5 Ways to Save on Gas

We all want to save money. And when we’re out on the open road, a little thriftiness can go a long way. Gas can be a major expense, so it’s wise to maximize its efficiency in any small way you can.

The budget-conscious among us know how to alter their driving so that we can keep our money in the bank and out of the tank. Below, you will find our 5 secrets for saving on gas.

Our Top Five Ways to Save Money on Gas

1. Maintain Your Vehicle: When your vehicle’s running smoothly, it’s using gas efficiently, so keep you engine tuned, filters cleaned, and oil fresh. Monitor your tires, too. Properly inflated tires produce less friction, resulting in better mileage.
2. Turn Off the Air Conditioning: Parking in the shade and rolling down the windows are much easier on the gas tank.
3. Use the Cruise Control or a Manual Transmission: Using the cruise control can help you maintain speed consistently, which saves on gas. If you don’t have cruise control, try to maintain a consistent pace. If you drive a manual transmission, that’s even better! Stick shifts are more fuel efficient than automatics. If you’re hunting for a new car with high miles per gallon, this may be something to consider.
4. Choose Routes Wisely: Stop-and-go traffic wastes gas, so if you can choose between more than one route, choose the one with fewer stop signs and traffic lights.
5. Plan Ahead on Long Trips: If you are planning a trip across multiple states, do your research. Due to taxes and regulations, certain states have less expensive gas prices, so avoid fueling up in the pricier ones.

Potholes Plaguing Havertown and the Surrounding Area

As we’re sure you’ve noticed, local roads are looking more and more like obstacle courses lately thanks to the myriads of potholes. In some areas, the morning commute follows a zig-zagging pattern within each respective lane. Not only are the potholes inconvenient, but they’re also dangerous. Try your best to avoid them.

If you can’t completely avoid a pothole, drive through as slowly as possible. According to 6 ABC, PennDOT has been patching 60-70 highways every week in order to keep them at bay.

Potholes Can Cause Serious Damage

Even if you’re capable of changing your own tire, you should be aware that potholes can cause much more extensive damage. Other common damages include:

• Suspension damage
• Steering misalignment
• Bent or dented rims
• Exhaust system issues
• Engine damage

If you suspect your vehicle has sustained serious damage, bring it to a mechanic right away. Here at Direct Paint, we’re able to handle collision repair.

Tips to Avoid Skidding on the Ice

Now that it’s getting colder, you’re undoubtedly pulling out the gloves and ice scrapers to prepare for winter driving. If you haven’t, you should consider it. However, there is one thing that all of the shoveling and scraping can’t save you from — skidding on ice.

It would be nice if road salt worked 100% of the time, but that just isn’t the case. Icy roads are one of the biggest hazards of the winter season. While it’s not always easy to see the ice before it’s too late, there are a few precautions you can take to skip the skidding altogether. Here are a few tips from AAA:

• Avoid using cruise control in wet weather driving conditions
• Look farther ahead and pay particular attention to “hot spots”: bridges, culverts, on and off ramps and elevated highways. Be alert for “Black Ice.”
• Avoid unusual driving maneuvers that could induce a skid
• If you find yourself beginning to skid, ease up on the accelerator, keep a firm grip on the wheel, and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.

For more safety advice, be sure to check out our tips from our past post. Stay safe and warm!

Animal Strikes High in October and November

Deer mating season is officially upon us, and unfortunately, it’s also the worst time of your vehicle collisions with deer. According to State Farm’s annual report, PA drivers are more likely than drivers in all but one other state to hit a deer. It’s estimated that 1 in 71 PA drivers will hit a deer within the next year.

From now until December, deer will be more active than usual — especially at dusk and dawn. According to PennDOT, there were 3,696 reportable crashes last year involving deer or other animals, resulting in 11 fatalities. Follow the following tips from AAA to prevent an accident or reduce damage from a collision:

• Use high beams when there is no oncoming traffic.
• If you see a deer, look for others following close.
• Always wear a seat belt.
• Try your horn to scare away animals.
• Use your brakes in an imminent collision, don’t swerve.
• Never approach a wounded animal. Call 911.

Check out some PA driving statistics from 2013

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<a href=’https://directpaintandcollision.com/blog/pa-crash-data/’><img src=’https://directpaintandcollision.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/PA-Crashes-with-Roadside-Objects-e1409060395547.jpg’ alt=’PA Crashes with Roadside Objects’ width=’600px’ border=’0′ /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p><strong>Infographic by Direct Pain & Collision</strong></p><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p>
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Maintenance Tips for College Drivers

As parents, many of us get into the habit of catering to our college-age children while they are home. This might mean doing their laundry, cleaning their dishes, or even performing regular maintenance on their cars. While this is a very kind gesture, you need to make sure your son or daughter is capable of performing these maintenance tasks while they are on their own. According to AAA, the following are great tips for before classes start:

• Make sure they know how to check tire pressure, inflate tires, and identify any tire abnormalities that could signify something dangerous.
• Refresh on basic maintenance skills to keep the car running in the best condition and avoid high repair costs.
• Go over the owner’s manual with your college student. Show them where to find the maintenance schedule and discuss the importance of following that schedule.
• After you’ve toured all of the dorms and cafeterias, try and find a local repair shop with some good reviews. This way, both you and your child can rest assured that there is a trustworthy mechanic in the area if needed.
• Stock up the car with all of the emergency essentials. These include a snow shovel, windshield scraper, empty fuel container, jumper cables, flash light, road flares, as well as a first aid kit.

At the very least, following this advice will bring you peace of mind while your baby is away. For more information on how to prepare for cars at college, check out our previous post on common mistakes made by college students.

We Service a Variety of Manufacturers

In the wake of an accident, the most important thing to do is choose an auto body shop you trust.

A common misconception is that you can only use a body shop that your insurance recommends. This is not the case, the choice is yours. Click here to learn more.

Direct Paint is certified to repair a number of vehicle manufacturers, including Nissan. Click here to see the full list of auto makes we service.