How Road Rage Works

Ever wondered about the psychology behind road rage? Read on to find out more!

So what do you think of when you hear the term "road rage"? It's one of those catch phrases everyone has heard, and yet there is no common definition we can all use. Often, people use terms like "road rage" and "aggressive driving" interchangeably.

And while some might say that aggressive driving includes everything from cutting someone off on purpose to tailgating to making obscene gestures andcursing at other drivers, others might claim road rage refers only to incidents where violence erupts between drivers and passengers -- in or around cars. (There are just as many who might reverse those two definitions.) One thing is certain -- road rage is a dangerous phenomenon that can happen to any one of us, either as a perpetrator or a victim.­

Driving a car is stressful -- it's inherently dangerous because even if you're the safest driver in the world, there are a lot different variables that you can't predict, like weather, traffic, accidents, and road work. And what about all those other people on the road? Some of them aren't just bad drivers, they're engaging in risky behavior. Some of them even do things specifically to make you angry or prevent you from getting to where you need to go.

That's the thought progression someone might have just before switching into road-rage mode, leading a driver to make irrational decisions very quickly. All of a sudden, you might be thinking: They need to know that what they're doing is dangerous and stupid, and you should show them. In fact, you should punish them.

There's no denying that driving can be a risky and emotional experience. For many of us, our cars are an extension of our personality, and it might be the most expensive possession we own. When we drive, we're aware that there's potential for injury and property damage. Driving might be an expression of freedom for some, but it's also an activity that tends to increase our stress levels, even if we're not aware of it at the time. Driving is also a communal activity. You might think of driving in terms of your own individual experience. But once you pull into traffic, you've joined a community of other drivers, all of whom have their own goals, fears and driving skills. Psychologists Dr. Leon James and Dr. Diane Nahl say that one factor in road rage is our tendency to concentrate on ourselves while dismissing the communal aspect of driving. It's very easy to perceive another driver's actions in terms of how it affects us, which in turn makes it easy to transition into anger [source: James, Nahl]. Once an expert witness to Congress on traffic psychology, Dr. James, known as "Dr. Driving," believes that the core cause of road rage isn't due to traffic jams or more drivers on the road -- but how our culture views aggressive driving [source: Dr. Driving.org].

In our culture, children learn that the normal rules regarding behavior and civility don't apply when driving a car. They may see their parents engage in competitive-driving behaviors, maneuvering the car with multiple lane changes or traveling at high speeds in a rush to get to a destination. Some popular films and television shows portray aggressive driving as a positive, or at the very least, an exciting activity. To complicate matters, for years pop psychologists suggested that the best way to relieve anger and stress was to vent your frustration, essentially giving into and feeding your negative emotions. However, psychological studies show that venting doesn't help relieve anger at all. In a road rage situation, venting can help escalate an incident into a violent encounter. Americans also tend to view a person who backs away from confrontation as a coward, creating a sense of pressure on a driver to not give up any ground even when no one is judging him. With that in mind, it's no surprise that violent encounters happen occasionally. Almost everyone is predisposed to engaging in irrational behavior while driving -- Dr. James even goes so far as to say that most people are emotionally impaired when they drive [source: James]. The key, psychologists say, is being aware of your emotional state and making the right choices, even when you are tempted to act out emotionally.

Read more: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/accidents-hazardous-conditions/road-rage1.htm

Check out the Tymeless Hearts Holiday Bazaar November 19th

Come get some great deals on gifts for Christmas! Come see Santa Clause and get your picture made! Baked goods just in time for Thanksgiving! Let your child enjoy making crafts for their gifts! Win a prize while you have fun shopping! Support heart families through Tymeless Hearts, Inc. a 501c3 non profit organization! MSU’s Curris Center 1st Floor Stables,10am - 6pm. For more information call or text 270-293-9536.

Information courtesy of: http://mymurray.com/events/index.htm

Christmas in the Country Bazaar November 5th.

Christmas in the Country Bazaar will be November 5th from 8 am to 11 am in the Stella Community on Hwy 121 N.  Cakes, Cookies, Pies, Candies, Breads, Jams, Jellies, Preserves, Relishes and Attic Treasures will be sold. Be sure to stay for the sausage and country ham biscuits that will be served!

Extended Roadside Assistance On 2012 Camry’s!

Great news for those looking to purchase a 2012 Camry!

The Toyota Camry has been America's best-selling car 13 of the last 14 years, including the last nine years running. To thank its loyal owners for this remarkable achievement, Toyota is now offering for a limited time only a special perk to customers who purchase or lease the all new 2012 Camry: 5 years of 24-hour roadside assistance.

