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Still working on your New Year’s Resolution? Instead of vowing to eat healthy or go to the gym (not that those are bad ideas!), how about you resolve to become a safer driver? Here are some ways you can accomplish that in 2017. End Drinking and Driving: While deaths involving a drunk driver have dramatically increased over the years, the problem still exists. Every day, 36 people are killed and 700 people are injured from drunk driving related incidents. Help lower that number by not only refraining from driving under the influence, but helping others make better choices. Fill Up Your Tank: Let’s be honest, 2016 had too many close calls where you almost ran out of gas. These situations are dangerous, create unnecessary anxiety, and are bad for your engine! Make an effort to watch your gas tank more carefully so you’ll never have to find yourself on E. Change a Tire: Brush up on your tire changing skills this year! You never know when this skill may come in handy. Consider Safety Rating: When shopping for a vehicle, safety tends to take a backseat to style, performance, and technology. Make sure you are exploring safety features as well. The great thing about New Honda Vehicles is that you don’t have to compromise! Buckle Up: Out of all the incredibly innovative safety technology we have out there, the best way to protect yourself in an accident is by wearing your seatbelt. Wearing your seatbelt reduces your chance of injury or death by over 50 percent. So tell your passengers to buckle up or get out! No More Distracted Driving: In 2014 alone, distracted driving was responsible for 431,000 injuries and 3,179 fatalities, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Do your part by keeping your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, and eliminating any and all distractions. It starts with you! Be Prepared: Nobody ever says “I wish I wasn’t so prepared.” The roads are unpredictable, and accidents can happen. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you can’t exit your vehicle, you’ll be thankful for auto escape tools like a seatbelt cutter or glass-shattering hammer. Go out and buy them today - you won’t regret it! "7 Resolutions for a Car-Safe New Year on Edmunds.com." Edmunds. N.p., 06 Jan. 2015. Web. 05 Jan. 2017. < https://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/7-resolutions-for-a-car-safe-new-year.html >.

Winter weather is finally upon us, which means we’re in for some pretty chilly mornings here in Plattsburgh, NY; Burlington, VT; Potsdam, Lake Placid, and Malone, NY! Nobody likes heading out the door a few minutes early to clean off and warm up their vehicle, but it’s a necessary evil of living in Upstate New York. A few of you have been asking about the right and wrong way to warm up your vehicle, and we have your answers below! How long should I let my car warm up in the morning? Actually, experts suggest that you shouldn’t. While it may be easy to click the automatic car starter, finish getting ready, and head out the door to a toasty vehicle, it’s actually damaging your engine. Engines require an even flow of air and gasoline to run properly, and when the temperature drops, your car will end up putting more gasoline into the engine than air. This “washes away” the oil your engine needs to run properly, which can cause lasting damage. This doesn’t mean that you have to completely break the habit of starting your car a few minutes early, but keep it to just that. Start your car, gather your things, and head out the door. How should I warm up my car if I can let it idle? Great question! You might be surprised by this, but the best way to warm up your vehicle is to get in and go! An engine can take anywhere between 5-15 minutes to warm up, so take your time and don’t push your car. It will cause unnecessary stress to the engine. If you have any other questions about the proper way to warm up your vehicle, stop in and see us at DELLA Honda in Plattsburgh! We’ll check out your vehicle and make sure your heat, defrosters, and everything else are working perfectly for you this winter! The only thing we can’t do is shovel your driveway! Dee, Sarah. "Warm up Your Car Correctly on Cold Mornings." Autoblog. Autoblog Open Road, 28 Oct. 2016. Web. 7 Dec. 2016. Orwig, Jessica. "Stop Hurting Your Engine by Idling the Car When It's Cold out." Business Insider. Business Insider, 21 Jan. 2016. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.

Old man winter is knocking at the doors of those of us living near Plattsburgh, NY; Burlington, VT; Potsdam, Lake Placid, and Malone, NY! What better time to brush up on some safe driving tips from bad weather? And what better person to advise than Alex Deborgorski from History Channel’s Ice Road Truckers? Deborgorski is a pro at driving in the world’s worst conditions. Here’s what he has to say about driving on snowy or icy roads: Slow Down: Reduce your MPH about 10 miles for unfavorable road conditions, even if you have All-Wheel Drive. Watch Out For Black Ice: Black ice can be difficult to spot. This crystal-clear gaze usually forms on places the sun can’t hit (shadows of buildings), places that trap cold (bridges), and intersections (because of drains), so use extra caution around these places. Don’t Brake While Turning: When you have your foot on the brake, the wheel stops turning. To avoid any spin-outs, lightly use the brake before the curve and gradually start turning your wheel. Take your foot off the brake and the gas while you’re taking the turn so you don’t gain any speed. Turn Into a Skid: People tend to try to overcorrect when this happens, but the best thing you can do is stay calm, do not brake or accelerate, and turn your car in the same direction your car is skidding. This will “cancel out” the skid and the car will correct and go straight. Now that you’re ready for the wintery conditions, make sure your vehicle is! Stop by and visit our Service Department at DELLA Honda in Plattsburgh so we can make sure you’re winter-ready. Schedule your appointment today. "Safe Driving Tips for Bad Weather." Real Simple. N.p., 30 Jan. 2015. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. < http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/safe-driving-tips >.

