24
www.AAA.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 New AAA Office coming to Quakertown Located in the Richland Marketplace (near Target and BJ’s) on Route 309 South, the new AAA branch location will provide the services of AAA travel and insurance professionals along with notary service for automobile title and driver license documentation. Check out our shopper’s dream catalog in this issue! Details on the opening dates and Grand Opening Celebration for the new Quakertown office will be published in an upcoming issue of the AAA Traveler. Please see the ad on page 5 for more details, or visit AAA.com/Appreciation. What better time than the holiday season to thank the Club’s over 2.7 million members for their continued support. “Membership in AAA is at an all-time high,” according to Club President, Jim Lehman,“ and we want to recognize and reward our loyal members by offering special savings on Club products and services. We hope members will visit their local branch office, learn about some of the newer AAA benefits, and take advantage of these special offers,” says Lehman. “While there, they can also enter a drawing to win a Caribbean Cruise for two on Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas.” Find your “happy place” amid the natural beauty of Iceland L OTS OF PEOPLE already know Iceland boasts some of the world’s most spec- tactular and beautiful natural won- ders — geysers, glaciers, waterfalls, lagoons, mountains and more. Fewer know that this small North Atlantic island nation is also home to some of the planet’s hap- piest people. So says a 2013 World Happiness Report, which arose out of a UN resolution inviting member nations to measure their people’s happiness and use it to guide public policies. No doubt, Iceland’s scenic beauty helps put its folks in a good mood, and you’ll likely know — and feel — what we mean when you join AAA Travel’s “Inspiring Iceland” 7-night escorted tour this July 19. As a member, you’ll be even happier know- ing you can save as much as $700 when you book & deposit by Nov 30! (See box above.) Enhancing this unique tour are its fascinat- ing featured activities — fun opportunities to appreciate the scenic beauty and cultural uniqueness of this land of fire & ice: • Taking an enjoyable guided tour of Reykjavik, the quirky and quaint capital, on foot or by bike • Enjoying a buffet of traditional dishes...and a dinner of contemporary culinary works of art • Meeting a local family dedicated to catching Greenland sharks and preserving their meat, which you’re invited to taste — if you dare! • Cruising to a puffin sanctuary to see these colorful birds...and fishing a bit on the way • Overnighting in a quaint fishing village • Riding Iceland’s uniquely-gaited horses...or relaxing in a natural geothermal lake near the unofficial, charming “capital of the far north” • Soaking in the waters of the fabled Blue Lagoon • Deep-sea fishing...hiking into a volcanic cave... or relaxing on a whale watching cruise You may be glad to know Iceland is our clos- est European neighbor; flight time from New York is just 4.5 hours (no jet lag), so you’re ready to roll as soon as you arrive! Happily, the chilliest thing about the country is its name; in July, the average high is about 60. And its welcome is always warm. Nearly everyone speaks English, and most Iceland- ers aren’t given to formali- ties; even the phone direc- tory lists by first name! Nature at its wildest is just as accessible. Expect direct contact with a side of it that has all but vanished from most other countries. Here, you can “go back” to the places that most other countries have paved over. You’ll experience virtually the same world that greeted Vikings when they arrived more than 1,100 years ago. The coastal waters are prime whale habitat, teeming colonies of seabirds roosting in cliffs around fjords. And humans have never made a permanent home in the island’s vast interior, where nature remains at its most primordial — vast glaciers, black-sand deserts, barren gla- cial moraine, bubbling hot springs & thermal pools, active volcanoes and strange oases of lush green vegetation (very reminiscent of Ire- land!), thriving against all subarctic odds. Nature lovers may get positively giddy trav- eling Iceland’s Golden Circle — a route stud- ded with many of its most renowned gems, including the 100-foot continued on page 18 MEMBERS GET AN EXTRA REASON TO BE HAPPY! Premier ... $700 Plus ....... $650 Basic...... $600 savings per room (double occupancy) only on new bookings with deposit — Nov 1-30, 2014 PUFFINS THINGVELLIR BLUE LAGOON REYKJAVIK

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Page 1: November/December 2014 Traveler

www.AAA.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

New AAA Office coming to QuakertownLocated in the Richland Marketplace (near Target and BJ’s) on Route 309 South, the new AAA branch location will provide the services of AAA travel and insurance professionals along with notary service for automobile title and driver license documentation.

Check out our shopper’s

dream catalog in this issue!

Details on the opening dates and Grand Opening Celebration for the new Quakertown office will be published in an upcoming issue of the AAA Traveler.

Please see the ad on page 5 for more details, or visit AAA.com/Appreciation.

What better time than the holiday season to thank the Club’s over 2.7 million members for their continued support.

“Membership in AAA is at an all-time high,” according to Club President, Jim Lehman,“ and we want to recognize and

reward our loyal members by offering special savings on Club products and services. We hope members will visit their

local branch office, learn about some of the newer AAA benefits, and take advantage of these special offers,” says Lehman.

“While there, they can also enter a drawing to win a Caribbean Cruise for two on Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas.”

Find your “happy place” amid the natural beauty of Iceland

LOTS OF PEOPLE already know Iceland boasts some of the world’s most spec- tactular and beautiful natural won- ders — geysers, glaciers, waterfalls,

lagoons, mountains and more.Fewer know that this small North Atlantic

island nation is also home to some of the planet’s hap-piest people. So says a 2013 World Happiness Report, which arose out of a UN resolution inviting member nations to measure their people’s happiness and use it to guide public policies.

No doubt, Iceland’s scenic beauty helps put its folks in a good mood, and you’ll likely know — and feel — what we mean when you join AAA Travel’s “Inspiring Iceland” 7-night escorted tour this July 19.

As a member, you’ll be even happier know-ing you can save as much as $700 when you book & deposit by Nov 30! (See box above.)

Enhancing this unique tour are its fascinat-ing featured activities — fun opportunities to appreciate the scenic beauty and cultural uniqueness of this land of fire & ice:• Taking an enjoyable guided tour of Reykjavik, the quirky and quaint capital, on foot or by bike• Enjoying a buffet of traditional dishes...and a dinner of contemporary culinary works of art• Meeting a local family dedicated to catching Greenland sharks and preserving their meat, which you’re invited to taste — if you dare!• Cruising to a puffin sanctuary to see these colorful birds...and fishing a bit on the way• Overnighting in a quaint fishing village• Riding Iceland’s uniquely-gaited horses...or relaxing in a natural geothermal lake near the

unofficial, charming “capital of the far north”• Soaking in the waters of the fabled Blue Lagoon• Deep-sea fishing...hiking into a volcanic cave... or relaxing on a whale watching cruise

You may be glad to know Iceland is our clos-est European neighbor; flight time from New

York is just 4.5 hours (no jet lag), so you’re ready to roll as soon as you arrive! Happily, the chilliest thing about the country is its name; in July, the average high is about 60. And its welcome is always warm. Nearly everyone speaks English, and most Iceland-ers aren’t given to formali-ties; even the phone direc-tory lists by first name!

Nature at its wildest is just as accessible. Expect

direct contact with a side of it that has all but vanished from most other countries. Here, you can “go back” to the places that most other countries have paved over. You’ll experience virtually the same world that greeted Vikings when they arrived more than 1,100 years ago. The coastal waters are prime whale habitat, teeming colonies of seabirds roosting in cliffs around fjords. And humans have never made a permanent home in the island’s vast interior, where nature remains at its most primordial — vast glaciers, black-sand deserts, barren gla-cial moraine, bubbling hot springs & thermal pools, active volcanoes and strange oases of lush green vegetation (very reminiscent of Ire-land!), thriving against all subarctic odds.

Nature lovers may get positively giddy trav-eling Iceland’s Golden Circle — a route stud-ded with many of its most renowned gems, including the 100-foot continued on page 18

MEMBERS GET AN EXTRA REASON TO BE HAPPY!

Premier ...$700Plus ....... $650Basic ...... $600savings per room (double occupancy) only on new bookings with deposit — Nov 1-30, 2014

PUFFINS

THINGVELLIRBLUE LAGOON

REYKJAVIK

Page 2: November/December 2014 Traveler

The Board of Directors, officers and staff of AAA East Central mourn the death of William J. Albert, who died on September 28, 2014 in Allentown.

Bill’s 33 years of diligent service to AAA East Central began in 1981 when he joined the AAA Lehigh Valley Board of Directors. He was elected 1st Vice Chairman of the Board in 1984 and served as Chairman in 1987. Bill’s visionary leadership as Chairman led to the creation of the Club’s new Public Relations and Marketing Department. Prior to this time the Club did not have a Public Relations Director. In 1999, Bill was elected to the AAA East Penn Regional Board of Directors and served

faithfully through 2003. Elected as an Honorary Director in 2004, he served in that capacity until his death.He was a retired partner and corporate secretary of Rileigh’s, Inc. of Allentown, a former partner of Albert

Brothers Florist of North Catasauqua, and former Display Director for H. Leh & Co. of Allentown. In addition to his strong commitment to AAA, Bill was active in many community organizations. He

served as President to the Lehigh County Historical Society, Lehigh County Tourist and Convention Bureau, Allentown Center City Association, Liberty Bell Shrine, Great Allentown Fair, and the Lehigh County Agricultural Society. He also chaired the Lehigh County Bicentennial Committee and North Catasauqua Zoning Board and was President and Board Chairman of the Allentown Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce.

Bill’s dedicated support to AAA and the community will long be remembered.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 20142

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE1020 W. Hamilton Street, P.O. Box 1910

Allentown, PA 18105-1910

AAA EAST CENTRALChairman: Richard S. HamiltonVice Chairman: James E. Broome, Jr.Vice Chairman: Mary Lynn LaughlinVice Chairman: Martha Hartle Munsch

OFFICERS:President: James E. LehmanExecutive Vice President: Thomas J. AshleyVice President of Operations: Allen J. RuchSecretary: Robert H. ComptonTreasurer: Robert S. Collins

GOVERNING BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Neil D. Bassi, James E. Broome, Jr., Steve D. Bullock*, Charles O. Casto*, Edward C. Coaxum, Jr., Robert S. Collins, Robert H. Compton, Jon E. Denney, Debra A. Dinnocenzo, Pamela C. Fritz, Gregory E. Grim*, Richard S. Hamilton, James H. Kanicki, Mary Lynn Laughlin, William Duff McCrady, James M. McDonnell, Thomas V. McKernan, Jr., Martha Hartle Munsch, Gary K. Munsie*

AAA EAST PENN REGION BOARD

Charles J. Kelly, Chairman, Llyena F. Boylan, 1st Vice Chairman, Carol Dean Henn, 2nd Vice Chairman/Secretary, Richard A. Adams**, Glenn B. Bachman, Charles R. Broderick**, Ralph A. Clemmer, Donald E. Ellis**, Barnet H. Fraenkel, G. Patrick Frank**, Pamela C. Fritz, Gregory E. Grim, James W. Harper**, Robert M. Johnson**, Joseph Kovatch**, Frederick E. Kutteroff, John P. Lavelle**, Richard D. Linderman**, Franklin Mann 3rd**, Robert E. McNabb, Charles M. Meredith III**, Terrence L. Walton *Emeritus Directors **Honorary members

AAA EAST PENN REGIONAL STORE HOURS

Allentown Bethlehem & Lansdale Store Hours:

Mon., Tues., Wed. & Fri. : 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thurs. : 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.Sat. : 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Royersford Store Hours:

Mon., Tues., Wed. & Fri. : 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thurs. : 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Sat. : 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ALLENTOWN 2072 Downyflake Ln. 610-434-5141BETHLEHEM 1520 Stefko Blvd. 610-867-7502LANSDALE 1250 N. Broad St. 215-855-8600ROYERSFORD 70 Buckwalter Rd. 610-323-6300TDDs 610-435-0226 • Visit us online: www.AAA.com

Reservation Center: 1-800-472-9367

IN MEMORIAM WILLIAM J. ALBERT

It’s That Most Wonderful Time of Year at AAA Sensational Savings during AAA Member Appreciation Celebration

AAA East Central is fortunate to enjoy the support of over 2.7 million members. And the holiday season is the perfect time to say thank you with our Member Appreciation Celebration. From now, through December 31, 2014, AAA members can take advantage of exclusive, members-only perks and rewards and special offerings that celebrate the many benefits of being a AAA member.

