Gone are the days when we carried on with our lives irrespective of what was happening in the world. Events in other hemispheres that we are unaware of affect us all. It is certainly not possible to be aware of all the life changing events happening elsewhere all the time, despite the advantages of the Internet revolution, but we at least can be aware of happenings in our own country and certainly in our own space or sphere. Every Driver Can play a part and Should play a part in the never ending quest for Safety, Economy and Eco awareness not forgetting that Learner Drivers frequently find themselves out of their depth!

Everything Counts! And Some!

This is not a bad philosophy especially when focused on Driving, Driving Habits and looking after our precious four wheels! Every action that we take when behind the wheel has a consequence whether it be letting another Driver know what we are about to do or showing some consideration to another Driver in difficulty or taking full control of a situation that can spin out of control in an instant. Being able to take control of a situation is a highly essential skill in today’s driving environment and stems initially from correct training at the outset followed by a conscientious and determined effort at increasing awareness.

Focus Counts! And Some!

Most Learner Drivers, naturally, tend to focus on the things going on in their immediate proximity, usually due to a fear of colliding with some object or other. Focus often goes no further than the vehicle in front or the one immediately behind! Being able to further extend your visibility, mentally and physically will equip you with the skill to stay out of other driver’s mistakes which lead to accidents and heartache. Usually one Driver makes an error… sometimes serious… sometimes fatal and other drivers get sucked into the vortex inadvertently. It is natural to then blame the other driver for your own misfortune when with good observation skills you could have proceeded unscathed.

Accidents Count! And Some!

A common accident is when one driver decides to carry out a manoeuvre without looking or checking his or her space and then has two following vehicles (usually too close) combine to make a three car collision. Quite often it is the car in the middle which comes off worst sustaining damage front and rear. Driving much too close to a vehicle in front is one of the easiest driver faults to rectify…it doesn’t take a PHD to ease off your gas pedal if you see other traffic slowing down and to get into a regular habit of checking other driver’s speeds so that it becomes an automatic brain function .

Braking Counts! And Some!

What you don’t need is to be training your brain to stab at the brake pedal at every available opportunity. Drivers that brake before every bend or twist in the road or many metres from an obvious stopping situation like Traffic Lights or a hold up in Traffic are a danger to all other drivers and are using their Brakes about 80 % more than they need to. You use your brain first and foremost to assess what is going on ahead (and behind) and if it requires that you slow down then you come off the Gas Pedal immediately and a more gentle slow down is the result and a much much longer life for your Brakes.

Green Counts! And Some!

Another added bonus is that when you are reducing the gas pedal pressure you are burning less fuel and emitting less noxious gases into the environment as well as protecting your engine. Talking about noxious gases; here in Ireland currently we have almost incessant road works and road renovation and refurbishment with the attendant temporary Traffic Lights and Flagmen. If it is obvious that the delay is going to be a long one then while you are Waiting for Green why don’t you Act Green and switch off your engine. Again this saves fuel, your engine and the environment. Any long delay and you should switch off the engine and give your hard pressed feet a breather.

Choosing a car cover is not as simple as visiting your local auto supply store and purchasing the generic car cover to throw over your car. Most generic car covers won't do a good job of protecting your car. Although a model-specific car cover is of course the best selection, there are many factors to consider when choosing the right car cover for your auto. Is your car exposed to extreme weather conditions? Is your car tucked safely away in a covered garage? Choosing the correct material and fit are an important factor when selecting the best car cover.

Some car cover manufacturers provide custom-made car covers for those who may have made additions to their prized sports car. Adding a wing or side mirrors will necessitate buying a custom cover. A tight fit is important when keeping dust, sand, and other elements off your car. There are several materials to choose from when selecting your car cover. Tyvek is a pliable plastic that offers protection from snow, rain, bird droppings, and tree sap. Tyvek is usually offered in less expensive one-size-fits-all car covers. Duravent offers protection from bird droppings and tree sap, while still letting air and moisture escape from the car. Letting the heat escape means less chance of a cracked vinyl interior. Ultralon, a favorite choice in car covers, not only protects your car from the weather but also from UV rays and heat.

Another option when it comes to car covers is the use of a bra or cockpit cover. These are partial car covers that protect certain parts of the car. A bra on the front of your car will protect it from nicks and scratches and a cockpit cover will protect the interior of your car. These covers are fitted to the shape of your windows, keeping the UV rays out while offering protection against fading and cracking.