This offer builds on the two years of roadside assistance that comes standard on all eligible new Toyota vehicles as part of the Toyota Care complimentary maintenance plan. As such, the benefits of the coverage are the same including:

• Battery jump starts - A service provider will assist with vehicle jump starts as necessary.

• Tire service - A service provider will come to the vehicle location and replace the tire with the customer's inflated spare.

• Lockout protection - A service provider will come to the vehicle location to unlock doors or assist if the key is lost or broken.

• Towing - A service provider will tow the vehicle to the closest Toyota dealership (or to the closest Toyota dealership of the customer's choice if it is within 25 miles of the vehicle's location.)

These services will be provided for five years from the date of purchase, but only on 2012 Camrys delivered by January 3, 2012. Also, this offer does not apply to 2012 Camrys that are part of a rental or
commercial fleet, or a livery or taxi vehicle. Customers who purchase a 2012 Camry while this promotion is applicable will receive a special version of the Toyota Care Welcome Kit that spells out the details
of this additional coverage. The re-invented 2012 Camry offers a sophisticated new design with a new level of interior refinement, roominess and comfort. In addition to our standard QDR, the 7th-generation Camry features class-leading safety features, driving dynamics, fuel economy and multi-media technology. Now, and for a limited time only, it can boast of one more advantage: further bolstering Toyota customers' peace of mind five years down the road!

Read more: http://www.toyota.com/camry/features.html

A Century of Chevy, From Cheap Date to America’s Sweetheart

How well do you know Chevy?

