You Should Know! Tips on Car Safety for Dogs!

Everyone knows that dogs love car rides. Ask a dog if he wants to go for a ride in the car and he's likely to jump for joy. If you're going to travel in the car with your dog, you should heed these safety tips to make sure your dog's car ride is a safe and happy experience.

Traveling with your dog offers an opportunity for him to run away:

-    Always make sure that your dog's leash is on and someone is holding it firmly before you open the car door.

-    Your dog should always have a collar with an ID tag. Maybe on the tag put your phone number so that you can be contacted directly if your pup is lost.

-    If you're going to be away for any length of time, consider getting a second ID tag with your local address.

-    Microchips are another way to make sure your dog will find his way back to you if he's lost.

-    Keep a current photo of your dog in your glove compartment that you can photocopy or on your phone that you can easily print. This will allow you to show it to others or post if need be.

Dogs shouldn't be allowed to ride in the front seat because they can jump or climb on you while you're driving. This could distract you and cause an accident. Like people, dogs riding in cars have to be secured.

-    One option is to use a pet carrier. Keep in mind that if you use a pet carrier, it must be secured to the car or it could fly forward in a collision, injuring the dog or people in the front of the car.

-    Instead of a pet carrier, you can use a restraining harness that connects to your car's seat belts. The harness has the advantage of giving the dog freedom to move around, while at the same time keeping him safe in case of an accident.

Just like people, dogs can get car sick. Car sickness in dogs can be possibly due to stress and not the actual motion of the car.

-    Don't feed your dog a heavy meal just before embarking on a car tip. A light meal a couple of hours before the trip would be best.

-    Take water and a bowl along and schedule breaks every hour or two to let your dog walk around and do his business.

-    Take along cleaning wipes and some air freshener to deal with any accidents that may happen inside the car.

Don't leave your dog inside a hot car with the windows rolled up. You shouldn't leave your dog alone in the car at all, but if you must, make sure it's not for a long period, try to park in the shade if it's a warm day, and crack the windows enough to let air circulate.

Major Vehicle Trends

Ah, the good ol’ days of 10 years ago, when the number of cupholders in a vehicle was actually a selling point. However, what drives consumers today is technology capable of keeping them safer on the road, providing impressive fuel economy and allowing for hands-free mobile communication.

Infotainment: 10 years ago: In Dash CD Players and cruise control systems were a luxury and are now standard. The days of packing a clumsy binder CDs are gone. For instance, satellite radio was not available in cars. Now Ford vehicles come equipped with SYNC which can stream Internet radio like Pandora or can play music from USB plugged-in digital music players or memory sticks.

The desire to have access at information at any point in time and has helped to spawn new technologies such as voice-activated controls, real-time traffic and Wi-Fi mobile hot spots.

Taking out the guesswork: New Curve Control, available on the 2011 Explorer, monitors a driver’s speed entering fast, sharp corners then corrects the vehicle. Other examples: collision warning systems, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and cross-traffic alert.

Today’s vehicles are equipped with new technologies that make driving easier, including self-parallel parking, rear back-up cameras and rain sensing wipers. Terrain management lets the driver select the type of terrain the vehicle is driving through, whether it is sand, snow or pavement. The vehicle then adjusts wheel spin, throttle inputs and other inputs accordingly.

Fuel economy: It used to be that bigger was better. Now consumers are looking more for fuel efficiency now more than ever. Hybrids, EVs, Electric have really shown us what the future might hold.

Creature comforts: Consumers today enjoy a more comfortable ride: better interior materials, sleeker interior designs, heated and cooled seats, memory seats, remote start and more storage capacity. Even a hands-free power lift gate that opens with the wave of a foot underneath the rear bumper can be found on Ford’s new C-MAX.

Security: Keyless remotes, alarms and warning systems and anti-theft systems have come a long way toward making life on the go safer for many. Ford and Lincoln offer: SYNC’s 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report, MyKey, Intelligent Access with push-button.

And what does the future hold? Expect more revolutionary change for the auto industry. Look for better lithium-ion batteries, alternative fuels, more advanced safety technologies and more connectivity such as vehicle-to-vehicle systems that will allow vehicles to “talk” to each other via wireless communications embedded into the car.

Ford B-MAX Concept Debuted

March 2nd, 2011

The B-MAX concept showcases a unique new body design which eliminates the traditional B pillar between the front and rear doors, and features twin rear sliding doors.  This innovative format – which has already been engineered for production – promises best-in-class access to the cabin, together with unmatched convenience and flexibility.

The innovation continues inside the cabin, where the interior offers exceptional space and versatility for such a compact vehicle.  The use of high quality materials highlights the vision that small, practical cars can also be comfortable and well-equipped. The B-MAX concept combines the integrated B-pillar door format with a flexible and easy-to-use seating system, resulting in an interior which offers unmatched practicality and versatility.

Having folded the 60/40 split rear seats and the front passenger seat to create an extensive flat load floor, the side access is particularly convenient to load bulky items such as flat-pack furniture or even a bicycle.

The B-MAX concept is just 4.3 inches longer than the Fiesta five-door, and is approximately one foot shorter than the new C-MAX. With this highly compact footprint, the B-MAX concept is ideally placed to meet the fast-growing demand for downsized cars which are better suited to congested urban conditions, but without sacrificing interior space and comfort.

The B-MAX concept is powered by an ultra-low-CO₂ powertrain, featuring the 1.0-liter Ford EcoBoost^® gasoline engine unit combines direct fuel injection, turbocharging and twin independent variable cam timing to achieve significant reductions in fuel-consumption and CO₂ emissions.