Back to School: Simplifing your College Commute

Class is back in session! With many College's welcoming students back for the fall semester, it's not uncommon for the traffic to double with an influx of commuter students. Many students living in the dorms have the luxury of rolling out of bed five minutes before class, but commuter students have to be a bit more prepared. While we know most student commutes involve sitting in traffic for 40 minutes while cars incessantly honk at you, we've also compiled a list of five easy-to-follow steps to try and make the commuter experience a little less stressful.  

1. Check out the parking rules at your school: Who can bring a car to campus? Sometimes everyone can bring a car to campus; sometimes only certain class years or certain groups of people are allowed to park on campus. Find out at your school.
2. Obtain a map of your college and learn about which parking spaces you are allowed to use: Some colleges are either very large and/or very spread out. Even smaller, one-campus colleges have multiple parking spaces. The information desk or the school website should have information on when and where you are allowed to park.
3. Sign up for a parking permit, if required by the school: Many schools in urban areas or other locales in which space is a premium require parking permits. Sometimes, these permits cost money, and sometimes they will only let you park in certain areas on campus. For specific information on parking, go to your school's website or information center.
4. Choose a driving route: Be sure to choose alternate routes, especially during rush hour and/or the five-minutes-before-class rush.
5. Park in the appropriate lot: Some schools will allow you to park in any lot; other schools will have lots designated for all students or for certain groups of students.

Everything you need to know about Lexus Enform

How do you feel when you get behind the wheel of your Lexus?  We want your driving experience to be comfortable, easy and convenient, with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that help is there if you need it.  That’s why Lexus offers Enform, its branded suite of 4 products to make your time on the road that much more enjoyable.

Lexus Enform Safety Connect offers you the peace of mind of knowing that assistance will be there when you need it most.

Lexus Enform Remote mobile app can remotely lock and unlock doors, start the engine and climate controls, and can help find your vehicle’s location in a parking lot.

Lexus Enform Destinations offers convenient 24-hour, en-route navigation assistance.

Lexus Enform App Suite offers access to some of your favorite mobile applications through your vehicle’s center-console display.

Are you a well-mannered motorist? Make sure you’re not guilty of this…

Hey, you! Don’t be a bad driver! There are a few behaviors that are especially harmful, and we want you to break these bad habits now. It could save a life, or at the least, save someone from experiencing road rage.

Stop using your cell phone while you’re driving – you got it, no texting or calling. If you absolutely have to make a phone call, at least invest in Bluetooth devices or put it on speaker so you have both hands on the wheel.

Stop cutting people off. You know that driver who cuts across four lanes of traffic because they almost missed their turn? Yeah, don’t be that person. It puts others in danger and is bad for your car. Plan ahead! And don’t always trust your GPS – those pesky last minute recalculations will get you. It’s safer to simply turn around further up the road.

Don’t tailgate! There should be ample space between you and the driver in front of you in the event that someone needs to make an emergency stop. No one likes getting rear ended.

Learn how to merge. Drivers who don’t know how to merge into another lane smoothly cause some of the worst accidents and pile ups.

Four Tips For Tidy Travel

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as arriving at your vacation destination unprepared.  One way to combat the stress that comes along with summer travel is to make sure your car is neat and tidy.  This allows you to plan ahead because you have room to see what you have, what you forgot, and what you can keep at the hotel room for the day.

Here are some simple steps for squeaky clean summer trips:

Stock your glove box with napkins and silverware for mess-less meals on the go.

Designate a place to collect trash.  This can be anything from a small wastebasket to a grocery bag.  It’s easier to keep things clean when all the dirt’s in one spot.

Clean out your trunk before you leave.  Many people use their trunk as a junk drawer on wheels–but you’ll appreciate the extra space when you travel.  If possible, only carry what you absolutely need during transit with you inside the cabin.

Don’t forget the Golden Rule of tidy travel: Take out whatever you bring into the car!

Motorist Tip: How to Safely Share the Road With Truckers

We've all driven next to them; whether it be on the highway or on a simple suburban road, trucks are everywhere. While many people fear the 18-wheelers traveling the nation's highways, we're here to put your mind at ease. Follow these simple road-rules in order to avoid a collision and make it easier to share the road with a semi.

1.  Never Ride in a Trucker's Blind Spots. 

Trucks have large blind spots to the right and rear of the vehicle. Smaller blind spots exist on the right front corner and mid-left side of the truck. The worst thing a driver can do is chug along in the trucker's blind spot, where he cannot be seen. If you're going to pass a truck, do it and get it over with. Don't sit alongside with the cruise control set 1 mph faster than the truck is traveling.

2. Never Cut-off a Semi. 

Don't try to sneak into a small gap in traffic ahead of a truck. Don't get in front of a truck and then brake to make a turn. Trucks take as much as three times the distance to stop as the average passenger car, and you're only risking your own life by cutting a truck off and then slowing down in front of it.

3. Be Patient while they are reversing.

Motorists need to understand that it takes time and concentration to back a 48-foot trailer up without hitting anything. Sometimes a truck driver needs to make several attempts to reverse into tight quarters. Keep your cool and let the trucker do their job.