by: Simon Christopher

Women’s car insurance has been popping up all over the net and our TV screens lately. There’s a whole new class of insurers like Sheila’s Wheels and Cover Girl who offer car insurance for ladies only. They promise lower premiums for women drivers because, they claim, it’s cheaper for them to insure women. Women are better drivers so a lower risk, they say. They have fewer accidents, fewer driving convictions and when they do have an accident, the repairs are usually cheaper. So, is it really true, or is it just another marketing gimmick?

The answer to the question is both yes and no. Women only insurance companies are marketing to a specific niche – women drivers. Of course it’s a gimmick, but like the best marketing gimmicks, it is based in truth. Here are the facts about women drivers and insurance:

-92% of driving convictions are handed out to men.

Those figures are changing, though, as women become more aggressive drivers. According to statistics gathered by the car insurance comparison site confused.com, 16.8% of male drivers have convictions on their driving record, compared to 9.8% of female drivers. That number is up from 4.8% of female drivers just three years ago.

-Men drive differently than women.

A whopping 98% of dangerous driving convictions were handed out to male drivers last year. According to all the research, men tend to be more aggressive and competitive behind the wheel than women, and that naturally leads to more accidents. Women tend to drive more slowly – generally within the speed limits – and to drive shorter distances. All of those facts add up to fewer accidents that involve women. (So much for all those jokes about lousy women drivers. The statistics say otherwise.)

-Insurance companies pay out less in damages for policies taken out by women.

When women do get into an accident, they tend to be of the fender-bender scrape variety. Overall, insurance companies have always known that female drivers cost them less in payouts.

However, that doesn’t necessarily translate to the lowest premiums from companies that only insure women. In fact, many of them offer actual quotes that are higher than the rate you’d be quoted from a more generic motor insurance company. The truth is that despite the widespread sentiment that women drivers underwrite their more expensive male counterparts by paying higher insurance, most insurance companies offer lower insurance rates to female drivers as a customary part of doing business.

That’s not to say that you won’t get the best price from an insurer who only insures women’s cars. The bottom line is the same as it is with any other auto insurance decision. Shop around. Get insurance rate quotes from a number of different companies before you decide on the policy that’s best for you. Keep in mind when you’re comparing policies that you should always compare like with like. Decide on the specific cover that you want before you start requesting quotes, and make sure that the rate you’re quoted includes all the cover you need. It’s really the only way to be absolutely certain you’re getting the best cover for your money.
About The Author
Simon Christopher

For a comprehensive list of the most popular womens car insurance companies plus real customer reviews and buying tips, visit http://www.uk-insurance-index.co.uk/womens-car-insurance-1.html

by: Mahwesh Ugale

Minimum ages and rules

You can take your theory test once your provisional licence becomes valid.

Normally, for car drivers, the earliest date your provisional licence can become valid is your 17th birthday, however you can apply for the licence up to three months before your 17th birthday.

So, if you apply for your provisional licence before you are 17 you will still have to wait until your birthday before you can take your theory test.

Disability living allowance

If you are receiving disability living allowance at the higher rate your provisional licence will come into effect when you are 16, but you can apply for it within three months of your 16th birthday.

Motorcyclists Direct access scheme

Direct access is a scheme, which allows a person over the age of 21 to avoid the two year/25 kW restriction by taking a test on a machine of at least 35 kW (46.6 bhp). A pass allows you to ride any size of bike. Any instruction given on a machine that exceeds the normal learner motorcycle specification must be supervised at all times by a certified motorcycle instructor who should be in radio contact. You should also wear fluorescent or reflective clothing and follow all other provisional licence restrictions.

Accelerated access

Riders who reach the age of 21, while still within the two year period where they are restricted to maximum 25 kW (33 bhp) machines, but who wish to ride larger bikes need to pass a further test on a motorcycle of at least 35 kW (46.6 bhp). They may practise on bikes over 25 kW (33 bhp) under the same practice conditions for direct access riders. You will revert to learner status while practising (on a motorcycle greater than 25 kW (33 bhp) although test failure will not affect your existing licence.

Mopeds and tractors

If you want to ride a moped you can take your theory test when you are 16, but again you must make sure you have a valid provisional licence. If you are 16 and already have a provisional licence for an agricultural vehicle or a moped, this will give you provisional entitlement to drive a car when you are 17.

Rules for learner drivers

Before you start to drive, you must:

• Hold a valid, provisional driving licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland

• Make sure that any vehicle you drive is roadworthy and properly taxed and insured

• If you want to practise your driving with an accompanying driver, the accompanying driver must be over the age of 21 and must have held (and still hold) a full licence for three years.

• As a learner driver, you must display ‘L’ plates (‘L’ or ‘D’ plates in Wales) in a conspicuous position on the front and rear of the vehicle you are driving.

• You’re limited to less powerful motorbikes.

Apply for provisional license

If you have never held a driving licence before you will need to apply for a provisional licence. You cannot start to drive a car until your provisional driving licence has been accepted and in your possession.

About driving theory test

Preparing for your theory test is essential if you want to become a safe, responsible driver or rider. If you are a learner driver, you must take and pass your theory test before you book your practical test. The theory test is a computer based test and can be taken at various tests centres around the country.

Passing your driving theory test is your first step towards being a safe driver on the road.

DSA driving theory test consists of two elements:

A. Multiple choice questions

This section is designed to tests your understanding of the theory behind driving. There is a 15-minute practice session you can work through before starting the tests. There are 50 randomly selected, multiple-choice questions and you need to get at least 43 answers right to pass.

B. Hazard Perception Test

This is the second section of the theory test and must be passed at the same time.

Hazard perception test is conducted to test the ability of learner drivers how they will respond to hazards on the road while driving. There are 14 videos, each about a minute long.

This section is designed to tests your awareness of potential hazards whilst driving.

The videos feature various types of hazard, such as road conditions, vehicles and pedestrians. The earlier you spot a hazard developing that may require the driver to take some action, the higher the score.

