The January car sales figures are in. Only three car companyies increased sales over the same period in 2008: Subaru, Kia and Hyundai.
Cars and light truck sales are what is being measured. Subaru’s cars are down, like most of the rest of the struggling auto industry, but their January 2009 sales of light trucks (in their case that means the Subaru Outback and the Forester) went up (from January 2008) by over 2,000 vehicles.
Experts say that consumers will choose safety over price in vehicles that are rated higher and are just a little bit more expensive. The 2009 Subaru Forester was a MotorTrend pick of the year, and was also on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s “top safety pick.”
News from LightTruckBiz.com announced that the The Car Book lists four Kia models on their 2009 ”Best Bets” list. One of the four is the Kia Borrego, which is likely one of the models that put Kia into the positive sales percentages for January 2009. The top sales list doesn’t break down which exact vehicles are sold - only that it is the light truck series put them in the black.
Hyundai, who is affiliated with Kia, is the third car company who, despite the poor economy and lagging car sales, actually had a good January. Hyundai’s car sales and light truck sales were both up over the 2008 numbers. Why? An article from the New York Times on February 13 explains that Hyundai’s marketing campaign, which appeals to consumers’ fears and uncertainty about job loss is likely the answer. Motor Trend’s analysis of the Hyundai line of vehicles is quite positive: Eight of twelve of the Hyundai’s listed had excellent safety ratings (five stars out of five). Two of the remaining four hadn’t yet been tested and the other two still had decent ratings at four of five.
Good news for the three car makers. It looks as if they will be weathering this economic storm.
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, and around go your knuckles straight into the metal below, cutting your knuckles up and causing some screaming pain.
However, out of all of the injuries, knucklebusters are one of the more attractive options. When performing car maintenance, or looking under the hood, it is very important to take precautions to keep your hands, face and other parts of your body safe from moving parts, hot fluids and crushing metal.
The video above provides just a few examples of accidents that can occur when checking under the hood, changing tires, etc.
Some of the accidents that occur most often during car maintenance are absolutely avoidable. Opening the antifreeze cap while the car is still hot is a mistake that many people make. Temperatures of around 200 Fahrenheit can be reached and you don’t want your face or skin anywhere near that if it is blowing out of the radiator.
Many injuries happen when a car is raised up, as in the case of a tire or oil change. Around 10,000 injuries a year happen when car is up on a jack incorrectly and falls down onto the person below. a car is heavy, which means if it falls off the jack onto someone, it will be very difficult to get it off them.
As the video shows, fan belts and other rotating parts can very quickly grab hold of ties, sleeves or hair if it is dropping down near where the part can get hold of it. When looking under the hood be sure to keep long hair back and take off or contain ties or other pieces of material.
Take every precaution when working on a vehicle; it could save yours, or someone else’s life.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a fantastic resource for consumers and for people who want to know the latest traffic safety. If a person wants to stay up-to-date on vehicle and auto parts recalls or just wants to know the latest driving information, safecar.gov is a great resource.
Safecar.gov has an impressive section dedicated to tire safety. Properly maintaining tires is not only a way to save on gas (a properly inflated tire gets better gas mileage than an improperly inflated tire), but well-cared-for tires can also keep the passengers safe and help extend the life of many other parts of the vehicle. The extensive tire section educates about the different kinds of tires and on what vehicles they should be used. There is also a area where rating of different tires can be discovered and compared.
A big reason to visit the site is for the Defect and Recall resource. Defects and Recalls are public information. So savecar.gov is a place the consumer can go to find out what has been recalled or what is being investigated. Interested parties can look at information on vehicles, equipment and extras having to do with a car, tires and safety restraints including child seats and seat belts. Defects can also be researched.
This is also a venue for filing a safety complaint online or researching other complaints that have been made. If something is happening to a vehicle, a consumer can check out to see if others have had the same difficulties or problems.
An Airbag FAQ section is a must-have for a government safety website, and this website is quite comprehensive and seemingly unbiased. Everything from who the airbag will protect to what airbags have had difficulties is covered.
The last big section of safecar.gov explores Rollovers and how to minimize the possibility and injury if it does happen.
The year was 1985, a 16-year old named Tami took her exam, passed the test and drove to school a licensed driver. At noon, Tami thought it a grand plan to invite eight of her closest friends to hop in the car and drive to lunch. Not three hours after her test, and her first chance at having passengers, Tami pulled into an intersection without thoroughly assessing traffic and was sideswiped by a vehicle who never had a chance to slow down. One of those eight friends was me. No one was hurt, but the car had irreparable damage and Tami had in her possession a costly ticket plus points taken off her license.
Driving in an overcrowded or chaotic car is one example that a teenager can avoid. Here are some other common mistakes made by teenagers and new drivers:
Distractions - Mobile phones, iPods, looking at a directions, these are all things that take eyes off the road - the most important place for them to be. Many drivers make these same mistakes, it isn’t just an adolescent problem. However, newer and/or younger drivers have less experience driving, so they need to pay special attention to what is going on IN the car. Distractions (for everyone) should be kept to an absolute minimum.
