October is Battery Safety Month, so now is a great time to take a look at what's going on under the hood of your car. Ignoring a vehicle's battery can lead to problems down the road, and handling the battery without proper knowledge can result in personal injuries or expensive auto repair. It's important for drivers to get regular checks of their car battery and learn to use it safely, and motorists can take advantage of Battery Safety Month for just that. 

According to Prevent Blindness America, dealing with auto batteries results in approximately 6,000 eye injuries each year. Various other burns or harm can come about as well, which makes learning how to handle batteries extremely important. 

"Auto Battery Safety Month is a great time to raise awareness on how to avoid risks when changing a car battery, as well as on how to properly and safely jump start your car," said Brian Hafer, vice president of marketing for AutoMD.com. "… Whether dead or not, batteries can release an explosive hydrogen gas, and all it takes is a small spark to ignite the gas." 

Drivers who end up having to adjust car batteries should take steps to ensure safety. Check over the owner's manual for advice, and don't attempt to fiddle with the gear unless you know what you're doing. You should also wear eye protection and keep any sparks or open flames away from the hood. 

If you've had problems with your car battery in the past or simply want to get it checked as part of a regular tune up, consider bringing your car in to the Total Car Care Center at New Jersey State Auto Auction. The garage caters to the public and can take care of any issues you may have. 

Finding the right used car to invest in goes far beyond test driving models and inspecting the outside. Drivers also need to look into the history of their prospective rides. It doesn't matter if a vehicle is a relatively recent model or has seen years and years of use – it could have some type of repair or issue in its past that you should know about. 

Reputable used car dealers will be more than happy to help you with this research, so pay attention to these areas of research: 

Check the title history
Getting the vehicle identification number of a model and using it to find out the title history of a car is extremely important. Not only can it alert you as to past owners or uses, but it can also clue you in to past insurance issues, accidents and other events. A CARFAX report will give you part of this history, but a comprehensive write-up from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System may be your best bet. 

Get a service history
A vehicle may look like it's in good condition, but you won't really know about its past unless you take a look at the service history. This report will provide insight into the vehicle maintenance that a car has had, including oil changes, tire rotations, engine checks and other important actions, Money Talks reported. All of these small jobs can extend the life of a vehicle, and the work a model has had done can clue you in to some of the situations it has been involved in. 

When you're sifting through the multitude of used cars for sale, you may want to consider heading to New Jersey State Auto Auction. The lot is filled with hundreds of CARFAX-certified cars, trucks and vans, and it is more than capable of providing you with the history and quality you need. 

Animal collisions are one of the most common causes of car accidents. When wildlife unknowingly run into roads, they put themselves and surrounding drivers in harm's way. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about preventing animals from entering traffic, but drivers can take steps to make sure they are prepared for anything. 

Perhaps the most important thing is to remain alert and focused on the road at all times. This can be helped by outfitting a vehicle with properly working headlights and windshield wipers. Each of these components is designed to improve visibility and provide drivers with a comprehensive view of the road – something that can go a long way toward spotting animals. 

"A driver may encounter any number of scenarios at any given moment behind the wheel," said Dr. William Van Tassel, manager of driver training programs for AAA. "Remaining alert and limiting distractions is a must. Animals are unpredictable, so the sooner you see them in the roadway, the more time you will have to safely react." 

Drivers should also make sure their brakes are working well. Braking, not swerving, is the most effective way to stay safe even if an animal runs in front of a car, and making sure the gear works perfectly is essential to avoiding major accidents. 

If you have found yourself in a collision with an animal or want to prevent this scenario from ever occurring, you should make sure to have maintenance done on your car to fix problem areas. This is where the Total Car Care Center at NJ State Auto Auction comes in handy. The garage caters to the public and can fix any issues a vehicle has to get it back in peak driving condition. 

The auto industry has made great strides in recent years, and that means that vast improvements have sprung up in used cars. As new vehicles continue to evolve and adopt new technologies, higher-quality used cars are entering the market – and that is something any driver can take advantage of. 

Vehicle displays are one of the areas where prospective drivers should see some improvement in the future. The dashboard displays were once restricted to analog readouts and sparse data, but recent changes are incorporating more streamlined designs and comprehensive information into the displays. That is good news for drivers who care about the performance and maintenance of used vehicles, as well as those who want a sleek appearance. 

These LCD displays were once restricted to expensive new cars. However, as those models become used cars for sale, even drivers on a budget can reap the benefits of the technology. Not only do these state-of-the-art dashboards display things like the speedometer, fuel gauge, fuel economy and other traditional measurements, but they also allow you to sync smartphones and music players while viewing data in a more user-friendly format. 

Of course, having a digital display does mean drivers have another area of vehicle maintenance they will need to focus on. Electrical issues may disrupt the dashboard, which can cause some problems if it interferes with necessary information. However, these instances are rare and can usually be fixed by a professional without much trouble. 

Whether you're specifically looking for digital displays or are open to any features in a vehicle, you should bring your search to New Jersey State Auto Auction. The lot has hundreds of CARFAX-certified cars, trucks and vans, and all of the pre-owned vehicles are capable of providing a safe and high-quality driving experience for motorists. 

Texting while driving is one of the biggest threats to the safety of motorists today. That's why Andrew R. Cuomo, governor of New York, is taking steps to stop the dangerous action. He recently revealed that the state would begin offering texting zones along highways by designating areas along major roads that will give drivers a place to pull over and use cellphones. 

Nearly 300 signs are being installed throughout the state to label 91 texting zones. Most of these areas will take advantage of existing rest stops present around New York, but as the program grows new sections will open to the public. The state hopes that by advertising these areas and increasing the number of traffic tickets given out for texting while driving, it can cut down on the number of motorists who partake in this dangerous behavior. 

"New York State is continuing to use every tool at its disposal to combat texting while driving," Cuomo said. "In addition to tougher penalties, new detection methods for state police and ongoing public outreach efforts, we are now launching special texting zones to allow motorists to pull over and use their phones. … With this new effort, we are sending a clear message to drivers that there is no excuse to take your hands off the wheel and eyes off the road, because your text can wait until next texting zone." 

Avoiding texting while driving is just one important safety initiative, but drivers need to do more when they get behind the wheel. The first step is making sure a vehicle's amenities are up to par. If they are not, drivers may want to consider shopping around for a used car at NJ State Auto Auction. The lot has hundreds of CARFAX-certified cars, trucks and vans that are safe and reliable.