There are 15 scoreable hazards in the tests and candidates can score up to 5 points on each hazard. The pass mark is 44 out of 75.

Preparing for your theory test

We recommend you to study following -

? The Highway Code -

The Highway Code is essential reading for everyone. Its rules apply to all road users: drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians as well as horse riders. It contains most up to date advice on road safety and the laws, which apply to all road users.

? Traffic signs -

It is important to know road signs and markings that you are most likely to encounter.

? Driving Theory test questions -

Is a set of latest questions published by DSA from which the exam questions are taken. DSA may change questions time to time it is important that you study the books where latest questions are published.

Preparing for hazard perception test -

It is best to practice hazard perception skills on the computer if you have access to one. There are many websites and PC-CD ROMs in the market, using which you can practice your hazard perceptions skills.

About car practical test

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is now able to offer tests outside the normal test times at a number of test centres. This provides customers a wider range of appointments over an extended working day.

Practical tests are generally available at all permanent test centres. Saturday and weekday evening tests, subject to resources being available, are offered at a premium rate. Non premium rate tests are available at various times between 7.30 am and 3.27 pm Monday to Friday.

The driving part of your test lasts about 40 minutes. Throughout the test, your examiner will be looking for overall safe standards of driving, including when you are carrying out the set exercises. You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure). However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test.

About motorcycle practical test

Minimum test vehicle requirements

Any vehicle presented for use in a driving test must meet minimum test vehicle standards. These standards are part of European Community legislation on driver licensing. Great Britain as a member of the European Union is obliged to comply with these requirements. Below are the minimum test vehicle requirements for mopeds and motorcycles.

Minimum test vehicle requirements for mopeds

A moped must have an engine capacity not exceeding 50 cc, and a maximum speed of 50 kilometres per hour (km/h), which is approximately equivalent to 31 miles per hour (mph). If first used before 1 August 1977, it must be equipped with pedals by which it can be propelled.

Minimum test vehicle requirements for motorcycles

If your motorcycle is less than 75 cc it is not acceptable for the practical motorcycle test. If you pass your practical test on a motorcycle with automatic or semi-automatic transmission, this will be recorded on your licence. Your full licence entitlement will be restricted to motorcycles in this category.

A light motorcycle (category A1) is defined as a solo motorcycle between 75 and 125 cc, with a power output not exceeding 11 kilowatts (kW) (maximum 14.6 brake horse power (bhp)). Please see note 1.

A standard motorcycle (category A) is defined as a solo motorcycle between 121 and 125 cc, capable of exceeding 100 km/h (62.5 mph). Please note that the BMW C1 motorcycle is not a suitable machine for a practical test. Please see note 2.

Vehicles used for the accelerated access and direct access scheme can have an unspecified engine capacity of at least 35 kW (46.6 bhp), with an unspecified speed. Please see note 3.

The minimum test vehicle requirements for a motorcycle and side-car are the same, as the solo machines, but categories A and A1 must not exceed a power to weight ratio of 0.16 kW/kg. Passengers are not allowed to ride in the sidecar during the test. Only candidates with certain disabilities can use a motorcycle and side-car combination for the test. The licence obtained as a result of this test will be restricted to this combination of vehicle.

Notes:

A light motorcycle licence (category A1) will give you full licence entitlement to ride machines up to 125 cc with a power output of up to 11 kW.

A standard motorcycle licence (category A) will restrict you for a period of two years to riding machines with a power output not exceeding 25 kW and a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kW/kg. After the two year period you may ride any motorcycle.

If you are aged 21 or over you can take the test on a motorcycle with a power output of at least 35 kW (46.6 bhp). If successful you can then ride any motorcycle.

The practical motorcycle test is made up of lots of different elements, an eyesight test, vehicle safety questions, a test of driving ability, a test of specific manoeuvre and a question about riding with a passenger.

At the test centre you must present a valid certificate DL196 unless the test is being conducted on one of the exempted islands. A rider who is upgrading a full moped licence obtained by passing a two part test since December 1990 is exempt.

Vehicle safety check questions and eyesight test

Before you actually start your practical riding test you will be asked to read a number plate to prove you can meet the eyesight requirements. You will also be asked two machine safety check questions before moving away.

The practical test

After the usual pre-test preliminaries e.g. licence and identification check the examiner will help the candidate with the fitting of the radio and earpiece.

While accompanying the candidate to the machine the examiner will explain how the test will be conducted and how the radio equipment works.

The law requires anyone riding a motorcycle, scooter or moped, with or without sidecar, to wear protective headgear securely fastened. The test cannot therefore be conducted unless the candidate is wearing properly secured protective headgear.

Note:

An exemption to this requirement exists for followers of the Sikh religion if they are wearing a turban.

At the end of the test

When the practical testis over, the examiner will tell you whether you passed or failed. You can request feedback on your test from the examiner, who will then go through your performance during the test.

If you pass…

If you pass and have a photocard driving licence issued after 1 March 2004, the examiner will ask you,if you want your full driving licence issued to you automatically. If you want to use this service, the examiner will take your old licence off you, scan the details and send them electronically to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will then be given a pass certificate to prove you passed your test. DVLA will then send you your new full licence by post within three weeks of you passing your practical test.

If you pass your test but do not want to use this automatic service, or have a licence issued before 1 March 2004, you will be given a pass certificate by the examiner. On the back of the pass certificate it tells you what you need to do next. This involves sending your licence to DVLA who will then check your application and issue you with a new full licence.

Once you pass your standard motorcycle test you are restricted to machines of 25 kW (33 bhp) with a power to weight ratio of 0.16 kW/kg for two years.

