Do I Need to Tint My Windows?
Window tinting has been a long-standing practice for those that live in hotter climates or highly populated areas. Tinting provides protection from the sun for a car's interior and its occupants while adding a level of privacy for passengers. If you live in a climate that can damage your car, or live in an area with a lot of people, window tinting is often the right choice.
The History
Cruise control was invented by a blind man named Ralph Teeter, who could hear the different speeds of the cars around him as he rode in the car. He felt like these varying speeds helped cause traffic accidents and wanted a system of speed control drivers could utilize for safer speeds. Teeter worked on it for about a decade before cruise control was released in the 50s.
Laptop mounts can help provide a safer driving environment for cars, trucks, vans, and RVs. They come with "no-drill" options and multiple mounting solutions. They help provide support for the back by putting the laptop at a more comfortable height, and they are relatively inexpensive. All of this is wonderful, but why do people need them when they should be focusing on the road?
Mobile Offices
At some point in time, those that have to use a laptop for work have had to pull over to check or verify information they have stored on their laptop. While inconvenient, it doesn't represent a norm in driving, unless you have a mobile office.
What is Legal Window Tinting?
The laws that regulate window tinting vary from state to state but all states seek to control the amount of light transmittance that a tint has. Light transmittance is the amount of light, or visibility, that a tint allows through and each state determines what that transmittance number is. For example, California state laws have no light transmittance requirements for back and side windows but the front windshield has to have at least a 70% LTV%, or light transmittance value percentage. On the other hand, Kansas has a law that requires front, side and back windows/windshields to have no less than a 35% TLV. Other states, such as New Jersey and Vermont don't allow tinting on the front windshield at all. The only way to be sure of compliance is to check with your local DMV.
Accessorizing a new car or truck can be extremely fun. However, some of your accessories can provide a more comfortable and much safer ride for all involved. Here are two accessories that can give you a better riding experience for prices that don't break your wallet.
Car audio systems consist of several components and it takes all of these components to create a quality sound for playlists, podcasts, and favorite radio stations. But, what does it take to create that quality sound and how much does that quality cost? No fear. Find answers on quality components and the professionals that can help you price them.
Fast Facts About Backup Cameras
While studies are somewhat limited concerning the safety factor backup cameras can provide, statistics show some promising data.
Backup cameras benefit drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, as well as drivers of other cars:
- Reduced collisions by 30%
- Fatalities caused by reversing automobiles dropped by 40%
- Injuries due to cars backing up dropped by 46%
- A reduction of 22.2% occurred in bodily injury for persons involved with wrecks in cars with backup cameras.
- A more than 40% reduction in backover crashes that involved children was reported.
Fast Facts About Car Theft
- The Department of Justice reports that auto theft occurs every 27 seconds.
- Auto theft costs car owners around $7.8 billion a years in insurance premiums, new car replacements, auto repair, and other related expenses.
- In some parts of the country, as many as 240 cars (or more) can be stolen in a single day.
Sound systems are an incredibly popular way to modify a car. Whether you enjoy taking long road trips or are just trying to liven up your morning commute, a sound system can make driving more fun. Regardless, there are some laws you might have to follow to make sure your car is legally acceptable.
Before the winter weather kicks into high gear, car owners might want to do a little extra work to make sure their cars are comfortable. Many people believe that a car has to come with heated seats -- but heated seats can actually be installed in many vehicles. Aftermarket seat heaters are fit into cars underneath the seats themselves and do not alter the appearance of the vehicle.