The calendar is getting set to flip once again, so it’s time to make potentially life-altering resolutions… and then immediately break them. But here’s a new thought for the new year: what if 2024 is the year you stick to your resolutions?
The thing about New Year’s resolutions is that there’s no need for them to be major life upgrades (though they certainly can be). If you commit yourself to losing weight or quitting smoking and succeed, more power to you! But holding yourself to a handful of small changes can wind up making a large impact.
For every car owner, there’s plenty of small adjustments that can be made when it comes to your driving habits, how you care for your car, and more. Here are five resolutions to consider in 2024:
Don’t Ignore the Service Light
The service light coming on in your car is inherently alarming, but obviously there’s a wide array of issues it could be indicating – some far more serious than others. Still, it’s perfectly normal for people to ignore the problem until it becomes something more tangible.
But in 2024, try to address small problems before they snowball into large, costly ones. Schedule regular service appointments with our experts here at Savage L&B, and when your service light flashes, take it to the garage as soon as you can. Ultimately, your checking account will thank you.
Clean Your Car Regularly
Keeping your car cosmetically healthy is less important than monitoring what’s happening under the hood – but that doesn’t mean it’s unimportant. The interior of your car, especially, can wind up accumulating dirt and debris quickly, to the point where you wonder how you let it get to that condition. When you suddenly need to give a passenger a ride, you could find yourself in an embarrassing situation.
It’s recommended you wash your car about every two weeks to keep the exterior clean. Every two months or so, consider running it through a more thorough wash or wax. And every time you take it to the car wash, vacuum the inside to keep it consistently clean.
Put Your Phone Down
More and more of today’s vehicles are embracing the fact that our phones have become an integral part of daily lives. Thanks to the rise of interconnected apps and infotainment screens, interacting with certain facets of your phone while driving is becoming safer and more seamless.
That said, if the only way to check your phone remains to pull it out of your pocket while you’re driving, it’s time to put a stop to that in 2024. Pull over to the side of the road if you have to text, but otherwise remember it’s okay to not look at a screen for a half-hour. Cell phone usage still contributes to 1.6 million crashes each year, and one out of four accidents is caused by texting and driving. Even if double-tasking while driving hasn’t been an issue for you in the past, focus your attention on the road and don’t needlessly endanger lives. Remember, all it takes is one incident to dramatically alter your life.
Know Your Lane
If you’re driving on the highway, you’re in the fast lane and someone is behind you, find a safe opportunity to change lanes and let them pass you. There’s always that one puzzling driver going 55 miles per hour in the left lane; you don’t want to be that driver. Think of it this way: you wouldn’t refuse to move your cart if you were blocking someone at the grocery store. In 2024, let’s all resolve to become more responsible drivers by expressing common courtesy and sticking to our lanes.
Consider Making the EV Switch this Year
This one constitutes more of a major life change, but if you have the resources, 2024 is the year to give serious thought to making the change to hybrid or electric. The impact it has on lowering carbon emissions is substantial, and we’re going to need every advantage we can get to combat climate change in the years ahead.
It helps that as more dynamic electric vehicles continue to emerge, more dealerships are buying into the EV experience. And charging stations are starting to pop up everywhere. Here are some just a few nearby charging stations in the Reading area:
- ChargePoint Charging Station on 815 Lancaster Ave., Reading, PA 19607
- ChargePoint Charging Station on 1015 Lancaster Ave., Reading, PA 19607
- ChargePoint Charging Station on 210 George St., Reading, PA 19607
- Volta Charging Station in the Shillington Shopping Center, Reading, PA 19607
- Destination Charging Center on 701 Penn St., Reading, PA 19601
Cruise Into the New Year
No one is perfect when it comes to making and keeping their resolutions, but with some effort, we can all change our habits for the better. Hopefully, you take these suggestions to heart, because they’re truly important to creating a safer, more orderly world. But even if you’re only able to implement one or two of these resolutions into your driving routine, you’re exhibiting a real and meaningful desire to change.
What never changes is the quality of vehicles you’ll find here at Savage L&B. One more resolution: it’s important to treat yourself once in a while. With our huge selection of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM vehicles, we’ll have you driving confidently into the new year.
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