LEGO Recalls Toy Trucks Due to Puncture Hazard to Children

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: LEGO EXPLORE Super Trucks

Units: About 358,000

Manufacturer: LEGO Systems Inc., of Enfield, Conn.

Hazard: The plastic wheels on the truck can detach, exposing a metal axle. This poses a puncture hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: LEGO Systems, Inc. has received 10 reports of a wheel detaching. Two children received serious puncture injuries resulting from the exposed metal axle once the wheel detached. Another child fell when the wheel came off of the toy truck.

Description: LEGO EXPLORE Super Truck is a toy-in-toy product designed for children ages 18 months and up. The toy features a red plastic pick-up/dump truck that measures about 15-inches high and 19-inches wide with four 7-inch black plastic wheels that are packed with a box of 40 LEGO DUPLO bricks in the cargo area. The unit has a row of DUPLO "studs" across the top of the cab, molded yellow headlights and stickers on the front and sides of the unit create the idea of a windshield, windows and doors depicting a LEGO figure in the driver's seat. The LEGO Explore logo is printed on the door stickers. The box of DUPLO bricks is not included in this recall.

Sold at: Various retailers nationwide, including Toys "R" Us and Wal-Mart, from August 2002 through August 2004 for about $20.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled toy trucks (not the bricks) immediately and contact LEGO Systems for information on receiving a refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact LEGO at (800) 718-1858 anytime, or visit www.LEGO.com

9 Ways To Lower Your Auto Car Insurance Costs

1. Shop Around

Prices vary from company to company, so it pays to shop around. Get at least three price quotes. You can call companies directly or access information on the Internet. Your state insurance department may also provide comparisons of prices charged by major insurers. (State insurance department phone numbers and Web sites can be found here.)

You buy insurance to protect you financially and provide peace of mind. It's important to pick a company that is financially stable. Check the financial health of insurance companies with rating companies such as A.M. Best (http://www.ambest.com) and Standard & Poor’s (http://www.standardandpoors.com/) and consult consumer magazines.

Get quotes from different types of insurance companies. Some sell through their own agents. These agencies have the same name as the insurance company. Some sell through independent agents who offer policies from several insurance companies. Others do not use agents. They sell directly to consumers over the phone or via the Internet.

Don't shop price alone. Ask friends and relatives for their recommendations. Contact your state insurance department to find out whether they provide information on consumer complaints by company. Pick an agent or company representative that takes the time to answer your questions. You can use the checklist on the back of this brochure to help you compare quotes from insurers and on the same coverage.

2. Before You Buy a Car, Compare Insurance Costs

Before you buy a new or used car, check into insurance costs. Car insurance premiums are based in part on the car’s sticker price, the cost to repair it, its overall safety record, and the likelihood of theft. Many insurers offer discounts for features that reduce the risk of injuries or theft. These include daytime running lights and anti-theft devices. To help you decide what car to buy, you can get information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (www.iihs.org).

3. Ask for Higher Deductibles

Deductibles are what you pay before your insurance policy kicks in. By requesting higher deductibles, you can lower your costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive coverage cost by 15 to 30 percent. Going to a $1,000 deductible can save you 40 percent or more. Before choosing a higher deductible, be sure you have enough money set aside to pay it if you have a claim.

4. Reduce Coverage on Older Cars

Consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverages on older cars. If your car is worth less than 10 times the premium, purchasing the coverage may not be cost effective. Auto dealers and banks can tell you the worth of cars. Or you can look it up online at Kelley’s Blue Book (http://www.kbb.com). Review your coverage at renewal time to make sure your insurance needs haven’t changed.

5. Buy your Homeowners and Auto Coverage from the Same Insurer

Many insurers will give you a break if you buy two or more types of insurance. You may also get a reduction if you have more than one vehicle insured with the same company. Some insurers reduce the rates for long-time customers. But it still makes sense to shop around! You may save money buying from different insurance companies, compared with a multi-policy discount.

