These Dangerous Driving Mistakes Could Ruin Your Fourth of July Weekend 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Fourth of July celebrations will almost certainly be more fun this year, but it also means more drivers on the road. The Fourth of July is one of the deadliest travel holidays of the year, mostly due to drivers neglecting common car safety practices. And you might be in even more danger if you have to drive on stress-inducing highways.

Fortunately, drivers can still have safe and enjoyable holidays by preparing for the trip’s challenges in advance. These safe driving tips provided by Safety and Health Magazine can be applied to any major holiday of the year.

Wear your seat belt

It might seem like common knowledge, but some people still forget (or choose not to wear) their seat belts. Seat belts provide the most protection during head-on collisions, cutting potential injuries in half. In recent years, automakers have also been designing seat belts that can keep your seat belt secure during an accident.

Everyone should stay buckled up for the duration of the trip, no matter how short. Any kids along for the drive should also have their own car seats if needed. Some SUVs like the Honda Pilot can even fit three car seats across the second row.

Avoid distracted driving

It’s pretty common knowledge at this point that you shouldn’t text and drive, but cellphones aren’t the worst distraction. Turning your music up too loud can make you less aware of what’s going on outside the vehicle. Passengers who are too rambunctious can take the driver’s eyes off the road.

Even if you keep your eyes and ears toward the road, other drivers might not be so careful. Always be mindful of the surrounding cars, especially if they start behaving strangely. Also, don’t pay too much attention to interesting cars, collisions, or police altercations. Rubbernecking for even a few seconds can cause you to get into an accident of your own.

Pick a designated driver

A 1986 Citroen | Robert Alexander/Getty Images

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a few drinks at an Independence Day party but keep away from the wheel afterward. Allow yourself ample time to sober up before driving again, or designate someone else to drive you home safely.

It’s also nice to have someone to take over the driving if you’re feeling unwell or sleepy. Certain medicines like cough syrup or opioids can also make you drowsy behind the wheel. If you’re traveling alone, it’s best to pull over and wait until you feel better before driving again.

Don’t speed

You might be excited to reach your Fourth of July destination, but it’s never worth getting into an accident. It endangers the lives of both you and your traveling party, plus any drivers around you. Additionally, speeding has become such a problem in recent years that speeding ticket fines have increased.

When you’re traveling at high speeds, it’s more difficult to slow down when needed. You should always maintain a safe following distance from the car ahead of you, especially in treacherous weather. You might also have to brake suddenly for a pedestrian or animal that crosses your path.

Be prepared for anything

Before and after you reach your destination on the Fourth of July, make sure your vehicle is good to go. That means checking the gas tank, rearview mirrors, the oil or coolant levels, and tire pressure. If your vehicle has navigation installed, input any directions you’ll need the night before.

If you plan on driving during any leg of the journey, make sure you’re well-rested before getting behind the wheel. If possible, it’s also a good idea to start traveling to your destination a few days before and after the actual holiday. That way, you can escape the inevitable congestion on the highway and enjoy more relaxation time.

RELATED: Driving On the 4th of July? Deadliest Highway Holiday

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Rejected: Why These Cars Didn’t Make It Into the Fast & Furious

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Careful consideration was given to the selection of every car used in the Fast & Furious

How cars were chosen for the Fast & Furious franchise

A major factor in choosing the cars for the Fast and Furious franchise was built in. The film set a budget of $2,000,000. Each vehicle would also need to be purchased in sets of four. Each vehicle needed to be left-hand drive to keep continuity.

Cars were chosen for more than just their price tag and looks. Only cars available for purchase on the American market were chosen. They also had to make sense based on the demands of the stunts the car would be expected to pull off.

Cars that were deemed too rare or too expensive immdiately hit the choppoing block. Plenty of beautiful, blisteringly fast cars didn’t make the cut. That doesn’t say anything less about them.

Cars that didn’t make the cut

The most straight-forward reason for rejection was price. WIth only $2,000,000 to spend on four complete fleets

**Porsche and Ferrari were ruled out instantly, as the movie was meant to focus more on the current tuner and street racing culture in the year 2000. Muscle cars like the Chevrolet Corvette didn’t exactly make the cut either. Kia and Hyundai were not very popular in the car culture at this time, and Mercedes was ruled out because no one is taking a luxury vehicle to a street race.**

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What Does the ‘Sport’ in the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Even Mean?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When a car trim is called “Sport,” many consumers don’t know what to expect. Sometimes the word refers to the car’s performance or the most affordable trim you can buy. More often than not, the term refers to a smaller version of a full-size vehicle, such as the Ford Bronco Sport.

However, the Ford Bronco Sport’s name still might confuse some shoppers. Impressive off-roading performance is a given, but is the Bronco Sport actually sporty?

Why the ‘Sport’ label?

The baby Ford Bronco actually had two different names during its development process. Ford originally filed a trademark for “Bronco Scout” but was confronted with licensing conflicts from Navistar International. MotorTrend reports this company still owns “Scout” for naming vehicles over 2,400 pounds.

Ford also considered “Bronco Adventurer,” but the Blue Oval didn’t follow through on that name for unknown reasons. In any case, “Scout” and “Adventurer” would have been less confusing than “Sport.” While the baby Bronco is still powerful, it’s not really athletic in the traditional sports car sense. The previous two monikers portray a rugged and capable off-roader.