Plus, you could win a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two aboard Royal Caribbean’s spectacular Grandeur of the Seas. Departing from Baltimore August 21, 2015, ports of call include Port Canaveral, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; Cococay, Bahamas, and three relaxing days at sea. Enter at any AAA East Central Office location, or online at AAA.com/sweepstakes.

Give a gift, receive a giftAAA simplifies your life in so many ways. Simplify

the lives of those around you with a AAA gift membership. And now, through December 31, AAA will waive the $10 enrollment fee for new gift memberships. We also have a nice gift for you — a $10 gift card. Choose from among dozens of merchants.

Free Associate membershipAAA’s Convenience Renewal billing is an easy way

to insure you’ll never be stranded without a valid AAA card. Your annual membership renewal will be billed to your credit card each year, and we’ll even send you a reminder. Enroll during our Member Appreciation event and we’ll add a new Associate member to your current membership free of charge. That’s right — a $25 value at no additional charge!

Protect your identity & saveHoliday shoppers need to take special care to

protect their personal information. ProtectMyID®

by Charles J. Kelly, Chairman, AAA East Central, East Penn Region

Essential offers free credit monitoring — a $79 value — exclusively to AAA members. Sign up during our Member Appreciation Celebration and we’ll take $5 off your next membership renewal when you bring your email confirmation to your local AAA office. Need enhanced monitoring services? Upgrade to ProtectMylD® Deluxe at a members’ only price of just $8.95 per month. Enroll online at AAA.com/lDdefense, or call 1-866-979-6943.

One card, two special offersTurn everyday purchases into unlimited rewards

with the AAA Member Rewards Visa® credit card. Earn triple points on all qualifying AAA purchases including travel packages, AAA insurance premiums, and membership dues. Earn double points when you use your AAA Member Rewards Visa® credit card for gas, grocery, and drug store purchases, and, earn one point for each dollar you spend on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for cash, AAA vouchers good for travel, membership and Approved Auto Repair® services, and gift cards.

AAA Member Rewards Visa® credit card now comes with chip technology for enhanced security and protection when making purchases at chip-enabled terminals. And because you’re a AAA member, the AAA Member Rewards Visa® has no annual fee!

Apply for a new AAA Member Rewards credit card at any AAA East Central branch office and, upon approval, you’ll qualify for two great offers! Turn to page 5 for details.

Please accept my personal invitation to join AAA East Central for this Member Appreciation event. Visit AAA.com/Branch for your nearest AAA location. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday!

Page 3: November/December 2014 Traveler

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 3

AAA TRAVELER GENERAL INFORMATION:

Affiliations: AAA, Pennsylvania AAA Federation.

A not-for-profit organization. Issue #1075-668X USPS

#0309-620 Vol. 92, No. 8 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

AAA Traveler (USPS 309-620) is published 8X annually (Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, July,

Sept. and Nov.) at 1020 W. Hamilton St., P.O. Box 1910, Allentown, PA 18105-1910

Publisher: James E. Lehman Editor: Theresa E. Deutsch

Associate Editor: Lori McLaughlinPERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID:

At Allentown, PA 18101 and additional mailing offices. Subscription: $1 per year to

PRIMARY members, paid through dues; non-members $1 per copy.

POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to: AAA Traveler, P.O. Box 1910, Allentown, PA

18105-1910.Advertisements in this publication, except for

AAA club services and products, do not constitute an endorsement of the automobile club or the

publisher. Liability of the publisher for errors and omissions in advertising or editorial copy is limited

to printing a correction in the next issue of the publication after the publisher has been notified of

the error or omission.

SAVE $$AAA’s Safe Driving for Mature Operators Course

on Auto Insurance Premiums

To register for a course in Allentown or Bethlehem, call 610-434-5141; Royersford or Lansdale, call 800-564-0300.

AAA’s four-hour and eight-hour programs have been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for an insurance reduction. To qualify for the insurance reduction, all named insureds on the policy must be 55 years of age or older and successfully complete a AAA driver improvement course which meets PennDOT standards.

SAVE $$ALLENTOWN: 2072 DOWNYFLAKE LANE NOVEMBER 18 & 19 TUES./WED. 9:15 A.M. TO 1:15 P.M.

ROYERSFORD: 70 BUCKWALTER ROADNOVEMBER 12 & 13 WED./THURS. 12:30 P.M. TO 4:30 P.M.

Choose from the following 8-hour courses

Choose from the following 4-hour courses

To qualify for the four-hour refresher course, participants must be 55 years of age or older and have taken AAA’s eight-hour or four-hour Safe Driving for Mature Operators course within

the past three years.

ALLENTOWN: 2072 DOWNYFLAKE LANEDECEMBER 3 WEDNESDAY 9:15 A.M. TO 1:15 P.M.

BETHLEHEM: 1520 STEFKO BOULEVARDNOVEMBER 12 WEDNESDAY 9:15 A.M. TO 1:15 P.M.

LANSDALE: 1250 N. BROAD STREETNOVEMBER 19 WEDNESDAY 9:15 A.M. TO 1:15 P.M.DECEMBER 2 TUESDAY 12:30 P.M. TO 4:30 P.M.

ROYERSFORD: 70 BUCKWALTER ROADDECEMBER 3 WEDNESDAY 12:30 P.M. TO 4:30 P.M.

SIGN UP TODAY!Class size is limited.

8-hour coursesAAA Member: $15AAA Member & Spouse: $20 per couple (both must be AAA members)

Non-Member: $25

4-hour coursesAAA Member: $10AAA Member & Spouse: $15 per couple (both must be AAA members)

Non-Member: $20

It was Christmas Day, and Judy Stock had just taken the turkey out of the oven when she smelled smoke. She looked around, trying to determine the source, when she saw her cat up on the counter. Earlier in the day, Stock had placed a lit candle there for decoration. “The cat had backed into it, and his tail was on fire,” she says.

Stock put the flames out quickly, before the cat got hurt—or before it could start a bigger fire with a flick of its tail—and she knows she was lucky. “If no one had been in that room, or if we’d forgotten the candle was burning, it could have been a different outcome,” she says.

Every year, U.S. fire agencies respond to 150 blazes started by holiday decorations and another 250 fires involving Christmas trees, according to the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Fire Administration. These fires account for an average of 21 deaths and more than $25 million in property damage annually.

Dealing with the devastation of a major fire will certainly ruin your holidays, but even the smallest fire can be disruptive and expensive. That might not destroy

your holiday spirit, but it will take time and energy away from your seasonal plans. If you decorate your home this time of year, take the following precautions to protect yourself, your family, and your property.

Trees: Before you buy a live tree, check it for freshness. First, pull the needles back from the branches; they shouldn’t come off easily. Second, check the trunk at the spot where the tree was cut; it should still be sticky with resin. Third, bounce the tree on the ground. If piles of needles fall off, the tree is too dry. Once the tree is in your house, keep it in a water-bearing stand, and check the water level every day. Also, keep it away from heat sources, such as vents, radiators, and fireplaces; they can quickly dry out trees, making them more susceptible to fire.

Outdoor lights: Before you put up your holiday lights, check the box labels to make sure they’ve been certified for outdoor use. Then inspect each strand for cracked sockets and frayed wires, and throw away any light sets that show damage. Plug in lights with an extension cord that’s designed for outdoor use, and don’t connect more than three strands of lights together.

When you leave the house or go to bed at night, turn the lights off. They could short out and start a fire, and you don’t want to be away or asleep if that should happen. And whether you put up outdoor or indoor lights, be careful not to overload power strips, which could cause them to overheat and possibly catch on fire.

Other decorations: If you use lit candles, place them far away from anything that might catch fire (including pets), and make sure they’re in holders that are unlikely to be knocked down. (Better yet, use battery-powered candles.) Before you light your fireplace, clear all greenery and needles from the area, and don’t use wrapping paper for kindling—it can cause a fire to get very big, very fast, sending sparks and embers into the air and increasing the chance of a chimney fire.

A Fire-Free Home For The HolidaysKeep Your Yuletide Blazes in Check With These Safety Tips By Robin Jones

Page 4: November/December 2014 Traveler

distraction is real and that it has real consequences,” says J. Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which sponsored the study. “The more we can get that message out, the better off we’ll be.”

Compared to the volumes of data collected on how manual and visual distractions, such as texting and talking on handheld phones, affect drivers, Kissinger notes that relatively little research exists on the cognitive side of the equation. Yet scientists have known for years about inattention blindness, a phenomenon that can cause a person engaged in a mentally demanding task to fail to notice something happening right in front of him or her. As more and more voice-controlled devices appear in new cars, the Utah team’s work is demonstrating how such devices can inadvertently cause a form of inattention blindness for motorists.

In a prior study completed in 2013, the same research group established an

index rating the levels of cognitive distraction created by various tasks people perform while driving. On a scale of 1 to 5, conversing on a hands-free mobile phone garnered a 2.3 rating, while using a handheld phone (illegal in 14 states and the Dis-trict of Columbia) came in a touch

higher at 2.5.In the new study, completed over

the summer, test subjects using a voice-controlled navigational system with perfect speech recognition while driving experienced a 2.8 level of distraction. The level rose to 3.6 when the navigational system produced speech-translation errors (common in systems in use today). Participants using Siri to check and compose text messages, update their Facebook or Twitter status and review and modify calendar appointments experienced a 4.1-level distraction.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 20144

When the dangers of using a cellphone, texting and fiddling with devices while driving started becoming apparent about a decade ago, many people assumed that hands-free technology could offer a safe way to stay connected from behind the wheel. But a growing body of research is showing that such an assumption might, in some cases, be creating a false sense of security. In the most significant attempt to date to assess distractions caused by voice-controlled communication and navi-gation features in cars, test subjects using such systems showed measurable declines in their ability to drive safely. A few even crashed.

Fortunately, the collisions only occurred in a driving simulator—and only three times. But the fact that they happened at all helps illustrate the potentially dangerous levels of distraction that hands-free vehicle devices can cause, even as they allow motorists to keep their eyes on the road and their hands upon the wheel.

The University of Utah research team behind the study found that using hands-free, menu-based navigational systems or Apple’s Siri while driving created higher levels of cognitive, or mental, distraction than conversing on a hands-free cellphone. With prior epidemiological studies showing that talking on a mobile phone—handheld or hands-free—while driving quadruples crash risks, the new findings are grabbing attention.