Its Impalas dropped us off at school. Its pickup trucks hauled our produce on the farm. Its Corvette sustained our sports car fantasies through the boredom of high school algebra class. Earlier than almost any other automotive brand, Chevy created a palette of vehicles that ranged from the small and thrifty to the sleek and sporty to the large and smartly trimmed.
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Once the model line expanded beyond the limited body selections of its first half-century, there was a Chevy for almost everyone. The brand’s broad appeal resulted in a place atop the sales charts starting in the 1930s and continuing nearly uncontested for decades. By the mid-1960s Chevrolet sold nearly three million cars and light-duty trucks a year.
But there’s more to the story than commercial success. Although it occupied the first rung of Alfred P. Sloan’s General Motors hierarchy, a ladder on which customers would move up to more expensive brands as they gained affluence, Chevy developed a following of fans whose devotion lasted a lifetime. After decades of decline, Chevrolet has lately had a resurgence with its Cruze and Malibu sedans, the reinvented Camaro and the Volt, the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid.
The full Chevrolet story has filled volumes. Here are some highlights of the 100-year journey.
EARLY DAYS
IN a fateful twist of Chevrolet history, the man who lent his name to the automaker is largely forgotten.
Louis Chevrolet was the Mario Andretti of his day. He barnstormed the country, consistently beating the likes of Barney Oldfield. He escaped horrible crashes that claimed the lives of lesser and unluckier drivers, and won the admiration of those considering the purchase of a  newfangled horseless carriage.
The Swiss-born Chevrolet was flamboyant, swashbuckling, outspoken and charismatic. He had a bushy mustache, a foppish grin and he chain-smoked smelly yellow French cigarettes.
In 1909, Chevrolet was hired to drive for the Buick racing team. Of course, the entrepreneurial William C. Durant, who founded General Motors, wanted to find a way to leverage Chevrolet’s name to his advantage. At first it was enough that the driver’s prowess  in racing Buicks to victory helped to put that company on its way to sales success.
But Durant, who lost control of G.M. in 1910 after a failed bid to buy Ford, saw a bigger opportunity for Louis Chevrolet than merely selling Buicks. So after acquiring the Little automobile company, Durant sought out the race driver to start yet another auto brand. Louis agreed, and on Nov. 3, 1911, Chevrolet’s formation was announced; Louis designed and engineered the large, powerful 6-cylinder automobile that bore his name.
“It was a marvelous machine — the Model C, as it was called,” said Jay Leno, a collector and admirer of Chevrolets. “It was one of the finest and fastest automobiles of the day. It just didn’t sell well. It was too expensive.”
Pressured by Durant to come up with a lower-price automobile to compete with the Ford Model T, Louis said he did not want his name associated with a cheaper car. By 1914, Louis offered to sell his stock in the company, and Durant readily agreed.
After Louis moved on, Durant began rebadging the smaller, inexpensive Littles as Chevrolets, and they found willling buyers. By 1916, Chevrolet had generated enough profits for Durant to buy back control of G.M., into which he merged Chevrolet.
With the 1918 introduction of the Model D, powered by an 8-cylinder engine, Chevrolet sought to further increase its sales and market share and challenge Ford. But the low-cost 4-cylinder models continued as the big sellers. In 1927, when Ford’s River Rouge plant was shut for a time, Chevrolet briefly took the industry’s sales lead.
For its 1929 models, Chevrolet made a huge gamble. While other carmakers were promoting the use of lightweight aluminum, 8-cylinder motors and the advantage of large displacement, Chevrolet seemingly backtracked, introducing a cast-iron 6-cylinder. As the economy slumped, the engine’s once-derisive nickname — the Stovebolt Six — was transformed into a selling point: “A Six for the Price of a Four.”
And what of Louis Chevrolet? He went on to form two more automobile companies, Cornelian and Frontenac, which made the car in which his brother Gaston won the 1920 Indianapolis 500. After Gaston died in a racing accident, Louis left the auto industry and began designing aircraft engines with his brother Arthur; his “Chevrolair 333” and a brief association with an aviation pioneer, Glenn L. Martin, formed the basis for Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin).
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But Chevrolet, despite his engineering and mechanical genius, never lasted long in any partnership. He died in Detroit, virtually penniless and largely unremembered, on June 6, 1941. He was 62.
— JERRY GARRETT
POPULAR CULTURE
AMERICANS who grew up alongside the Honda Accord or the Hyundai Elantra may not fully appreciate the chromed grip Chevrolet had on popular culture in an age when American wheels ruled the road.
In the 1950s, if you tuned in “The Dinah Shore Chevy Show” on your Magnavox console TV, you heard the host belting out “See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet.” Starting in 1960, on CBS, George Maharis and Martin Milner roamed “Route 66” in a new Corvette, looking for adventure, lending a hand to strangers in need and creating a desirable career goal — having a cool car, but no permanent job or home address — for countless young viewers.
Later in the decade, Chevrolet was a primary sponsor of several of the most popular comedies and dramas on television. Samantha, on “Bewitched,” parked her broom to cruise in a Chevelle. The Cartwrights of “Bonanza” rode horses on the Ponderosa, but during commercial breaks they rounded up Impalas and Chevy IIs.
On the radio, Chevys crowded out the Hot Rod Lincolns and Pink Cadillacs. By 2003, G.M. claimed that some 200 songs had already featured or mentioned Chevrolets. A sign in Detroit boasted, “They don’t write songs about Volvos.”
“Nothing can touch my 409,” the Beach Boys bragged. In the days of surfer rock and street racing, the engine was so famous there was no need to identify the car. Don McLean drove his Chevy to the levee in “American Pie,” and Prince had a thing for a little red Corvette. Bob Seger, whose “Like a Rock” became the Chevy Trucks theme, practiced his night moves “in the back seat of my ’60 Chevy.”
At the movies, the sexiest Chevy, the Corvette, co-starred with hunks like Elvis Presley (“Clambake,” 1967) and Mark Hamill (“Corvette Summer,” 1978). In “Terms of Endearment” (1983), the washed-up astronaut played by Jack Nicholson memorably drove a Corvette with his feet — into the ocean. That same year, in “The Right Stuff,” another space hero said that getting a ’Vette was one of best things about being an astronaut. — JAMES G. COBB
DESIGN
“AN infamous rear end” was Alfred P. Sloan Jr.’s complaint about Chevrolets of the early 1920’s, and when he gained power at General Motors he had the problem fixed. Sloan, who oversaw G.M.’s growth into one of the world’s largest corporations, saw Chevrolet as a way to challenge Henry Ford’s dominant Model T: for just a little more money, Chevy would give  you much more car, along with a bit of style.
By the late ’20s, Chevys wore bright shades of Duco lacquer, a colorful contrast to black-only Fords. And Harley Earl’s styling studios were turning out flourishes that appeared first on Cadillacs, then on Buicks and Oldsmobiles, and, eventually, on Chevrolets, trickling down Sloan’s “ladder of brands” along with engineering innovations.
By 1936, G.M. was able to boast that all of its cars had full stamped-steel bodies — even Chevrolet. Styling changes became frequent and rapid-fire, manufacturing customer discontent by rendering last year’s cars instantly obsolete.
The succession of 1955, ’56 and ’57 Chevrolets — three notably different twists on the same basic car — may be the quintessential example of Detroit’s annual model changes.
The tailfins that first appeared on late 1940s Cadillacs and reached unimagined heights through the ’50s, arrived on the 1955 Chevrolet in muted form. But these were different: less extreme than Cadillac’s, yet more jaunty — like the sails of a fast racing sloop beside a full-rigged clipper.

Read the rest of the article (including the history of Chevy’s marketing, racing and technology) athttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/automobiles/chevrolet-unlikely-cornerstone-for-gm.html

Your Pet Passenger

 

 

Keep your pet safe while driving, not only for your animal’s health and well-being, but for your wallet’s sake as well!