The Ford Bronco Sport vs. the full-sized Ford Bronco

Size is the most noticeable difference between the two, but both Ford Bronco models also pack different engines. The Bronco Sport has either a 181-hp turbo-three or a 245-hp four-cylinder on the Badlands and First Edition trims. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard, with optional paddle shifters for the upgraded engine.

The Ford Bronco comes standard with a 270-hp four-cylinder, paired with a seven-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission. The optional twin-turbo 310-hp V6, available for every trim, only allows for the 10-speed automatic. The full-sized Bronco has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, while the Bronco Sport can tow 2,200 pounds.

The Ford Bronco is also built to tackle more off-roading challenges. It boasts 11.6 inches of ground clearance and can ford 33.5 inches of water. It even has better departure and break-over angles than the Jeep Wrangler — 37.2 and 29 degrees, respectively.

And the Bronco has more off-roading equipment, including beefy 35-inch tires and performance locking differentials. Unlike the smaller Bronco Sport, this Bronco’s roof and doors can come off.

Will people still buy the Ford Bronco Sport?

Though not as decked-out as its larger sibling, the Ford Bronco Sport is still fairly confident when off-roading. Both Broncos come with the standard G.O.A.T. system, which has up to seven terrain management settings. Electric power steering is also standard, tailored to provide adjustments, depending upon the terrain. The Badlands model offers an additional cruise control program for slower off-roading speeds.

The Ford Bronco Sport comes standard with an off-road-tuned suspension, with tougher suspension knuckles on the Badlands trim. Also, the Bronco Sport Badlands has the highest ground clearance, up to 8.8 inches. It can wade through water up to 23.6 inches deep.

And the Bronco Sport has two transfer case options, either a standard ducted air cooling or water cooling case. Both of them lack low-range or creeper settings, but the system automatically cools itself during extended rock-crawling jaunts. Anti-roll bars and upgraded shocks are also standard.

According to Car and Driver, the Ford Bronco Sport’s handling isn’t the most refined on civilized roads. The ride feels too jittery, and the steering wheel requires a lot of force to control.

The Sport might be the smaller of the two Bronco models, but the interior is still spacious and upscale. Even though it’s far from sporty, the Ford Bronco Sport’s misleading name probably won’t scare consumers away.

RELATED: The Standard 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Punches Harder Than You’d Suspect

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The Dodge Challenger Was Once an Embarrassing Mitsubishi Rebrand

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Gearheads have long associated the Dodge Challenger with the most powerful muscle cars on the planet. The powerful vehicles have long been a favorite among car enthusiasts, but that wasn’t always the case. For a brief stretch nearly four decades ago, the Challenger was a weakly rebranded Mitsubishi that’s still an automotive embarrassment. 

The Dodge Challenger: A brief history

According to parent company Stellantis, the Dodge Challenger made its grand debut in 1969 with the 1970 model. Borrowing from other giants like the Chrysler “E-body” and the Plymouth Barracuda, the Challenger immediately made an impact on an ever-growing market. The car hit the market with a remarkable range of powertrain options, from the 225-cubic-inch I-y engine making 145-hp to the 440-cubic-inch V8 harnessing 390 hp. This type of range was unheard of at the time. 

Debuting during one of the most innovative times in automotive history, the Challenger was an immediate hit, selling 83,000 units its first year. And the car continued evolving, with the 1971 model upgrading the lights and adding the painted silver that helped it stand out in a crowd. The car also boasted more power with each passing year. 

Though the initial run lasted only four years, it innovated a field of muscle cars in ways that still ripples through the auto industry. However, when Dodge brought the Challenger back for the 1978 model year, something was off. And it made for one of the most embarrassing moments in the car giant’s history. 

Dodge failed to challenge the competition

Even Stellantis has a hard time explaining the rebranded Challenger‘s six-year run that began in the late ’70s. Dodge cut the horsepower, slashing the car’s potency. And to make matters worse, fans quickly figured out the new Challenger wasn’t the innovator its predecessors were. It was an imported Mitsubishi subcompact with less power, fewer options, and an embarrassing number of design flaws. Sales plummeted to about 13,000 units a year. 

According to The Things, the 1978 Dodge Challenger was a rebranded Mitsubishi Galant Lambda. If modern drivers haven’t heard of that, it’s probably why this Challenger failed. Consumers buy a car like the Challenger for power, so when drivers took the car out on the road and got only 77 hp from a 2.6-liter engine, they were not happy with the results. 

It was such a blatant failure that Dodge pulled the plug after six years and didn’t reintroduce the Challenger for over two decades. Thankfully, its recent incarnations have helped rebuild the name that was once tarnished by the shameful years from 1978 to 1984. 

The Dodge Challenger returns to glory

Thankfully for muscle car drivers, Dodge learned from its mistakes and came back with a car that was worthy of its powerful name. According to U.S. News, the 2021 Challenger boasts 300 hp to a mindboggling 797 hp. Reviewers laud it for its powerful engine options, roomy interior, friendly infotainment system, and trunk space. 

However, as is the case with many powerful cars, the 2021 Challenger lacks agility. But considering the car is known for its power, drivers don’t expect it to hit the road with smoothness. The 2021 model ranges in price from $28,295 to nearly $60,000 for those lucky enough to get their hands on one. 

No carmaker has a flawless past, but few giants see a failure as disastrous as the second-generation Dodge Challenger. Thankfully, the carmaker turned its lemon into lemonade decades later, and now the Challenger is back in the muscle car pack. 

RELATED: The Dodge Challenger and Charger Had a Short-Lived Cousin

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