“The most significant takeaway is that this further confirms that cognitive

David Strayer, the University of Utah psychology professor who led the research team, believes that lapses that caused Siri to sometimes pro-vide different answers to the same question are at least partially to blame for its high rating.

“When the study participants asked Siri to do the exact same thing [at different times], sometimes it would do it, and sometimes it wouldn’t,” he says. “We could never figure out why it got it sometimes and didn’t others, but as soon as you have a system that doesn’t have a high level of reliability, it becomes frustrating to use.”

Strayer’s team analyzed reactions demonstrated by volunteer test subjects in a driving simulator or while driving an instrumented Subaru Outback on suburban Salt Lake City roads. In the driving simulator, participants “rear-ended” a “car” they were following while using Siri (twice) and a menu-based navigational device (once). No collisions occurred on the public roads; the car used for the latter tests was equipped with a redundant braking system accessible to a passenger seated in the car for added safety.

On the less-distracting side, a system that allowed drivers to use simple voice commands to change a radio station or adjust an air conditioner registered a 1.9 rating. For comparison’s sake, the 2013 study attached a 1.8 rating to listening to an audiobook.

In a companion study also completed over the summer, the researchers analyzed the use of voice-based radio-tuning and phone-dialing features available in cars offered by six manufacturers. Distraction levels ranged

AAA Cognitive Distraction Simulator

What comes next?In its efforts to make in-car devices

safer, AAA is sharing the Strayer team’s findings with the auto industry and government agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The latter agency plans to issue voluntary guidelines in the next year or two to automakers, aftermarket suppliers, the wireless industry and others on minimizing distractions created by future voice-controlled devices offered to motorists.

In the meantime, AAA’s traffic-safety experts advise motorists to be aware that not all current hands-free vehicle devices are risk-free and to minimize the use of such features while driving. “It’s very important for people to understand that voice-activated systems do not all perform equally,” says Jake Nelson, director of traffic safety advocacy and research for AAA. “Depending on how they are designed, these technologies can be more distracting or less distracting.”

Editor’s Note: 14 states and D.C. currently ban handheld cellphone use while driving for all drivers – the total becomes 15 plus DC when New Hampshire’s ban takes effect: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire (effective July 1, 2015), New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah, Vermont (effective Oct. 1), Washington, West Virginia

Hands-free vs. Risk-freeNew Research Sheds Further Light on the Unseen Distractions to Driving by Rob Bhatt

from 1.7 for such features available through Toyota’s Entune system to 3.7 for those in Chevrolet’s MyLink.

“If the car commands are done well, so that I can say, ‘Change a radio station,’ and it’s not some cumbersome thing, it does not cause a problem,” Strayer says. “So, the good news is, it can be done in a way that’s not troublesome.”

Rob Bhatt is the editor of Western Journey magazine, published by AAA Washington.

5MOST

DISTRACTING

4

321

LEAST DISTRACTING

5.00

1.75

Conversing with friend on hands-free mobile phone

Listening to the radio

Listening to an audio book

Conversing with friend on hand-held mobile phone

Driving while doing a series

of math and memory tasks

3.01

Interacting with a speech-to-text device

2.27

ENTER NUMBER OF MOVIE TICKETS

1 2 3 4

2.45

1.21

THE STRAYER SCALE

Page 5: November/December 2014 Traveler

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 5

Page 6: November/December 2014 Traveler

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 20146

AAA East Central and its affiliates are proud to have been providing top-quality AAA member services, benefits and products for more than 100 years. We greatly appreciate and value the trust that you and more than 2.6 million other AAA members, customers and consumers have placed in us. We will protect that trust by respecting the privacy of all members and nonmember customers/consumers.

Gathering InformationIn order to provide you with the

services, benefits and products that you want from us, and to insure that you receive the very best services and benefits and the highest quality products, we collect the following personal information about you:

• Information we receive from you, such as information you give us orally or in writing on applications (including membership applications) or other order forms;

• Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates or others; and

• Information we receive from an outside source such as a consumer reporting agency.

In addition, if you visit our Internet website at www.AAA.com, the web server automatically recognizes and records information about your Internet usage, such as the referring (immediate preceding) website, Internet work-station address, date and time of log-in/log-out, site pages visited, time spent per page, files downloaded and search criteria used. If, during your visit to our website, you voluntarily provide personally identifiable information such as an e-mail address, information to complete or submit an application or form online or other information (such as survey information or content of e-mail), we will collect such information. To better serve you, we may use a feature of your Internet browser called a “cookie” (an entry placed in a file on your computer’s hard drive or in your browser memory) to enhance your browsing experience and to permit you to request data and conduct business transactions through the website. You should also be aware that other online retailers, partners, third-party Internet sites and third-party services accessible through our website have separate privacy and data collection policies and practices which are independent of and may be different from our policies and practices.

Please be alert for, and be sure to review, such separate policies and practices when you encounter them as you move between the links of our website.

Handling of gathered information

In the course of our normal service and business operations, we use and may share or disclose all of the information that we collect, as described above. However, since some of the information we gather and share or disclose is not publicly available, we take care to insure that your nonpublic personal information is protected from unauthorized access or use. We restrict access to nonpublic personal infor-mation about you to those employees who need to know that information in order to provide services, benefits and products to you. Where we select and use agents and service/product pro-vider partners to deliver or offer services, benefits and products to you or to us, we restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to such persons and firms who commit to properly use and protect your non-public personal information. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with applicable federal

regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information. We do not share or disclose your nonpublic personal information in violation of any app-licable law or regulation.

Sharing information among our affiliates and partners

In the course of normal service and business operations, or when we think it may benefit you, we may disclose all of the information that we collect, as described above, within our family of AAA-affiliated companies and business lines. Our family of AAA-affiliated companies and business lines includes AAA East Central, AAA East Penn, AAA Ashland County, AAA Massillon Automobile Club, AAA Travel Agency, West Penn AAA Insurance Agency, Inc., Ohio Motorists Insurance Agency, Inc., Ohio Motorists Holding Company, Ohio Motorists Life Insurance Company, AAA Kentucky Insurance Agency, Inc., AAA East Penn Insurance Agency, Inc., Automobile Club Insurance Agency of Massillon, Ohio Inc., Auto Club Driving Schools, Inc., AAA Kentucky Driver Training Center, Inc., AAA Massillon Driving School, Inc., Tri-State Foundation for Safety and Education, Inc., Ohio

Your Privacy Is Important To Us

Continued on page 22

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 731396 CHertzHZYHTZP42182 CNov/Dec AAAPage 4c Ad

100% None

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J. Elsesser HZY HTZ H 44001

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8-8-2014 5:38 PM

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478160381_4c.jpg (594 ppi), Hertz_logo_sml_blk.eps, HTZ_AAA_4C.eps, mem_sat_guar_sm.ai, facebook.eps, twitter_newbird_boxed_whiteonblue_1.eps

Hz Interstate (OpenType), Interstate (Type 1)

CMYK

: Macintosh HD:Users:erving:Desktop:31396_Hertz_AAA_Nov_Dec:31396_C_p3_9_5x11_NovDec.indd

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C M Y K

To Contact Us regarding this Job, Scan this QR Code. For best results, please have the Job Number and/or Project Manager name available.

Visit: Over 1,100 AAA OfficesClick: AAA.com/hertzCall: 1-800-654-3080

Hertz & AAA. Where value rules the road.

AAA Members get a FREE Double Upgrade on weekend and weekly rentals of Economy through Standard Size vehicles by including Promotional Code #202720 in your reservation. Exclusive discounts and benefits for AAA Members:• Everyday discounts up to 20% on daily, weekend, weekly and monthly rentals! • Hertz NeverLost® GPS rental for $6.99 per day, a savings of $6 per day!• Additional qualified AAA drivers are FREE, a savings of $13 per day per driver! • FREE use of a child, infant or booster seat, a savings of $11.99 per day!• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® membership and a FREE rental day!

LET HERTZ GIVE YOU A LIFT THIS WINTER!

FOR YOUR INFORMATION: Promotion Code must be provided at time of reservation or offer is void. Advance reservations are required and must include your AAA CDP#, along with the PC# for this offer. Double upgrade valid on Economy through Standard 4-door vehicles. Highest obtainable upgrade is to a Premium class vehicle. Offer not valid on Porsche, Mercedes-Benz AMG or Dream Cars. Subject to upgrade vehicle availability at time and place of rental; brand and model are not guaranteed. Blackout periods may apply. Modifying your reservation may result in a change in rate and/or invalidate this offer. Rate subject to increase or fees may apply in the event of early/late vehicle returns. Vehicle must be returned to renting location to avoid change in rate or drop charge. This offer is redeemable at participating Hertz locations in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. This offer has no cash value, and may not be used with Prepay Rates, Tour Rates, Insurance Replacement Rates or Hourly Rentals. This offer may only be used with a AAA CDP# and cannot be combined with any other certificate, voucher, offer or promotion. Hertz age, driver, credit and qualifying weekend and weekly rate restrictions for the renting location apply. Taxes, tax reimbursement, age differential charges, fees and optional service charges, such as refueling, are not included. No credit or refund for unused fuel on Fuel Purchase Option. At the time of rental, present your AAA membership card or Hertz/AAA Discount Card for identification. This offer is valid for vehicle pickup on or before 1/31/15.

Discounts and benefits are available at all Hertz corporate and participating licensee locations in the U.S. and Canada, and are subject to availability. Savings in USD or local currency equivalent. Only AAA Members with a Gold enrollment date on or after 2/1/12, who elect to participate in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program will qualify for a free rental day after the first Gold rental. Go to: AAA.com/HertzGold to enroll. Premier Members must enroll at: AAA.com/HertzPremier.® Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. © 2014 Hertz System, Inc.hertz.com

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 9

*40% discount applies to the original outlet price of each item. Cannot be combined with any other coupon or member discount. Offer excludes: all items ending in $.58, NHL Premier and Practice Jerseys, prior purchases; gift cards; Footwear Search. Valid only at U.S. Reebok and Rockport Outlet Stores. Selection varies by store.

Don’t let the savings end!AAA members save 20% OFF every day!**Restrictions apply. See stores for details.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 201410

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

Member BenefitsExclusive Offers1-800-552-6679 AAA.com/travel

DEPARTURES

11

AAA members who sailed on the 2014 Member Appre-ciation Cruise loved the extra-special amenities and values offered on that sailing so much that we’ve continued to pile on the “goodies” in 2015.

And, for the first time ever, there are now 2 Member Ap-preciation Cruise departures! Each 7-night Alaska cruise on Celebrity Solstice is potentially loaded with a total of more than $700 in member savings and added values. You can’t get all of these extras anywhere else — only from AAA.

These special AAA departures combine the 49th state’s awe-inducing glaciers, mountains and wildlife with the first-class quality of Celebrity’s “floating resort” — and when you add in all of the many member-only values & amenities only available on these sailings, these cruise adventures will be the ones you’ll always remember.

