Car owners have a reason to smile, based on the latest CarMD Vehicle Health Index. Why? Because auto repairs are cheaper than they have been in years.

In its 2012 report, CarMD found that the average repair job cost consumers $334 last year. That’s 20 percent cheaper than in 2006, when the average job cost $422. Wow. Not a bad trend for people’s pocketbooks.

So here’s the Reader’s Digest version of that report, along with CarMD’s Top 25 list of the most common repairs that resulted from “Check Engine” lights flickering on last year.  If you’d like to see the complete study, click here for the 2012 Vehicle Health Index.

Ready for one last quirky item from CarMD’s report? The most common repair found in 2011 vehicles was this: A damaged or loose gas cap. Kind of interesting.

So much to do, so little time. Right? That’s what people are saying to justify multitasking behind the wheel.

They are talking on the phone, eating meals, texting friends, reading letters, applying makeup, checking Facebook and even changing clothes while driving. In the process, those distracted drivers are making the roads a lot less safe for everyone else.

You’re probably not the one holding a coffee cup in one hand, a cell phone in the other and driving with your knee. But here are some pointers that could keep you from becoming one of the thousands of distracted drivers involved in crashes every day.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Distracted driving contributes to about 8,000 crashes every day.
• At any given time, 800,000 people are using a handheld cell phone while driving, which quadruples their risk of a crash.
• The nation’s youngest drivers – ages 20 and younger – are the most likely to be involved in an accident linked to distracted driving. Not surprising, perhaps, when one in four teen drivers admit to texting behind the wheel.
• Distracted driving was to blame for 5,474 traffic deaths in 2009. An additional 448,000 people were injured.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF:

So how can you keep your mind on the road when there are so many other things – whether it be cell phones, CDs or hamburgers – competing for your attention? Here are some tips, courtesy of the AAA Foundation, that might help reduce distractions while in the driver’s seat.

Plan ahead: Before you hit the road, read a map and check traffic conditions.

Turn off your phone: As hard as that may sound, turning off your phone will reduce the temptation to talk or text while driving.

Prepare children and pets for the trip: Make sure to buckle your kids, and get them set up with snacks and entertainment, before you head down the highway. The same goes for pets. Get them situated for the trip before you go.

Satisfy cravings off the road: Eat meals and snacks before hopping in the driver’s seat. If you plan to travel a long distance, take a break during meal times.

Avoid unnecessary clutter: Stow away any loose objects that could roll around while you’re driving. Those objects are bound to take your attention away from the road.

Don’t change clothes: Your car isn’t a dressing room. Don’t try to swap outfits, apply makeup or shave while driving. Do that before you leave or after you reach your destination.

Get your head in the game: Focus on what you’re supposed to be doing: driving. Don’t let your attention wander from the traffic ahead, where you want to be the first to spot brake lights or a possible obstruction in the road.

JUST FOR FUN:

Thanks for taking a moment to think about safe driving. We appreciate that. And we appreciate you. Here’s a little laugh to wrap things up.

No one wants to put their child at risk, but did you know that 3 out of 4 children are buckled into safety seats that aren’t being used properly?

That’s scary, particularly when car crashes rank as the leading cause of death for children. Some parents are using seats that are too big for their toddlers. Others are buckling infants into forward-facing seats when those children should be facing backward.

So here are some tips that will help you decide which seat is best for your child.

It’s no fun. Your car has been dinged, dented or seriously damaged by another driver.

So what do you do? Call the police? Then what?

With hundreds of crashes happening every hour in the United States, causing an estimated 1.5 million injuries and $230 billion in damage, it’s important to know what to do if you find yourself in a fender bender, or worse, on the nation’s roads.

Knowing whose insurance company to call, for example, could save you from having to pay a deductible. Or knowing that police want you to drive to the nearest exit after knocking bumpers on the freeway might avoid putting an officer at risk when responding to the crash.

So here are some pointers to help you cope with a collision.

Did you know?

• A car crash happened once every six seconds in 2009, amounting to 5.5 million collisions by year’s end. Most of those accidents caused only damage. But 1.5 million people were hurt and 30,797 died.
• Car accidents are costly. The annual price tag for collisions runs about $230.6 billion.
• The nation’s worst city for car crashes is Baltimore, Md., where the average driver is involved in a collision once every 5.3 years, according to a recent analysis. That’s nearly twice the national average of 10 years. Drivers are least likely to crash in Fort Collins, Colo., where motorists typically go 14 years between crashes.

What to do if you’re in a crash:

1. Take a deep breath and then check for injuries. If you suspect that you or anyone else involved in the crash are hurt, call an ambulance. Otherwise, turn on your hazard lights and notify police about the accident.
2. If your vehicle is in a dangerous position where it might cause a traffic hazard, move it to a safe location. This may include a parking lot or a highway off-ramp. On a freeway, officers encourage drivers involved in minor collisions to take the nearest exit to avoid putting themselves and officers at risk. However, if you can’t move your vehicle, get your hazard lights flashing. Road flares also are effective.
3. While you are waiting for police to arrive, get your driver’s license and proof of insurance ready.
4. Jot down some preliminary information about the other driver. Although police likely will provide much of this information for you, it would be wise to get the other driver’s name and phone number, for instance. Include the name of his or her insurance company with a policy number and information about how to contact the company. Note the driver’s license plate number, plus the vehicle’s make, model and year.
5. Avoid discussing details about the crash with the other driver. Steer clear of any conversation that may imply fault in the crash.
6. Take immediate notes about the crash. Draw a diagram, if necessary, to help you reconstruct the accident scene when police ask for your side of the story.
7. Once the police officer determines fault in the crash, he or she will write a police report. Make sure to get the accident claim number. This will be a must-have number in the weeks to come as you are trying to repair the damage.
8. Now comes the call to the insurance company. If you caused the crash, call your insurance company. If not, call the other driver’s company to avoid paying a deductible. Whichever insurance company you call, expect more questions about the crash. The company also will ask you questions about what you want done with the vehicle. Don’t be afraid to suggest a particular body shop or mechanic to do the work.
9. An insurance adjuster will come look at your vehicle shortly after the collision to assess the damage. Remember, it’s still your vehicle. You have the right to have the job completed to your liking. If the insurance company proposes a fix you don’t approve of, you have the right to say no and have it done to your standard.
10. At last, you can return to the road. It may feel a little awkward driving after a collision, but you’ll work back into it, slowly.

Source: Autotrader

Just for fun: