Tag Archives: Fort Worth Buick

Fort Worth: How much do you trust Red Light Cameras

After reading an article recently about the Vice President of American Traffic Solutions Inc., based in Scottsdale, Ariz misrepresenting himself to the public by posting supportive comments as a “general citizen”, it makes me wonder about the entire red light camera program itself.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viKQQIShquY

Here are a few excerpts from an article in The Spokesman

Bill Kroske, the vice president of business development at American Traffic Solutions Inc., based in Scottsdale, Ariz., also posted comments on The Spokesman-Review’s website. The Herald, of Everett, Wash., reported that it tracked posts made by Kroske to the company in Arizona, and that he had signed up for the Herald’s website using his real name and work email.

A reporter covering a popular debate over the “Photo Red” program noticed that one person with the screen name “W Howard” had been commenting frequently, and discovered the account was linked to a company that appeared to be using the comments to promote its business, Herald editor Neal Pattison said. The user never identified himself as an employee of American Traffic Solutions.

After several people posted comments criticizing the cameras, Kroske said their response “is just why we need the cameras.”

“It is that same lack of common sense and emotional control that is found in aggressive and dangerous driving,” Kroske wrote.

…and this is the point that was running through my mind while reading the rest of the article

“Employees need to understand that as companies we are held to a higher standard and that posts, tweets, and blogs not only reflect on the individual but also the company that they work for,” he said.

So what does everyone else think about red light cameras? I can appreciate his drive to promote his product, but at the expense of misleading the public is just not right. In fact, this is the exact reason why I question the ethics of the cameras to begin with. If the advocates are lying, what about the cameras: are they accurate, are the ethical, are they really helping a problem, is there even a problem to begging with?

What does everyone else think. I think I’m secretly obsessed with this topic, so I may be way off base here, but my gut says I’m ok to feel this way. Leave me a comment and tell me what you think…and no, Bill Kroske, you aren’t allow to comment as someone else.

Get Your Dallas Buick, or GMC’s Air Conditioner Ready For a Hot Summer

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This is something that Freeman Grapevine recommends that you check now. A broken A/C unit in Texas heat can probably be one of the most frustrating and uncomfortable things I can imagine going wrong with my car.

So, how do you know if your Air Conditioner needs service? There are two ways. You can do your research on the net and find videos like the one below. There are a lot of useful videos that can be found and used to diagnose almost any problem you may encounter.

Of course, once you diagnose an A/C issue, what then? How do you fix it? Well, that’s the easy part. Bring your Buick or GMC into Freeman Grapevine. We’ll confer with you about your suspected issue and check ourselves. Upon finding the issue we’ll repair the problem quickly and cost effectively. There are a lot of things you can do yourself, but messing with your A/C unit, other than diagnosing a potential problem, can exasperate the issue. You are much better off having us take a look at it.

Air Bag Safety And Children

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At Freeman Grapevine, we take child safety very seriously. As a Dallas Fort Worth car dealer, it is our responsibility as much as it is yours to provide safer solutions for children while they are in your Buick, or GMC.

Let me first start by saying that in the late 80’s automakers began installing airbags in cars for safety reasons, and there’s no doubt that over the past 30 years airbags have saved thousands of lives.

However, it is important to note that airbags are designed to protect average-sized adults…not young children.  I know we’ve all heard it, but airbags can pose a serious risk to children who ride in the front seat.

In fact, according to research conducted by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, “children exposed to airbags during a crash are twice as likely to suffer a serious injury”.  The American Academy of Pediatrics states, “children under the age of 13 are safest seating in the back seat of a car”.

The following are some safety guidelines for children riding in a car.

  • Infants seated in a rear-facing safety seat should never be placed in the front seat of a car that has an airbag – When the airbag engages, the force of the airbag is directed right at the infant’s head as it comes out of the dashboard.
  • Children seated in a forward-facing child should not be placed in the front seat of a car that has an airbag. – Again when the airbag engages, the child’s head is in the path of the airbag as it emerges from the dashboard.
  • Remember for children 13 and under: The safest place to be in a car is the back seat.
  • For children ages 13 and up riding in the front seat remember:
    • All children should wear a lap/shoulder belt.
    • Move the front seat as far back as possible from the dashboard.
    • Make the sure the child doesn’t lean forward.
    • Have the child sit upright against the seat at all times.

Note: Engineers are constantly improving airbags to improve safety.  Known as 2nd-generation, or de-powered airbags, these airbags are still NOT designed for children.  Children are best protected in the rear seat.

The Children Hospital of Philadelphia has put together a great video on airbags and keeping children safe.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sCZoQr4uIw

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them here. If you’d like to see us, Freeman Grapevine, just stop by and we’ll look and some really safe and very kid friendly vehicles for you and your family.

How To Keep Your Kids Entertained and Keep Your Sanity

The summer is upon us and so are road trips.  While vacations are fun, getting to your destination may not always be enjoyable.  Whether you are going near or far  you will most likely hear, “Are we there yet?”  Luckily, I know a few ways to keep the kids entertained.

  • Movies!  If your Buick/GMC didn’t come with an in-car entertainment system, invest in a portable DVD player and few pairs of headphones.  The kids will love watching their favorite movie for a few hours and you will love the silence from the backseat!
  • Hit the library up before you go.  For a free mode of entertainment take your kids to the library the day before you leave and let them pick out a few books to bring on the trip.
  • Have an in-car scavenger hunt.  Make the kids a list of things to look for as you drive.  Examples: a red car, a license plate from another state, a horse, a pink flower, anything you might see as you drive.
  • Pack trivia cards. Each kid can take turns reading a card and guessing the answer.
  • Always pack music.  Even though the Barney sing-a-long may not be your favorite music, let the kids have 20 or 30 minutes of their favorite music.
  • Zitch-dog!  Every time someone sees a dog they yell zitch-dog! The person who sees the most dogs first wins a prize at the end of the trip.

Do you have any other suggestions for keeping kids entertained?

Fort Worth: Looking to upgrade your Car Audio…Start here first.

First, before you even open that Crutchfield catalog, you need to learn the basics of reproducing a clear and sonically well-rounded aural environment in your vehicle. To dumb that down, “How do I make my Car Stereo sound better?”

There’s no doubt that cars play a significant role in almost everyone’s lives. Everyday, people spend hours and hours inside their cars whether driving to and from work, running errands or simply being stuck in traffic. What’s the first thing you do? If you are anything like me, you hit the radio for some entertainment. I can’t drive 10 feet without getting the tunes going in my car.

So who should I thank for the hours of refocusing the days events while I use my car as an entertainment bubble? Well, that honor goes to the Galvin brothers who developed the first radio used in cars in the 1930s, drivers around the globe can now listen to music while on the road. Forty years and billions invested in audio technology later, the Galvin brothers system is still being used along with its different features to make drivers and passengers’ driving experience better.

So, what do you need to understand about car audio before you go Mod crazy and start buying 1,000 watt power amps and 15″ woofers? Well, in actuality, your first car audio system can be quick and easy upon taking into account a number of factors that will determine a great outcome. First set a budget and research your brands. Check Consumer Reports for accurate and unbiased reviews. Blaupunkt, Pioneer, Bose, Denon and Kenwood are the more popular brands. Then you’ll want to consider all the functions you expect to get like the capacity to play MP3s and CDs. There are hundreds of options, layouts, controls and features available in the modern car receiver/deck, so figure out what you’d like to have. For example, do you need a line in to connect an MP3 player of some kind? Will it play MP3 CDs? Is there a hard drive for music storage? Nail these questions down before you start shopping.

Now this is actually the trick part: choosing the right speakers. What are the right speakers, you might ask? Speakers come in three types including the loud speaker, tweeters and the subwoofer. Loud speakers are for middle sound ranges and while being able to resonate a wide range of sounds, it is only able to do so in a limited manner. This is the reason it needs the other types. Mid-range is the tonal frequency that allows the music to be heard with clarity and cleans up some of the muddy nature of Bass heavy tracks.

Tweeters are small speakers that produce high notes. This is the very top end of the sound. It’s the top end that makes the sound “shimmer”. Tweeters make it possible for high notes to be heard in a fuller and clearer tone.

The third type is the subwoofer that allows for the lower sound range to be emitted. Bass as a tone is omnidirectional,so the bass feels as if it is surrounding you. Tweeters and Loud Speakers are, for the most part, mono-directional, meaning the sound quality will change hen moving left or right from dead center. Beautiful bass and clear baritone can be attributed to the subwoofer.

One other important thing to remember is the fact that your vehicle isn’t wired for extreme audio upgrades. Here is a good video to watch to educate yourself about audio wiring:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p82xRzCr-lc&feature=youtu.be

Like in purchasing anything of significant value, research can prove very helpful.  Check the numerous online shops that offer car audio systems and the different deals available. Reviews and tips from others who have purchased and used the same products can be very helpful. Pay particular attention to reviews that aren’t the glowing reviews, they are usually the most objective and honest.

If you have any questions or are looking for an audio system upgrade for your car, then don’t hesitate to give us a call…we can really help turn your vehicle to a rolling entertainment center.

Follow The Gasoline Trail, Dallas Fort Worth

Have you ever wondered how a drop of gasoline spends its “life” after being deposited into the gas tank of your vehicle? Well here’s a nostalgic film from  the 30’s that explains the route gas follows through your engine and how it generates power. Of course, fuel economy and technology has advanced greatly since then, but the fundamental principles are the same. Take a look:

Thought this was an old video, it did a great job of explaining to the public how their cars worked. Not that it was a mystery, but it was more of an attempt to teach people about their vehicles which in turn I’m sure was responsible for America’s love affair with the car. If you have any links to vintage car videos you’d like to share, just add them to the comments section below. Freeman Grapevine is always looking for fun and interesting car talk.

Fort Worth Buick, Watch This Old Buick Commercial

Every now and then, your Fort Worth Buick dealer, Freeman Grapevine gets a huge shipment of brand new, just off the line, Buick vehicles. It’s almost impossible not to be in awe of their gleaming beauty and newness. The funny thing is, even in the 50’s, Buick seemed to command respect as beautiful and well performing automobiles. America hung our hats on the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Buick car.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdmPHTroJeY

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJjihEGfAlQ&feature=relmfu

As you can see, Buick has had a long and illustrious history with the American driving public. It’s an American brand that has the heart and soul of American ingenuity, design and hard work. Come in and see what Buick has become at your Fort Worth Buick dealer, Freeman Grapevine. You may be surprised to  find out that everything you may have thought about Buick is so much more.

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC: Do Shock Tactics Work In Teaching Kids To Drive

For those of you who have you have kids, if they aren’t already, they will be driving before you know it, and hopefully it’s a Freeman Grapevine car. As is usually the case for our new batch of young drivers, they’ll be attending a driver’s education course. Now, driver’s ed has changed drastically in the past 60 years. There has been more of a shift from shock education…remember all of those horrific videos they’d show to kids about the dangers of driving. Check out the one I found from the 50’s below.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwbi9UCzmIQ

These days, driver’s education is more real world and scenario driven, as opposed to the shock and awe of past driving classroom videos. Which do you think is a better technique? Do shock tactics really deter kids from making bad decisions behind the wheel? Does focusing on real world scenarios seem to achieve better results, or does it neglect the inherent dangers and responsibilities of driving? Are kids too desensitized with images they see in the media to even take notice?

Your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine takes driver’s education seriously and hopes that all new young drivers do the same.

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC: Getting Pulled Over Without Your License

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Here’s the deal, and the same holds true in any traffic stop situation: be polite, up front and courteous. If you are all of the above, the attending officer will likely be the same. Be up front about not having your license immediately. Don’t waste the officers time, or he’ll probably end up wasting yours. Plus it is a good display of honest and respect for the Officer.

Let’s say you didn’t leave your license at home but are driving after you’ve had yours suspended. What do you do? Again, be up front. The attending officer is going to find out anyway, so just tell him immediately that you are driving on a suspended license. If you are lucky, you will get out of there with just a citation. Make it difficult for the attending officer and the only way you will be leaving is in the back of his cruiser.

Check out this video for the right way to interact with the police in regards to your missing license.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsZEzCLk9o8&feature=g-vrec

The bottom line is that your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC Dealer, Freeman Grapevine suggests that you be up front with the officer that has pulled you over. Chances are if you made a mistake and left it at home, he’ll let you off with a warning. However, if you aren’t up front with him or her, your situation may end up being less than pleasant.

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC: Top Ten Highway Safety Improvements We Take For Granted

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For the past few years (it seems like ages) there has been highway construction in front of your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine, and while it can be a huge nuisance, we also know the work has to be done for safety reasons and driver accommodation.

It’s not just our vehicles that are safer these days.  Highway safety engineers have been working overtime for years to improve both traffic flow and highway safety.  Improving traffic flow contributes to safer roads as well as getting you to your destination more quickly. So, instead of railing against the inconvenience, let’s take a look at some of the highway advancements we take for granted.

Ten Traffic Safety Improvements We All Take for Granted

  1. Divided Highways
  2. Median dividers and barriers engineered to turn vehicle wheels back into the proper lane of traffic.
  3. Improved and increased lighting for roads and highways
  4. Energy absorbing crushable barricades around fixed objects
  5. Small groves or buttons down the side of the highway to alert drivers drifting off the road.
  6. High speed, multi-lane interchanges (instead of intersections or traffic circles)
  7. Improved signage and use of reflective materials.  (If the buttons down the middle of the road in front of you are red reflectors, you are going the wrong way.)
  8. Expanded use of improved guardrails
  9. Brighter LED traffic signals with pedestrian control lights.
  10. Improved reflective paints for highway lanes, crosswalks, and directional arrows.

Before the Interstate Highway program began very few highways were divided.  Roads were one solid strip of asphalt divided only by a line painted down the middle. Learning to pass slower vehicles by moving into and back out of the on-coming lane of traffic was a very important part of driver training.

Short wooden poles, strung together by a single strand of steel cable, were all that separated drivers from the road and a deep ditch or sharp curve.  The guardrails and barriers of today weren’t yet invented.

There was much less street and road lighting and some of the light bulbs were always burned out.  Halogens and LEDs have been a huge improvement.

One of the big killers in the past was drivers dozing off while driving and drifting into on coming traffic or bridge supports. The addition of median dividers, crushable barricades, and road shoulder grooving has significantly reduced head on collisions.

Highway safety engineers will continue to make improvements, but we shouldn’t take all the improvements we have now for granted.  Despite all the traffic, our roads and highways are built to be a lot safer for us than for our parents and grandparents.

Leave Freeman Grapevine a comment below and tell us what you think about the ongoing construction in your area. Is it more of a hindrance than a help?