The Spirit of the American Family Road Trip Remains Alive

OKEMOS, Mich.,–– Family road trips: an American tradition. As the holiday season begins, family road trips will be at an all-time high, as it's the time of year to visit family and friends. Although road trips are the new family dinner table, parents still get stressed out. A new survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Chevrolet revealed some interesting points about parents' stress derived from road trips. Through a series of questions, Chevrolet found that the spirit of the American family road trip remains alive.

Surprisingly, kids are not the source of parents' stress on road trips. Increased amounts of traffic stress parents out the most. However, in-vehicle technologies, such as Wi-Fi and USB outlets, could lead to a better road trip experience overall. Good thing Chevy offers a slew of these in-vehicle technologies and safety features that make family road trips more enjoyable, including plenty of storage space, USB outlets, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility. The following statistics were found from the survey:


Technology

Parents hold in-car Wi-Fi at the top of their wish list for better road trips.

• "56 percent of parents say that having Wi-Fi/internet connectivity would help make their family road trips more enjoyable."

Love for Road Trips

Families do love taking road trips together. It's the time when they can bond together and make special memories while on the road.

• "93 percent of all parents say they like or love taking road trips with their family, including more than half (53 percent) who “love” it. Of those who take road trips, 95 percent like or love them, including 55 percent who say they “love” them."

• "Spending time with family (80 percent) and exploring and stopping at interesting locations and destinations (69 percent) are parents’ top two favorite aspects of family road trips."

• "Traffic and other unexpected delays is by far the most stressful part of the family road trip, according to nearly two in three parents (63%)."

Quick Stats

According to the survey, there is indeed a perfect road trip length.

• "American parents who take road trips believe that the “perfect” family road trip length is typically six hours."

There are plenty of distractions for the kids.

• "Parents who take road trips today bring 6.6 mobile devices, on average, in the vehicle."

SUVs are the vehicle of choice on road trips.

• "Nearly two-thirds of all American parents (63 percent) say they would prefer to take a family road trip in an SUV over any other type of vehicle, with more than two in five (42 percent) preferring a large SUV with three rows."

Kids have a say, too.

• "67 percent of parents who take road trips involve their children in the planning."

Chevrolet offers many tech and safety features in its newest models, making the holidays a little less stressful. With in-car Wi-Fi as an option, families are more likely to take a longer road trip and more frequently. The newest safety features available include Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Surround Vision, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and many more. Chevy's goal behind providing these many features is the hope that families will have a better experience in the car and the spirit of the American family road trip will remain alive. Start shopping our Equinox and Traverse inventory to find an SUV that will keep your loved ones comfy, safe, and occupied while on the road this holiday season!

Located conveniently just outside of Lansing, Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is here to help you with your car buying and servicing needs. Our goal is to create a transparent experience and a comfortable environment for all of our valuable customers. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, reach us at (517) 349-8300, or stop by the dealership at 1748 W. Grand River in Okemos, MI 48864

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Halloween Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treaters

OKEMOS, Mich., – While trick-or-treating is the most fun part of Halloween for kids, it can be one of the most stressful parts of the holiday for parents. According to the National Safety Council, children are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Before you and your family set out to explore the neighborhood this year, make sure to go over these Halloween safety tips for trick-or-treaters with your kids to ensure that they have a fun and safe holiday.

