AUTO
AUTO FAST TRACKS Auto Auditions
Driving a new vehicle for the first time is exhilarating. And if it’s a test drive, it should be an experience that makes or breaks your decision to buy. Here’s what you need to know to confidently assess your potential new wheels.
Prepare Before you head to the dealer, know your budget and the features you want and need in a new car: Four-wheel drive or two-wheel? How much available seating? Do you need an auxiliary input for your MP3 player or are you happy with a CD player? How about antitheft devices?
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Inspect Make sure you’re test driving the exact model you’ll be buying. “A car with larger wheels or a sports suspension will drive very differently than one without,” says Joe Lorio, senior editor of Automobile magazine.
Take charge With all the excitement surrounding a purchase, it’s easy to overlook flaws. Don’t be afraid to ask the salesperson to remain quiet during a test drive so you can concentrate on all of the vehicle’s qualities.
Drive hard Take the vehicle on bumpy roads, drive in stop-and-go traffic and bring it up to the maximum legal speed on the freeway. “Don’t treat it gently just because the salesman is with you,” Lorio says.
Arrange financing and insurance first To obtain the best rates, you may wish to secure a loan before your actual purchase. Also, your new vehicle must be covered by insurance before you drive it off the lot. Call your State Farm® you buy to make the arrangements.
1 Slow down Roundabouts ease traffic congestion
because drivers are not required to come to complete
agent before
stops. So when approaching a roundabout, slow down and get your bearings.
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2 Yield before entering Traffic flows counterclockwise in a roundabout. So regardless of where you enter the intersection, traffic should be approaching from your left. Yield the right of way and then enter when there is a safe gap. If there is no approaching traffic, you are not required to stop before entering.
3 Choose your lane Busier roundabouts may have two or more lanes. As you approach a two-lane round- about, look for signs or road markings indicating which lane you should be in. To make a left turn or a U-turn, be in the left lane or other lanes marked as left turn lanes. To make a right turn, be in the right lane or other lanes marked as right turn lanes. To go straight, observe the signs and markings and choose the lane that shows a through movement.
4 Keep moving Once you’re in the roundabout, stop only to avoid a collision, and be sure to use your turn signals to let other drivers know when you’re exiting the roundabout. Keep an eye out for pedestrians and bicyclists navigating the intersection.
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ROUNDABOUT RULES
How to negotiate a traffic trend that can really turn you around.
LEVEL OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR ROUND- ABOUTS IN THREE COMMUNITIES MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER CONSTRUCTION; UP FROM 36 PERCENT BEFORE CONSTRUCTION
In 1995 there were barely a dozen roundabouts in the United States, according to Roundabouts USA. Now there are more than 2,300. Many states and communities are using roundabouts as safer, more efficient alternatives to intersections with stop signs or signals. A roundabout is a low-speed intersection in which traffic flows continuously around a circular central island. Studies show that roundabouts significantly reduce crashes and crash-related injuries as well as decrease traffic congestion. But they can be confusing. Tese tips will help you to more easily navigate your next roundabout.
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