Distracted driving is an evolving concern in today’s age of technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drivers are distracted approximately 30% of the time that they are driving. These habits can prove to be extremely dangerous and Toyota dealer in the Trenton Area wants to make sure you are as safe as possible when you are behind the wheel. Learning to deal with some of these distractions is the best way to ensure your undivided attention to the road ahead.
You Look But Don’t See
Not all distractions come in the form of technology. Sometimes drivers, particularly on long trips find themselves “spacing out” or daydreaming. This is also considered a distraction, but one that can easily be rectified. If you find yourself drifting, pull over and stretch your legs, take a few deep breaths and talk yourself back into focus. If your inattention is due to fatigue, don’t ignore it. Take a rest and then you’ll find yourself more attentive for your drive ahead.
Stop Adjusting the Technology
We are in an age of constant technological distractions. From changing the CD player to trying to see what an important text message says, we all have from time to time let our attention wander from the road ahead. This is one of the leading causes of accidents today and the main reason why cell phone use is illegal in many states. The need to ignore what you may feel is a pressing message or call is crucial in maintaining both your safety and the safety of those around you. Place an absolute restriction on yourself that you not use your phone or adjust technology while driving. Make sure you have a hands free device and never text while driving. If you absolutely feel the need to check messages, stop at a designated area and do so. There is no communication that is worth causing an accident.
Both parents and teens are excited and nervous at the prospect of becoming a new driver. With the newfound freedom of driving also comes the expenses associated with the responsibility. Pennsylvania Toyota dealership knows that auto insurance for a teen can be particularly expensive. Rest assured however, that there are way to save money and have peace of mind that they are still adequately protected by their auto policy.
Good Student Discounts
Many companies will offer discounts to students, both high school and college who maintain specific requirements. These requirements vary from carrier to carrier but typically include criteria such as being between the ages of 16 and 24, maintaining full time student status and achieving a GPA of at least 3.0 or on the Honor Roll. Proof will then need to be provided in the form of a report card or letter from the school. Each time the policy is up for renewal, this proof will have to be provided.
Driver Education
If the teen completes a state-approved driver training course they are typically eligible, with proof of completion for a discount.
Mileage
Many teen don’t drive as much as adults as they stay close to home. If you find that your teen is driving a low number of miles each year, you may be able to lower your rate.
Multi-Car Discounts
While the initial inclination is to have the teen get their own policy due to the expense, the most financially sound choice is to add them to your policy. Most companies offer multi-car discounts, by adding another vehicle to your policy, you may see a decline in your rates.
Road trips are always an exciting prospect for the family. While the kids are excited, Hatfield Toyota understands that financial concerns can always play a role in planning the journey. By following some of these tips, the adventure can be less financially stressful and everyone can relax, enjoy the ride and save some money for when you reach your destination.
Budget
While this may seem to be a daunting task, it can truly helping in planning a trip and determining what you are able to spend. First, you have to take into account the essential expenses such as gas, food and sleeping accommodations. From that point, you can determine how much you have to spend on some of the more fun aspects of your trip. Don’t forget to add in money that is set aside in case of emergency.
Do your vehicle maintenance
While it may seem like an added expense before a trip, getting your oil changed and your routine maintenance performed is well worth it. The cost of a breakdown or tow truck is exponentially more, particularly in an unfamiliar area, than being proactive in car maintenance. Making sure tires are inflated, oil is changed and fluids are topped off as well as having your mechanic give the car a thorough once over is crucial before a long trip.
Pack your own lunches
This not only saves money, but time. It is much beneficial to pack a healthy lunch than to stop and eat at an expensive rest area restaurant.
Be aware of your gas mileage
At a time of rising gas prices, the cost of gas is one of the bigger expenses to consider when planning a trip. Small changes such as only using air conditioning when driving on the highway, easing into starts and stops and driving the speed limit all help in ensuring you are getting the best gas mileage possible. Your pre-trip car maintenance also helps in ensuring your car is operating at the most economical, fuel efficient level possible.
Safety First
One of the most overlooked and most important details in saving money is being safe. Drive carefully and be prepared. Getting to your destination safely is much more important than getting there quickly. Make sure that you take all steps to avoid any potential hazards and if an emergency arises, be prepared and equipped. This will provide both peace of mind, safety and ensure the best financial outcome possible.
