Look Up

http://defensivedrivinghabits.blogspot.com/2012/

If you haven't heard, Utah has some new laws. One of them might be a little hard to follow, if you're an avid multi-tasker like me. However, it might also save your life.  

So let's break it down:

"To focus on the road, to focus on your driving, that's the main intent," said Sgt. Todd Royce, of the UHP, referring to the new cellphone and mobile device restrictions that go into effect May 13.

If you don't already use a hand-free system (the built in blue-tooth capability was one of my absolute favorite features of the new Honda CRV I test drove!) for your cell phone when you drive, it's time to look into that, or plan to stop using your mobile device altogether behind the wheel.  

Texting while driving is already illegal. But current Utah law does not specifically ban us from doing all kinds of other distracting things with our phones — like searching the Web, picking a song, or even dialing a phone number. Starting May 13, that's all illegal.

Utah will essentially have a handheld ban with a few exceptions. The new law bans us from using a cellphone or laptop to send texts, emails or instant messages. You cannot dial phone numbers, access the Web, take or view pictures or video, or enter data into your mobile device.

You can, however, still dial your phone with your hands during a medical emergency, reporting a safety hazard, or reporting criminal activity. On the job law enforcement and emergency personnel are also allowed to use their hands.

We are allowed to use our cellphones and other mobile devices using voice-operated technology, and other systems that are physically or electronically integrated into the car, such as Bluetooth.

We can still use our mobile devices to view GPS, and other mapping programs. We can also still talk with our phones up against our faces. But you have to use voice commands to dial the number.

"We feel it will save some lives out there on the roadway," said Royce.

Eleven people died last year on Utah roads in crashes attributed to distracted driving.

Troopers will be on the lookout for people manipulating their cellphones in any way.

"You're probably see a lot of warnings and a lot of education done," Royce said of when the law first goes into effect.

But, when troopers and other police officers start writing tickets, it's a class C misdemeanor with a fine up to $100, or a class B misdemeanor if you cause someone else to get hurt.

Even though you will still be able to use your phone with these new restrictions, Robert Hull, UDOT director of traffic and safety, says setting the phone aside while you drive is always the safest practice.

"The ultimate responsible driving behavior is 100 percent focus on your driving," Hull said.

It is not illegal to use a headset while driving in Utah, so that's an option for some drivers, as long as you're not working the phone with your hands. Of course, you can always pull over, or get off the road when it's safe, to use your phone." Source: KSL.com

The bottom line:  Put down your phone, look up, and drive safely!  

5 Reasons You Should NEVER Drive a Honda Odyssey | Winning Entry

When our good ol’ pickup bit the dust 4 years ago, my husband and I went looking for the best family-friendly, used vehicle we could afford. It seemed like a no-brainer to go with the 2002 Honda Odyssey. After all, it has an average customer rating of 4.5/5 stars on edmunds.com and is ranked first in it’s segment by CarandDriver.com. But it didn’t take us long after signing the paperwork to discover the Odyssey’s awful secrets.

1. Heated Seats

Listen, Honda, I live in Utah for a reason—the average temperature in the winter is 32 degrees. It’s my choice to drive in a frozen tundra, it should be my choice whether or not I want my buns toasty warm. Granted, I can turn the heat off, but once it’s on I’m too warm to reach over and push the button, basically removing my agency.

2. Seating for 7

Who, in their right mind, would want to drive with six other people? Not me! I like riding solo as much as possible. But when Honda puts all those extra cushy seats in the Odyssey, people assume you want to haul them around. Listen kids, just because there’s room in the van, doesn’t mean I need to drive you to school.

3. Folding Backseat

Granted, this could be an advantage if you don’t want to drive people around (see reason 2), but it’s a great disadvantage when your husband shops at Home Depot. Do you realize how much paint and wood can fit in a van when the backseat folds down into the floor? Take my word for it. It’s a lot. Just to return the favor, I might see how many Nordstrom bags can fit in the same space.

4. V-6 Engine

I live in a small town with small vehicles. It’s bad for my image to sit at a stoplight next to Joan Schmo and have her know by the sound of my powerful engine I could take her in a drag race. Not that I would go zero to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. That’s just pretentious.

5. Automatic Sliding Doors

Honda is contributing to the nation’s obesity epidemic one automatic sliding door at a time. Gone are the days of building your biceps by opening and closing heavy van doors. Now I push a button on the remote and they open without any exertion on my part. With as flabby as my arms are getting, a gym membership should have been included the Odyssey’s purchase price.   