Taking unnecessary risks - The typical adolescent doesn’t believe mortality is an option for them, so taking risks is often part of everything they do. Speeding, trying to out-race someone while entering the highway (not yielding), running stop signs, driving at night without lights, driving while drunk. Again, many people do this, but teenagers have an extra helping of “gotta do it.”
Driving without a seat belt - Buckle up, it’s the law. And it saves lives!
Following too closely - Reaction time to stop a moving vehicle takes several seconds. Many young drivers follow too closely and can’t get the vehicle stopped before collision happens.
Reacting inappropriately - Over correcting, unnecessarily slamming on brakes, moving before looking - these are all mistakes an inexperienced often makes.
Driving while sleepy - Kids are very busy with school, after school activities, socializing, study sessions. It is often not until they get into the car that the eyelids start to droop.
Adolescents need to learn about these mistakes while learning to drive - and the typical teenager needs to be reminded every hour on the hour until they are 25.
Showtime Conversions, custom RV/Caravan producers, are working with Dometic to recall the 2004 Showhauler. The Showhauler that has a two-door refrigerator made by Dometic has a boiler tube design defect. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a recall on February 2, 2009.
Because of the structure of the of the boiler tube, a flammable substance could escape and since gas is possibly present (from the gas stove, a cigarette lighter, etc.) fire could result.
The 2001 Showtime Showhauler had the same problem with the Norcold Refrigerator. NATSA recalled that version back in September 2008. Together there are very few vehicles that need to be recalled, only seven in total.
Showtime will work with both Dometic and Norcold to repair and replace the defective parts. The replacements will be made free of charge, as is usually the case in recalls. In the case of the Dometic, the repair will be to install a secondary burn housing, a new thermal fuse and a new melt fuse. In the case of the 2001 Showhaulers, Norcold will provide the owner with a thermal switch kit and the necessary forms and instructions.
So from how this reads, it seems as if the Norcold version expects the owner to perform the replacements themselves. This sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen, since the replacements will arrive at the consumer’s door and possibly sit in that same place until the day the caravan bursts into flame. Maybe dramatic, but within the realm of possibilities. Though RV drivers tend to be get-up-and-go, do-it-yourself types and not necessarily procrastinators. Norcold had better hope this is the case.
Showtime Conversions is a company specializing in custom built living quarters that was established in 1995. Dometic Group is a supplier of leisure products for caravans/RVs, autos, trucks and marine vessels. They were established in 2001. Norcold, owned by the Thetford Corporation makes and sells specially-made refrigerators for caravans and marine vessels. Norcold was founded in 1959.
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 possible is the best answer, since someone else will get use out of the product and it will not go into a landfill. Keeping these toxins hanging around your house or garage is not a good idea either, since they are usually highly flammable, and that is just tempting fate. Anyway, they have to go sometime, right?
Some of the products that should be treated as hazardous waste are:
Motor oil
Transmission fluid
Excessive amounts of washer fluid
Antifreeze
Rags with excessive
Car batteries
Brake fluid
Gasoline
Carburetor cleaner
Degreasers
Tires
Luckily most communities now have systems in place hazardous waste disposal. There are often drop-off spots, or days when the local trash collectors will organize a hazardous waste pickup day. Place a call to your local city government to find out where you can take your hazardous waste. If your city government doesn’t have a system, try to start one yourself. Be responsible to both your family and your community - dispose of hazardous waste properly.
Tires, batteries, motor oil and antifreeze can all be recycled, so many times your local mechanic or service station will take those items.
Brake fluid, antifreeze, carburetor cleaner, degreasers, contaminated rags, gasoline or other fuels, and transmission fluid should all be stored safely until HW pickup day in your neighborhood. If you want to get the substances out of your house right away, check with local authorities to see if they have a local recycling area.
Antifreeze can be deadly to pets. That happened to my brother; a new litter of puppies got into a pool of antifreeze and only one survived. Be very careful when performing do-it-yourself automotive projects. Keep children and animals away from toxic substances.
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 of possibilities, so it is better to be ready in case that happens. Once a Roadside Preparedness Kit is assembled and placed in the vehicle and it will be there when it is needed.
Here are some things that every vehicle should absolutely have in case of an emergency:
Flashlight - try to find the kind that you wind to charge. That way you’ll always have batteries.
Multipurpose knife/tool - Swiss Army or Leatherman type with several different tools.
A pencil and paper - graphite in the pencil never dries out like ink would.