States Cracking Down On Dogs Behind The Wheel

If it's any indication of the danger free-roaming pets face in a vehicle, New Hampshire, the country's only state that does not have a mandatory seat belt law, actually requires dogs to buckle up.

Live free or die, goes the state's motto, but Spike and Spot don't have that liberty. And with due reason. Seven other states, Connecticut, California, Massachusetts, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and Rhode Island require owners to kennel or tether animals because of the severe danger the sudden stops and potential collisions pose to pets. An unrestrained dog can land you with a ticket between $50 and $200.

Animal lovers would almost always rather take their pet with them to run errands or on a road trip than leave them at home or at a pet motel. But for all that love for canines, most drivers have seen "dog people" take things too far, driving with their dogs in their laps or lying around their shoulders like a neck pillow and, yes, sometimes at the wheel.
And it's a double dose of danger: for the distracted driver and the unrestrained animal.

Find out more here: http://autos.aol.com/photos/driving-doggie-style-the-best-vehicles-for-pets/

Breast Cancer Awareness Event Friday At The Murray Room

On Friday, October 21 at 11:00 is the Breast Cancer Awareness Event at The Murray Room (located inside the CFSB Center).  Enjoy a lunch, giveaways, door prizes as well as “Inspirational time” with Mary Beth Hall, author of Lessons From A Bald Chick.

Mary Beth will share her experience with cancer and how learning to laugh at yourself while facing serious treatments and decisions can often be one of the best lessons learned. Find out how to be there for a friend battling cancer and learn ways to hurt yourself through the horribleness of it all and land on your feet. Her story and lessons taught will give you the knowledge to face your giants if cancer affects you or someone you love.

Call 270-762-1831 or 270-762-1382 by October 19th for reservations.

Visit http://myemail.constantcontact.com/What-s-Happening-This-Week-October-17th.html?soid=1011039789858&aid=4fuNmOsNbaw for more information

Chevy Volt Update: Drivers Top 1 Million All-Electric Miles

Great news for Chevy Volt owners.

As demand for the groundbreaking Chevrolet Volt continues to grow, so does the number of owners who are letting Chevy know just how far they can go on a gallon of gas—or no gas at all. In fact, just part way through this summer, Volt owners had already covered more than 1.2 million miles on electricity alone.

They include Kory Levoy, a manufacturing manager from Yorba Linda, Calif., who had been spending $50-$60 every week putting gasoline in his Audi TT roadster. But since buying his new Volt, he has covered 7,500 miles and had to fill up the tank just three times. Today, Levoy—like many other Volt drivers—is averaging 40 miles of driving range on a single charge, allowing him to cover his 25-mile round-trip commute entirely on electricity.

“I was tired of spending roughly $200 plus a month on gas,” said Levoy. “The ability to not even consider finding a gas station or worry about fuel pricing is a phenomenal experience.”

Big-time fuel savings are part of the package for Volt owner Carey Bailer, too. An electrical engineer in Cottage Grove, Ore., Bailey has a 75-mile daily commute that used to cost him about $500 a month in gasoline. Now, driving his new Volt, Bailey has sliced that to just $100 per month—and he expects his fuel costs to come down even further.

“Each day, I use about a quarter of a gallon of gas to get to work, which is hardly anything,” Bailey said . “Being able to charge at work is an added benefit, and I love the fact that I am reducing my carbon footprint by not consuming as much gas.”

And more drivers than ever will soon be able to enjoy those same benefits for themselves: The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is available for ordering right now—in all 50 states across the country.

Read more: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/chevy-volt-update-drivers-top-1-million-all-electric-miles/#more-2043

Toyota Plug-in Hybrid vs. Chevrolet Volt

Best combination of plug-in and hybrid technologies AND costing $8,000 less than the Chevy Volt? That would be the Toyota Plug-in Hybrid Prius. Read on for more!

The Toyota Plug-in Hyrbrid Prius just announced by the company will be the first alternative to pure gasoline combustion automotive engines that provides the best of plug-in and hybrid combined in one.

Sure, the Chevrolet Volt is more plug-in than hybrid, and Nissan's Leaf is all plug-in, with zero emissions, but the new Prius will offer the best combination of both technologies -- and it will cost some $8,000 less than the Volt.

The newest version of the Prius, announced late last week from Toyota, will get more fuel efficiency, and longer electric range, while selling at a lower price that competitive pure electric or range-extender vehicles including the Volt and the Leaf. In hybrid mode, the car is estimated to get 49 miles per gallon -- near the same as current Prius models.

Thus, the biggest difference is the extended electric range allowed via plug-in.

