On a motorcycle, your gear is your only protection in a fall. Riders often talk about “ATGATT”: all the gear, all the time. It does not have to be expensive, but each item should be designed for riding. Helmet: the non-negotiable A helmet is the single most important item. NHTSA estimates that helmets reduce the … Read more
Every new car has to meet basic safety standards, but crash-test results show big differences between models, even within the same class. The good news is that you do not have to guess: independent ratings are free and easy to read. The two main rating systems in the US The NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings come … Read more
A family car that also carries a dog has to manage two kinds of passengers with very different needs. The children need seats and safety; the dog needs space, an easy way in and a way to stay put during a sudden stop. Load height and cargo shape For a dog traveling in the back, … Read more
Tires are the only part of the car that touches the road. Braking, cornering, comfort, noise and fuel economy all depend on them, so it is worth choosing them carefully instead of buying whatever is cheapest. Read the sidewall A typical tire size looks like 225/45 R17 94V: Use the size, load index and speed … Read more
A breakdown is stressful, especially on a busy road. The first minutes matter most, and they are about safety, not about fixing the car. Get to safety At the first sign of trouble (a warning light, smoke, a loss of power, a strange noise), turn on your hazard lights and pull over as far as … Read more
When people think of a car for snow, they think of all-wheel drive. AWD does help, but the most important part of a winter car is something you can add to almost any vehicle: proper winter tires. Tires first All-wheel drive helps you get moving, but it does nothing for braking or cornering. Winter tires, … Read more
Accessory shops and online marketplaces are full of things for your car. A few of them make daily life easier or protect the car; many end up rattling in the glove box. Starting from a real need is the simplest filter. Accessories worth having Fitted floor mats. All-weather rubber mats made for your model protect … Read more
Defensive driving means assuming that other road users will make mistakes and leaving yourself room to deal with them. It is less about reflexes than about habits that keep you out of tight situations in the first place. Keep space around you Following distance is the foundation. In good conditions, keep at least three seconds … Read more
Car safety used to be about surviving a crash: seat belts, airbags, crumple zones. Most recent progress is about avoiding the crash in the first place. Here is what the main systems do and what we know about how well they work. Automatic emergency braking Automatic emergency braking (AEB) uses cameras and radar to detect … Read more
Even a minor collision is unsettling, and it is easy to forget something important. Keeping a short checklist in mind, or in your glove box, helps you protect yourself and your claim. Rules vary by country and state, so check local requirements too. 1. Check for injuries and make the scene safe Stop the car, … Read more