Many car shoppers plan to use the money they get from a trade-in toward the purchase of their next vehicle. If you aren’t sure how much your car is worth for a trade-in, it can be difficult to know what your car shopping budget is. You can use our Trenton area Toyota website to calculate the approximate trade-in value of your car online with a trade-in calculator.
Know Your Trade In Value Before You Shop for a Car
If you find out your car is worth more than expected, you can use the money as a larger down payment on your next car to bring the monthly payments down or perhaps even increase your car shopping budget.
If you think your car is worth more than you actually get for a trade in you might be disappointed and find out you can’t afford the car you planned to buy. You can eliminate this potential situation by finding out your trade-in value in advance.
If The Trade In Offer is Too Low
If your trade in isn’t worth enough to make your desired car affordable, you have the option of trying to sell the car yourself. A car sold by its owner can sometimes sell for more than you can get as a trade-in, if you’re willing to put the time and effort into selling it.
You may not realize how much you use or need your driver’s license until you lose it. Misplacing your driver’s license is a huge inconvenience and can cause some serious frustration but if you take the following steps you can recover it before you experience a serious issue from not having your license. Pennsylvania Toyota provides the following list of things you should do when you notice you’ve lost your driver’s license:
- Look Every Possible Place!
Before you panic, look through the pockets of all of your pants, in jackets, shirt pockets, etc. Empty every purse and wallet. Look between the seats of your car and under floor mats. If you have kids, ask them if they have seen it, and check their bedrooms.
- Contact the authorities and financial institutions
If your entire wallet/purse is stolen or misplaced, file a police report and contact all of your creditors to cancel your credit cards and bank accounts. You should also contact the Social Security office if your social security card was in the wallet.
- Credit Monitoring Services
If you did lose your entire wallet or purse and all of your credit cards, after contacting your creditors, make sure you contact a credit monitoring service to help you ensure if there is any fraudulent activity taking place.
- Contact DMV for a new License
Go online, call or visit the local DMV for a new license. They can give you a temporary license while waiting for the new photo ID.
- Don’t drive without your License
It is illegal to drive without your license. Wait until you have a temporary card or your new license before you drive to avoid getting a ticket.
If a sudden medical emergency takes place it is important for the driver and any other passengers to recognize it is happening and take action immediately. There are things you can do when a medical situation occurs to minimize the risks. Hatfield Toyota offers the following advice for handling medical emergencies in the car:
Preventing Techniques
There are several things you can do to reduce the risks for sudden medical emergencies on the road before you even get in the car. For example:
- Before traveling, have a small meal and consider bringing a snack
- Don’t drive if you’ve just started a new medication and are unsure how you will react to it
- Program emergency contacts into your phone and carry a list of numbers in your wallet or purse
- Carry a bottle of baby aspirin
- Enroll in the Yellow Dot Program
Handling a Medical Emergency
Various medical emergencies will require a different action. Here are some common emergencies:
- If you are driving and feel nauseous, pull over until the feeling passes. If the feeling doesn’t pass, call someone to pick you up.
- If you’re a passenger and the driver of the vehicle loses consciousness, grab the wheel and attempt to get the vehicle off the road safely. Call 911 for help.
- If you’re driving and experiencing heart attack signs, pull over and call for help. Chew four baby aspirin while you wait for an ambulance.
- If someone is ill in the vehicle, don’t try to drive them to the hospital if it is a far distance away – call 911. They have emergency equipment on board and can get through traffic easier.
2014 Toyota Yaris LE at Peruzzi Toyota
When you’re looking for a small vehicle with excellent fuel economy and the ability to easily navigate busy highways, the 2014 Toyota Yaris LE is a good place to start your search. Drivers report the Yaris is fun to drive and has just enough technology gadgets to keep the trip entertaining. Visit our Toyota dealership in the Trenton area to test drive the 2014 Toyota Yaris LE.
Technology Features in the 2014 Toyota Yaris LE
The technology in the Yaris LE is modern and advanced from the fuel gage to the radio to the door locking system. Here’s what you will enjoy as a Yaris LE owner:
- Analog fuel gauge and speedometer
- Tripmeters, odometer, outside temperature display, clock, average and current fuel economy, average speed, shift position, and distance to an empty gas tank displayed in LCD
- ECO driving indicator lights up when the car is being used in a fuel-efficient manner, and can improve fuel efficiency by close to 4%
- Remote keyless entry that will lock, unlock, and panic
- Power windows, driver-side automatic-down function
- Illuminated entry
- Front map lights
- Cargo lights to locate lost items in the dark
- 12V auxiliary power outlet is available for plugging in devices
- Cruise control
- Driver seat is six-way adjustable
Sound System
You can plug in your own devices with the USB port or auxiliary jack. If you use CD’s, you’re in luck because the Yaris LE comes with a CD player. All of your music will play with crystal clear sound thanks to the HD radio and 6 speaker sound system.
