raise funds for breast cancer awareness. You'll see them across town August 15th for "Friday in Pink!" Danielle Voumard, executive director for Susan G. Domen for the Cure, Jessica Rodriguez, marketing director for Yokem Toyota & Jarred Hamilton, customer retention director for Yokem Toyota will be in Bellemead shopping center to help gather information and take donations. Don't forget to buy your shirts "CLICK HERE". Come find us by the all new Toyota Highlander. See you all there!
Properly adjusting your tire pressure ensures safer driving, better fuel efficiency and a more comfortable ride. As the seasons change, so does your pressure due to the fluctuating temperature. A 10 degree drop can cause your tire pressure to decrease 1-2 PSI (pounds per square inch). It is important to adjust your tire pressure, but first you must first find your manufacture’s recommend PSI.To find this information, check your owners manual or the sticker in your driver’s side door. Once you know your recommended PSI, you need to make sure you own a tire air pressure gauge. Your tire pressure should be no more or less than five PSI’s of the recommended pressure. When checking the pressure, your tires should be “cold”, meaning they have not been driven on for at least three hours. Now that you’ve checked your pressure, it’s time to head to an air pump. When filling the tires with the air hose, keep your gauge near so that you can check the pressure as you go, you do not want to over inflate! Over-inflation can cause you to lose traction or have a blow out. Under-inflation can hurt your vehicles fuel economy. It is recommended that you check your tire pressure weekly, especially with large temperature fluctuations. If your vehicle needs to be serviced, come into Yokem Toyota, we are happy to help!