If you fail…

If you fail the test you should ask the examiner for some feedback to help prepare yourself for your next test. Your driving report form will also show you where you made any mistakes. You must wait 10 clear working days after your practical test before you can book another one.
About The Author
Mahesh Ugale – SEO Expert – for http://www.theory-test.co.uk/

by: Marilyn Bohn

This winter I went to a neighboring city for the day. When I left home it was partly sunny and I thought a light sweater would be enough to wear for the day. At the last minute I did take my jacket. In two hours time the weather changed to blizzard conditions. It was snowing, blowing, and the electricity went out. Because of the storm I was a bit concerned and wondered if I would even be able to make it home because of the blizzard. I thought I had every thing in the trunk of my car I would need incase I couldn’t make it home through the storm so I felt secure in being prepared, (or so I thought).

I checked the trunk when I got home and found I didn’t have any emergency supplies. What a rude awakening for me. I had taken out my organizer with my first aid kit, blanket, emergency kit, everything else I had for emergencies and had never put them back.

This past week I was out of town and my daughter noticed one tire on my car had gone completely flat. I confidently told her to use the’ fix a flat can’ in the trunk to get my car to the shop to have it repaired. It is an inflator and sealer for tires. It is a foam, very easy to use and will allow you to drive on the tire for several miles until you can get the tire fixed. I had to use this product several years ago and I know it works. What peace of mind such a simple thing gives to me when I am driving in my car. I don’t have to have a jack or tools and it seals and inflates in minutes.

No matter that the weather or circumstances it is a good idea to have some basic supplies in our vehicles. That means in very vehicle we or someone else in our family drives.

Here is a list of suggested supplies to keep in our vehicles in case of an emergency:

Booster cables and/or…A 3-in-1 12Volt power station. It includes, 1) an emergency jump start system; 2) a 12 volt DC power supply which is a portable power source for lights, radio, cell phones; 3) long-lasting illumination for roadside emergencies, work areas and camp sites.

Car Jack You may have to use it someday so it is important to know how to use it. (Actually practice changing a tire before an emergency arises).

Spare tire Check it monthly to make sure it is pumped up and in useable condition.

Fix A Flat in a can

A first aid kit.

Road Flares

There are roadside emergency kits you can buy that are ready to go.

A sleeping bag, blanket. I carried an old quilt in my trunk for years thinking it was warm. We had to put it to the test and found it was not warm at all. Select a blanket to keep you warm. It can also come in handy if you are changing a tire and have to lay down on the ground.

A flashlight that works, check to see if it the batteries are good every three months.

Water to drink

Sit down and think what you might need in case of a break down or an emergency when you are in your car and make up your own kit for your specific needs.

Keep everything organized in a container that fits your vehicle whether it is in a car trunk, jeep, truck, SUV or mini van. The peace of mind you will have from being prepared is worth its weight in gold.
About The Author
Marilyn is a creative organizer who has been organizing for over 20 years. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers.She holds a bachelors degree in Social Work. She has reared five daughters and currently lives in Utah.

Go to her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find free organizing tips and interesting blogs and helpful articles on organizing.

It is true that driving is a very dangerous activity. Any trouble in driving would not only endanger his own life but also the life or lives of his passengers and other drivers and passengers at other cars in the road.

Through the decades, people have witnessed some of the most tragic accidents by road. It is in this regard that there is a need to further popularize defensive driving.

Defensive driving refers to a form of road driving training that is aimed at helping a driver take an important intellectual and safety approach that helps save brakes, fuel, tires and of course, lives.

Defensive driving skills are necessary to lower if not totally eliminate the risks of driving vehicles through the anticipation of dangerous driving situations even at the face of adverse conditions and inappropriate driving practices by others.

There are seven general rules that are generally observed when a driver is acquiring and practicing the skills to defensive driving. Here are those general rules.

1. Pick and purchase the right car.

Of course, the basic requirement before acquiring and using defensive driving skills is to make sure you are driving the right vehicle. No matter how cautious and safe you are as a driver, you would inevitably encounter challenges and road accidents if you are driving an unsafe and accident-prone car in the first place. So how could you select and purchase the right car? There are some basic tips on car purchase.

First, when purchasing cars, avoid bland and dark colors. Gray, tan and silver are bland colors that look like urban camouflage. Thus, other drivers would have a hard time taking distinct and immediate notice of the car.

Likewise, dark colors like black and red are very hard to see especially in dim light. Then, make sure the car’s center of mass is low and the four-wheel drive system has a differential center balancing forces between rear and front. It would also help if you would avoid purchasing or driving cars with heavily tinted windows especially in the front.

2. Inspect the car thoroughly before driving.

Check all the components and parts of the car prior to driving. As an unwritten law, drivers should make it a habit to inspect the good quality and condition of tires, engines, lights, brakes and oil and water levels especially in preparation for a long trip.

Major car accidents usually happen because some components and parts of the car are not in good condition, most especially the brakes. Make it a must to have the car sent for a mechanical condition check with professionals at least once a year.

3. Focus on the road.

Defensive driving skills center well on focusing on the road. When driving, always scan the highway or road for any tell-tale signals from other vehicles like turn signals and brake light indicators form other cars.

Usually, vehicular accidents occur because drivers fail to take heed and recognize the light indications and warnings from other drivers. Moreover, it is also imperative for you to make sure your headlights or daytime running lamps are turned on while driving in a busy and rapid road to avoid other cars from crashing into your car.

4. Always assume the worst in other drivers.

It may be a little paranoid, but one of the distinct defensive driving skills is the ability to always assume that other drivers are the worst drivers. As such, do not rely heavily on light indicators from other cars, as drivers have the tendency to change minds on the last minute about taking a turn. Also, expect that other drivers at your back might not be able to see and interpret the stop signals and other tail light indications you may do.

Beware when you see drivers talking to their mobile phones while driving as they are more prone to accidents. Do not always assume that in intersections you will always have your right of way.

5. Keep an exit route.

When driving in the highway, always remain in the outer lane especially on freeways. That way, the need to cross the lane to get to the shoulder in cases of problems would be eliminated. Have space on either side of the vehicle.

