Car Features That Confuse Jersey Drivers

Driving in Jersey is hard enough without everyone getting confused by the features of their car. Sometimes the features are new and unfamiliar. Car manufacturers are constantly adding new ones to their vehicles, and it can be difficult for people to keep up with the latest trends. Some car features are very complex and can be difficult to understand, even for experienced drivers. Car manufacturers don't always do a good job of explaining how to use them, and some of them are not user-friendly and are difficult to use.

One of the features in my car that took me some time to figure out was the fog lights. They're a totally different switch and in a completely different location from the headlights. This feature happens to be one of the top features in a new survey commissioned by Hyundai that appears on MSN. The report "found that 68 percent said they struggle to get to grips with everything" and feel they're not using their car to its full potential.

Many have an issue with lane assist. There are two main types of lane assist:

Another one that confuses us is sports mode. Sports mode is a driving mode that is designed to improve the performance of a car. It does this by making many changes to the car's settings, such as making the throttle more responsive, so that the car accelerates more quickly when you press the gas pedal. Sports mode also changes the shift points of the transmission, so that the car shifts gears at higher RPMs. This allows the engine to produce more power. It also makes the steering feel heavier and more responsive. This gives you more control of the car when you are driving at high speeds. Sports mode also stiffens the suspension, which makes the car handle better around corners.

Believe it or not, the most perplexing is cruise control. If you are somehow not familiar with it, cruise control is a feature that allows you to set a desired speed and the vehicle will maintain that speed. I use it every day when I drive on route one. This can be helpful on long trips, as it can take some of the fatigue out of driving so you can relax a little.  It also helps you save fuel, because you're less likely to accelerate and brake suddenly.

Others include parking assist, brake assist, GPS, and Bluetooth. For the full study click here.

If you are confused by a car feature, the best thing to do is to consult your car's owner's manual, or you can always ask a mechanic or a friend for help.

Have you ever tried a fragrance and thought to yourself, "Wow, this smells awful?" Then you wonder why and how anyone would ever enjoy that smell. Just like our sense of taste, smells are based on preference. For example, your friend may like the smell of corpse flowers (the worst-smelling flower in the world) and burnt hair while you like the smell of roses and bonfires. 

"Most people assume we all like the smell of roses and hate the smell of skunk... with the exception of irritating odors, smell is something we come to know from personal and cultural experiences." noted lead researcher Rachel Herz, PhD, in a 2005 Brown University study.

Alan R Hirsch, the founder and neurological director of the Smell and Taste Treatment & Research Foundation, explained to NPR that “the factors that influence our sense of smell are actually a combination of cultural, genetic, and environmental factors.”

There are certain smells that almost everyone loves. From the new car smell (which may not be good for you) and freshly baked bread to Sharpies and gasoline. People enjoy a variety of aromas and find some more pleasant than others. The scents we smell can change our moods and emotions. Sometimes, it can even bring us back to long-forgotten events and memories.

Here are 10 unusual smells most people enjoy.

It could be due to its association with nail salons. It's where many people find a moment of relaxation.

Should you thank their hair care routine for this? Or maybe you’re a fan of their pheromones? Let's just call it a chemically compatible match.

Some people enjoy the smell of recycled rubber, glue, and a slight hint of petroleum.

It's probably not because it can make you high. It may have more to do with nostalgia. Sharpies and markers tend to smell like childhood to some people.

It makes sense that some people like the smell of chlorine. Most people are reminded of memories by the pool. Or maybe an abundance of laundry.

It may be something with the smell combination of fresh paper and book adhesive, mixed with the excitement of getting a new book.

Do you ever catch a whiff of yourself and actually don't mind it? Maybe, it's because it's your own scent. Some studies show that we've adapted to like our own odors, to help us maintain proper hygiene.

It has that "cold" smell that’s similar to when the AC blows in the car.

Some people like it because it "smells like the country.” The smell is supposedly associated with fresh air and fields of farmland.

Someone loved this scent so much that they created a crowdfunding site for a candle that "always smells like it's not actually burning while it’s burning." They described the smell as a "warm, smoky aroma."