Thanksgiving is almost here. It’s time for family, delicious food, and unfortunately, traffic. If you’re one of the 40 million Americans traveling for Thanksgiving, you’re probably not looking forward to it. That’s why DELLA Honda in Plattsburgh wants to help your trip go as smoothly as possible with these helpful travel tips. The busiest travel days for Thanksgiving are usually Wednesday and Sunday, so do yourself a favor and get out the door sooner, like Tuesday, or later, like Monday to beat the traffic! You’ll be thanking us later. If switching your schedule just isn’t an option, try taking a less busy route to your destination. You’ll avoid the stress and road rage of bumper-to-bumper traffic and maybe enjoy some scenery along the way! Packing makes perfect! Gather up everything you need for the trip the night before including charging cables, drinks, snacks, and games so you and your passengers will be happy and content all the way there. Save time on the interstate by being prepared for the tolls. Make sure you have enough change, or if you have an EZPass, make sure it’s properly mounted. Please, on behalf of all of us, do not text and drive! With the roads are hectic as they are this time of year, and the weather being unpredictable, we need all of your focus on the road ahead. You may be feeling under pressure to arrive at your destination by a certain time, which may cause you to drive a little faster and break some road rules. We have to remind you that others are probably doing the same, which makes the road very dangerous when you factor in unpredictable weather. Always use caution and obey the speed limit and road signs. Last but certainly not least, avoid any vehicle problems by stopping by our Service Department for a vehicle check up! We wouldn’t want something as silly as a flat tire to ruin your Thanksgiving plans. Stueber, Scott. "Ten Driving Tips to Help You Enjoy Your Thanksgiving Holiday." West Bend Insurance of Wisconsin. N.p., 19 Nov. 2013. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.

It’s never a bad time for a refresher when it comes to driving. Regardless of how long you’ve had your driver’s license, it can be easy to forget (or ignore) some of the most basic and important rules of the road. BuzzFeed assembled ten sample questions to test your knowledge, and we have them (and the answers) for you below. A solid yellow line next to a broken yellow line means that vehicles: a)next to the solid line can pass b)next to the broken line can pass c)can pass both ways You must have your signal on for ___ feet before making a left turn. a)50 feet b)75 feet c)100 feet Defensive driving is… a)having a car’s length between you and the next vehicle b)always looking at the vehicle in front of you c)always looking for possible hazards The speed in residential areas is ___ unless posted otherwise. a)20 MPH b)25 MPH c)30 MPH Two sets of solid, double yellow lines that are separated by two feet or more… a) can be passed through to enter/exit a private driveway b)can be used as a separate lane c)should never be crossed Other vehicles on the freeway are driving 70 MPH, though the posted speed is 65 MPH. Therefore, legally: a)you can drive 70 MPH or more to keep with the flow of traffic b)you can drive between 65-70 MPH c)you can not drive faster than 65 MPH You can turn left onto a one way street from a one way street if: a)there is a sign permitting it b)the traffic runs to the right c)the traffic runs to the left It is foggy out. You should use your: a) fog lights only b)low beams c)high beams How many seconds down the road should you be looking in order to anticipate obstacles? a)5-10 seconds b)10-15 seconds c)15-20 seconds You approach a railroad crossing without warning devices, and in one direction of the tracks you can not see 400 feet down it. What is the speed limit? a)15 MPH b)20 MPH c)25 MPH How did you do? Did you pass or do you need a refresher on the rules of the road? Check the answers below and give yourself a point for each correct response. If you got 7 (or above) out of 10, you passed! If not, make sure you study up! Answers: 1.b  2.c  3.c  4.b  5.c  6.c  7.c  8.b  9.b  10.a Abarca, Justin. "Can You Actually Pass A Driving Test?" BuzzFeed. Buzzfeed, 13 Mar. 2014. Web. 30 June 2016.