6. Avoid danger.

Avoid driving at danger sites, like near large vehicles or cars that are defective. Visibly damaged cars should also be avoided as it can be safely assumed that their drivers are not skilled enough to drive safely.

7.Observe precaution when approaching or passing by vehicle break-down and crash scenes.

When being awed by such vehicular cases, stay focused on your own driving. If not, you may risk running at wandering animals or pedestrians. Worse, you may run across obstacles or other road accident-causing sites.

About The Author
Alex Baumm. Find more tips at our car forum http://www.CarClubTalk.com

by: Peter Towler

European legislators have taken a step which has angered Green campaigners and reversed the efforts of many environmentally aware motorists.

In a move which will force drivers in all member states to waste money and spew out more carbon dioxide, the European Union has injured it’s green credentials by ordering that vehicles will have to travel during the day with their lights on.

The ‘ludicrous’ European directive, to be introduced in 2011, has been condemned by campaigners who say the rules will make roads more dangerous for motorcycles and cause more deaths.

British Transport Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick, is opposed to the measure but the majority of EU states were in favour. A majority vote is all that was necessary. Mr. Fitzpatrick admitted that the new rules, which relate to all new vehicles, would lead to annual fuel consumption across the EU to rise by 5 per cent.

According to the Automobile Association, the average UK family car covering the average 8,770 miles a year would increase fuel costs by some £68 a year at today’s prices. That is based on 31 miles per gallon. But some gas guzzlers only do 13mpg, meaning an increase of up to £160 a year.

Big trucks with an average consumption of 8.1mpg would see costs soar by £260 a year. Needless to say, that will cause the cost of all goods to rise sharply. The government could reduce fuel tax so that the Directive has a neutral cost effect, but that is about as likely as Zimbabwe putting the next man on the moon.

Daytime running lights have been compulsory in Scandinavia since the late 1970′s – which is why Swedish Volvos always have their lights on.

According to a Dutch research study, some 5,500 deaths and 155,000 injuries could be prevented by implementation of the Directive.

Greg Knight, a UK Member of Parliament opposed to the measure said, “This idea was being pushed by the Scandinavians and it’s absolutely ludicrous that it should be imposed in a blanket fashion across Europe. The UK does not suffer from the short hours of daylight as in northern Europe, and places like Spain certainly don’t. All the green groups are worried about the environment – surely this will make it worse. There are also fears it will harm road safety.”

Stephen Ladyman, another UK MP, said “This directive will kill a lot of motorcyclists. They use daytime lights to make them easier to see, but if cars are using them as well, motorbikes will just blur into the background.”

Edmund King of the Automobile Association said, “Daytime running lights offer a significant safety advantage, particularly for pedestrians trying to spot moving cars through a line of parked vehicles. However, motorcyclists are very worried that other motorists will no longer be able to pick them out from other traffic.”

About The Author
Xlcr (Peter Towler) is the publisher of the blog title SaveFuel-SaveMoney at http://savefuel-savemoney.blog-it-here.com

Car insurance is a type of cover that can be quite costly depending on your needs and circumstances, but this is a type of cover that is a legal requirement for drivers in the UK so no matter what the expense you have to get this cover if you wish to take your vehicle on the road. It is important to remember that there are ways and means of lowering your insurance premiums on car cover, however, so with a little thought and research you could save yourself a small fortune.

Below are some of the top ways in which you can save money on the cost of insurance cover:

1. Don’t go for the first quote. Never assume that the first quote you get is going to be representative of all other quotes, as the cost of cover can vary widely from one provider to another. Make sure that you get at least three quotes from different providers before you make any decision – don’t feel tempted to rush into taking cover with the first insurance company that sends you details.

2. Remember that price comparison sites may not cover all providers. Many people have started to use price comparison sites to find their insurance cover, but you should bear in mind that these sites only cover a portion of the market and not all providers are on their databases. You should therefore be mindful that there may be a cheaper and more suitable policy available that is not on the price comparison site, so it may be worth checking individual providers to get your price down further.

3. Go for the most appropriate level of cover. If you have a new or expensive vehicle then you should opt for the top level of cover, which is fully comp. However, if you have an old car that has a low value then you can get away with taking out a lower level of cover, which will enable you to keep the cost of cover down whilst still fulfilling the legal requirement of having insurance.

4. Increase your excess. The amount of excess that you choose on your policy will make a difference to your premiums. If you choose to have a higher level of excess on your policy you can knock down your premiums significantly in some cases – just make sure that you do have enough money put aside to cover the excess in case you do need to make a claim.

5. Take the pass plus test if you have recently passed. New and younger drivers often find the cost of cover crippling. However, you can save a considerable amount on the cost of cover if you take the advances pass plus test after passing your standard test, with some insurers offering up to 35% off if you have passed this advanced course.
About The Author
David Lynes

Loans4 provide homeowner loan solutions for homeowners. Please visit http://www.loans4.co.uk for the latest finance related news.

by: Benji O. Anosike

Judging by several public opinion polls and surveys periodically conducted among motorists and consumers by reliable national polling organizations, automobile gas costs and prices have been at the very top of the consumer concerns in Canada and the United States in recent years.

Clearly, high and escalating cost of fuel are a great source of worry and concern by the consumers in these countries, and most consumers would love nothing better than to have them in the lower range today, as in the yester years. In deed, just about everybody and every institution in the society, including the government of the day, frequently tell us that having lower prices and costs for fuel would be just about the most desirable and beneficial thing for the society and for almost everybody – economically, politically, and militarily.

Just recently, only in December 2007, the U.S. Congress enacted, and President Bush signed into law, the “Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007,” designed to tackle precisely that very same concern – reducing the average driver’s demand and usage of fuel by requiring that the driver meet a fuel economy standard of 35 MPG (miles per gallon) by the year 2020. That will mean an increase of 40 percent in fuel economy over current situation, literally meaning a savings of some 40 percent in the fuel costs of the average driver compared to today.

