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Turn This Way

Sure, it's annoying when drivers suddenly change lanes or make turns without warning. But it's also dangerous. Collisions related to signaling, such as unsafe lane changes or improper turning and passing, increased in California from 12 percent of all collisions in 1995 to 15 percent in 2001, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

The California Vehicle Code requires drivers to signal whenever they move right or left on a roadway, which means signals are required before pulling next to or away from the curb, before turning or changing lanes, and any time a driver changes direction. Signals should be used during the last 100 feet before turning.

—Arline Dillman

Keep It Under Cover

Recreational vehicles are great fun, but keeping them clean and protected from the elements when they're not in use can be a challenge. One solution is a custom RV cover that repels dirt and shields against the harmful effects of the sun and rain, such as the one shown here from Covercraft Industries. It's made from the company's new WeatherShield fabric, which is extremely durable but also lightweight. Double-stitched seams, neoprene-lined hems, and tie-down grommets add to the cover's strength and ensure that it stays in place. For more information, contact Covercraft Industries by calling (800) 426-8377, or visit www.rvcovers4u.com. —Cam Benty

Mr. Wizard's Wheels

Got a smart kid on your hands? If so, check out the hydrogen-fuel-cell (pictured) and solar-powered model car kits offered by educational publisher Thames & Kosmos.

Both kits include detailed manuals featuring lots of experiments designed to help the two of you develop a hands-on understanding of these cutting-edge automotive power trains. Everything you need is included, from solar cells and electric motors to a simple fuel cell that converts ordinary distilled water into clean-burning hydrogen gas. To check out these futuristic wheels, visit www.thamesandkosmos.com. —Alan Rider

Flying Suitcases Unsecured items can become dangerous projectiles in an automobile crash or even during a panic stop. For example, in a head-on 35-mph collision, a 20-pound suitcase on the backseat can strike the front seat — or a person — with a force of about 800 pounds. Secure belongings with a seatbelt and stash as much as possible in your trunk. —Tara Baukus Mello

Pain in the Neck

vehicle head rest Want to reduce the chance of whiplash injuries in a rear-end collision? A simple adjustment to those adjustable bolsters atop your vehicle's seats can help. Commonly referred to as head rests, these low-tech safety features are actually head restraints designed to limit the motion of your head and neck if your car is struck from behind. First, raise them so the middle of the head restraint is even with the center of your head. Next, if the restraints adjust fore and aft, position them as close to the back of your head as possible, ideally within three inches. To learn more, visit www.spinalinjuryfoundation.org and click on "Save Your Neck." —A.R.

By Any Other Name

Don't you just hate it when people mispronounce car names? So do we. To counter this annoying practice, the editors at Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) have created the following guide to correct automotive pronunciation.

Frequently Mispronounced car company Names

Audi

Correct pronunciation: Ow-dee
Frequent mispronunciations: Aw-dee, Ah-dee
August Horch founded Audi in 1909. Why "Audi"? It's "Horch" translated into Latin.

Hyundai

Correct pronunciation: Hun-day
Pronunciation used by 99.9 percent of consumers: Hun-dye

Isuzu

Correct pronunciation: Ee-su-zu (preferred), I-su-zu (acceptable)
Frequent mispronunciations: Eye-su-zu, Ee-zu-su
Just think "Susan" and you'll have it.

Jaguar

Correct (i.e., British) pronunciation: Jag-yu-wahr
American pronunciation: Jag-wahr (unacceptable, but tolerated by the company as long as the person is interested in buying the car)
Frequent mispronunciation: Jag-wyre

Porsche

Correct pronunciation: Por-shah
Frequent mispronunciation: Porsh
"Porsche" is the surname of the company's founder, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, which is one reason Porsche aficionados are almost rabidly intolerant of anyone who mispronounces the name.

Scion

Correct pronunciation: Sye-on
Frequent mispronunciations: Sky-ahn, Skee-ahn
"Scion" means "descendant" or "heir," which makes sense since Toyota is the parent company.

Volvo

Correct pronunciation: Vuhl-voh
Frequent mispronunciations: Vol-voh, Vall-voh, Voh-voh
Why "vuhl" and not "vol"? It's another one of those Latin words (see "Audi," above). "Volvo" in Latin means "I rotate."

Next issue . . . Mispronounced Automobile Models

You are reading the May/June 2004 issue of Westways. Some information contained in this publication is time-sensitive, and the terms of some offers (cruise or vacation packages, for example) or services (provisions for roadside assistance, for example) might have been superseded by subsequent information and might no longer apply.