One eye-popping feature of these popular cruise vacations is the discounted add-on roundtrip airfare (Philadephia-Seattle) that’s available for a limited time for just $299 per person exclusively for AAA members booking balcony staterooms. The true cost of this cross-country airfare is as much as $500 more, but AAA will pay the rest. That savings is certainly more than the cost of your annual AAA membership and great proof that it pays to be a member.

And, when you arrange your discounted air with AAA, you’ll also get a FREE 1-night pre-cruise Seattle hotel stay with transfers (a value of as much as $259 per room), assur-ing that you’ll be rested and on time for your cruise.

Settle back into the comfort of your private balcony on Solstice for an endless parade of stunning land- & sea-scapes passing by your luxurious stateroom. Kick up your slippered feet, sip a soothing cocktail or a steaming cup of java and take in Mother Nature’s handiwork. Keep a keen eye out for glimpses of wildlife, listen for the eerie groaning of melting glaciers, inhale the impossibly fresh salt air and know without a doubt that you’re in a pristine world with the power to erase your everyday stresses and

invigorate your senses.Enhancing your newfound tranquillity are a “boatload”

of member-only amenities available with balcony state-rooms — including an in-room bottle of wine and an op-portunity to taste a martini.

After a relaxing full day at sea after departing Seattle, you’ll catch sight of Ketchikan, the first port of call. Vari-ously called “Salmon Capital of the World,” “Alaska’s First City” and “Rain Capital of Alaska,” it was named after a creek flowing through this ancestral home of the Tlingit people; some say it’s their word for “thundering wings of an eagle.” A must-see here is the world’s largest collec-tion of totem poles. You may opt to flightsee by seaplane over nearby spectacular Misty Fjords National Monument, called the “Yosemite of the North.”

Back on ship, you’ll sail amid pure silence past translu-cent blue icebergs silhouetted against a dramatic backdrop of waterfall-laced rock walls ascending thousands of feet into the sky at Tracy Arm Fjord.

Where Earl Grey meets Eddie Bauer® is a way to describe the charms of Alaska’s capital, Juneau. Here, the pioneering spirit lives on in an interesting mix of cosmopolitan chic and frontier ruggedness. Visit the State Museum’s exquisite collection of Russian Orthodox and Gold Rush relics.

Then enter one of the world’s most famously beautiful waterways, the

Inside Passage. It features virtually everything you come to Alaska hoping to see, including rain forests, glaciers, fjords and white-capped peaks — all of which create a setting that’s perfect for viewing whales and sea lions.

Wildlife gives way to wild life in the Gold Rush town of Skagway. Saloons and dance-hall revues enliven this little port with the big frontier spirit. If prospecting fever hits you, try the White Pass & Yukon Railway or a ride on the Klondike Highway to places where you can roll up your sleeves and pan for gold on your own!

After another day at sea, step ashore at Victoria, British Columbia’s capital and a charming example of colonial splendor. This English-flavored enclave enjoys a temperate climate, which makes exploring its museums, gardens and parks so enjoyable.

Learn more about these departures at AAA.com/Alaska. Hurry — space is limited, and Alaska is very popular!

AAAAAMember Exclusive

Add-on airfareavailable for just

$299 per personfor a limited time!

L SKMember Appreciation Cruises

A

© M

F/FOT

OLIA

.COM

2015 AAA Member Appreciation CruisesCelebrity SolsticeAlaska

Balcony rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes 7-night cruise accommodations/entertainment, most onboard meals, government taxes/fees ($441.92), $50 shipboard credit per stateroom, in-cabin bottle of wine and martini tasting vouchers (2 per stateroom). Ship’s registry: Malta. Ask about discounted add-on airfare and FREE 1-night pre-cruise hotel stay with transfers (available for a limited time). Visit AAA.com/Alaska for more information.

Aug 21-28 Member Rate from $1,940

Aug 28–Sept 4Member Rate from $1,760

2015

Add-on airfare & a FREE 1-night pre-cruise hotel stay with transfers for $299 per person

Value Comparison for a Balcony StateroomNONMEMBER INTERNET RATE

from $1,936* per person

NO ADDED VALUES

*based on rate as of 10/14/14 on CelebrityCruises.com

AAA MEMBER RATE from $1,760 per person

ADDED MEMBER VALUES*DISCOUNTED ADD-ON AIRFARE

with 1-night pre-cruise hotel stay$299 per person • R/T Pittsburgh-Seattle

double occupancy • airport/hotel/pier transfers

SHIPBOARD CREDIT — $50 per stateroom • for beverages, spa, shops, etc

IN-STATEROOM BOTTLE OF WINE 1 per stateroom

ONBOARD MARTINI TASTING 2 vouchers per stateroom

COMPACT HIGH-QUALITY BINOCULARS 1 per stateroom • view wildlife & scenery

IN-PERSON PLANNING ASSISTANCE AAA Travel professionals ready to help!*valid for balcony and higher-level staterooms

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

1-800-552-6679 • AAA.com/travel DEPARTURES

12

The only thing that can beat the exhilaration of snowmobiling is snowmobiling through the splendor of America’s mountain West at Jackson Hole WY! Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned snowmobiler, this package is for lovers of adventure and natural beauty. Start in the Gros Ventre Mountain Range — a great opportu-nity to view wildlife. Follow trails framing Jackson Hole Valley and enjoy incredible views of the Tetons. Along the way, sightings of elk, deer, moose, coyote and big-horn sheep are common. Travel through Grand Teton National Park on your way to a full day of snowcoach touring in Yellowstone National Park. Enjoy all that Jackson Hole has to offer on your own for a day. Then head into the Wyoming Range for unforgettable scenery and exciting rides. Bring a swimsuit, because you’re in for a treat — a full-day snowmobile adventure with Granite Hot Springs as your desti-nation. After an easy 11-mile groomed Forest Service trail, soak in the 106-degree natural hot spring waters and enjoying a poolside BBQ, all the while surrounded by snow-covered mountains. It’s an experience to remember!

Feb 7-13 or Feb 14-20 • AAA Member Rate: $1,875Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability and includes roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, 10 meals, entrance fees (national parks/attractions/activities), 3 days of guided snowmobile touring with instruction, all necessary equipment (helmet, gloves, snowsuit, boots, etc), 1-day guided snowcoach tour of Yellowstone National Park, tips for bellmen & included meals. Minimum age to op-erate a snowmobile in the National Forest is 14; must be accompanied by a parent. Ask about available add-on airfare. Visit AAA.com/travel for more information.

Jackson Hole Snowmobile Adventure Package

EXPERIENCE SNOWMOBILING & SNOWCOACHING Enjoy a

amid winter’soff-peak solitude!

YELLOWSTONEIN WINTER

Begin this unique and awesome off-season adventure in SALT LAKE CITY UT; see Temple Square and witness the awesome power of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (schedule permitting). Travel to WEST YELLOWSTONE MT, gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Ride private vintage snow-coaches (heated!) to see Firehole Falls, Old Faithful and wildlife. Drive through majestic Grand Teton National Park to JACKSON HOLE WY, where you may choose to ride a sleigh through the National Elk Refuge and visit the National Museum of Wildlife Art or, for an additional fee, opt for a Granite Hot Springs snowmobile tour (bring a swimsuit!). Drive through Snake River Canyon and visit Utah Olympic Park before heading home.

Feb 7-12 • AAA Member Rate: $2,189Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Philadelphia–Salt Lake City), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, luggage handling (1 bag per person), accommodations, motorcoach sightseeing & admissions (as indicated), 9 meals, services of a AAA Tour Manager (if minimum-participation goal is met), taxes, gratuities for guide & driver. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details. Visit AAA.com/travel for more information.

SOUTHERN CHARM

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Phila-delphia-Charlotte NC), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, motorcoach transportation, guided sightsee-ing, 9 meals, local guides, services of a AAA Tour Manager (if minimum-participation goal is met) and more. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details. Visit AAA.com/travel for more information.

Here’s a unique escorted tour of 3 distinct destinations embodying the South’s fascinating history, genteel culture and coastal comforts. Rub shoulders with generations of Charleston gentry, soak up Savannah’s

seductively languid ambiance and luxuriate in the exclusive nature and natural assets of Jekyll Island. Experience true Southern charm and

hospitality at historic hotels in Charleston and on Jekyll Island.

Jan 31–Feb 5

SAVANNAH GA

TOUR OF HISTORIC SAVANNAHGEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER

RIVER STREET SHOPPINGLUNCH AT PAULA DEEN’S

“LADY & SONS”

CHARLESTON SC

DINNER CRUISE ON A YACHTMAGNOLIA PLANTATION

STORYTELLER DINNEROLD CITY MARKET

CITY TOUR

JEKYLL ISLAND GA

TRAM TOUR OF HISTORIC DISTRICTST SIMON’S ISLAND TOUR INCLUDING LIGHTHOUSE

& FT FREDERICANATURALIST-LED BEACH STROLL

AAA Member Rate: $2,009

ULTIMATE ALASKA Winter Wonderland Tour

Feb 26–March 8

See the “real” Alaska summer visitors never see!

An extraordinary chance to witness the Northern Lights, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and Alaska’s winter wildlife & wilderness!

AAA Member Rate: $2,955

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, hotel luggage handling, sightseeing transportation/admissions, 14 meals, in-Alaska guide, hand warmers and services of a AAA Tour Manager (if minimum-participation goal is met). Visit AAA.com/GoAlaska for more information. Ask about available add-on airfare.

EXPERIENCE ALL THIS...AND MORE!

Fairbanks • Aurora Borealis Viewings • Trans-Alaska

Pipeline • Alaska Railroad • Talkeetna • Seward Highway

• Wildlife Conservation & Sealife Centers • Alyeska

Resort & Tram • Anchorage • Native Heritage Center • Alaska Zoo • Mushers

Banquet • Sled Dog Kennel • Iditarod Trail Race HQ

Additional Optional

Adventures Available!

Meet mushers...

& their dogs!

Page 13: November/December 2014 Traveler

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

1-800-552-6679 • AAA.com/travel DEPARTURES

13

LIGHT UP THE HOLIDAYS

FOR THETRAVELERSIN YOUR LIFEHelp make their travel dreams come true this year!

AAA Travel Gift Certificates (in amounts of $200 or greater) are available at all AAA Travel locations.

Certificates are redeemable at any AAA East Central Travel Agency toward the purchase of airline tickets, tour packages or escorted tour reservations.

Certificates expire 60 months (5 years) from date of issue.© GVS - FOTOLIA.COM

UNIQUE OFFER — A DOUBLE DELIGHT FROM TRIPLE-A!

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip airport/hotel/pier transfers, hotel accommodations/taxes/service charges/baggage handling (1 piece per person), 4 meals (on land), cruise accommodations/entertainment, most onboard meals, onboard group cocktail party (if participation goal is met), government fees and services of a AAA tour manager (if participation goal is met). Ship’s registry: Bahamas. Ask about available add-on airfare. Visit AAA.com/travel for more details.

New Orleans3 DAYS, 2 NIGHTS

Hotel in the French QuarterCity tour, including Katrina-impacted sites

Louisiana swampboat tourMardi Gras World

Demonstration & dinner at the New Orleans School of CookingJazz show at Preservation Hall

March 12-21 • AAA Member Rate: from $1,530

Western Caribbean8-DAY, 7-NIGHT CRUISE

Serenade of the Seas®

$50.00 per stateroom onboard credit

Western Caribbean ports: Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman;

Cozumel, Mexico; 3 full days at sea

plus

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1-800-552-6679 • AAA.com/travel DEPARTURES

14

©2013 NCL Corporation LTD. Ships’ Registry: Bahamas and United States of America.

