Happy Aidil Adha - Korban 1430H

1. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the readers of Happy Aidil Adha. Please drive safe and come back alive. :)

2. Also, I would like to give a credit to the photographer, Matlan from MIROS for this awesome Raya Korban photo. Clap clap clap!

What are Five Common Driving Mistakes?

Driving is a funny thing. You can have mad skills, be doing everything right, and one teensy-tiny error in judgment can turn your car and your world upside down. The statistics don't lie, and the stats say we fall off the smart wagon way too often. You can fill a large city with the number of annual car accidents well over six million. And yet some people think flying is dangerous. Go figure.

After careful analysis by a top expert okay, me if you must know here are five things that come up often - and can quickly take you down if you get them wrong:

1. The Fallen Object. This is a double edged whammy. First, you drop something, and immediately you take your eyes off the road to see where it went. Then, you duck down below your dashboard trying to retrieve it. The only way this doesn't get you in instant trouble is if you are on an abandoned airfield strip. Ask the owner of a Bugatti Veyron who just took his megabuck exotic for a swim off the shore of Galveston.

The best solution if you need that dropped or misplaced item right away and I'm betting you don't is to pull over first and then get it. It will be easier to see, easier to reach, and you can even get out of the car and come in from the other side if necessary. And you wont twist your back into a pretzel.

Cars are not planes it is usually easy to pull one over safely and quickly. Do it.

2. The Squirt. This refers to the act of crossing busy traffic when there really isn't a good margin of error because a) you are too impatient and b) you have confused your car with a transporter beam.

Now, admittedly there are situations where a small break in traffic is the only break you will get for a long time. This is completely understandable. What isn't is the suicidal desire to leap out in front of three SUVs and a Mack Truck when there was a perfectly good gap right behind them. But I was running late you say? Get this one wrong and you will be referred to as the late.

3. The Blind Squirt. This is a variation on the Squirt. In this case, you jump out without being able to see who is coming, or without even checking.

Usually, it happens when either a) the view of oncoming traffic is blocked by a bush or large vehicle, or b) you never really took a full stop and your momentum carried you into the intersection. Perhaps it looked clear as you approached. Take that stop anyway. You will be able to thank me later.

4. Red Light, Green Light 1-2-3. There are two sides to this coin.

You are waiting on the green, and you are the first car. Resist the urge to jump out when it changes. The only reason you can read this now is because years ago I hesitated a second when the light went green - and something flashed in front of me at well over 60. If I had jumped out he or she would have hit my side dead on.

This brings us to the other side of the equation. We all try to make lights. It seems to be hard wired into our right foot; you know the one that floors the gas instead of braking when we see the light change. In the film Star Man, the alien played by Jeff Bridges say:

"Green means go, yellow means go faster, and red means go very fast after observing earth driving habits."

You may even argue that if you don't go through on that yellow you may get rear ended by the maniac behind you. True. But you still have a better shot at surviving than if you are broadsided. And at least it will not be your fault.

Now, I am not recommending you slam on your brakes when you clearly have plenty of time to cross, just that if it is iffy, stop. Trust me; there will be another green light.

Resource: Family Car Guide

Are Brakes the Real Killers?

KUALA LUMPUR: After years of searching for reasons for the high accident and fatality rate in the country, the authorities said yesterday it could be due to low quality brake pads found in almost all older vehicles.

Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh said yesterday replacement brake pads installed by smaller workshops were "of the worst quality in the world".

He said the department was now appealing to Malaysians to change worn-out brake pads only at authorised dealers for car parts.

"Motorists can go to the normal workshops to service their car or for oil change but do not go to these shops to change brake pads.

"The prices may be half the price of original brake pads but we have discovered they are of the worst quality, especially when braking on wet roads," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

To stop motorists from buying cheap brake pads manufactured locally, he said the authorised dealers had agreed to lower their prices from July next year.


This was because a "massive clean up" of lower quality brake pads would start in eight months' time to stop workshop operators from buying and selling such brake pads, he said, citing the example of motorcycle brake pads sold by local manufacturers to vendors at RM2 each.

"These brake pads are sold to bike owners at RM15 each. These brake pads are truly lethal for them."

Suret said that with the rainy season in full swing, he hoped those driving with cheap brake pads would follow two simple tips to protect their lives and the lives of family members.

First, they should drive with a gap of at least six car-lengths.

Second, they should drive at speeds 20 per cent lower than usual.

"The problem of bad driving in bad weather is compounded by poor brakes, and this could be one of the main reasons we see more accidents during the rainy season."

News Resourse: NST Online

The Latest Perodua MPV - Alza [Photos]

This is just another achievement of local automotive industry, where Perodua will launch its 1st Multi Passenger Vehicle (MPV) today. Below are some of the photos taken during the MPV road testing. Oh by the way, the new Perodua MPV name is Perodua Alza. :)

Images Resource: Melayu Kini

Popular Road Kill Calendar 2010

1. Fed up with the usual calendars featuring semi-naked models, cute puppies or rural scenes? Well how about this idea - a 'roadkill' calendar featuring a run-down of your favourite animals and this kind of calendar proves surprisingly popular.

2. The year starts with a squashed squirrel, followed by a dead badger lying on the verge in February. The shots get a little more strange by the end of the year - November is a fish stranded on the roadside while December features a festive photo of an unidentifiable carcass.

3. It might seem in bad taste but it has proved a hit, with creator Kevin Beresford selling hundreds of copies already.

'The pictures are quite shocking but I've tried to take them in an artistic way and make each one into a portrait of a silent, tiny tragedy,' he insisted. The 57-year-old said his day job gave him the idea.

'I'm a courier and travel around so I see a lot of roadkill and it inspired me,' he said. 'Damien Hirst has made a fortune with dead animals so I thought I'd give it a try.'

Some shops have refused to stock it but it was proving popular with students and 'would make a good Secret Santa office present', Mr Beresford said.

News Resource: Metro UK

Most Driving Distractions for Men and Women

1. In the recent survey done by American Automobile Association (AAA) to 2501 people aged 16 and older, the study showed that 95% of samples said texting while driving is completely or somewhat unacceptable. That is 5% more than people who rated people driving after drinking alcohol as a serious threat to their safety. In my opinion, the result is shocking since for many years, drinking alcohol is the top hazard to the drivers in United States.

2. Meanwhile, in the other survey done by LeaseTrader.com to 3000 drivers, men and women, to see the top most driving distraction, 18.3% of men agreed that road rage frustration is the major distraction while for women, kids in their car is the most distracted ones.

3. While this survey has been conducted in US, it is not necessarily represents people in Malaysia since we have very different in culture, society and religions believe. However, for us, it is good thing to know and a value-added to our current driving and road issues which I think worse than them. Hehe.

Resource: Chicago Now