Fine. But does everybody, do most motorists, know the reason why, exactly, it is really good and beneficial that the average motorist or consumer should have good fuel economy in his or her driving, any way – aside from just the obvious economic reason or benefit that it would save you fuel and put more money in your pocket?

Following below, are some of the most significant reasons and benefits, aside from simply the personal economic or financial benefit accruing to the individual motorist, why it will still pay you, any way, to have a life of good fuel economy any way, regardless.

A. SURE, IT IS (IN PART) ABOUT MONEY

First, to be sure, a prime reason why American and Canadian motorists seek fuel economy for their vehicle rides, has to do significantly or largely with money – to save money in their fuel costs. At a time when gas prices are near record highs in America and Canada, it is, rather quite understandable that many people would be searching for ways to “beat the pump” to make gas money go a little bit longer.

Recent news reports saturate the newspapers and the news media and airways daily, with stories about the economic woes and horrors of motorists “at the pump” who face escalating gas prices. American drivers, from Los Angeles, California, to New York, and from Michigan to Florida, and in between, who were formerly used to spending about $30 a week to fill up a 15-gallon tank a year or two ago, are today now said to be spending some $50 or more, thus cutting painfully deeper and deeper into their already overstretched home budgets. While in Canada, from Ottawa and Newfoundland to British Columbia, and from Nunavuit to Mannitoba Winnipeg, the pump prices for the motorists have reached as high as Canadian $1.25 per litre (the equivalent of about $5 a gallon for the U.S.) only recently.

Clearly, then, the simple logic and commonsense is quite understandable that one major reason why the contemporary American and Canadian motorists would want – and do want – to find ways to have a higher or better fuel economy, is for economic reasons: namely, to make some real savings in the hopefully lesser amount of fuel they use in the operation of their vehicles, as well as in the escalating and increasingly crushing prices and costs of fuel. A money savings of up to $1,500 per year in fuel costs could be a major reward you get, for example, by choosing to purchase the latest most efficient vehicle of the year in a particular class, according to the latest U.S. EPA/DOE estimate! Not a small (money) saving by any means or calculations whatsoever!

However, there are more reasons and benefits. It is more than just that.

B. IT’S MORE THAN JUST SAVING MONEY, THOUGH

1. Strengthens the National Energy Security

But seeking to attain, or actually attaining, fuel economy and fuel savings, are NOT all about or only about money, however. Or, about personal money savings that go back into one’s own personal pocket. Rather, attaining that goal achieves an even higher “reward” and purpose – a national, patriotic, and more “strategic” purpose for America and/or Canada. In deed, for the Mother Earth!

How? Simply by making it more feasible for us to start the process of climbing out of one big, dangerous, and increasingly entrenched, critical national security problem that North America has today – it’s called the problem of “American dependence on foreign oil.” For example, by recent estimates of the Washington Post, the U.S. citizens use 24% more gas today than they did some 17 years ago in 1990 – thanks to the 84 million gas-guzzling SUV’s they are now driving these days. A whole 24% more!

In fact, this “strategic” or public benefit or purpose, rather than merely private or personal benefit or purpose, is the major reason advanced by U.S. Congress and President Bush only recently, in December 2007, when the Congress enacted, and President Bush signed into law, the “Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007″ – a law designed to increase the supply of alternative fuel sources (of at least 36 billion gallons of biofuel by 2022), and to reduce the average driver’s demand and usage of fuel by requiring that the driver meet a fuel economy standard of 35 MPG (miles per gallon) by 2020.

2. America’s Increasing Dependence on Foreign Oil

But, get this. That is only counting since 1990! What about going a little further back before then? A May 2007 report by the NBC’s Today Show featuring John Hofmeister, the Chairman of the Shell Oil Company, stated that in 1973 when the Middle East oil producers embargoed oil shipments to the United States in response to the Yom Kippur War, “At that time the country imported about 35 percent of its oil. Since then and through six different Presidents, America’s dependence on foreign oil has increased to more than 60 percent.” More than 60 percent – since 1973! But, get this connection: this 60-percent-plus figure in the amount of total oil usage by Americans today, is also largely imported, particularly from the Middle East. And consequently, what this means is that America remains increasingly “oil dependent” on foreign countries.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, at least more than 50 percent of the oil used to produce the gasoline you put in your tank today is imported. The bottom line: America and American consumers continue to be increasingly vulnerable to (i.e., slavishly dependent on) foreign countries and sources for their economic and strategic life and the security of the nation, in terms of what price they’ll pay for gasoline at any given point in time, or when they’ll get a supply of gasoline or not, or even whether they’ll get it or not, or under what terms and conditions, and so on.

Here’s the point here, therefore. To put it in simple terms, the fact is that, a an individual motorist, any the gas-saving methods and measures you can find and employ which can actually reduce the amount of gas wastage you have and can economize and save on your gasoline usage, will translate directly into strengthening our national energy security as Americans and Canadians by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Petroleum imports cost Americans about $4.4 billion per week (the U.S. Department of Energy figures). That’s money, or a part thereof, that could be used to fuel our own American economy – in whole or in part.

3. Protects the Environment and Our Earth

Finally, saving gas, or having a better fuel economy, has yet another major dividend for the larger society and the humankind that is far more than just your personal pocketbook – it’s good for the environment. Burning fossil fuel (meaning mostly gasoline and diesel that are the kinds of fuel used in automobiles), creates a whole host of environmental problems, such as adding ‘greenhouse’ gases, mostly carbon dioxide or CO2, to the Earth’s atmosphere, creating air pollution and smog, contributing to global warming and climate change.

Consequently, having a good fuel economy in the operation of your vehicle, and using fuel more efficiently in that process, serves as well to protect the air, the land, water, and the wildlife around us, and to improve the quality of lives over all.