BOOK TODAY!

NORWEGIANS BRING THEWHOLE GANG.The entire family can capture the spirit of Caribbean adventure with Norwegian Cruise Line®.

12-DAY SOUTHERN CARIBBEANFROM NEW YORKJan 4, 2015, Jan 18, 2015,Feb 1, 2015 & Nov 29, 2015

&Folklore

Irish Pubs

Sláinte!Cheers!

Tour Dublin: St Stephen’s Green, Georgian squares, O’Connell Street, Famine Memorial & more. Quaff a pint at the Guinness Storehouse • Meet the owners of a working beef/sheep/horse farm. • Tour medieval Kilkenny, then explore it on your own. • Visit the House of Waterford; watch craftsmen transform molten glass into elegant tableware. • Kiss the “Stone of Eloquence” at Blarney Castle. • Browse at Blarney Woolen Mills...or visit a pub instead! • Circumnavigate scenic Dingle Peninsula and sample a local brew at Dingle Brewing Company. • Sit down to dinner & traditional entertainment (including step-dancing) in Killarney. • Ferry across the Shannon to view the Cliffs of Moher. • Stop in Galway on the way to Connemara. • Overnight in attractive Westport. • Cross over to Achill Island and see the Deserted Village (stone cottages abandoned around the time of the Famine). • Tour Kilbeggan Distillery and enjoy an Irish coffee. • Enjoy storytelling at Dublin’s oldest pub. • Spend a day on your own in Dublin, using included vouchers for an open-top bus tour and a visit to Old Jameson Distillery.

May 12-21 • AAA Member Rate: $1,899 $1,809Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, ac-commodations, motorcoach sightseeing, itinerary attraction admissions, local taxes, hotel service charges & baggage handling (1 bag per person), walking-tour audio headsets, 15 meals (including Kate Kearney’s Cottage Irish Night, “Food, Folk & Fairies” dinner show at Brazen Head Pub and 3 table d’hote dinners) and in-Ireland professional guide & driver. Ask about available add-on airfare.

Feel like a local at friendly pubs full of the craic — Ireland’s unique mix of news, gossip, fun, entertainment and enjoyable conversation!

ESCORTED TOUR OPERATED BY CIE TOURS INTERNATIONAL

New reduced rate!

Page 15: November/December 2014 Traveler

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1-800-552-6679 • AAA.com/travel DEPARTURES

15

Spain’s Classics Portugal!Discover Spain’s Classics & Portugal!

MAGNÍFICO! Even if you know no other Spanish or Portuguese, this single word sums up all of the sights, culture, foods and experiences you’ll encounter & enjoy on AAA’s 12-night “Spain’s Clas-sics & Portugal” tour.Lisbon • Fátima • Obidos Sintra • Estoril • Madrid Toledo • Córdoba Seville • Granada Valencia • Barcelona

April 15-28 • AAA Member Rate: $4,569Before-discount rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Newark-Lisbon, Barcelona-Newark), accommodations, motorcoach sightseeing/admissions, 19 meals, tour director (in Portugal & Spain), government taxes/fees. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details. Visit AAA.com/travel for more information.

LISBON’S TOWER OF BELÉM

AAA MEMBERS SAVE MUCHO!Premier ....$625Plus .........$575Basic .......$525

Book & deposit by 11/23/14

PER ROOM, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY

TOLEDO

Page 16: November/December 2014 Traveler

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1-800-552-6679 • AAA.com/travel DEPARTURES

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ALLENTOWN . . . . . . . 610-434-5141 BETHLEHEM . . . . . . . . 610-867-7502LANSDALE . . . . . . . . . 215-855-8600 ROYERSFORD . . . . . . . 610-323-6300 ____________________________________________________________

GENERAL TRAVEL DISCLAIMER: AAA Travel Agency makes every effort to provide accurate, up-to-date prices as of press time and cannot assume responsibility for typographic errors. Rates/offers are per person based on double occupancy, unless otherwise indicated, and are subject to availability and airline/operator changes. International rates/offers are sub-ject to currency fluctuations and additional tax & security charges. Rates that include airfare include all taxes, government fees and surcharges. Additional restrictions may apply. Rates/offers are available at all AAA East Central travel agency loca-tions. For tour details, contact AAA or visit AAA.com/travel. AAA Featured Vacations are specially priced, unique departures; therefore, tour operators, cruise lines and other travel providers often exclude them from additional discounts or specials they offer. AAA Featured Vacations include services provided by third-party tour destination service companies; see your AAA Travel Agent for details. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for more details or visit the air carrier’s website for baggage allowance and fee information.

AAA’s special 9-night Hawaiian vacation features a 2-night pre-cruise stay in Honolulu, a tour of the USS Arizona Memorial and a 7-night Pride of America cruise featuring 4 islands (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii & Kauai).

April 16-25 • May 21-30 • June 11-20 • July 2-11 • Aug 20-29 Sept 3-12 • Oct 22-31 • Nov 26–Dec 5 • Dec 10-19

Inside staterooms from $2,090 Balcony staterooms from $2,790

MEMBER SAVINGS

$50 per inside stateroom$100 per balcony stateroom

BOOK & DEPOSIT NOV 1-30

AAA MEMBER RATES are per person (double occupancy), are subject to availability at time of booking and include airport/hotel transfers for flights purchased through NCL, 2 pre-cruise nights at the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, USS Ari-zona Memorial/Pearl Harbor excursion, hotel/pier transfers, 7-night NCL Pride of America cruise accommodations/entertain-ment, most onboard meals, government taxes/fees, port charges, pier/airport transfers for flights purchased through NCL and $50 per stateroom shipboard credit. Ship’s registry: USA. Ask about available add-on airfare.

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1-800-552-6679 • AAA.com/travel DEPARTURES

17

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF CINDY STAYCHEFFAAA MEMBER SAVINGSBook & make a deposit

by 11-30-14 to save! Premier ..................... $1,000 AAA Plus ...................... $950 Basic ............................. $900Savings per room, based on double occupancy.To qualify, you must purchase air through AAA.

NEW ZEALANDAUSTRALIA &

Explore Down Under...from the Outback to the Glaciers!

Unique add-on options — including a camel ride, a jet boat ride and a night out in Sydney — are also available. Talk to your AAA Travel Agent for rates and availability.

Cairns, catamaran ride

Great Barrier Reef

Glass-bottom boat ride

Daintree Rainforest/

Mossman Gorge, meet Aboriginals

Uluru/Ayers Rock, Champagne toast

Alice Springs, Aboriginal drummers

Dreamtime tour, bush dinner

Melbourne, Opal Centre

Phillip Island Little Penguin colony

Christchurch

Tranz-Alpine Express train ride

Franz Joseph Glacier

Queenstown, gondola to dinner

Milford Sound cruise

“Middle Earth” touring

Steamship cruise, farm life tour

Winery tour & tasting

Overnight in Mt Cook National Park

Herding/shearing demo

Dine with a NZ Family

Sydney & Opera House

Koala Park & Opal Collection

Sydney Harbour dinner cruise

Oct 15–Nov 4, 2015 • AAA Member Rate: from $10,524Before-discount rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes flights (Philadelphia-Cairns, Sydney-Philadelphia plus flights in Australia & New Zealand), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, hotel luggage handling (1 bag per person), taxes/gratuities/government fees for included features, 31 meals, professional guide in Australia & New Zealand and the services of a AAA Tour Manager (if minimum-participation goal is met). AAA Member Choice Vacations® door-to-door transfer ser-vice is unavailable on this departure. Visit AAA.com/GoAustralia for complete itinerary and important pre-travel information. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details.

This 11-night vacation has everything you’ve always wanted in a trip to Italy.Enjoy multiple-night stays in Rome, Florence, Venice, the Amalfi Coast and Stresa in the Lakes District. Discover the treasures of Classical and Christian Rome. Walk

in the footsteps of the ancient Romans in Pompeii. See the gems of the Renaissance in Florence’s Academy Gallery, including Michelangelo’s “David.” Visit Locarno,

Switzerland, and cruise to Isola dei Pescatori, one of the scenic Borromean Islands. A guided walking tour of Venice illustrates how this city gained its wealth and power.

Enjoy the magic of the Italian Lakes District in the captivating resort of Stresa. Stop at a winery & farm in the heart of Tuscany to sample local wines and specialities

for an included lunch. Sail to enchanting Capri and explore this island paradise.Special inclusions: “Rome by Night” tour...Vatican museums & St Peter’s...

a family-style Tuscan feast...and a serenaded gondola cruise in Venice!Experience Whisper headsets, designed for better communication between you and

your guides throughout your tour. Enjoy regional wines with every dinner.

MAMA MIA!AAA Member Savings

through 11-30-14Premier ........................$650Plus ..................................$600Basic ...............................$550

SAVINGS PER ROOM. NEW BOOKINGS ONLY (NOV 1-30, 2014).

Book now; this is always a very popular tour!Oct 19-31 • AAA Member Rate: $5,579

Before-discount rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Newark-Rome, Milan-Newark), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, hotel accommodations, guided motorcoach sightseeing, entrance fees, 20 meals, in-Italy tour di-rector and air & hotel taxes (subject to change). Visit AAA.com/Italy for itinerary and more infor-mation. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details.

Page 18: November/December 2014 Traveler

Stop Waiting. Start Saving.

Available online at www.paturnpike.com/ezpass.

Wherever the road takes you this holiday season, get there quicker and save up to 35% on

PA Turnpike tolls with E-ZPass.

“ Get ho-ho-home quicker with E-ZPass.”

Also available at AAA Stores.

R1_PATPK_AAA_XmasAd_4x5.indd 1 9/26/14 4:38 PM

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 201418

Inspiring Iceland continued from page 1

double cascade of mighty Gullfoss (Golden Waterfalls), whose mist clouds give rise to dozens of rain-bows on sunny days...and the count-less splendors of Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the North American and Eur-asian tectonic plates meet.

That continental “meeting” helps fuel Iceland’s underground “furnace”; the resulting geothermal activity sur-faces in several ways. For a better un-derstanding of this, you’ll visit Reyk-javik’s Volcano House to discover how important volcanism is to Iceland and to learn about its last 2 eruptions. The other less disastrous eruptions we call geysers owe their name, the only Ice-landic word in the English language, to Great Geysir in southwest Iceland; though somewhat shy in recent de-cades, it lives up to its name when it does perform, spewing steam 200 feet skyward. More reliable is nearby Strokkur (“churn”), spouting a jet up to 100 feet nearly every 5 minutes.

Reliably more gentle, Iceland’s pint-size and remarkably sure-footed horses were once the country’s primary form of transport. Dating back to when the Vikings colonized the island, they were bred to cross glaciers and lava deserts and are fabled for their endurance and smooth gait, travel-ing up to 20mph over rough ground. Their hardy descendants can carry 250-pound riders up 60-degree slopes with the agility of a mountain goat!

