An automobile consumer safety blog
From the category archives:
In the last two years, there have been five fatal accidents involving runaway Toyota or Lexus vehicles made by Toyota Motor Corp. In addition to those, there have been hundreds of other incidences of runaway Toyota and Lexus vehicles that didn’t end fatally. What’s going on?
Toyota blamed the incidents on the vehicles’ floor mats, claiming [...]
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Most everyone has fallen asleep as a passenger on a long car trip. If the sandman catches you unaware and with an upright seat, the result is often a stiff neck, stiff back, or stiff everything. So it’s easy to see why reclining your seat if you’re feeling sleepy would make for a more comfortable [...]
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There is a bill awaiting signature on Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk that will require all judges to impose the same sentence on all convicted drunk drivers. That sentence would require all drunk drivers to install ignition-interlock devices in their vehicles. If the Governor signs the bill, it will go into a trial period in July 2010 [...]
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Carrying cargo can be a daunting task. You have to be sure that your cargo is secure, alter the way you drive and be more aware of your speed and brake time. But by carrying more weight and possibly objects that can slip and cause serious damage to others on the road, a driver is [...]
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From all of the intricate parts of a car or truck comes the possibility of injury. Injuries ranging from simple and easy-to-heal knucklebusters to injuries much more dangerous are things to be aware of when performing vehicle maintenance.
Knucklebusters. Ouch. The bolt just won’t loosen, so you put a little more pressure and then suddenly…it gives, [...]
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Cars produce a lot of hazardous waste - it’s that simple. But getting rid of it isn’t as simple as putting it down the drain. Pouring toxins down the drain can corrode your pipes and harm the water supply downstream, effecting people and animals alike. Besides, it is illegal.
Recycling as much of the waste as [...]
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Being prepared in an emergency, or even if it is less dire and you just become stranded, is an important part of being a responsible driver. Now it is likely that many motorists will have a mobile phone or GPS, so the idea of being stranded seems practically impossible, but it is not out of the realm [...]
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Several years back Congress charged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with the task of not only collecting traffic and collision data (which they had already been doing), but also data on car-related injuries or fatalities that occurred in nontraffic or noncrash situations. For example, accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
The 2007 statistics are in and NHTSA’s [...]
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GPS systems can be distracting - especially for new users. Images change and catch the eye, options need to be selected, voices come from nowhere. That is distracting. Period. It might save time, but it is important that people remain diligent when using these devices. Safety first, right! The device shouldn’t be programmed by the driver when the vehicle [...]
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Snowy areas in the winter months are notorious for producing a slew of windshield replacements. There have been many times where a giant truck sends a pebble toward the windshield in front of me and gives me a good startle. These dings - good for a window installer, bad for the driver’s pocketbook.
A crack that obstructs the driver is [...]
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