Vehicles with lower fuel economy burn more fuel, creating more CO2. By expert estimate, for every gallon of gasoline your vehicle consumes (burns), about 20 pounds of CO2 (170cu. Ft) is spewed into the atmosphere. Consequently, when you reduce gas wastage and save on your gasoline usage (by employing the methods outlined in Anosike fuel-savings manual for that), you also automatically reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide your vehicle burns or puts into the atmosphere – meaning that you directly reduce your own personal contribution to the above-described environmental problems and to global climate change. For example, it has been estimated by experts that just by engaging in one single act, namely, opting to buy a vehicle that achieves 25 miles per gallon, rather than 20, you can prevent the release of about 17 tons (260,000 cu. Ft.) of greenhouse gases into this Mother Earth over the lifetime of your vehicle. Consider that!

SUMMARY

Summed up very simply, the task of attaining better fuel economy or of using less gas for your vehicle, is not just good for your pocketbook. It is, even just as importantly, if not more so, also good for our nations, as well as for our environment, and our Planet Earth. What could be a better or more noble purpose and objective overall, for a society, or for a member of that society! That’s even all the more cogent reasons why it pays very highly for you, as an individual and an American or Canadian, or as just plain human being in the world, that you should begin very seriously to engage in a credible program and behavior of effective green living, fuel-savings and fuel economy – the types that are fully outlined in the chapters of the manual mentioned below in author’s box.
About The Author
Benji O. Anosike, Ph.D., is an environmentalist and leader in the U.S.”drive green” movement, and a best-selling author of over 24 books about self-help and cost-saving consumer techniques. His latest book, “Boost Your Auto Fuel Economy and Cut Your Gas Costs by At Least 50%, Guaranteed,” exposes bogus fuel-saving remedies, and explores advanced automotive science that has been tested and proven to increase fuel economy and help motorists save money. For more on the author or his works, or to learn more about his latest book, please visit: http://www.GetAutoFuelSavings.Org

Go to any car dealership and you can be certain you’ll come across a used Ford Mondeo – it is a fact as inevitable as the world being round or water being wet. Supplies of Ford cars are plentiful – used Ford especially so – with competitive pricing and popular styling just two features of a car company making arguably the best cars it ever has done.

There are two histories the used Ford Mondeo sitting on the forecourt could have in its logbook. The first history would reveal a mid-thirtysomething salesman with many motorway journeys under his belt (and many corporate lunches too no doubt). His suit jacket having been lovingly hung up in the back as it accompanied him on his travels and sales pitter patter. The second life the car could’ve had would be the all purpose, all conquering family pet. Muddy football boots, furniture from Ikea and mountains of glitter from a night out would all have come into contact with the Mondeo.

Whether the car comes with life history 1 or history 2, it doesn’t matter. Either way the car would’ve faithfully carried out it’s duties and has only appeared on the forecourt because either: a) salesman didn’t sell enough and was sacked, b) salesman sold lots and was given a new Mondeo, c) family had another child and bought a people carrier. A good buy on all accounts then, but before you decide on which colour to go for, let me fill you in on the birth of the Mondeo and how it made Ford’s accountants’ life expectancies rise dramatically.

Replacing an institution is tough. Whether you’re singing Freddie Mercury’s parts for Queen, acting James Bond in the latest film, or playing rugby instead of an injured Johnny Wilkinson for England, you’ll be more closely scrutinised than the original. And so was the case with the Mondeo. Entering the showrooms in 1993, the new car replaced the much-loved granddaddy, the Ford Sierra. Despite its global market, the European arm of Ford was haemorrhaging money and had developed the unenviable reputation of making cars the accountants wanted. This resulted in poorly built vehicles that were as interesting to look at as a Monet in a cardboard box.

Things started promisingly (not for the accountants mind) as the Mondeo shared very little in the way of parts or design with its appalling 90′s predecessors the Escort and Orion – resulting in high development costs. Top pub quiz fact: it was the first car to have a drivers’ airbag across the entire range. This forward thinking from Ford meant it topped many safety test standings and appealed to companies not wishing to give their staff death traps and of course families. Sales rocketed and it was named European Car of the Year in 1994.

One criticism was that the styling was still more cardboard box than Monet. A facelift in 1996 addressed this to such a degree, that only the doors and roof remained the same as the Mk I model. The corporate Ford oval was incorporated into the front grill giving the car a more curvy and playful look. Still no Monet but the palette was starting to take shape. The facelift was as well-received as Jackie Collins’ and this helped boost sales further although the additional outlay from Ford did mean specification levels dropped, meaning wheel trims were back and alloy wheels were consigned to the optional extras order form.

Over the next four years, with Ford’s European fortunes taking a drastic u-turn for the better and as the new space-edge Ka and Focus models were being launched, the Mondeo was suddenly in need of another shot of botox. As the new millennium dawned, so did the Mk III Mondeo – the car that more than likely stands before you at the used Ford dealership. Although it was in the same design club as the Ka and Focus, it wasn’t considered part of the ‘New Edge’ Ford design and therefore sat in the corner of the club looking restrained. A more expensive, Volkswagen Passat inspired interior is the stand-out feature, which looks expensive because it is.

Combined with further safety enhancements including the excitingly titled ‘Intelligent Protection System’ (IPS) which was a system that basically decided for you which life-saving features to use in the event of a crash. It was the most popular large family car for its entire 2000 – 2007 life-cycle. It is too early to comment on the latest Mk IV model, although it did find its way into the latest Bond film ‘Casino Royale’ for a brief scene, before being swiftly replaced by Bond’s orginal Aston Martin DB5 (what did I say about following an institution?)

To summarise, the Mondeo may be the most popular vehicle of its class and therefore buying one will result in you being as unique as a Manchester United supporter, but it has sold in it’s droves for a mutlitude of good reasons. The choice as they say, is yours.

About The Author
Kevin Creese is a professional writer and Ford devotee currently working to promote http://www.sandicliffe.co.uk/ and the Ford Mondeo.