• Wear Comfy Shoes: If you're planning to be out and about for a long time, you'll want to make sure everyone wears comfy shoes to avoid any soreness or blisters!
• Plan a Route Before You Go: Planning your route in advance will help you to keep track of where you are and where you're going so that you don't get lost.
• Accompany Your Kids: The best way to ensure the safety of your kids is to go trick-or-treating with them! You can teach them how to responsibly cross the street and help them avoid running into any trouble this Halloween. Plus, you may be able to get some candy for yourself!
• Agree on a Return Time: If your older trick-or-treaters want to go on their own, make sure they have a cell phone in case of emergencies and agree on a time when they'll head home. That way, they can enjoy their independence and you can rest easy knowing they'll return at a specific time.
• Use Reflective Tape: Before you go out, purchase a roll of reflective tape and apply it to your costume and your little monsters' costumes. The reflective tape will make them stand out in the darkness and help drivers spot them as you cross the road.
• Bring a Flashlight: Sometimes, Michigan weather is unpredictable and it can become dark in the blink of an eye. Bring a flashlight and a fresh pair of batteries to give yourself some extra visibility while you're trick-or-treating!
• Eat Before You Leave: Walking around on an empty stomach can turn an otherwise fun holiday into a Halloween nightmare very quickly. Cook a few scary good Halloween dishes to fill your trick-or-treaters' stomachs before they take to the streets!
• Never Cut Across Yards: Cutting across someone else's yard is impolite and people might yell at you from your home. You wouldn't want anyone to cut across your yard on Halloween, would you? It's better to be safe than sorry.
• Charge Your Phone: This may be common sense, but getting an extra charge in before you leave can make a huge difference in the event of an emergency. Don't hesitate to be over-prepared for any situation!
• Stay in a Group: There's safety in numbers. Going in a group with friends or family will help vehicles on the road easily spot you and reduce the chances of vehicle-related accidents. 
• Watch Out for Drivers: It's impossible to predict the behavior of other drivers, but remaining cautious is extremely important, especially on a busy day like Halloween. If you notice someone backing out of their parking lot, direct your kids to stay back and allow them to leave their driveway. Make sure your trick-or-treaters don't run out in the streets, either!
• Avoid Wearing Masks: Masks can obstruct your vision and can make breathing difficult for younger children. Instead, try painting a mask on using non-toxic face paint to give your kids the look they're going for!
• Don't Go Inside Houses: Make sure your kids know not to trick-or-treat at any houses that don't have lights on or houses that invite them in. Remind your kids to leave right away if people tell them to come in.
• Check Your Candy: Before your kids start feasting on their new candy, go through their bag and check the candy they've acquired. If you notice anything that isn't wrapped or any candy that looks abnormal, get rid of it right away. (Tip: if you see anything you want, make sure to take that as well!)

Halloween is one of the busiest and potentially dangerous times of the year. Use these Halloween safety tips for trick-or-treaters to teach your children important safety habits before they take to the streets on October 31st. At Graff Okemos, we realize that safety on the road is just as important as it is on foot. If you have a new driver in your home and want to help them maximize their safety on the road, you can use Chevrolet's Teen Driver Technology to teach them important driving habits as they get started! Additionally, you can protect your vehicle with Chevrolet's GAP coverage or any of our other protection plans to help keep your investment safe in the event of an accident. If you have any questions about financing, protection plans, or safety on the road, contact us and let us know! We are more than happy to help answer any questions you may have.

Located conveniently just outside of Lansing, Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is here to help you with your car buying and servicing needs. Our goal is to create a transparent experience and a comfortable environment for all of our valuable customers. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, reach us at (517) 349-8300, or stop by the dealership at 1748 W. Grand River in Okemos, MI 48864

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How the 2018 Equinox's New Body Will Improve Your Driving Experience

OKEMOS, Mich., – The 2018 Chevy Equinox has lost some serious weight this year, and has a brand new look all around! With the brand new redesigned body, the Equinox has shed over 400 lbs, which is about 10% of its mass. One of the most important advantages of this body redesign is the higher level of safety, but there are many more improvements we think you'll enjoy. Learn more about how the 2018 Equinox's new body will improve your driving experience by reading below!

Some of the improvements the 2018 Equinox include:

• More precision and nimbleness on the road
• Increased responsiveness
• More ride comfort 
• New high-strength steel 'safety cage'
• Advanced safety features 
• Reduced road noise
• Improved fuel economy 

The lighter, stiffer structure was a result of strategically placed high-strength steel to form a "safety cage." The high-strength steel structure of the body minimizes damage to the vehicle and passengers in the event of accidents while remaining light and durable against resistance. This redesign also includes improved restraint systems, which alongside Chevy's most advanced safety features, can help protect passengers in the event of an accident.

As a bonus, the new structure a weight loss has improved the Equinox's steering and performance capabilities, as well as interior quietness. The new body helps to better block noise and vibration, meaning drivers can enjoy a quieter, calmer driving experience in the 2018 Equinox.

Less weight also means better fuel economy, and a better fuel economy means more money for you! The Equinox's weight loss has allowed it to improve its fuel output to 26 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, as opposed to the 2017 model's 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The 2018 Equinox also comes in a 1.6L Diesel model, which offers up to 40 MPG highway speeds.

The 2018 Equinox has everything you could want in a crossover SUV and more. The 2018 Equinox's new body will improve your driving experience and your passengers riding experience, too! You can take a closer look at the 2018 Equinox and other models at our vehicle inventory, or stop by for a test drive so you can feel the difference. Not sure about leasing or buying a vehicle? We've put together a list of facts on buying vs. leasing, so you'll be able to answer any questions you may have in no time! 

Located conveniently just outside of Lansing, Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is here to help you with your car buying and servicing needs. Our goal is to create a transparent experience and a comfortable environment for all of our valuable customers. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, reach us at (517) 349-8300, or stop by the dealership at 1748 W. Grand River in Okemos, MI 48864

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