Reykjavik, the self-proclaimed “Cap- ital of Cool” with a population of about 180,000, is a happy and intrigu-ing mix of cosmopolitan culture and local village. Named “Steamy Bay” after the geothermal steam which heats local homes & pools, its color-ful houses stand in stark contrast to the towering gray Hallgrimskirkja, an imposing church sprouting geyser-like from the town’s center.

The city’s more than 170 restau-rants comprise an Epicurean world tour, including sushi, tapas, Indian, French, Mexican, Italian, Thai and American. Native traditional cuisine evolved from the country’s seafaring traditions; a pungent national deli-cacy, hákarl is preserved—some say “putrified”—shark meat. (Dare to try it on a visit to a family-run operation that processes Greenland sharks.) Less “exotic” traditional dishes in-clude gravlax (salmon in salt & dill) and hangikjöt (smoked lamb). On his Reykjavik visit, President Bill Clinton famously preferred the pylsur (Icelan-dic-style hot dogs loaded with unique toppings) from a little shack that’s be-come an attraction all its own!

The beauty of Iceland is that you can find your very own “happy place” while you’re there...and then remem-ber it when you need a pick-me-up! To book this AAA Member Choice Va-cation,® log on to AAA.com/Iceland, call 1-800-354-8761 or visit a AAA Travel office. You’ll be happy you did!

July 19-27 • AAA Member Rate: $4,774Before-discount rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Newark-Reykjavik), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, 7-night hotel accommodations, 11 meals, in-Iceland guide, luggage handling (1 bag per person) and more. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; consult your travel agent for details. Visit AAA.com/Iceland for more information.

INSPIRINGICELAND

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 19

Around TownNovember 7-9SUGARLOAF CRAFTS FESTIVALGreater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Avenue, Oaks More than 250 of the nation’s finest juried artisans will display and sell their handcrafted work at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. Come for a stunning array of contemporary crafts in sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, wood, leather, metal, furniture, home accessories, photography and fine art. Observe the creative process of master artisans during ongoing craft demonstrations. Live music, children’s entertainment and gourmet goodies will be available to sample and buy from dozens of specialty food vendors. For information, visit sugarloafcrafts.com.

November 8-9BACON FESTEaston Farmers Market, Center Square, EastonSixty vendors with all things bacon, including bacon Bloody Mary’s and beer and bacon chowder to bacon sundaes and bacon on a stick, pig racing, culinary competitions, music, crafters and more. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. eastonfarmersmarket.com.

November 21-January 3 PEDDLER’S VILLAGE ANNUAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION AND DISPLAYPeddler’s Village, routes 202 & 263, Lahaska.The Annual Gingerbread House Competition and Display in the Village Gazebo

is a delight to see, with culinary creations brought to life with gingerbread, candy, icing and imagination. Prizes worth over $3,400 are awarded in four categories. peddlersvillage.com.

November 21-December 23CHRISTMAS CITY VILLAGE Main Street, downtown Bethlehem This authentic open-air Christmas market, or German Weihnachtsmarkt, is located in the heart of Bethlehem’s historic downtown shopping district. Visit 35 wooden huts dressed for the holidays and filled with Christmas gift ideas, enjoy bratwurst with sauerkraut and warm up with a hot beverage, including the popular hot mulled wine from Germany called Gluhwein. Entertainment in the Sun Inn Courtyard. downtownbethlehemassociation.com.

November 22HOLIDAY COCKTAIL TRAILDowntown BethlehemEnjoy a fun day in Bethlehem with great drinks and great stores to help celebrate the coming holiday season. Purchase a passport for $25 and enjoy at least 20 samples of different holiday cocktails at participating downtown Bethlehem stores and restaurants, completely decorated for the holidays. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. downtownbethlehemassociation.com.

November 27–January 11 LONGWOOD CHRISTMAS Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett SquareFrom elegant trees adorned with feathered friends, to a peacock-themed Masquerade Ball in the Music Room, the bird-inspired Christmas display takes flight at Longwood. Outside, colorful fountains dance to holiday music and a half-million lights brighten the night. longwoodgardens.org.

December 3 CANADIAN BRASS — A VERY BRASS CHRISTMASKutztown University, Schaeffer Auditorium, North Campus Drive, KutztownThe legendary Canadian Brass is well known for their charisma, striking versatility, unparalleled technical skills, and continued innovation. In this, their famous holiday concert, the Brass will perform festive standards and unique arrangements of Christmas favorites, including “My Little Drum,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Greensleeves,” and “Christmas is Coming.” This special performance will feature selections with the Berks Youth Chorus. Performance at 7:30 p.m. kutztownpresents.org.

December 5-14JIM THORPE OLD TIME CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Broadway Street Jim ThorpeEnjoy train rides with Santa, Asa Packer Mansion Tours, Live Nativity, Historic District

Ghost Walks, Gingerbread House Contest, strolling carolers and musicians, expanded shopping hours, and seasonal dinner specials at many restaurants. Ticketed

entertainment takes place each Friday and Saturday night of Olde Time Christmas at the Mauch Chunk Opera House.

jimthorpe.org.

December 13-14THE NUTCRACKERMiller Symphony Hall, 23 North Sixth Street, Allentown.Repertory Dance Theatre kicks off its 28th production, with a live professional orchestra to get into the true holiday spirit and treat your family to the most magical gift for all ages. Performances at 2 p.m. $22-$50. allentownsymphony.org.

January 4, 2015 DISNEY’S FANTASIA LIVE IN CONCERT State Theatre, 453 Northampton Street, EastonFrom bewitched broomsticks to dancing hippos, this iconic program taken from the original 1940 version and “Fantasia 2000,” includes Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Ponchelli’s Dance of the Hours, Stravinsky’s Firebird, Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” Suite and much more, is performed live by The Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s 80-piece ensemble while Disney’s stunning footage is shown on a gigantic HD screen above the orchestra. Tickets: $64, $49. Performance at 2 p.m. For information and tickets, visit statetheatre.org.

**Monthly charges exclude taxes and Sprint Surcharges [incl. USF charge of up to 15.7% (varies quarterly), up to $2.50 Admin. and 40¢ Reg./line/mo. and fees by area (approx. 5–20%)]. Surcharges are not taxes. See sprint.com/taxesandfees.

Activ. Fee: $36/line. Credit approval required. Plans: O er ends 12/31/2014. No discounts apply to access charges. Includes unlimited domestic Long Distance calling and texting. Data allowance as specified. Third-party content/downloads are add’l charge. Int’l svcs are not included. Max of 10 phone/tablet/MBB lines. Mobile Broadband devices excludes Routers, Laptops and notebook computers. Data: Includes 20GB, 32GB, 40GB or 60GB of shared on-network data usage depending on selection and 100MB o -network data usage. Add’l on-network data usage: 1.5¢/MB. Add’l O -network data for tablets/MBBs: 25¢/MB. If conflicting share data allowances are applied to an account, the majority on account or most recent change may be applied for all lines. Mobile Hotspot Usage pulls from your data allowances. Monthly Access Charge: After 12/31/2015, customer will be charged applicable data access charge per device in addition to data allowance charge which varies by selection. To avoid charges, customer must contact Sprint to make changes. Sprint Easy Pay obligations will still apply if applicable. Usage Limitations: Other plans may receive prioritized bandwidth availability. To improve data experience for the majority of users, throughput may be limited, varied or reduced on the network. Sprint may terminate service if o -network roaming usage in a month exceeds: (1) 800 min. or a majority of min.; or (2) 100MB or a majority of KB. Prohibited network use rules apply — see sprint.com/terms and conditions. $350 Visa® Prepaid Card O� er: O er ends 2/15/2015. Consumer, SDP and CL (1-10) phone lines porting the new line on a Sprint Family Share Pack Plan with 20GB of data or higher. Amount based on ETF (Early Termination Fee) charged or remaining balance on install-bill device (excludes Prepaid devices). All lines must be ported from an active wireless line at another carrier and remain active and in good standing for at least 45 days to receive the prepaid card. You must submit your final bill showing your ETF or installment balance no later than 11/30/2014. Allow 12 weeks for your prepaid card to arrive. Register at sprint.com/jointoday. Excludes 11+ Corporate-liable, upgrades, replacements, and ports made between Sprint entities or providers associated with Sprint (i.e., Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance). Cards are issued by Citibank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc., and managed by Citi Prepaid Services. Cards will not have cash access and can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Sprint Easy Pay: Req. 24-mo. installment agreement, 0% APR, and qualifying device and service plan. If you cancel wireless service, remaining balance on device becomes due. SDP Discount: Available for AAA members (ongoing verification). Discount subject to change according to the company’s agreement with Sprint and is avail. upon request for select monthly svc charges. Discount only applies to data service for Sprint Family Share Pack. Not avail. with no credit check o ers or Mobile Hotspot add-on. Other Terms: O ers and coverage not available everywhere or for all phones/networks. May not be combined with other o ers. There is no minimum term applied on the Sprint Family Share Pack, but the Service Agreement applies and automatically continues on a month-to-month basis unless you contact us to inform us of any changes, including cancellation. There may be a minimum annual term applied or continued based on a discounted device purchase. Sprint 3G network reaches over 281 million people. Sprint 4G LTE network reaches over 250 million people. Restrictions apply. See store or sprint.com for details. ©2014 Sprint. All rights reserved. Sprint and the Sprint logo are trademarks of Sprint. Other marks are the property of their respective owners. N145550

800-754-6907Visit a local Sprint Store: sprint.com/storelocator

%Applies to select regularly priced Sprint monthly data service.Waived activation fees. For new lines of service. Up to $36 value.

Switch to Sprint for the hottest deal in wireless.The Sprint Family Share Pack is the perfect plan for your data hungry family. Get a great deal when you switch your number to Sprint.

We’re waiving monthly access charges for phones, tablets and mobile broadband devices through 2015 – how sweet is that?After 12/31/2015, pay $100 plus the monthly access charge for each device: $15/mo/phone, $10/mo/tablet, $20/mo/mobile broadband device.

Plus, we’ll buy out your family’s contract – up to $350 per line.We’ll pay you up to $350 via Visa® Prepaid Card for your Early Termination Fee or Install Bill balance when you switch and sign up for this plan. Once you have received your final bill from your other carrier, register for the Visa Prepaid Card at sprint.com/jointoday by 2/15/15.

Have your AAA card ready and mention this code: NATRI_AAA_ZZM

AAA.com/sprint

Discount for AAA Members10

Don’t delay! O ers end 12/31/14.20 Unlimited

talk and textup to 10 lines

GB $data to share

all while on the Sprint Network After SDP discount of % is applied

on $100 monthly data allowance.

only/mo.90

10

Page 20: November/December 2014 Traveler

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 201420

AAA inspected and approved • State-of-the-art equipment and facilities • Insured • State registered • ASE, I-CAR, OEM certified technicians •

Guaranteed workmanship • AAA arbitration • Most insurance claims acceptedAAA Approved Auto Body® facilities are not the only facilities capable of competent repairs.