Two models will be available, including the Plug-in Hybrid base model for $32,000 MSRP and the Plug-in Hybrid Advanced, with premium features, for $39,525 MSRP. Both models are expected to qualify for the $2,500 federal tax credit.

Initially, Toyota's new hybrid will only be available in 14 states, beginning in October. Those states include: California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. The company will have a national roll out of the new Prius Plug-in hybrid in 2013, the company said.

Toyota's new car promises to become a competitive handful for Chevy's Volt, costing less and effectively mixing both hybrid and plug-in. The Volt, which gets good reviews, runs father on electric power -- some 25 miles or more. And that's one major advantage for the Volt.

But even though the Plug-in Hybrid Prius will only run about 15 miles on just electricity, the electric engine can be charged in three hours while the Volt requires 10 to 12 hours of charging when a standard home connection is used.

Another advantage for Prius is that the car was the first mass produced hybrid to find success in the U.S. -- and the brand already has a long, successful customer following considering Toyota invested almost $1 billion to develop and launch the Prius in the 1990s while U.S. automakers focused on gas-guzzling SUVs.

Nissan is trying to establish its all-electric Leaf in the same way -- leaving out the hybrid while attempting to leapfrog straight to pure plug-in. And while reviews and sales of the Leaf have been good, the fact that the car does not use hybrid technology leaves it out of the competitive race now on between Toyota's Plug-in Hybrid Prius and the Chevrolet Volt.

GM has a lot invested in the Volt, but with a lower price, an established brand and Toyota's leading hybrid technology -- the Plug-in Prius will give the Volt a big run for its money.

Read more: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/216185/20110919/toyota-plug-in-hybrid-chevrolet-volt-nissan-leaf.htm

GM Creates The First Front Center Air Bag

Great news for anyone looking for more safety features.

General Motors has just announced its latest safety innovation — the industry’s first front center air bag. This inflatable restraint is designed to protect passengers in the event of a far-side impact.

Available on the 2013 Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Chevrolet Traverse crossovers, the airbag will deploy to the right of the driver’s side and provide restraint during passenger-side crashes when the driver is the only front occupant. This airbag will also act as an energy absorbing cushion between driver and front passenger in both driver- and passenger-side crashes.

“The front center air bag is not required by federal regulation, and no other air bag in passenger vehicles today offers the type of restraint and cushioning this air bag is designed to provide for front occupants,” said Scott Thomas, senior staff engineer in GM’s advanced restraint systems.

This type of airbag has been underdevelopment for three years and employed the help of GM’s technology supplier Takata. The restraint has been designed to work in a variety of crashes and occupant positions, and it’s also useful for a range of occupant sizes.

“While no restraint technology can address all body regions or all potential injuries, the front center air bag is designed to work with the other air bags and safety belts in the vehicles to collectively deliver an even more comprehensive occupant restraint system,” said Gay Kent, GM executive director of Vehicle Safety and Crashworthiness. “This technology is a further demonstration of GM’s above-and-beyond commitment to provide continuous occupant protection before, during and after a crash.”

Read more: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/gm-creates-the-first-front-center-air-bag/#more-2030

The Cars Thieves Hate Most!

How safe is your vehicle from theft?  Find out which cars thieves hate tangling with the most:

Having seen how car thieves have a special attraction for the Cadillac Escalade, what cars do they hate the most?

Interestingly, it's a mix of cars and midsize SUVs, such as the Chevrolet Equinox, the Highway Loss Data Institute reports. It may not be because it isn't cool to be cruising around in an Audi A6 or an Equinox. Rather, it may be because these vehicles have really good anti-theft mechanisms.

It's clearly not because these vehicles are undesirable. Looking over the list, they are all fairly popular, even if some are niche vehicles.

Read the full list here.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Is One Smooth Ride

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is one smooth ride.

Thanks to painstaking measures employed by GM engineers, the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu sedan is expected to have the best ride and handling in its segment when it’s launched next year.

The Malibu will ride on an award-winning global architecture that’s been tweaked for European-style precision with comfort tailored to North America’s diverse range of driving conditions.

“Our development team has been everywhere with the new Malibu, tuning the ride on rural back roads, suburban boulevards, urban freeways and just about every other type of road imaginable,” said Mark Moussa, global chief engineer. “The result is the most finely tuned Chevrolet mid-size sedan ever, with controlled dynamics in all driving conditions.”

