Auto Trends

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that of all accidents on our roads today, 25% of them are caused by distractions. We are talking about cell phones, stereos, MP3 players, Navigational systems, and yes… food. For a decade now, busy America has become obsessed with eating in their car.

For some it is because they don’t have enough time to sit down and eat, for others it is because they like to be on the go so much, they never feel like they have time. Studies have shown through the NHTSA the the worst time of this offense is during the morning trek to work.

People get up late and get ready just in time to jump in their car and stop by a drive-through and grab a sit to eat. This sounds like a great idea, but have you ever thought about the dangerous distraction this causes for you and the other drivers around the world.

All it takes is for a split second of your attention to be turned elsewhere and there is an emergency stopped vehicle, or a sharp curve. The majority of these food related accidents occur after someone has spilled on themselves.

Reports show that instead of pulling safely off the road before attending to a mess made in the car, most people would rather attempt to clean-up while still in the car. This is a very bad idea, but what can we do about this habit now that it has become such a part of our lives.

Number one, you can remember these statistics and if you ever do spill, take the time to find a safe sxit and pull over before attempting to do any cleaning. Second, you can be careful of some of the things that you choose to eat while you are in your car.

Basically, anything that has the tendency to spill is the biggest danger while driving, but we will break down the worst culprits for accidents from smallest to largest:

Chocolate-

Chocolate is one of the least offenders, because it does not exactly spill, but it does ooze and crumble and we all know that it can also stain. It also has a tendency to stick on our fingers and make messes on the shift knob, stereo, steering wheel, etc. While we are busy trying to clean this stuff up, we are very vulnerable to the slightest occurrence on the road.

Breakfast Pastries and donuts-

Another common spill item is the breakfast pastry. Jelly, icing, chocolate, and cream have the tendency to find their way outside while we are paying attention to the road, rather than for any porous holes in our snacks.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, and tacos-

Similar to the pastry hazard, hamburgers have a way of losing their topping and when you are driving, but instead of falling on your plate, they end up all over your lap. Items like pickles, shredded lettuce, cheese, catsup’s, mustard, etc., commonly fall out of such food. Worrying about this happening takes enough attention away from the road, but when it does happen it is even worse.

Hot Soups and Chili-

While these have the tendency to spill, they also can burn which spells a double whammy while on the road. A scolding hot item splashing down the front of your shirt or pants commands attention while your attention should be fully on the road!

Barbecue Food-

Most of us can’t even eat this stuff without making a huge mess even when we ARE paying attention, so you can only just imagine how bad we do when we are not. Add in the stain potential similar to chocolate and it is easy to see while this hazard centers our list.

Fried Chicken-

Fried chicken is finger licking good, but it is also very greasy. Most people will try to shy away from leaving grease spots all over their car where they touch, which means when they are driving while eating greasy chicken, they are only driving with a few finger, or the back of their hand. Also not a good idea.

Soft Drinks-

While some may not eat in their car, most all of us have at least drank something. One of the worst offenders of this nature is the soft drink. The nature of this item that gives it its most dangerous factor is its carbonation. A bumpy car ride can shake up a can of soda for a nice explosion and if it goes all over we are going to have the tendency to want to clean it up.

Coffee and Hot Chocolate-

This is the number one cause of most food related accidents right now. Even with the new “spill proof” cups, the liquid nature of this beverage can find its way on the outside of the cup time and again. All it takes is a bump in the road to send the cup flying right onto your lap. Not only can such a spill make a big mess in a hurry, it can also seriously burn you.

These are only a few of the most dangerous foods while on the road, so use your common sense when making the choice to eat in your car… your life depends on it!

All ye auto enthusiasts and gamers…

There is a new Need for Speed on the block and it has some goodies to offer any armchair racer. The EA games Need for Speed game series is one of the longest series in history and for good reason. It actually offers a taste of the black top, with enough realism to keep any performance car enthusiast entertained on a quiet Sunday afternoon.

Coming from its “tuner” variety video games, which heavily featured import tuner and exotic cars, the new Carbon edition sets the stage to be a real treat for the muscle head. We are talking about Camaro’s, Challenger’s, and Charger’s, of both the new and the old variety.

That’s right, there is a 1967 Camaro SS, a sleek Plymouth Challenger, a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, a retro 2008 Challenger, and a Doge Charger R/T included in this game, which is a pleasant welcome from the usual import tuners that these games offer.

What could be even better than getting the chance to play on the blacktop with a piece of American history? Hearing it as well…

When you turnover the engine on one of these beasts, it sounds just like the real thing. There is no carbon copied computer variation of what a V-8 should sound like, these are the obvious sounds from the real thing.

If you add a supercharger in the mix, your car actually sounds like it for a change. It has the very distinct high pitched whine of a Wieland supercharger and it increases its tone the more boost you earn throughout the game play.

The game also features very realistic handling characteristics of each car from the obvious fish tailing of the 67 Camaro to the extreme curve hugging characteristics of the 2007 Porsche Carrera GT.

The muscle cars of the new Need For Speed Carbon, is however just one third of the excitement. There are actually three pathways of this game… muscle, import, and exotic. Depending on your favorite manufacturer or type of performance you are after, the game caters to your interests and will offer you new upgraded vehicles along the lines of the pathway you have chosen.

If you are a fan of te Need for Speed series, the Carbon edition lives up to its name and is available for most popular gaming devices, such as the PC, Playstation, Wii, Nintendo, and Xbox varieties.