Do you ever get lost? You know, maybe you're looking for your child's music recital, and you take a wrong turn and end up in the middle of nowhere. This is a rather common occurrence that happens to the best of us. We all lose our way now and then. However, that doesn't mean that everyone stops to ask for directions. Some of us hate to stop at the random gas stations or pit stops to get that much-needed input. And this is why we continue to drive around, circling aimlessly. Oh and of course, act like we know what we're doing. Well, fortunately these days there are simpler ways to deal with this common dilemma. Ever heard of the new car navigation systems? I'm sure everyone has by now. These wonderful little innovations are making life a great deal easier for many of us.

Does your vehicle, van or SUV have one of those car navigation systems? Now, it's not like the car has to come with one. Although this option is rather choice on some of the newer cars, it can be a tad pricey. The good news is you can buy a GPS system separate and use it whenever, or where ever you like. In fact, Garmin is one of the top sellers of portable and car navigation systems. I purchased one from Best Buy for a few hundred dollars. While this may sound expensive for some, trust me it's a purchase you'll be glad you made. Just last summer I had to make a trip to the heartland. Okay, maybe not everyone knows what the heartland is; therefore if you're not privy to this vital information, the heartland is Iowa. Anyway, I decided to take my nice little GPS system on this trip and it was a life saver. I basically programmed the start and finish point addresses into the navigation system and it told me where to go. And when I say it told me, I mean it literally told me out loud. Many of these contemporary car navigation systems talk to you, which proves wonderful on the road. This way you don't have to worry about looking down and reading something all the time. Car navigation systems run off a satellite signal and work like a charm any where on the planet.

If you're in search of a modern GPS system, then it's imperative to look online. The Internet is loaded with car navigation systems to suit anyone's needs. Isn't it time you knew where you were going? Get informed with a new navigation system at your side.

When people decide to buy a motorcycle, the dealer will usually throw in a helmet. This is because state regulations require bike owners to have this on as a safety device. Before leaving the place, the individual should check if this will snugly onto one’s head.

If this can easily be taken on and off, then the person can already drive away. Most motorcycle helmets come in just one color. This is usually in yellow, red, white and orange. Should the individual want to add style to it; there are places that offer stickers that will look good on the helmet.

The decal store is not that hard to find. This is because the people who run these places also make stickers for cars, boats and trucks. The person can drive around town to find it, check the local directory or surf for these in the Internet.

There are hundreds of sticker designs to choose from. The individual will notice that these are available in different shapes and sizes which also means that the price of these vary from $.99 cents to $4.00.

People who want this to look cool and flashy should get those that are reflectorized so that motorists can see the biker on the road. This safety feature will prevent drivers from bumping into the biker from the back causing injury or death.

Many people want to add stickers that have lines going from the front of the helmet until the back. Others want a big cartoon caricature on the sides or on the rear.

If the design the customer wants is not available, the dealer can probably make a customized version according to the specifications given by the client.

Before selecting the sticker, it will be a good idea to imagine how the bike owner will look with it in front of a mirror. If this will make the individual look like a clown, it is advisable to choose something else.

The only safety feature that a motorcycle has against collisions is the helmet. This is because this two-wheeled machine doesn’t have the space for a seat belt or air bags that are commonly found in automobiles.

So if the person wants to look cool and be safe on the road, it will be a good idea to have stickers on it. This will probably make the individual stand out in a crowd of bikers who might mistakenly get someone else’s head gear when it is time to go home.

When pondering the purchase of motorcycle leathers, there are several issues that one must consider. While one would think that style would be first and foremost, in actuality, it is the protection that a good set of motorcycle leathers affords the skin that is of the utmost priority for any serious biker. Leather has over the years been proven to be the best material for motorcycle clothing, due to its resistance to tear, its natural warmth, and its acting as a first layer of defense by coming between the biker and the rough asphalt road. Leather has often literally saved the skin of many bikers.

All leather is not the same. In this article, I will attempt to address the choices that a biker faces when purchasing motorcycle leathers. We will explore the different types of hides available, the different tanning processes, and how to tell the differences.

There are basically three hides that you will run across when looking for motorcycle leathers: Pigskin, Buffalo, and Cowhide. You may at times find such hides as Lamb skin, sheepskin etc. Just make a note that these hides are inferior and should not be considered riding grade leather.

Pigskin

Sometimes called "Soft Leather", pigskin is very thick and soft to the touch. It will keep you warm in the winter and looks very nice. There is nothing wrong with soft leather (pigskin or lambs skin) except that it has a tendency to tear, is not very durable, and is not considered riding grade leather. If you are looking for the "Biker Look" but do not ride, Pigskin is the way to go! Also, for garments that are not necessarily worn for protection, (such as leather vests) pigskin and lambs skin are excellent choices due to their suppleness and pliability. There are many fine styles available in soft leather and it is the least expensive leather out there. If you ride, stay away from Pigskin for protection; spend the extra money to protect yourself with some true riding grade motorcycle leathers.