LEHIGH COUNTYMesko Glass & Mirror Co., Inc.610/264-3000171 Lloyd St., Allentown

CARBON COUNTYLiberty AutoGlass 610/377-7787509 N. First St., Lehighton

LEHIGH COUNTYMikitz Gordon Street Collision Center1-12 610/437-3041229 W. Gordon St., AllentownReliable Auto Body1-12 610/433-3212967 Sumner Ave., Whitehall

MONTGOMERY COUNTYBergey’s Collision Center of Lansdale1-12 215/855-47541301 N. Broad St., LansdaleSands Collision Center1-12 E 267/923-7141602 Main St., Red Hill

BERKS COUNTYDouglassville Auto Body & Sales, Inc.1-3, 5-10, 12 E 610/326-04221501 Ben Franklin Hwy., DouglassvilleFred Beans Collision Center1-12 E 610/327-2680525 Rt. 100 N., Boyertown

LEHIGH COUNTYAuto Collision Specialists 1-12 E 610/965-20603893 Tank Farm Road, Emmaus

®

MONTGOMERY COUNTYAlderfer Glass Co.215/723-1192144 Telford Pike, Telford

NORTHAMPTON COUNTYBrown Daub Collision Center1-12 E 610/253-16721650 Butler St., EastonEaston Auto Body1-12 E 610/252-65021328 Elm St., EastonYoung Volkswagen Collision Center1-12 E 610/991-9115191 Commerce Park Dr., Easton

1 - Collision Repairs 2 - Frame Repair 3 - Direct Repair Provider 4 - Total Paint Replacement

Scope of Service 5 - Paintless Dent Repair 6 - Glass Replacement 7 - Glass Repairs 8 - Restorations

9 - Vinyl & Soft Roof Replacement

10 - Corrosion Protection11 - Upholstery Repair12 - Auto Detailing E - Emissions Testing Site

For a list of participating Approved Auto Repair service centers, please see page 21.

Offer expires 12/31/14. Excludes tax. Excludes auto body collision repairs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Coupon must be presented at time of service request. Non-transferrable. Not redeemable for cash. Valid AAA Membership card required. See a participating Approved Auto Repair facility for details.

PA State Inspection$10 OFF$10OFF

With purchase of Emission Test

$10 off services of $100 or more$20 off services of $200 or more$30 off services of $300 or more

Winter Savings!Winter Savings!

PennDOT recently upgraded its 511PA website and mobile application to allow for the continuously streaming footage. Previously, the site and mobile application were limited to providing real-time conditions using still images that were refreshed every five seconds.

“Our 511 system puts travel information at drivers’ fingertips and helps them make travel decisions before and during their trip,” PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said. “The new streaming video shows real-time traffic flow to help give motorists an even better idea of what to expect on our roadways."

The streaming video is the latest improvement to the 511PA service. In May, PennDOT announced a 511PA smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices that provides hands-free

and eyes-free travel alerts for the nearly 40,000 miles of road that PennDOT maintains as well as the Pennsylvania Turnpike and select New Jersey and West Virginia roadways. Application users can also view the streaming video, travel alerts and more before they travel.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts and traffic speed information. 511PA is also available by calling 5-1-1, and by signing up for personal alerts or following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

PennDOT reminds drivers to “know before you go” and not call or look at any of 511PA’s services while driving.

New Streaming Video Gives 511PA Users Better Traffic Information

For a list of participating Approved Auto Repair service centers, please see page 21.

Offer expires 12/31/14. Excludes tax. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Coupon must be presented at time of service request. Non-transferrable. Not redeemable for cash. Offer is valid for most vehicles. Additional charges may apply for certain vehicles and parts. Valid AAA Membership card required. See a participating Approved Auto Repair facility for details.

TAKE THE PLEDGE — Drive Drug and Alcohol Free

The holiday season is a time for family, friends, and festive celebrations. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when there’s a tragic jump in the number of alcohol-related fatalities.

About 40 percent of all traffic fatalities between Christmas and New Year’s involve alcohol. New Year’s Day is the deadliest day of the year for alcohol-related fatalities for motorists and pedestrians alike.

The real tragedy is that drunk driving deaths, injuries and crashes are totally preventable if people make responsible choices. If you’re planning to drink this holiday season, make sure you bring a designated driver. Trying to stay within the legal limit can be tricky, since blood alcohol content not only depends on how much and how fast you drink, but on factors such as how much food is in your stomach, and how quickly your metabolism works. Don’t forget that

prescription, over-the-counter medica-tions and illegal drugs also can impair a person’s ability to drive.

If you feel like you’ve had too much to drink, call a friend or a cab — don’t drive. Never allow yourself or your loved ones to ride in a vehicle driven by someone who is intoxicated.

If you’re planning a party, try to include activities that shift the focus away from drinking. Offer alternative, alcohol-free beverages, and be certain all guests leave with a sober driver. Take their keys if you think they’re about to drive while impaired. Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.

AAA works year-round, educating motorists about the hazards and driving practices that will help keep them safe and reduce alcohol-related crashes. Duijusticelink.AAA.com is an online resource offering impaired driving facts, trans-portation alternatives and expert advice.

Continued on page 23

Page 21: November/December 2014 Traveler

MONTGOMERY COUNTYSpanial’s Service Center1-10 E 215/855-703045 W. Orvilla Road, Hatfield Upper Gwynedd Service Center1-10 E 215/699-6640790 Sumneytown Pike, LansdaleWes Jackson Automotive Center1-9 E 610/489-68881851 Ridge Pike, RoyersfordWynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair, Inc.1-10 E 610/489-40501635 W. Main St., Trappe

NORTHAMPTON COUNTYBlue Ridge Service & Tire of Walnutport1-10 E 610/767-2220308 S. Best Ave., Walnutport Car-Doc, Inc.1-10 E 610/767-71104982 East Valley Dr., WalnutportEaston Auto Body1-10 E 610/252-65021328 Elm St., EastonMidas Auto Service Experts1-6, 8,9 E 610/253-90702914 William Penn Hwy., EastonMurante Auto Repair1-10 E 610/759-6121128 W. Beil Ave., Nazareth Paul’s Garage1-10 E 610/837-9877219 W. Northampton Street, Bath T&D Automotive 1-10 E 610/253-02121400 S. 25th St., EastonWeddes Auto Center1-10 E 610/837-6411450 Monocacy Dr., Bath Young Volkswagon, Inc.1-10 E 610/991-9100191 Commerce Park Dr., Easton

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 21

MONTGOMERY COUNTYAlbitz Garage, Inc.1-10 E 610/326-14382827 East High Street, PottstownBergey’s Buick GMC 1-10 E 215/721-3431 436 Harleysville Pike, SoudertonBergey’s Chevrolet, Inc.1-10 E 215/822-4100610 Route 309, ColmarBob Adams Auto Service Center1-9 E 215/368-4700534 W. Main Street, LansdaleCenter Point Exxon1-10 E 610/584-92512005 Valley Forge Road, WorcesterCJ’s Tire & Automotive Services1-9 E 610/409-04001405 S. Township Line Rd., LimerickFred Beans Nissan1-10 E 610/495-185655 Autopark Blvd., LimerickGodshall’s Auto Service1-10 E 215/855-7800225 S. Main St., HatfieldHinkle’s Auto Repair1-9 E 215/679-06982703 Geryville Pike, PennsburgInterstate Fleets Service Center, Inc. 1-10 E 215/822-8115696 Bethlehem Pike, Route 309, ColmarJ’s Auto Service, Inc.1-9 E 215/362-92361669 School Road, HatfieldJack Nolan’s Exxon1-9 E 610/489-9028567 Main Street, TrappeLansdale Chrysler-Jeep1-9 E 215/855-9540Route 309, Montgomeryville Tri County Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram1-9 E 610/367-29412148 E. High St., PottstownNorth Penn Gulf1-9 E 215/362-2223 Valley Forge Road & Sumneytown Pike, LansdaleReiter’s Service Station, Inc.1-9 E 610/287-91861224 North Gravel Pike, Zieglerville

Approved facilities offer service in areas indicated by the numbers to the left of each phone number. 1 – Engine Performance 2 – Minor Engine Repair 3 – Brake Service 4 – Electrical Systems 5 – Tire, Steering, Suspension

For more information on AAA Approved Auto Repair®, call 610-778-3443 or 1-888-627-9227 or log on to AAA.comAAA Approved Auto Repair® facilities are not the only facilities capable of competent repairs.

BERKS COUNTYDave’s Auto Service, Inc.1-10 E 610/367-1844925 W. Philadelpia Ave., BoyertownFred Beans Ford1-10 E 610/367-2081525 Rt. 100 N., Boyertown

BUCKS COUNTYCarr’s Tire & Automotive Specialists1-10 E 215/536-8454211 E. Broad St., Quakertown Cunningham’s Automotive Repair1-10 E 610/847-60068151 Easton Road, OttsvilleGrandview Service Centre1-9 E 215/257-7033530 Arch Street, PerkasieMidas Auto Service Experts1-6, 8, 9 E 215/538-1095335 S. West End Blvd., QuakertownMiller Tire & Auto Co.1-9 E 215/257-4307856 Blooming Glen Rd., Blooming GlenVillage Center Automotive 1-10 E 610/346-77743150 Main St., Springtown

CARBON COUNTYBlue Ridge Service Center1-10 E 610/826-4959505 Little Gap Road, Palmerton

CHESTER COUNTYCJ’s Tire & Automotive Services1-9 E 610/705-550118 Glocker Road, Pottstown Hometown Automotive Repairs1-9 E 610/469-91181851 Pottstown Pike, PottstownNew Street Auto Service, Inc.1-9 E 610/948-44143751 Schuylkill Road, Spring City

LEHIGH COUNTYA-Tech Automotive, Inc 1-7, 9 E 610/432-8989 1035 Union Boulevard, AllentownAustin’s Auto Service 1-10 E 610/866-5440 1843 W. Broad St., Bethlehem Auto Collision Specialists 1-10 E 610/965-2060 3893 Tank Farm Rd., Emmaus Autolex Dealerships, Inc.1-10 E 610/740-3005 725 N. 15th St., Allentown

LEHIGH COUNTY Dreisbach’s Auto Service & Sales1-10 E 610/435-7505614 N. 18th Street, AllentownGetz Service Station1-7, 9 E 610/395-941310635 Hamilton Blvd., BreinigsvilleHaldeman Ford/Lincoln, Inc. 1-10 E 610/791-4900 2443 Lehigh St., Allentown Interstate Fleets Service Center, Inc.1-10 E 610/289-6170619 Union Blvd., Allentown L&M Automotive Specialists, Inc.1-9 E 610/435-1782210 Gordon Street, Allentown Midas Auto Service Experts1-6, 8, 9 E 610/791-49113141 Lehigh Street, AllentownMidas Auto Service Experts1-6, 8, 9 E 610/437-50911820 MacArthur Road, WhitehallNo.1 Service Center1-7, 9 E 610/432-70441637 Tilghman Street, AllentownPark Manor Automotive1-10 E 610/395-67121185 Bulldog Drive, AllentownQueen City Tire, Inc.1-9 E 610/395-37514661 Hamilton Blvd., AllentownRothrock Motor Sales1-10 E 610/439-84851648 Plaza Lane, AllentownSacks Automotive1-9 E 610/791-1135511 Fawn Street, AllentownSchweikert’s Auto Service, Inc.1-9 E 610/821-56001701 Roth Ave., AllentownShoemaker Auto Group, Inc.1-10 E 610/395-37134131 Walbert Ave., AllentownStar Service Center, Inc.1-10 E 610/437-3374738 N. Graham Street, AllentownMercedes Benz SpecialistStrohl Automotive Services1-10 E 610/395-33457831 Main St., Fogelsville

AAA Approved Auto Repair® Scope of Service

6 – Heating, Air Conditioning 7 – Major Engine Repair 8 – Automatic Transmission 9 – Manual Transmission 10 – Diesel Engine

E - Emissions Testing Site

Page 22: November/December 2014 Traveler

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 201422christmascity.org | 610-332-1300

Thursdays-Sundays | November 20-December 21, 2014(closed Thanksgiving)

PNC Plaza at SteelStacks | Bethlehem, PA

Named one of ‘America’s Best Christmas Markets’ by Travel + Leisure

• Handmade works by the nation’s finest artisans• Live holiday music• Ice sculpting demonstrations • Family photos with St. Nicholas• Delicious food• Glassblowing demonstrations - Make Your Own

Glass Ornament!

