National Safety Month: Chevrolet Teen Driver Technology

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. -- Nothing is more important than the safety of your family. Many of us at Graff Mt. Pleasant are parents, and we know that one of the most pride-inducing and nerve-wracking stages of life is when your child gets behind the wheel for the first time. Fortunately, Chevrolet vehicles have some of the best safety technologies on the market, including one that's specifically designed for young drivers.

This National Safety Month, we'd like to share with you some information on Chevy Teen Driver Technology.

A HANDS-ON TEACHING TOOL

Chevy Teen Driver technology offers a ton of safety features with new drivers in mind, such as automatically engaging active safety technologies like Side Blind Zone Alert, Forward Collision Alert, and Forward Automatic Braking. On top of that, the built-in "report card" tool tracks things like speeding and other information to help you identify potential problem areas and coach your teen in safe driving habits.

AUDIO LIMIT

According to the CDC, about 93% of teen drivers play loud, distracting music when behind the wheel. Additionally, only 61% of high school students wear their seatbelt when driving with someone else. With Chevy Teen Driver technology, you can set a volume limit on your child's music and even mute audio until the driver and front passenger is buckled-up.

SPEED LIMITER

Teens are more likely to underestimate or not recognize dangerous situations when driving, and one of the biggest problem areas is speeding. With Chevy Teen Driver technology, you can set a speed limit that caps your teen's vehicle speed at 85mph.

LEADING THE COMPETITION

In order to encourage safe driving habits, Chevy is the only car company that offers a driver safety technology suite dedicated to teen drivers. On top of that, it is available on most models including:

• Cruze
• Malibu
• Camaro
• Equinox
• Traverse
• Suburban
• Tahoe
• Colorado
• Silverado 1500
• Silverado HD

At Graff Mt. Pleasant, our number one priority is the safety of your family behind the wheel. When you're in the market for an awesome and safe first car for your teen driver, pay us a visit! Our friendly and knowledgeable team of experts will not only help you find the perfect vehicle, but also work with you to hammer out a financing program that plays nicely with your budget. Even after you close the deal, our service department is here to help ensure that your teen's car is always running at it's best!

At Hank Graff Mt. Pleasant we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com

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How the 2018 Chevy Equinox Makes Driving Safer

MT. PLEASANT, Mich., – Whether you're driving alone or with a group, safety is the priority of every vehicle owner. While it is impossible to predict the behavior of other drivers, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox's cutting-edge safety features improve the safety of the driver, its passengers, and any other drivers on the road. Learn about how the 2018 Chevy Equinox makes driving safer with its wide variety of features and improved safety-first design.

Forward Collision Alert with Following Distance Indicator

Forward Collision Alert provides notifications to the driver through sound alerts and a display on their center dashboard if a collision with a vehicle or object in front of the Equinox is imminent. The Forward Collision Alert then applies the brakes to either reduce damage to the vehicle or can ultimately prevent an accident from occurring. Forward Collision Alert comes with a Following Distance Indicator, which provides notifications to drivers if they are tailgating or driving too close to a fellow driver on the road. If you are driving a 2018 Equinox, this advanced feature benefits not only you, but the surrounding drivers as well.

Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning: 

Lane Keep Assist technology helps to keep drivers in their lane. If a driver unintentionally drifts into another lane, the center display will illuminate, alerting drivers with a warning and an emergency sound. If the driver continues to drift, the Lane Departure Warning technology will kick in, gently nudging the steering wheel to keep drivers in their appropriate lane to reduce the chances of an accident.

Side Blind Zone Alert

Side Blind Zone Alert provides foresight to drivers that are traveling on streets or highways with multiple lanes. It notifies and alerts drivers when vehicles are in their blind spots to keep them alert if they plan on merging into other lanes. Using short radar sensors, Side Blind Zone Alert improves the safety of drivers in the Equinox and other surrounding vehicles as well.

Rear Cross Traffic Alert: 

Whether you're backing out of your driveway or a parking spot, Rear Cross Traffic Alert works with the standard Rear-End Camera to alert drivers of incoming traffic or hazards as they back out of their parking spots. The center display will notify the driver with sound and visual alerts, using radar technology to detect nearby hazards.