Aside from finely tuning the Malibu’s platform, engineers also incorporated a number of elements to enhance the sedan’s driving dynamics even further including:

• A solid body structure as stiff as any in the global mid-size sedan market
• Proven and refined MacPherson strut front and four-link rear suspensions
• Hydraulic ride bushings and isolated lower A-arms
• A premium, ZF rack-mounted electric power steering gear
• Chassis control technologies include StabiliTrak electronic stability control, with full-function traction control, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist system, corner brake control, and hydraulic brake assist

Powering the Malibu is a potent but fuel-efficient Ecotec 2.5-liter engine with direct injection, ensuring the vehicle has the power to match its responsive handling. The Malibu will also be available with GM’s advanced eAssist light-electrification technology, which saves fuel without compromising drive performance. With this system, the Malibu will be able to get 38 miles per gallon on the highway.

“Whatever the surface, you feel connected to the road in the new Malibu, while also being comfortably isolated from the imperfections and noise of the road,” said Moussa. “The feel behind the wheel is like that of premium sedans that cost thousands more, with a great feeling of control at highway speeds and excellent maneuverability at low speeds.”

Past And Present Owners Of Toyota Camry Are Invited To Share Their Stories

Camry owners! Share your personal “Camry Effect.”

Toyota recently launched the “Camry Effect,” an initiative to connect the nearly seven million Camry drivers in the United States through an interactive, online experience. For 30 years, Camry has been a part of many American’s best memories—first dates, road trips, soccer games, job interviews and college days. The Camry Effect provides these Camry owners a platform where they can share these moments, memories and milestones while witnessing their collective impact.

To celebrate America’s best-selling car for nine years running and usher in the all-new, seventh-generation Camry, Toyota wants to hear more about how the car has woven itself into the fabric of American culture. Past and present owners are invited to share their stories at http://www.toyota.com/camryeffect. Once at the site, they can generate a unique Camry Effect based on responses to a series of smart and intuitive, rapid-fire questions. The resulting “Effect” chronicles each owner’s experience with his or her car and showcases dynamic statistics taken from the collective Camry experiences. Fully social, the site connects loyal Camry enthusiasts and allows them to invite friends, tweet their Effect or post their progress on Facebook.

“There are millions of Camry owners out there, but each has a unique and important story to tell. The Camry Effect connects these owners and helps them learn a little more about their individual stories—from favorite part of a road trip to Camry models passed down through generations,” said Kimberley Gardiner, National Digital Marketing & Social Media Manager for Toyota. “The site personalizes the experience of driving a Camry in a fun, engaging way.”

As each Effect grows and becomes more personal, visitors can see the true power in numbers behind the Camry Effect and gain a better understanding of how one car connects millions of people. The site also gives visitors a glimpse into the future of Camry, with details and images of the all-new 2012 model, along with shout-outs and video clips from surprise guests. An experience that continues to evolve with each new Camry moment detailed, this initiative is a fresh way to tell a 30-year heritage story through the people who have lived it.

Read more: http://pressroom.toyota.com/releases/toyota+owners+camry+effect.htm

How are cars becoming more user-friendly?

Are we approaching an era of self-driving cars?

“Fred Flintstone had a car that he had to power with his own feet; by that standard, all of today's cars are pretty easy to use. But cars are becoming even more user-friendly -- so user-friendly, in fact, that they may not even require a user at all. That's because much of the new car technology involves taking over the role of the driver.

For instance, no longer does a driver need to mind the blind spots, as certain cars come with detection systems that will alert the operator to obstacles in other lanes. If a driver should start to drowse off and drift into another lane, the steering wheel will shake or a voice will alert the driver to what's happening. Gone are the days of manually changing the cruise control speed when the car in front of you slows down -- now, adaptive cruise control uses radar to track the speed of that car and adjust the speed on its own. And since cars with adaptive cruise control can sense just how much space separates them from other cars, they can go into panic mode when cars ahead start hitting their brakes.

But you needn't fear a world of self-driving cars just yet. According to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive, drivers want features that improve safety, but they're not ready to turn over complete control of the road to a machine just yet [source: Adams]. In other words, while drivers may like alerts about a car in their blind spots, they want to be the ones that adjust their cars to account for it. And the same survey found that drivers are willing to keep their eyes on the road despite the goodies that new cars are offering; fancy features like WiFi or temperature-controlled cupholders are at the bottom of drivers' wish lists, perhaps indicating that drivers know they need to focus on driving, not on checking the latest sports scores online.

While today's drivers may be wary of cars that do too much for them, that doesn't mean they don't appreciate a little help and convenience. Keyless ignition systems save drivers the hassle of looking for their keys, new fuel tank caps that don't require a lot of turning can save time at the gas station, and self-repairing paint, which covers a scratch as soon as it occurs, eliminates the ordeal and expense of the body shop.”