Roadside flares
Small First Aid kit - familiarize yourself with the contents and how to use them
Tire inflator
A rag or two
Tire pressure gauge (many people carry this with them in the glove box. Keeping your tires properly inflated gets you better gas mileage and can prevent unnecessary tire wear)
Tire changing equipment is not listed here, because that is an absolute essential - don’t leave home without it - and most newer cars have a built in jack and lug wrench.
Other, less essential, but very handy things to tuck into a Roadside Kit are:
Adjustable wrench
Blanket - put on the essential list in the winter months
Ice scraper - also essential in winter months)
Spray bottle with washer fluid
One quart of oil
Extra fuses
Flashlight and extra batteries
Gallon of antifreeze
Help sign
Jumper cables
Pliers
Roll of duct tape
Roll of paper towels
Bottled water (These last two items have to be rotated out or they will spoil)
Snack or energy bars
All of these items can be contained in a heavy-duty bag and if packed tightly can take up less trunk space. Take a bit of time to learn how to use all of the items and take a look every so often, so that you remember what is in there. Other than that you can tick that off of your to-do list and rest easy.
The results are in on the most unsafe vehicles of 2009. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have released their findings for the crash tests that they have performed on all of the 2009 models; according to Forbes.com’s interpretation of the results, American-made vehicles litter the bottom of the list. Forbes used the IIHS and NHTSA findings and took into account Consumer Reports’ “second-tier” listings.
Crash tests were performed as early as the 1930s and “Sierra Sam,” the first noted crash test dummy was built in 1949. (Sierra Sam got his name from Alderson Research Labs “Sierra” Engineering Dept.) So it stands to show that safety has been important to the car and truck buying public for about as long as cars have been around. However, simple economics keep car makers from utilizing the safety technology that we know is out there. Nascar and Formula One vehicles crash at speeds up to 200 miles per hour and the driver walks away with nary a bruise. The technology and engineering smarts are out there, but when the Big Three are already struggling to stay solvent, it is obvious that safety options are a way to cut costs.
American consumers are urged again and again to buy American, but if they want the safest, they might have to choose the foreign-made models where the safety features come standard. Although, not all American-made vehicles performed poorly (especially when the vehicles are tested with the optional (and more expensive) safety features and there are plenty of the Big Three’s beauties at the top of the list. Right now, of course, is the time to buy a car, so with some research and shopping around it may be easier to walk away with the safe vehicle of your dreams at the lowest price.
The deep and full-of-bravado voice on the Chevy Silverado and Dodge Ram commercials is used to lead people to believe that it is a tough vehicle built for working, hauling and being generally macho. Those two 2009s models along with the Nissan Titan have recently received marks on side crash tests that make you realize there is a lot more bark than bite.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an independent scientific and educational organization (supported by insurance companies) conducted the side crash tests. All three vehicles tested between marginal and poor. In the case of the Silverado and the Titan, there are optional side airbags. Without those bags, they both earned a Poor rating. Then, when the side airbags are added, only the Titan improved (to a Marginal rating). The Silverado still stayed at Poor.
These tests prove, though not in a legal setting, that the marketing campaign for these trucks is false. If a person is in the vehicle (and haven’t done their homework) they are automatically going to feel safe. Elevated above a lot of other vehicles on the road, the roar of the engine, the advertisement planted firmly in the memory banks…all signs point to feeling safe. But according to the Institute’s senior V.P. the occupants are not as safe as other trucks in their class. The Toyota Tundra, Honda Ridgeline and Ford F-150 all have better marks when it comes to side crash tests, so are therefore higher up in the overall safety classification. The low test marks on the Silverado, Titan and Ram don’t make sense when looking at their marks on front, rear and side testing (each test has certain criteria).
Looking at the safety rating is very important when it comes to buying a new (or new to you) vehicle. Advertisers have their job, to sell the product, it is the consumer’s job to make sure that what they offer is on the level.
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 January 2009 Report has some interesting data on “Backovers.” The findings aren’t comprehensive, since some injuries aren’t reported or they are attributed to something else, but it is upsetting to know that last year 221 people were killed when a vehicle drove or backed over them. More surprisingly is that 14,000 people were injured - that is 14% of all nontraffic injuries. This means that people are being relatively careless when backing out of their driveways.
Nothing beats paying attention and being aware of your surroundings. Before a person gets behind the wheel they should quickly look all around the vehicle to make sure nothing or noone is in its way. No gadgets should ever replace that step - besides you can take that time to check your tires - another important step in general car maintenace - but an added assist is the rearview or backup camera that can be mounted at the rear of the vehicle. It provides another set of eyes in case a baby or small child unknowingly makes its way behind the vehicle.
Backup sensors are another tool that can provide additional safety. When backing up the sensors beep if the vehicle or tires get into proximity of an object - person, sidewalk, garbage can.
Preventing an accidental death or injury of a person or, more specifically a baby, is something that is definitely worth taking a moment to think about.
Check out the figures from the NHTSA table; the various ways that people get injured in non-moving vehicles is utterly surprising and fascinating.