Surround Vision

One of the newest features available to owners of the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is the addition of Surround Vision technology. Using radar technology and four cameras installed in the front, back, and both sides of the vehicle, drivers are given a 360-degree view of the Equinox's exterior. Surround Vision is utilized when drivers put their 2018 Equinox into reverse, assisting drivers with pulling out in order to avoid hazards on every angle of the Equinox. When drivers shift their vehicle into Drive, Surround Vision displays a frontal view of the Equinox for a short time to display any hazards that the driver may not initially notice.

The 2018 Chevy Equinox carries a wide variety of safety features available to customers. Download the Chevy Equinox's brochure today to get a closer look at this one-of-a-kind crossover SUV. At Graff Mt. Pleasant, safety is our top priority for our customers. We want to ensure you're educated and knowledgable on features available for your vehicle, especially features that can help you in a time of need. Making sure you know how the 2018 Chevy Equinox makes driving safer can help you to obtain a safer driving experience for both you and your passengers.

If you're interested in the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, take a look at our Equinox inventory to find the perfect vehicle for your needs! Use our vehicle search option to specify any trim style, price range, and color that suits your budget and style! If you can't find a specific model or style you're looking for, give us a call and we'll find it for you right away!

At Graff Buick GMC Cadillac, we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com

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Safety Features Worth Having in Your Next Car

MT. PLEASANT, Mich.–– Safety on the road is more important than ever before! According to the National Security Council, vehicle deaths in 2016 went up by 6% and were the highest they've been since 2007. While remaining cautious and aware on the road will greatly reduce your chances of getting into a car accident, additional safety features in newer vehicles can also help to prevent accidents from occurring. Read on to learn about the new safety features worth having in your next car, and get all of the information on them for when you finally purchase your next vehicle. To learn what vehicles offer these features, take a look at our vehicle inventory to preview each vehicle's unique safety features and their benefits!

Lane Keep Assist

Lane Keep Assist technology is a camera-based system that alerts you when you unintentionally drift into another lane. If you don't move back into your lane and continue to drift, the system will gently nudge your steering wheel to keep you in your lane. The technology monitors the patterns of the road and alerts you through your vehicle dashboard display with images and audio alerts to keep you aware on the road. Lane Keep Assist technology also ensures your accountability on the road by sending you alerts when you don't use your turn signals. This keeps you and others safer on multi-lane roads and highways.

Forward Safety Awareness

Similar to Lane Keep Assist, Forward Safety Awareness technology uses cameras to monitor and then alert you of impending danger in front of the vehicle, reminding drivers to keep a safe distance from vehicles ahead of them. The technology uses a radar system to alert you of slowing vehicles ahead of you through your vehicle dashboard display and sound. If an imminent collision is about to occur, the Forward Safety Awareness technology will automatically apply brakes to either reduce the damage of a collision or prevent it from occurring at slower speeds.

Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Rear Cross Traffic Alert technology informs you of approaching drivers or hazards as you back out of parkings spots or driveways with radar technology and the vehicle's rear-facing camera. Using the vehicle dashboard display, Rear Cross Traffic Alert gives you a clear image of the area behind the vehicle, providing alerts for moving objects, nearby hazards, and radar to protect you from backing into anything. This technology works hand-in-hand with Rear Camera technology, which is standard on every new General Motors vehicle.

Adaptive Cruise Control

Available on most modern GM vehicles, Adaptive Cruise Control technology helps to improve traditional cruise control technology with new, advanced features. It allows you to adjust your cruise control speed to automatically match the drivers in front of you, virtually eliminating the need to constantly brake and accelerate to accommodate others' speeds. You can also adjust the "follow gap", or space between other vehicles, to give other drivers a short or wide berth so they're able to merge into your lane accordingly. 