Read more: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/trends-innovations/cars-more-user-friendly.htm

Ask A Tech At Toyota of Murray/Dwain Taylor Chevrolet

 

Did you know that you can contact our technicians  through this form http://www.toyotaofmurray.com/page/askatech/master/secondary/ for Toyota and for Chevrolet http://dwaintaylorchevrolet.com/page/askatech/master/secondary/ and ask a question about your vehicle? Of course you can always give us a call at 800-884-6535 for Toyota and 800- 835-4142 for Chevrolet. We look forward to hearing from you!

GM Uses Stereo Headphone Technology To Help Fuel Economy

GM uses stereo headphone technology to help fuel economy.

The 2011 Chevy Equinox gets 32 miles per gallon on the highway, four mpg better than segment competitors like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape – all rated at 28 mpg. It achieves this rating by enabling the crossover’s engine to run at a lower RPM. However, this posed a new challenge for noise and vibration engineers.

“There’s a boom, or very low frequency rumble that comes from the engine when it runs in that RPM range,” said Noise and Vibration Development Engineer Jim Vallance. “We knew if we could deaden those booms, we could run the engine at the lower RPM, which would provide a significant boost to fuel economy. So we started kicking around ideas and came up with noise cancellation like you see in some high-end stereo headphones.”

Vallance and his colleagues at GM’s Milford Proving Ground came up with a solution — an Active Noise Cancellation module. This module detects when the engine is running in the 1,000 – 1,500 RPM range and immediately creates a sound-killing countermeasure through the vehicle speakers, essentially eliminating the unwanted sound.

“We take a proactive approach and target only the unwanted sound in the vehicle, which in this case is linked with the engine firing frequency. Then we eliminate it,” said Vallance.

GM’s innovative Active Noise Cancellation system is standard on the Equinox when equipped with a four-cylinder engine.

Read more: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/chevy-equinox-employs-sound-strategy-for-more-mpg/#more-1975

The 2012 FJ Cruiser Gets Upgraded

The 2012 FJ Cruiser gets an upgrade.

For 2012, the FJ Cruiser gets a trail-oriented Trail Teams Special Edition Package incorporates a standard Off-Road Package, along with a new Radiant Red color. Roof-mounted off-road lights with an air dam improve long-range visibility and enhance visual appeal. Capability is assured with a cyclone pre-air cleaner that’s effective at trapping sand and dirt that may be kicked up during off-road endeavors. The package beefs up chassis performance with trail-tuned Bilstein shock absorbers; rear differential lock and the active traction control (A-TRAC) system; engine, fuel tank and transfer cases; skid plates; rock rails; plus Toyota Racing Development (TRD) alloy wheels and BFG All-Terrain tires with wheel locks.

On pavement or off, the 2012 FJ Cruiser offers fully civilized audio and connectivity features. The standard audio system includes an AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability, six speakers, XM Radio, auxiliary audio jack, USB port with iPod connectivity, plus hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth wireless technology.

Powering the FJ Cruiser is a 4.0-liter V6 engine that produces 260 horsepower and 271 lb.-ft. of peak torque. Not only is it ideal for devouring challenging terrain, but the engine can also pull a trailer up to 5,000 pounds.

As with any Toyota model, the FJ Crusier comes standard with the automaker’s STAR Safety System, which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology, Toyota’s brake override system. There are even roll-sensing side curtain airbags which can detect a potential rollover and signal the VSC system to help reduce a lateral skid.

The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser offers a unique package for outdoor enthusiasts. And, since Toyota dealers offer a catalog of available accessories for the FJ, rest assured that you can tailor it to your specific needs and lifestyle as well. The 2012 FJ Cruiser is on sale now.

Read more: http://www.toyotainthenews.com/toyota-fj-cruiser-balances-ruggedness-with-modern-style/#more-2007

Is texting while driving really worse than drunk driving?

Is texting while driving really worse than drunk driving? That’s the question that  Christopher Neiger from “How Stuff Works” asked. Read more to find out his conclusion. 

Texting, or short message service(SMS), is a quick form of communication that allows users to send 160 characters or less to and from their cell phones and smartphones. A study by the Pew Research group in 2009 and 2010 reported that out of the number of Americans who have cell phones, 58 percent of adults and 66 percent of teens use them to text [source:Motavalli]. With these high percentages of Americans using text messaging every year, many are bringing the habit along with them when they drive. The same Pew study showed that 34 percent of teens who use their phone for texting said they've done it while driving, and 47 percent of adults who texted said they had done it while driving, too [source: Motavalli].

In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that almost 6,000 fatalities and over half of a million injuries were due to accidents caused by drivers who were distracted [source: Motavalli]. The study wasn't focused on texting, but it does show the seriousness of driving while distracted. Like many other driving distractions, texting involves a certain amount of mental attention as well as physical application which may be why 28 states have banned drivers from texting while operating a vehicle [source: Motavalli].