AAA

your admission to Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem®

on Saturdays & Sundays when you present this coupon

$1 offyour admission to

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem® on Thursdays & Fridays when

you present this coupon

$2 offor

Offer valid for up to 4 people in your party. Not valid on season pass or with other offers. Expires Dec. 21, 2014.

Motorists Safety Foundation, Cleve-land Automobile Club Orphans’ Outing Fund, AAA East Penn Scholarship Fund, and Automobile Club of Southern California and its affiliates/subsidiaries, including Inter-insurance Exchange of the Automobile Club, Automobile Club of Southern California Life Insurance Company, Auto Club Casualty Company, Auto Club Indemnity Company, Auto-mobile Club Inter-Insurance Exchange, Auto Club Family Insurance Company, ACSC Management Services, Inc., AAA Club Services LLC, Auto Club Enterprises, Automobile Club of Missouri, Alabama Motorists Association, Inc., AAA Northern New England, Tidewater Automobile Association of Virginia, Inc., AAA Texas, LLC, AAA New Mexico, LLC, AAA Hawaii, LLC, Pleasant Travel Holding Company, LLC, Pleasant Holidays, LLC, and Hawaii World, LLC.

The sharing of information among affiliates is permitted by law. Some of our affiliates may receive personal health care information (such as information received from medical or health care providers) or consumer credit information (such as information reported by a consumer reporting agency). Such affiliates do not share such personal health care information or credit information with our other affiliates.

We may disclose all the nonpublic personal financial information we collect (other than consumer credit

information) as described above to companies that perform operational services related to your membership and/or transactional accounts with us. We may disclose all of the nonpublic personal financial information we collect (other than consumer credit information) as described above to companies that perform marketing services on our behalf or to other financial institutions with whom we have joint marketing agreements. The sharing of nonpublic personal financial information with these types of comp-anies is permitted by law.

Sharing information with third parties

From time to time, we may allow nonaffiliated companies to extend offers of products and services to AAA members and nonmember customers/consumers when we feel that such products and services might be of special value or of particular interest to you. We may disclose nonpublic personal information about you to the following types of third parties:

• Financial service providers, such as banks & bank holding companies, depository and thrift institutions, credit unions and other consumer lenders; securities broker-dealers; investment companies; financial and investment advisors; insurance companies & agents; and others

that offer financial products and services to consumers;

• Nonfinancial companies such as airlines, cruise lines, hotels and resorts, car rental companies and other travel vendors; retailers; direct marketers; and others that offer goods and services to consumers; and

• Others, such as the American Automobile Association, Inc. and other nonprofit organizations.

We may also disclose nonpublic personal information about you to nonaffiliated third parties as required or permitted by law.

Your preference/opt-out rightsIf you prefer not to receive future

AAA special value-added offers and notifications of products, services and special savings opportunities from us or our joint marketing partners, you may direct us not to send or contact you with such offers or savings opportunities. (If you are a AAA member, you will continue to receive the AAA Traveler publication and annual membership renewal information and billing statements.)

If you prefer that we not disclose nonpublic personal financial infor-mation about you to nonaffiliated third parties, you may opt out of those disclosures — that is, you may direct us not to make those disclosures (other than disclosures required or permitted by law). An opt-out request by any

member on a membership account, or by any party on a joint transactional account, will apply to all Primary and Associate Members on the membership account, and to all parties on the joint account, within the same household.

If you wish to exercise one or both of the preference and opt-out rights described above, you must do so in writing by filing a AAA Privacy Disclosure/Opt Out Preference Form with us. To request that a copy of the AAA Privacy Disclosure Opt Out Form be sent to you, call 610-434-5141 or write to: AAA Member Records, P.O. Box 1910, Allentown, PA 18105-1910.

We will continue to respect your privacy even after your AAA mem-bership or other relationship with us ends. Please note, however, that AAA is a national association of independently chartered local AAA motor clubs and organizations. If you relocate to a AAA service territory assigned to a AAA club or organization other than AAA East Central, your AAA membership may be transferred to such other organizations. Such other AAA club or organization will have its own separate privacy and data collection policies and practices which are independent of and may be different from our policies and practices. Such separate policies and practices will govern the future handling and disclosure of your personal information.

Privacy Statement Continued from page 6

Page 23: November/December 2014 Traveler

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 23

Statement of OwnershipDate of filing September 18, 2014, AAA Traveler (USPS 309620) is published 8X annually (Jan., Feb., Mar., April, May, July, Sept., Nov.) at 1020 W. Hamilton Street,

P.O. Box 1910, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania 18105-1910 with headquarters or business office of the publishers at 5900 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA 15206. The name and address of the publisher, James Lehman, AAA East Central, 5900 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA 15206. Editor: Theresa E. Deutsch, 1020 W. Hamilton Street, P.O. Box 1910, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania 18105-1910. Owner of the publication is AAA East Central, 5900 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA 15206. There are no bondholders, mortgages or security holders. The total number of copies printed (average for the preceding 12 months) 197,820; sales outside the mails – none; Outside-county mail subscriptions 187,820; In-county mail subscriptions – none; total paid distribution 189,169; free distribution – none; office use, etc. 2,189; returns from news agents – none; total 186,929. Actual number of copies printed (single issue nearest to filing date) 189,169; sales outside the mails – none; Outside-county mail subscriptions 189,169; In-county mail subscriptions – none; total paid distribution – 186,929; free distribution – none; office use, etc. 2,240; returns from news agents – none; total 188,750.

I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. Theresa E. Deutsch, Editor

Your inner ecologist wants to drive an eco-friendly vehicle, but the car enthusiast in you balks at small, “powerless” commuter cars. What’s the most effective solution?

Automakers are working on a wide range of technology that will help achieve new governmental regulations to improve fuel efficiency. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have set standards to increase the Corporate Average Fuel Economy levels to 54.5 (approximately 40 window sticker) miles per gallon by 2025, giving automakers further in-centive to escalate fuel-saving tech-nologies. Vehicles equipped with automatic stop-start systems are rolling off the assembly line, and AAA’s research found these systems deliver up to seven percent improvement in fuel savings and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Repurposed technology

Automatic stop-start systems turn off the engine when the vehicle is at a complete stop − such as in traffic or at a stoplight. When the driver releases the brake or clutch, the engine starts. While the engine is stopped, systems and gadgets run on power from the vehicle’s battery.

Automatic stop-start systems on hybrid vehicles are old news. The innovation is in the application of this system to cars powered only by an internal combustion engine. This adaptation gives you the vehicle you love, better fuel usage and lower emissions at a modest cost increase of about $300. Benefits for motorists

AAA tested three vehicles equipped with automatic stop-start systems using the Environment Protection Agency’s “urban” driving cycle. With the automatic start-stop system engaged, the vehicles delivered improved fuel economy and

reduced carbon di-oxide emissions of up to seven percent over tests with the automatic stop-start technology disengaged.

The improved fuel economy found with auto-matic stop-start systems could save motorists $179 annually, based upon driving 15,000 miles a year in a vehicle that gets 20 mpg and with fuel prices at $3.65 per gallon.Is this the ‘green’ for you?

Motorists in Europe and Japan have made the leap to automatic stop-start vehicles, and 40 percent of new-car sales in those markets feature the technology. Adoption has been slower in North America, but automakers now predict that more than seven million of these vehicles will be on the road by 2022.

There could be a couple of potholes: The feature most often deploys in city driving scenarios – versus highway operation – and may feel slightly diff-

erent to motorists until they become accustomed to the automatic stop-start sensation. In some vehicles, the system operates so seamlessly you may not notice it at all. In others, the lag between starting and stopping is more pro-nounced. The benefits, however, will not be realized if the feature is turned off. More inconvenient may be reduced heating and air conditioning per-formance when relying solely on battery power.

It’s hard to argue with the successful compromise of the vehicle you love coupled with improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

Automatic Stop-Start TestingAuto Technology Makes it Easier Being ‘Green’

NOTE: HybridCars reports that automatic stop-start systems add about $300 to the price of a new vehicle. AAA’s research found that automatic stop-start systems im-prove fuel economy by up to seven percent, helping motorists save up to $179 annually, based on driving 15,000 miles a year in a vehicle that averages 20 mpg with fuel prices at $3.65 per gallon.

TAKE THE PLEDGE — Drive Drug and Alcohol Free Continued from page 20

While you’re there, AAA encourages visitors to Take the Pledge to drive drug- and alcohol-free.

Simply provide your name, email and zip code, and then “sign” the pledge by checking the box. Then, help spread the word to family and friends via social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Send personalized E-cards to encourage others to do the same with timely messages that could one day, help save their lives.

Duijusticelink.AAA.com is not only a gateway for people to publicly commit to the fight against impaired driving, but a valuable resource for prevention tips and up-to-date statistics, to help people become more effective advocates and drive more responsibly.

Page 24: November/December 2014 Traveler

You know us by the side of the road. Now discover another side of AAA that could save you hundreds every year.

SAVE$422*

ON AUTO INSURANCE

YOU COULD

UP TO

CliCk AAA.com I Visit your local AAA branchCall 855.761.9147 for your FREE quote so easy. so smart.

so switch.®

* Annual savings claims are based on a comparison of 12 PA ZIP codes (15147, 15217, 15228, 15601, 17801, 17870, 18017, 18020, 18040, 18045, 18103 and 19446) of AAA rates as of 8/28/13 versus Allstate, State Farm and Progressive for a married couple profile with 2 cars, excellent credit, no violations, on a 6-month policy with the following discounts: AAA membership, anti-theft device, multi-policy (homeowners required), homeownership, passive restraint, garaging, persistency and multi-vehicle. The $422 savings claim is an annualized average versus Allstate, State Farm and Progressive for this profile. Any savings may vary. Rates are subject to change.

AAA membership requires the separate payment of annual dues and an admission fee for new members, and is required for new insureds to purchase AAA insurance coverage. AAA personal lines insurance is provided to qualified Members by Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club (Exchange). AAA East Central Insurance Agency, Inc. is a resident producer agency for the Exchange. Copyright © 2014 Auto Club Enterprises. All Rights Reserved.

COMPARE AND SAVEyou could save up to

Up to savings claims based on 2 car/2 good driver select profile.*

$474* over

PROGRESSIVE$410* over

STATE FARM$383* over

ALLSTATE

1114_EP_BigHeadline_AutoIns.indd 1 9/22/14 6:49 PM