A lavender sachet. Long known to soothe the jangled nerves of humans, the scent of lavender has now been shown to calm anxious dogs who are traveling by car, making them more likely to lay down quietly and less inclined to move around or bark, reveals a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Even better? Unlike pricey pet tranquilizers, breathing in the scent of lavender has no dangerous side effects.

[photo: oOlemon]

Tired of begging your kids to do things that are good for them—such as brushing their teeth, taking their vitamins, buckling up in the car or drinking their milk? Tel Aviv University have found the problem—and the solution! In their recent study, they found that kids aren’t motivated when you tell them about the long-term benefits of doing daily good-for-you tasks—for instance, avoiding cavities, being healthy and staying safe in an accident. However, they discovered that kids will do what you want when there’s an immediate fun benefit—even a small one! So, if you need them to brush their teeth, get a toothbrush that lights up or a fruit-flavored toothpaste. Have trouble getting them to take their vitamin? Let them pick one shaped like their favorite cartoon character. They won’t buckle up in the car? Attach a toy to their seatbelt. They won’t drink their milk? Get them a silly-shaped straw to sip it through!

[photo: azrainman]

Before you hand over your hard-earned cash for a used car, find out if the car is legally allowed to be sold first. The National Insurance Crime Bureau offers a free theft and crime report, which reveals whether the car has been reported stolen and unrecovered or has previously been declared a total loss. To get your report instantly, simply enter the car’s VIN here.

[photo: Hugo90]

Less than one-half of one percent of all car accidents end in the water. Still, in the off chance it happens to you, knowing what to do can save your life. First, don’t wait for help—you usually have under two minutes to get out and rescue crews won’t be able to reach you in time. So, start by unfastening your seat belt. That may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many times rescuers have to do that for people, says auto expert Lauren Fix, author of Lauren Fix’s Guide To Loving Your Car, Everything You Need to Know to Take Charge of Your Car and Get On with Your Life. Then, before the electricity shorts out, roll down the window and climb out. If the car has already begun to sink, climb into the back seat and break the rear window to get out. “Because the engine is the heaviest part of the car, the front is the first to sink, so you’ll have more time if you escape from the back.” Window won’t roll down? Don’t try to open the door; not only is it difficult to do, which will waste precious seconds, opening it causes water to rush in, which can make the car flip over. Instead, kick out a side window—which, unlike the windshield, will shatter upon impact—and aim for its weakest spot: the upper corner.

Tip: Make a quick exit with the ResQMe keychain, which has a spring-loaded metal spike that breaks your car window and a stainless steel blade that cuts jammed seatbelts if you’re trapped in your vehicle. ($16.80 for two, amazon.com) 

[photo: au_tiger01]

Surprising as it sounds, folks who listen to pop and rock music while driving are less likely to speed and have minor accidents than those who listen to country, blues, classical and even easy listening, reveals a recent British study. What’s the link? “Pop and rock songs are usually energizing and mood-boosting, which increases your alertness and makes you more aware of your surroundings,” explains ethnomusicologist Elizabeth Miles, author of Tune Your Brain®: Using Music to Manage Your Mind, Body and Mood.

[photo: tandemracer]

If your mechanic says your car or truck needs a new radiator, brake drum or other replacement part, forget buying it through his or her auto repair shop. Chances are, you’ll be hit with an inflated markup that could double the part’s original price. Instead, ask your mechanic for any details you need to know about the part, then log onto frugalmechanic.com. There you can search by make and model for the part and choose the cheapest option. Once it arrives, simply bring it to your mechanic to have it installed.

[photo: Lara604]

When you realize your needle is on E and you’re about to run out of fuel, don’t speed up and race to the next gas station. You’ll only burn up what’s left. Instead, start coasting! “Whenever you get the chance and only when it’s safe to do so, take your foot off the gas pedal and use the natural momentum of the car to move your forward. You’ll triple your gas mileage, which will take you three times as far,” says Lauren Fix, author of Lauren Fix’s Guide to Loving Your Car. The exception to this rule: If the car is sputtering, bucking or kicking. “If this happens, pull over right away to a safe area and turn off your car,” she urges. “It means that you’ve reached the bottom of your gas tank and the car is pulling sediment into the car’s engine, which can result in thousands of dollars in damage.”

[photo: boulter]

If you’ve forgotten where you parked your car in the parking lot and you’re too far away for your remote key signal to work, touch the key fob to your chin, then push the unlock and lock button. Strange as it sounds, this extends the range of your signal by as much as several hundred feet so you hear the “beep-beep” of you car even when you’re far away. “Your body works like an antenna and the fluids in your head act like an electrical conductor, boosting the signal,” explains Tim Pozar, a Silicon Valley-based radio and network engineer.

[photo: Caitlinator]

When researchers from The Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia studied the records of over 7,000 children involved in car accidents, they found that those between the ages of four and eight who were restrained in the rear seat of a car in a belt-positioning booster seat were 45% less likely to be injured in a crash compared with children using a seat belt alone. A belt-positioning booster seat raises your child up so that your car’s lap-shoulder belt is properly positioned across his chest and hips, providing better protection for his head, internal organs and spinal cord.

Tip: Be sure to install it correctly by watching a brief video tutorial at research.chop.edu/programs/carseat.

[photo: Neeta Lind]

You know how it goes: The first few minutes of a road trip are exciting, filled with the potential for an action-packed adventure that everyone’s gonna love. After that, it’s all “Are we there yet?” Luckily, these proven tips can make any road trip happier, easier, faster and cheaper! 
1. Sniff away stress: Hang a lavender sachet or air freshener from the rearview mirror—this scent soothes jangled nerves in seconds, Miami School of Medicine researchers found. Traveling with the family pet? The scent of lavender also destresses animals during car rides, making them calmer and quieter, reports the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
2. Boost alertness with rock tunes: They’re a driver’s best friend. And no wonder: Numerous studies show fast upbeat tunes—like rock and pop—keep you more alert, says ethnomusicologist Elizabeth Miles, author of Tune Your Brain: Using Music to Manage Your Mind, Body and Mood. Plus: British researchers discovered that you have a lower risk of having a minor accident while listening to rock and pop than if you played classical, the blues, country or easy listening. “Uptempo tunes make you more aware of your surroundings, which helps you drive safer,” Miles explains.
3. Be prepared for the weather: Don’t be surprised by rain, hail or anything else that could make your road trip more treacherous. To get the weather forecast anytime, text the city name or zip code to 42276, The Weather Channel’s forecast system. You’ll get a text message back telling you the weather for the next 36 hours. The service is free; text messaging charges may apply.
4. Sidestep time-stealing traffic: Get free up-to-the-minute traffic reports by calling 866-MY-TRAFC (866-698-7232). Say the city and road you want to know about, then listen to whether the road you’ve chosen is clogged, closed or clear to drive on.
5. Never get lost again: One wrong turn can mean wasting precious hours trying to get back to the right route. Luckily, if you’ve got a cell phone, then you have free GPS that can show you exactly where you need to go. Simply call Dial Directions (347-328-4667), give your location and destination, and turn-by-turn directions will be sent via text message in seconds.
6. Get free 411: Can’t find a house or business? Forget driving around hoping to spot it. Instead, get the address or phone number you need by dialing (800) GOOG-411 for Google’s free information service.
7. Get on-the-go food for less: The Entertainment Book ($15 to $45, entertainment.com)—known for major discounts on fine dining, movies and attractions—also offers big savings on fast food restaurants along your driving route.

[photo: BenedictFrancis]