But is there really proof that texting while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving? Even though research is just now being done to measure the effects of texting while driving, some in the automotive industry and others in research circles say that texting is definitely more dangerous than drunk driving. Mainly because taking a driver's eyes off the road significantly cuts down on his or her ability to react to changes.

In 2009, Car and Driver conducted a driving test with their editor-in-chief and an intern to prove or disprove that texting while driving was more dangerous than drunk driving. The first step of their experiment was to test and measure the reaction times of both drivers while driving sober with no distractions, and then while reading and sending text messages on their cell phones. A light mounted to the front windshield simulated a car braking in front of them [source:Austin].

As they read and sent text messages, their response time was measured based on the time it took between when the brake light came on and when the driver applied the brakes at both 35 miles per hour (56.3 kilometers per hour) and at 70 miles per hour (112.7 kilometers per hour) [source: Chang]. Both drivers had a longer response time while reading and sending the text messages when compared to driving without any distractions. After the initial test, both drivers then consumed alcohol and reached the legal driving limit for intoxication in their state. After running the same test again while driving drunk, response times for both drivers were better when the driver was drunk, compared to when they were reading or sending text messages while sober. Car and Driver writers mentioned that the test was performed on a closed airport runway, with no road signs and no turns. Although this test was performed on a closed course, slow response times due to texting could result in serious consequences in real-world driving situations.

Another test conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory in London took it a step further. It found that drivers who texted had slower response times, were more likely to drift in and out of lanes and even drove worse than those who were driving while high on marijuana [source: Nugent]. The study found that reaction times for those who texted while driving were 35 percent worse than when they drove without any distractions at all. When driving while intoxicated, the reaction time was only 12 percent worse than when the driver was sober and driving without any texting distractions [source: Nugent]. The researchers also found that there was a significant decrease in ability to maintain a safe driving distance between vehicles while texting and steering control dropped by 91 percent compared to driving without distraction [source: Nugent]. One of the study's commissioners eventually concluded that texting while driving is one of the most dangerous things a driver could do while behind the wheel of a car.

Read the full article: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/texting-while-driving-worse-than-drunk-driving.htm

2012 Toyota Tacoma Gets Updated

The 2012 Toyota Tacoma gets updated.

The 2012 Tacoma’s front-end refresh includes a new lower bumper and restyled headlamps. Two hooks are also now included as standard equipment. Under the hood, the Tacoma is available with the same 159-horsepower 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine and 236-hp 4.0-liter V6 as the 2011 model.

For 2012, The TRD Sport Package includes turn signals integrated into the side mirrors as well as chrome five-spoke 18-inch wheels. Inside, HVAC controls and the center stack have been revised and upgraded audio options for all 2012 Tacoma models. Waterproof fabric and all-weather flooring are among the bevy of available options.

As with other new Toyota models, like the 2012 Camry, the updated Tacoma pickup will also be available with the automaker’s Entune infotainment system, which features Bing and Pandora, as well as real-time info including traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports and stocks. There will be a range of free apps available in the spring of next year, including iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com and OpenTable.

  

Read more: http://www.toyotainthenews.com/2012-toyota-tacoma-pickup/#more-1988

What cars have the lowest cost of ownership?

What cars have the lowest cost of ownership? Read on to find out!

There's more to the cost of owning a car than just paying the sticker price; in fact, the car with the lower sticker price might just turn out to be more expensive over the long haul. In other words, you might have the cash to buy a car, but not the income to afford to own it. That's the difference between price and total cost of ownership (TCO).

The total cost of ownership (over five years) includes six factors:

• Depreciation accounts for 46 percent of TCO (the average model depreciates 65 percent).
• Fuel costs mount up quickly -- especially for SUVs -- constituting 26 percent.
• Interest varies according to vehicle price, but in a typical case (a five-year loan, 15 percent down, 6.4 percent interest), it accounts for 12 percent of TCO.
• Insurance costs vary according to age, location, driving record, vehicle make and model but on average account for 11 percent.
• Maintenance and repair constitute 4 percent of TCO on average.
• Sales tax costs owners about as much as maintenance and repair, assuming the national average of 4.9 percent.

So which cars have the lowest cost of ownership? It's a complicated question and your circumstances may vary (especially if you include used cars in the mix), but here are some good candidates among 2010 vehicles. The list also indicates the award-winners in their categories for 2010:

Nissan Versa (also best compact car), Toyota Yaris (also best subcompact car), Hyundai Accent, Honda Civic, Scion xD (also best compact wagon), Honda Fit, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius
(also best mid-sized car), Nissan Cube, Chevrolet Aveo5

Read more: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/cost-of-car-ownership/what-cars-have-lowest-cost-of-ownership.htm