Jill Swensen blogs at Being Spiffy where she tells the tales of her people. Said people include her husband and three children. When not blogging, you can find Jill carting her family around the thoroughfares of Utah, searching for adventures and the perfect fountain Dr Pepper.

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The Cog

I don't know where this video has been all my life, but it'll be the best two minutes of your day. Enjoy!

Calling All Honda Lovers | Share Your Story For a Chance to Win

I've never been shy about sharing how much I love my Honda.  It holds its value in a crazy-good kinda way, it tops safety ratings, and its got all the features that makes my family really love it!

How about you? We want to hear about how you love your Honda and we're giving away a month-long test drive to a first place Honda lover!

To enter:

1. Write a 300-500 word essay on why you love your Honda. Do you a have a specific fond memory of the car? Do you have a favorite feature? Have you taken your Honda on amazing road trip or been saved in a harrowing adventure? Share anything you love about your Honda!   This can be your current car or a past vehicle.

2. Please include (attach) a picture of the car.  Extra points if it's an original picture.  Double bonus points if you're in the picture.  If the picture isn't original, please include proper attribution.

3. Write a 3-6 sentence bio on yourself.  Include links to your blog, and any public social channels as applicable. (e.g. links to pages on G+, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube)

4. Include your first and last name and phone numbers or other contact info, so we can tell you if you've won!

5. Email your entry to jennakwood@gmail.com by May 6th.


Rules for winning:

1. All work must be original and not unpublished.

2. You must live in the state of Utah and be able to drive to the Orem dealership to pick up your car.

3.  You must be at least 21 years of age.

4. You must have current car insurance.

5. By submitting your essay, you give Ken Garff Honda of Orem the rights to publish your post and submitted images on our blog, Facebook page, and other social channels.  We give all credit and attribution to you.


Prize: 

Prizes will be announced May 9th.

First Place: 1 month-long test drive in a 2014 Honda vehicle.  We will decide together which vehicle is best based on our inventory, your interests and family size.

Runners up:  2nd, 3rd, and 4th place entries will be awarded a week-long test drive in a 2014 Honda vehicle.  Additional runners up may be decided by the essay committee depending on the number and quality of entries.

Each test drive will be exclusive for that winner.  We will promote you on our blog and social channels during your test-drive.


Questions?  Ask in the comments so that everyone can benefit from the answer!

Perdiddle

www.clarineyecare.com

Remember when Sugar and I got pulled over for her tail lights being out?  Well, we're having a run of funny luck.  I thought I was suddenly driving a bit dim and it was time to haul Sugar over to my friends in the service department at Ken Garff Honda, but you know how life is... and I just hadn't gotten there.  I knew I was pushing my luck, but every day, I thought... tomorrow... I'll get in tomorrow.  Well, let the record show: Don't push your luck.  The universe knows and it's always going to have the last laugh.

It was late one night and I needed to gas up and run a couple of errands.  Off I went into the night, knowing I was a perdiddle time-bomb.  (Remember playing "Perdiddle!" as a kid?  You'd have to touch the roof of the car and be the first to shout Perdiddle!! every time you passed a car with a headlight out... Maybe it was just us...) Anyway, it was late and I was hedging my bets that there wouldn't be any cops out at that time of night.  This is not sound logic.  At all.  Cops come out at night.  They're the definition of nocturnal.  Nevertheless, off I went.  There's a gas station RIGHT by my house and lo-and-behold there were TWO cops there getting gas.  In a panic, I thought I shouldn't stop there.  If I pull in, I thought, they'll see my perdiddleness and I'll get a ticket for sure.  So I decided to get gas elsewhere.  

Genius. 

I worked my way up a few side streets to another gas station, filled up, and headed on my way. I blew right on by another police officer hidden in a parking lot. Pleeeeease, don't see me... Pleeeeeease don't turn on those lights... I told the universe.  He didn't.  Whew.  Then of course, I got cocky.  Foolish girl.  I told myself that I was just fine.  I'd already seen three cops and no one seemed to mind that Sugar had a perma-wink.  I could finish my errands in peace, right?  Ha. 

Off I drove, very careful to abide the speed limit (why thumb your nose at fate more than you need to?), to finish my night's to-do list.  I was humming a happy tune and rounding the last curve when I saw an SUV make a quick U-turn.  Nooooooooooo.  