Buffalo Hide

Another high quality leather, Buffalo Hide is not from the North American Buffalo, but the Water Buffalo, a native of India and Pakistan. Many leather products come from this part of the world, and the Pakistanis are world renown for their expertise in the manufacturing of leather garments. Buffalo hide is also very thick (ca 1.2mm) and can be tanned in both top grain and naked leather processes. Durable and not easily torn, Buffalo Hide, though not as common as cowhide, is considered to be riding grade leather.

Cowhide

The most common material used for motorcycle leathers is Cowhide, chosen for its strength and durability. It is anywhere from 1-1.3mm thick, depending on the tanning process, is naturally warm, and will afford the utmost protection against road rash. The ultimate in riding grade leather, Cowhide is the choice of Bikers everywhere.

Whichever type of hide you choose, you need to also understand the tanning process, and how it adds or detracts from the quality of the leather. Leather was once the skin of an animal, and therefore must go through a tanning process to strengthen it, and to keep it from decomposing. Tanning makes the skin stable and rot proof without sacrificing its structure and strength. The tanning process involves several stages, including the removal of the hair and the outer layer of skin, as well as the fatty part of the flesh. The hide is then stabilized by one of several methods using animal oils, alum, chrome salts or vegetable tanning. How it is actually finished determines the quality, or riding grade, for our purposes.

To fully understand choices available, one must first understand the term "grain". The grain is the epidermis, or outer layer of the animal's skin. While imperfections such as cuts, scars, and scratches will exist, the grain in its natural state has the best fiber strength, and therefore the best durability. The grain also has natural breathability, resulting in greater comfort to the wearer.

Finished Split Leather

The middle or lower section of a hide that has been split into two or more thicknesses. A polymer coating is applied and embossed to mimic grain leather. Finished splits should only be used in low stress applications because they basically have no grain. If the polymer coating is left out it is often used to make suede. Not considered to be riding grade, but can look good nevertheless.

Top Grain Leather

Top grain leather has been sanded to remove scars and imperfections, then sprayed or pasted for a uniform look. The smooth side is where the hair and the natural grain used to be. Top grain is probably the most common material found in motorcycle leathers. It is not the best leather available, but with a medium price range, and thicknesses of 1 to1.2mm, top grain leather is considered to be a strong and durable riding grade material.

Naked Leather

Also known as Full-Grain Leather, this tanning process uses only the finest of hand picked hides. Full Grain leather has only the hair removed and is not sanded to remove imperfections, thus the epidermis remains in tact. Naked (without embellishment) Leather has nothing other than the dye added. Full grain naked leather requires no breaking in period and is soft to the touch from the very beginning. Hides are typically 1.3+mm thick, and must be hand picked for uniformity. The natural full-grain naked leather will wear better than other leather, and will actually improve over the years. This type of leather is the ultimate riding grade; the most sought after, and consequently, the most expensive.

How to Tell the Difference

Finished Split will be thin. Most riding grade leather is at least 1mm thick. Top Grain leather is the top of the skin and has small bumps all over where the hair follicles used to be. Top grain garments are somewhat stiff when new, and require a breaking in period. On the other hand, naked leather, or full grain leather is very smooth and does not exhibit the small bumps that are present in top grain. Nor is the garment stiff when new. Naked leather is soft to the touch from the beginning and requires no breaking in period.

Pigskin or Pig Napa most resembles naked leather, in that it is a soft and supple hide, and can also be very thick. Not to say that it happens often, but beware of unscrupulous retailers that try to pass pigskin for full grain cowhide. If it's cheap, it's probably pigskin. Lamb skin is also very soft and pliable, though not as thick as pigskin. Lambskin also has a smooth surface.

Things to keep in mind are that most leather garments are manufactured overseas in India, Pakistan, and China. The "Made in America" garments are going to be the most expensive on the market, and the quality of the hide and the workmanship is not going to be that much better. Many motorcycle leathers are designed in America and made in Pakistan. As mentioned previously, Pakistan is world renown for its leather expertise, and you should be able to trust their labeling. Pakistan exports both Buffalo hide and Cowhide garments. Leather garments manufactured in China are usually made from pigskin. This is not to say that it's always the case, but you should be able to tell by price.