Front and Rear Parking Assist

With Front and Rear Parking Assist technology, you'll never have to worry about parking in a difficult spot again! Front and rear facing cameras on the vehicle provide digital guidelines and alerts to help you adjust your position to prevent you from hitting other vehicles. This technology is poised to help everyone, from new drivers to experts, and can be used in parallel park situations to ease the process and make it significantly less stressful for drivers. This technology is standard on most GM models and is a great additional feature to compliment your new ride!

While it is impossible to predict the behaviors of other drivers, remaining aware and alert from the moment you pull out of your driveway to the moment you park will help greatly reduce your chances of getting in an accident. These safety features worth having in your next car will help to further reduce your risk, but should be used in conjunction with your alertness! Don't use these safety features as an excuse to not pay attention on the road. In the event of an accident, first, follow our FAQ on car accidents, then call us for additional accident assistance. We can assist you through the entire process, from towing your vehicle to contacting your insurance. Don't hesitate to ask for help!

At Graff Buick GMC Cadillac, we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com

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Chevrolet Presented Their Horror Film Inspired Trailer

MT. PLEASANT, Mich.-- Chevrolet has been stirring up a new wave of vehicle marketing. By incorporating real people and connecting to their consumers on a more personal level, Chevrolet illustrates the unexpected. When it came to advertising the new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu and 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, they wanted to grab the audience’s attention. This time it would be on a larger scale when Chevrolet presented their horror film inspired trailer.

Chevrolet used the anticipating characteristics of thriller and horror films and the feeling of unpredictability to bring to light the vehicle’s safety features. By using a scary movie theme Chevrolet can relate to the unforeseen events that can happen when consumers drive. Both the Chevrolet Cruze and Malibu provide state of the art safety technologies. Some safety features include:

• Side Blind Zone and Lane Change Alerts
• Intellibeam, a feature that automatically switches your headlights to high beams for better vision
• Front Pedestrian Alerts, which can apply last-second braking by using a front camera to help reduce pedestrian crashes.
• Following Distance Indicator

For Chevrolet’s horror film inspired trailer, they stuck with their Michigan roots and worked with Michigan-born film director, Sam Raimi, known for the Evil Dead horror film series. Raimi took his approach with the trailer the same way he would take with a film, including character backgrounds, a plot line and outcome.

Stop in to Hank Graff Mt. Pleasant and test drive a new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu or 2016 Chevrolet Cruze today! Chevrolet’s new trailer can be seen in cinemas nationwide. You can check out the new trailer here:

At Hank Graff Mt. Pleasant we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, and YouTube

Drowsy Driving Is Just As Bad As Drunk Driving

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - A drowsy driver is a dangerous driver. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsiness or fatigue is the main cause of up to 100,000 police-reported passenger vehicle incidents a year, killing at least 1,500 and injuring 71,000. Even more fatigue-related incidents go unreported making drowsy driving just as bad as drunk driving.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not truck drivers causing there accidents. Only 1% of all the reported drowsy driving incidents are cause by semi-truck drivers due to a recent federal law that states truck drivers can only driver for 10 hours at a time in a 24 hour period. Surprisingly, in many aspects drowsy driving is much like drunk driving. When it comes to driving under the influence of alcohol, once someone has a blood alcohol level of .08% he or she is legally drunk. Recent studies have shown that a driver who has gone a day without sleep shows the same factors as a driver registering .10% blood alcohol level which is well above the legal limit.

Drowsy driving is just as bad as drunk driving, and both show very similiar signs when out on the road. Both occurrences show drivers with slower reaction times, decreased awareness, impaired judgement and increased aggressiveness. In a recent study, nine out of ten North American police officers interviewed had pulled over a drowsy driver who they thought was actually a drunk driver.

Drowsy driving is just as bad as drunk driving and parents and guardians should talk about it with their kids JUST as much. If you would like to stop by and go over the several safety features that assist GM drivers, feel free to stop by! We would love to show you the great technological safety systems in our vehicles! At your local St. Louis, Michigan Area Chevy Dealer we are always checking out the new technologies that Chevy is coming up with! Visit us at your St. Louis Area Chevrolet Dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac Dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com 

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, and YouTube