Yes.  

The lights came on and my luck ran out.  Let me be clear: I do know that driving with only one headlight is both dangerous and illegal.  (Don't try this at home, kids!)  I pulled over and waited for the officer, license and registration in hand.   He was super nice, pointed out which headlight was out, and made me promise to get it fixed... oh, say... TOMORROW.  How about first thing in the morning, eh?  I promised and he gave me back my license without issuing a fix-it ticket.  I'm not sure when I've breathed such a sigh of relief.  I hurried and finished my errands and went home (passing yet ANOTHER cop... we're up to FIVE now... who kindly did not pull me over.)

First thing next morning Sugar and I went to see our friends in the Ken Garff service department.  Jesse had me in and out in about 20 minutes.  Seriously.  I got to eat a cookie and have a diet soda.  Can't argue with that, right?  

Anti-Boring

I was chatting with a friend about upgrading Sugar to a CRV sometime in the near (as soon as I save up a little bit) future.  I sort of can't get that week I spent driving one out of my head.

"Hondas are so boring," he said.  "But I guess they're practical."  

Excuse me?  Says the guy who drives the beige beater?!

It was a little bit like he'd insulted my child... or at least called my pet ugly.   Either way, Hondas are not boring.  Not even a little bit.  

Let's take a look at three of Hondas new beauties.  

Does the new CR-Z look boring?

The Honda CR-Z is the world's first production hybrid vehicle to offer a 6-speed manual transmission. These six speeds reward CR-Z drivers with the perfect gear for every driving occasion — including a high final-drive ratio for excellent fuel efficiency[1]. From the S2000 to the Civic Si, Honda has considerable experience with 6-speed manuals. So it's no surprise that the CR-Z's 6-speed gearbox is as efficient as it is engaging. Adding to the experience is an easy-to-grip shift lever finished in aluminum and black leather (EX).

Nope.  Not boring.

How about the new Crosstour?

The Crosstour EX and EX-L models feature a powerful 192-hp (SAE net) 4-cylinder engine. The DOHC i-VTEC® system enhances the effect of VTEC® on Crosstour's 4-cylinder engine by adding Variable Timing Control™, or VTC™.

Does that sound boring to you?  Me neither.

Or the new eco-friendly FCX Clarity?

 

The FCX Clarity is an electric vehicle. A fuel cell vehicle is powered by an electric motor running on electricity generated by a hydrogen-powered fuel cell stack. The more efficient Honda E-Drive electric motor lets you drive with peace of mind knowing that you are helping to reduce the amount of CO2 being released in our atmosphere. The compact coaxial motor is quieter and can run at higher rpm, for greater efficiency and speed.

I'm not sure where my friend is getting his information, but there's nothing boring about a Honda.  I think I need to talk him into a test drive.  Better call my favorite Ken Garff guy, Wendell Wood, and get him behind the wheel for a test drive!

Things to Do in February

At the start of every month, we here at the Ken Garff Honda of Orem blog will post a round up of exciting things you can do with your family around the Utah Valley!  We are hard at work checking out all of the hundreds of activities, so we can show you what we think are the best ones!  Some may be free, and some may not, but you can guarantee they will all be FUN!

February 1st - 28th - Midway Ice Castles - $5-$10.  We’ve added a lot to the Ice Castle experience since our early days in Midway. This year will be a blend of several new ideas along with some of the initial design that our guests loved in Midway three years ago. We can’t wait and hope you can come!

Feb 6-8, 7:30 pm & Feb 8, 2:00 pm - Cirque Ziva - Golden Dragon Acrobats - $20+ Cirque Zíva, a technically innovative, beautiful new show from the artistic director of the Golden Dragon Acrobats, features a large, athletic cast and spectacular scenic and lighting elements. With superb artistic merit, high production values, and a solid commitment to cultural exchange, Cirque Zíva demonstrates why the Golden Dragon Acrobats have been recognized as the preeminent Chinese acrobatic company touring the United States.

Saturday, February 15th 9:00 AM - Valentine's Stoplight 5k Run.  $25.  Join us for an awesome Stoplight 5K to bring some extra fun to your Valentine’s celebration! For singles and couples alike Wear your colors:

• Green = Single and ready to mingle
• Yellow = It’s complicated, but maybe
• Red = Taken