For convenience, the Yaris LE has audio controls directly on the steering wheel and Bluetooth to help you access your phone hands-free.
Financing a Car Purchase at Pennsylvania Toyota
Many car buyers do not have cash on hand to make a vehicle purchase and must rely on dealership financing or a car loan in order to buy a new or used car. Our Pennsylvania Toyota dealership offers a variety of financing options to help people get behind the wheel of their next car.
Pennsylvania Toyota Financing Options
We work hard to get the most competitive interest rates from Toyota or local banks. We also provide extended vehicle warranty programs to protect your investment, as well as other value-added services designed to help protect your car purchase.
The process starts with a pre-approval application. You can fill out the application online to see if you qualify and get an idea for what your car shopping budget will be. Don’t rule financing out if you’ve struggled with your credit in the past, we can often help people who have less than perfect credit with some of our financing programs.
Payment Calculator
If you are not sure how much buying power you might have or what you can afford in terms of monthly payments, you might want to start with our online payment calculator. Enter a few numbers and see at a glance what your monthly loan payments might be so you can take a look at your budget before making a purchase.
Credit Score and Car Loans
The best rates will always go to buyers with excellent credit scores, but that shouldn’t stop people who have made a few late payments to creditors from applying. We have a variety of financing options and it is possible that we can get a loan for you even if you’ve been turned down before.
Used Cars Under $10,000 at Hatfield Toyota
Car shopping when you need to keep within a strict budget can be challenging. Looking at used cars is a good way to keep your purchase price down without sacrificing features. At Hatfield Toyota, we have several vehicles under $10,000 available for budget shoppers of a wide variety of makes and models. We invite you to check out our website for current inventory or visit our dealership to see what we have available and take a test drive.
2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Base 4WD
For $9,510 you can drive home in a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and start saving money at the gas tank. This SUV has a variable transmission, a 3.3 liter, 6 cylinder engine and 136,562 miles. The exterior is a Millenium Silver Metallic color while the interior is “ash”. While some buyers are deterred by the higher miles, this vehicle rides like new and you should give it a test drive to see for yourself.
2009 Honda Fit FWD
We’ve just obtained a 2009 Honda Fit FWD through a trade-in. This vehicle had one owner and has new front brake pads, clean CARFAX, and comes with free lifetime PA State Safety Inspection. This hatchback features a 2.5 liter, 4 cylinder engine and automatic transmission and 71,298 miles. It has a crystal black pearl exterior and gray interior, priced at $9,500.
2007 Mazda Mazda5 Touring
For the used minivan shoppers, we currently have a 2007 Mazda Mazda5 Touring on the lot. It has a manual transmission, 2.3 liter, 4 cylinder engine and 100,366 miles. The exterior is silver. Has had just one owner and comes with a multi-disc changer, sunroof, and cruise control for $9,700
It is simply not possible to prepare for every possible emergency you may face on the road, but by keeping a few essential items in your vehicle at all times, you can handle some of the most common minor situations with ease! Your Toyota has ample storage space for keeping a few things on hand, and your Pennsylvania Toyota dealership recommends the following items to help prepare for minor situations while traveling:
Stock a First Aid Kit for Your Car
A first aid kit isn’t going to help you much if you’re involved in a serious accident, but it will come in handy if your child falls at the park or gets stung by a bee, or you find yourself with a headache on a road trip. Keep pain relievers, alcohol wipes, bandages, antibiotic ointment and other first aid supplies in your car for relieving minor situations. For a vehicle first aid kit, you can also put a blanket, flashlight and road flares into your trunk in case you break down and are stuck waiting for help.
Put Money or a Credit Card Under Your Seat
While you will almost always travel with your wallet or money on you, if your wallet or purse is stolen or lost while traveling or you otherwise run out of money – you will want to have a backup plan. You may need to pay for road tolls, parking, or get a sandwich on the run! Just make sure you don’t keep cash or a credit card where it is visible – hide it under your seat or in the glove box.
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