Let’s assume, that you own a farm. You produce grain and have a lot of straw. You’d like to make your energy on site from the biomass you have available. You might plant your fields with rapeseed or canola and produce biodiesel. But you’d need to get methanol and lye first, since both of them can’t be made there! And you can use your biodiesel only in compression ignition (diesel) engines. And what if you have an old genset powered by spark-ignition (gasoline / petrol) engine? I think I might have a solution for you…

You’ll make use of a technology that’s more than 200 years old. It’s greatest development took place during World War II in 1940s in Europe. At that time most of petroleum-derived fuels were used by military and there was no fuel left for civilians. So they made their own fuel, the wood gas from wood or charcoal. In some countries 95% of civilian transport (trucks, buses, even fishermen’s boats) were fueled with this gas.

What is this wood gas? From chemical point of view it’s a mixture of combustible carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4), dilluted with some water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2). This gas can be easily used for almost every internal combustion engine. Well… except for the most modern ones, they’d require to have their electronics to be modified.

How wood gas is made? When you heat wood it is pyrolysed, i.e. all the tars vaporize. When you add some oxygen, the carbon bound within the wood cells is burnt to carbon dioxide. The vapors burn too. When those burnt gasses pass through a layer of very hot char, they are reduced to carbon monoxide and hydrogen. A small amount of methane is also produced. When the gas is cooled and cleaned of any tars and particles, it can be used in internal combustion engine, boiler or any other device!

What do you need to produce your own wood gas? You’d need a device that’s called gasifier. It consists of fuel hopper, gasifying chamber and a set of filters. It’s very easy to build, the people during WWII made it out of old water heaters and stuff like that.

Is wood gas safe? Well, if you don’t inhale it, you’ll be OK. Carbon monoxide is very toxic and poisonous, so caution is required when using wood gas. From the engine point of view, if it’s clean, it’s safe. The tars might condense inside the engine, for example on valves, which might cause the engine to fail. The particles would probably destroy the contact surfaces on pistons and cylinders. If the gas is too hot the engine will not work (hot gas is diluted and has small energy content per unit volume), but it will not harm it.

Any drawbacks? One that’s worth mentioning. Petrol engines will suffer 1/3 power loss — the wood gas does have small heating value. Diesel engines will not suffer such power loss, since they work on stratified mixtures and because of that you can introduce more wood gas to recover the power loss. You’d need to leave some small amount of diesel to be injected to the cylinders to ignite the wood gas.

Interested? One liter of petrol / gasoline can be replaced with 2.5 – 4 kg (5.5 – 9 lbs) of wood. How cool is that!

About The Author
Krzysztof Lis is MSc of mechanical engineering, graduated on october 2007, and lives in Poland. For 5 years he owns a site on biofuels (especially biodiesel and wood gas) and other alternative energy sources. He started translating this site to english http://alternative-car-fuels.com.

HERE’S THE BAD NEWS.

Engines waste petrol! Up to 80% of the high-priced petrol that you pump doesn’t get you anywhere because it goes UNBURNED to the catalytic converter. That means you are getting 0 MPG (zero, zilch, nada) from most of the over-priced petrol you pump into your tank.

WHY DO COMBUSTION ENGINES WASTE SO MUCH petrol?

That’s what they are designed to do WASTE petrol because every second of every day, everywhere in the world, every single petrol and diesel engine on the planet puts money into the deep, deep, DEEP pockets of Big Oil.

Automotive and fuel technology has been deliberately held back, and people have been kept in the dark about AMAZING inventions and discoveries, in order to sell us lots of gasoline. Sorry, but that’s how it is.

For example, the petrol could be preheated and better formulated for better combustion–but it’s not. The fuel vapor droplets could be smaller for efficient combustion–but they’re not. The pre-set computer-controlled air-to-fuel ratio could be more economical–but it’s not. The exhaust could be reprocessed to contribute to mileage (there are patents on that) but it’s not. Cars could be using a better carburetor design–but they’re not because the patent for a 100 MPG carburetor was bought and buried years ago. Cars could be running completely on water fuel–but they’re not because those patents were also bought and then buried along with the inventor (however, the patents ran out recently!). Even the hybrids that Big Auto is selling at luxury car prices don’t optimize petrol combustion and consumption.

HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS.

You can do something about it, ONE CAR AT A TIME, starting with YOUR car.

How? By using ENERGY from WATER.

If that sounds impossible, or crazy, or delusional, I understand. This is something that none of our trusted sources of information–TV, radio, teachers, movies, professors, magazines, dad, scientists, books, Sesame Street–have told us about. Why? See the bad news, above.

I mentioned amazing inventions and discoveries. Many of them have very sophisticated technical patents on them. But the kind of water energy system I am talking about, the one that is affordable and do-able by ME and YOU in OUR cars (not by buying a Big Auto hybrid with a luxury car pricetag), is a do-it-yourself technology, specifically designed for beginners with basic tools and very limited budgets. A working system can be built at home for $20 to $200 worth of parts and installed in your car, truck, or SUV on a weekend. It’s a 90-year-old technology that has been revived and developed into a simple, affordable, SAFE system based on low-cost hardware.

It works like this: The main component of the low-cost water energy system is an electrolyzer-a container of water with electrodes in it. The electrolyzer takes a tiny bit of electricity from your car. The electricity “splits” water into hydroxyl gas and feeds it immediately to the engine cylinders. The improved air/fuel mix gets very efficient combustion.

SPINNING WHEELS, NOT HEADS

Remember the bad news at the top? Remember I said that wasted fuel can be as much as 80%? In other words, even though you have paid £5.50 or more per gallon, you are only getting performance from as little as 20%–two gallons out of every ten–of the petrol you pay good money for! It puts a whole new complexion on the phrase “highway robbery.”

Our heads are spinning from rising fuel prices. Now imagine instead that ALL your fuel is working for you–it’s actually turning your wheels and not just being turned into carbon deposits on your engine or exhaust from the catalytic converter. What would it be like for ALL that fuel to be giving you mileage? It would be a WHOLE LOT MORE ECONOMICAL, that’s what! That’s what happens when you add the energy from water.

