Car Security Guides

Ever wonder how power door locks work? Cars can be locked and unlocked using keypads, keyless entry systems, conventional locks, and all these systems work similarly using body controllers, power-door-lock actuators and gears.

Ways to unlock a car include using a key, pressing the unlock button in the car, using the combination lock on the outside of the door, manually pulling the knob on the inside of the door, using a keyless remote control or by a signal from a control center. Some cars with power door locks have a switch that sends power to actuators to lock or unlock the door. More complicated systems have several methods of locking and unlocking the doors and are controlled by the body controller, which is a computer located in the car. (more…)

Seatbelts have been proven to save lives when they are used, even though they do cause injuries occasionally. The question here is how can a piece of fabric become the difference between life and death?

Everyone knows that a seatbelt keeps a person from flying through the windshield or being thrown into the dashboard when a vehicle comes to a sudden stop. Inertia is the cause of the person flying through the car after the car has come to an abrupt halt. Inertia keeps a car moving in the same direction at a constant speed while the road friction and air resistance work together to slow the car down making the car’s engine compensate to keep the car traveling at the determined speed. All objects located in the car, including the people have their own inertia that is separate from the moving car. Inertia causes the objects in the car to be moving the same speed as the car, making them feel like they are one single moving unit. The difference in the two is obvious when the car come to an abrupt halt and the objects inside it continue with the speed that the car was traveling before the halt, and would not stop until it were exposed to an object such as a windshield, dashboard or such. A seatbelt applies the stopping force to more durable parts of the body over a longer period, helping protect the body from more serious injuries. (more…)

When you are driving around town or traveling between cities, anything can happen. You can have a flat, run out of gas, experience mechanical problems or get sick. If you are driving, especially if you are driving for long distances alone, here is a list of items you should always keep handy inside your own car to be prepared for any situation.

• Even if you are against the use of cell phones in cars, you should always have a fully charged cell phone in your car in case of an emergency where you need to contact a spouse, parent or friend. Keep a car charger for your cell phone inside, as well, in case your phone does start to lose charge. This can be a lifesaver if you need to contact the police, a towing company, a company to pop your locks or a friend or family member to let them know where you currently are. In addition to the actual cell phone, it is important that you have a list of important numbers in your glove compartment at all times. (more…)