Boyd Autobody & Glass Articles

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

When driving, it's so easy to forget about the other drivers out there and just to focus on what our vehicle is doing and where we need to go. We share the road with many other people who are all hurtling down the asphalt in glass-and-steel contraptions at dangerously high speeds.

If you want to be a safer driver, be aware of the four kinds of personalities on the road

Chances are, you'll recognize yourself as one of these personalities and -- more importantly -- you'll spot these personalities among other drivers. Knowing how you and everyone else reacts can help you predict and avoid collisions.

The timid driver

The timid driver is the one who drives slower than the speed limit and sometimes brakes...

Imagine this scenario

Jim is walking down the grocery store aisle and he stops to compare prices on cans of dog food. Behind him, Larry has to step around him in the aisle to avoid crashing into him. Instead of quickly stepping around Jim and moving on, Larry flies off the handle. He starts screaming at Jim and threatening him. And maybe he follows Jim around the grocery store, trying to do the same thing to him.

In a grocery store setting, that sounds ridiculous. It would be ridiculous if it happened at the park, at the gym, in the Laundromat, in church, at a restaurant, or at the movie theatre. But on the road – with Jim in one vehicle and Larry in another – that is an all-too-common occurrence. If Jim stopped suddenly,

The Importance Of Your Vehicle's Windshield

When you get into your vehicle and sit behind the wheel, the last thing you think about is your vehicle's glass. It's there but you don't really pay attention because you see through it to view the other (more important) things going on when you drive.

Your Vehicle's Glass Is A Key Component In Your Safety

Even if it doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Here's why:

You vehicle's glass is very strong and takes a beating, protecting you from wind, dirt, dust, rocks, bugs, snow, ice and rain Your vehicle's glass is part of the structural integrity of your vehicle. Most people don't realize this but your vehicle's windows are designed to help maintain the shape of your vehicle and to...

Tips To Take Care of Your Freshly Painted Vehicle

1. Wash the vehicle by hand or a touchless car wash system, not a commercial brush or soft cloth system.

2. Wash with cold water only in summer, in the shade, and with warm water in the winter. Do not use detergents or cleaners.

3. Wipe off all waterspots with a soft clean cloth or chamois after a wash.

4. Do not wax, polish, or apply any sealant products for at least 90 days.

5. Keep the vehicle from unnecessary extremes of high and low temperatures.

6. Do not park under trees or near industrial facilities with heavy fallout/smoke.

7. Avoid driving over gravel roads.

8. During winter months, have under fenders and hidden areas force pressure...

As technology increases and as life gets more complicated, our ability to drive safely is being put to the test

In this article, we will address four modern trends that are making it harder and harder to drive safely today:

Worsening road conditions: Many of our roads were built and paved when governments were flush with money. But in today's troubled economic climate (and with other issues like healthcare getting top priority), our road conditions are worsening. Roads aren't big enough or strong enough to handle the traffic. This means: More vehicles on the roads…and those roads aren't in great condition. That is not a recipe for safe driving. Rather, it increases the likelihood of a collision (as well as the personal cost of damage...

Driver's education is meant to teach us good driving habits

We're supposed to learn those habits, have them instilled in us as second nature, and then use those habits for the rest of our lives.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. It seems like we take weeks or months of driver's education, but then only retain a small portion of what we should remember. As soon as we drive out of the driver's education parking lot, we immediately forget several important lessons.

Here are some things you might have forgotten after driver's education Keep both hands on the wheel. This maximizes your control of the vehicle and ensures that you never lose control if one of your hands is suddenly wrenched away from the wheel. Instead, as soon as...

Safe driving is everyone's responsibility

Here are eight ways you can be a safer driver Slow down. Speed is one of the top causes of collisions. Actually, it's not speed itself but it's the reduced reaction time that you have when you drive above the speed limit. Speed limits are chosen for a reason, including the number of potential hazards you'll face on a road and the distance you need to stop Don't call or text. Distracted driving is on the rise as mobile devices become more popular. We lead busy lives and feel the need to multitask in the vehicle while we drive. However, driving takes 100% of our attention Slow down at crosswalks. Yes, you are already watching your speed (see #1) but slowing down at crosswalks is a good way to stay vigilant...

Back To School!

It's that time of year again when our mailboxes are brimming with flyers for back to school specials. Pens for a dime? Notebooks for a quarter? Back to school outfits for a toonie? Sounds good! We'll take a dozen of each!

"Back to school" means something else entirely for drivers

"Back to school" should be synonymous with "SLOW DOWN".

In the summer drivers tend to relax a little because (compared to winter driving) the roads are nice and dry and we can see further ahead. The sun is out for much longer and people take vacations, so there are fewer people on the roads. In other words, it's much easier to drive safely in the summer and (if we were to be honest with ourselves) we may slack a little in our driving...

There's nothing like a road trip for the summer (or any other time of year for that matter)

It's great to get away from it all, feel the freedom of the open road, and just point your vehicle to an interesting (and perhaps new-to-you) destination.

But road trips can also be dangerous

far more dangerous than sitting on the couch or taking a walk around the park. Once on the road, you are opening yourself up to the risk of collisions with vehicles, pedestrians, and wildlife. Here are some top ways you can stay safe while on a road trip:

Plan where you are going. It's fun to drive until the road ends but when we don't know where we're going, that's when things become unsafe. An unexpected turn in the road can yield new unknown dangers...

Our Vehicles Are Marvels of Modern Technology Over the years, vehicle safety features have evolved to provide us with an increasing amount of collision prevention and protection

From safety glass to seatbelts to air bags to crumple zones.

Although We Want Safe Vehicles, There Is A Limit

Here are some safety features you'll never see:

Glow-in-the-dark vehicle: "But officer, I didn't see the car" is a common complaint. This is solved if we all drove around in glow-in-the-dark vehicles Sumo belts: Instead of a seatbelt, drivers get into those novelty sumo wrestling suits so that, in the event of a collision, everyone bounces around harmlessly inside the vehicle Mandatory indicators: Who hasn't seen drivers turn without...