SEEING THE SEA OF ENERGY

Wondering how much energy is in water?

One gallon of water converts to approximately 1,833 gallons of combustible gas. One observer noted that a gallon of water in his water energy system lasted for about 2,700 miles.

“Energy from water” is hard to believe because we are misled by the appearance of water when it’s liquied. It looks so, well, WET and noncombustible. But if we could SEE the sea of energy in the water–zillions of hydrogen and oxygen atoms ready to break out and be combustible gas under the right conditions–it would be easy to conceive that, indeed, water can be “burned” in an engine, thus taking advantage of a new “crude”–plain water.

Why aren’t scientists telling us about this? Why doesn’t it make big headlines? More bad news. Some of them just don’t know about it, and some are paid to tell us about anything BUT this. Also, scientists are sometimes far behind empirical evidence from experimenters and inventors. Sometimes a true scientist makes an amazing discovery and is suddenly way ahead of everyone. What happens then? He or she has to fight all the other scientists that are way behind or too vested in the old paradigm. So who are the true scientists around here? A TRUE scientist could be anyone, including a scientist.

THE LAW OF CONSERVATION

Here is something to ponder from Patrick J. Kelly of http://www.PanaceaUniversity.org. He has a delightful way of tilting one’s mind out of its box:

“The Law of Conservation of Energy is undoubtedly correct when it shows that more energy cannot be taken out of any system than is put into that system. However, that does not mean that WE cannot get more energy out of a system than WE put into it. A crude example is a solar panel in sunlight. We get electrical power out of the panel but we do not put the sunlight into the panel-the sunlight arrives on its own. This example is simple as we can see the sunlight reaching the solar panel.

“If, instead of the solar panel, we had a device which absorbs some of the energy that Quantum Mechanics observes and then gives out, say, electrical power, would that be so different? Most people say “yes!–it is impossible!” but this reaction is based on the fact that we cannot see this sea of energy. Should we say that a TV set cannot possibly work because we cannot see a television transmission signal?”

BUT ISN’T IT DANGEROUS?

We have been living and driving with danger for decades–it’s called petrol! Cars and trucks are planet-polluting bombs on wheels! But we are accustomed to it, right? And for the most part, we don’t blow ourselves up.

But in the water energy system, I know, you think we’re talking about tanks of compressed hydrogen in the car, but that’s not how it is done! Here’s the beauty of it:

Hydrogen is already compressed in plain water!

All we do in a water for fuel system is UNCOMPRESS and USE it–immediately, on-demand, in the engine! No hydrogen bombs on board. Just a container of distilled water! And the exhaust is–WATER! You split water, you burn it, you get fantastic mileage, you get a little water left over.

GREEN TECHNOLOGY

You can’t get much greener than this unless you go for an engine designed to run completely on water, like the one that was designed and proven by Stanley Meyers when he drove across the United States on approximately 28 gallons of water. (You can see interviews with him on YouTube.) You can’t get much more affordable, either. And because this is GREEN technology, and you will not be causing any damage to the car or the engine (far from it), your warranty will most likely be intact AND the government will owe you money for going green!

INSTALL WATER ENERGY SYSTEM, DROP JAW

You could pay someone to install your water for gas system. There are hundreds of people around the world who are constructing and installing water energy systems, as well as driving “watercars” themselves. These people save fuel, save money, get much better mileage, and enjoy smoother-running engines and greatly reduced emissions. And that’s why they are happy to do the same for you so you can save fuel, save money, get much better mileage, and enjoy a smoother-running engine and reduced emissions.

Or you could do it yourself, in which case you would first get instructions, which are available on line. Then you would make a parts list and buy the parts from hardware and electronics stores. Third, you would construct the components of the water energy system, put them all together, and install the system, making all the necessary adjustments to it. You would now be the proud owner of a Water Hybrid Vehicle. And last, after picking up your jaw from the floor, where it has dropped in astonishment at your engine’s mileage and performance, you would become an advocate of water energy, as I have.

BETTER COMBUSTION FOR THE MIND

To really grasp the implications and possibilities here, we must first clean the carbon deposits out of our minds. Using waterfuel is an approach to our cars and fuel that requires more participation from us. The whole water energy system consists of physical components PLUS your mind and attitudes about fuel consumption. To really optimize your waterfuel system, you will also be using fuel warmer, some Kiker wires to improve the spark, Xylene to add to your petrol, a low-friction synthetic motor oil, a couple bottles of fuel treatment to clean carbon deposits from old unburned fuel out of your engine, a MAP sensor enhancer to keep the car computer from over-correcting the fuel mix back to over-rich, tires that are always fully inflated, and a real-time mileage tracker so that you won’t have to use an entire tank of petrol to know what mileage you are getting.

Perhaps the most important thing is this:

Trust yourself.

When you use an “alternative” fuel-efficiency system, you are an experimenter who is going against the herd and chances are, you are going to get some flack. Don’t be fooled by self-appointed “experts” who don’t have hands-on experience and say it can’t be done. When they laugh or frown or condescend and say, “It’s scientifically impossible,” well, first of all, you know they are not “true scientists” (so why are they acting like they know what “scientifically” means?). Ask them if they have ever tried it themselves. You will find they have not. Further discussion might be fruitless, but you can try. Tell them to just wait and see. See for yourself. Don’t wait ten years for big industry to do it because they don’t want to GIVE you anything–they are only thinking about what they can GET from you while they continue making empty promises.

WHAT CAN A WATER ENERGY SYSTEM REALLY DO FOR ME?

Well…

How much will gas cost the next time you fill your tank?

A water energy system won’t lower the price of ALL gasoline.

It will lower the price of YOURS. But don’t just take my word for it.

Leslie Lackman is an advocate of the application of free, unlimited energies–mind, water, life force–to cars, health, wellness, and performance.
http://water4gas-4heroes.eoltt.com