6. Maintain a Good Credit Record

Establishing a solid credit history can cut your insurance costs. Insurers are increasingly using credit information to price auto insurance policies. To protect your credit standing, pay your bills on time, don't obtain more credit than you need and keep your credit balances as low as possible. Check your credit record on a regular basis and have any errors corrected promptly so that your record remains accurate.

7. Take Advantage of Low Mileage Discounts

Some companies offer discounts to motorists who drive a lower than average number of miles a year. Low mileage discounts can also apply to drivers who car pool to work.

8. Ask about Group Insurance

Some companies offer reductions to drivers who get insurance through a group plan from their employers, through professional, business and alumni groups, or other associations. Ask your employer and inquire with groups or clubs you are a member of to see if this is possible.

9. Seek Out Other Discounts

Companies offer discounts to policyholders who have not had any accidents or moving violations for a number of years. You may also get a discount if you take a defensive driving course. If there is a young driver on the policy who is a good student, has taken a drivers education course or is at a college out of the area without a car, you may also qualify for a lower rate.

Aircraft Maintenance

There are Variety of work to be involved in tha aircraft Maintenance. Some of them are,

• Aircraft Engine Overhaul Maintenance - Technicians maintain aircraft engines, including dismantling, inspecting, assembling and testing.

• Aircraft Line Maintenance - Technicians keenly noticed and correct troubles on the aircraft and carry out minor and major aircraft checks and effect repairs. In order to be eligible for promotion above the level of "technician" , a certificate of competence is required.

• Aircraft Avionics - Involved in the maintenance of electronic systems on the aircraft such as communications, navigation, auto pilot and flight recording.

• Aircraft Sheet Metal & Plumbing – Technician maintain aircraft structural components and parts.

• Aircraft Electrical & Electronic Accessories –Technician engaged in the overhaul and assembly of electrical /electronic accessories, equipment and harnesses, and/or such reconditioning, repair and testing of electrical accessories and equipment as may be required.

• Trim Overhaul and Fabrication - Technician engaged in the overhaul and repair of all aircraft furnishing, fabric work (which include chairs, carpets, drapes and panelling) and fabrication parts.

• Machining and Fitting - The trade of machinist, as related to Aircraft Maintenance, covers the wide variety of machine tools working in fine tolerances.

• Aircraft Technician Systems Maintenance - Technicians perform shop maintenance functions on units and parts related to aircraft mechanical and fuel systems accessories, hydraulic and pneumatic systems.

• Aircraft Instrument Maintenance - Technicians perform shop maintenance functions on aircraft instruments and related components. These are of a precision nature and are linked to many aircraft systems.

• Painting - This includes all paint work relating to the aircraft, engines, units and ground equipment.

• Welding - Involved is the welding of aircraft components, engine parts and related repair work.

• Aircraft Wheel and Rubber Unit Maintenance - Technicians maintain the aircraft wheels, brakes and tires. Other components such as life preservers, rubber rafts and oxygen masks are also maintained by this unit.

• Heat Treating and Processing - Concerns the heat treating techniques and plating of various metals.

• Aircraft Cleaning – Engaged in the cleaning of aircraft exteriors (including furnishings) and other operational cleaning functions relative to aircraft, parts and associated equipment.

• Engine Parts Cleaning & Blasting – Engaged in the operation and servicing of blasting equipment and the cleaning of aircraft engine parts and associated equipment in the Engine shop.

• Woodworking – Engaged in the trade of carpentry in all branches.

• Radio and Electronic Overhaul and Repair – Engaged in the overhaul and assembly of aircraft radio and electronic equipment (including radio communications and radio navigational aid equipment) and/or such reconditioning, repair and testing of equipment.

When You are Washing Your Vehicle in the Driveway

Remember You're Not Just Washing Your Car in the Driveway .....



What's the problem with car washing?

There's no problem with washing your car. It's just HOW and WHERE you do it. Soaps and detergents, even biodegradable products are lethal to fish and other aquatic life in relatively small amounts. When you wash your car in the street or driveway, the soap along with dirt, oils, metals, and other pollutants washed from your car, the driveway, and the street, flow into nearby storm drains which flow directly to our lakes, streams, and the ocean without treatment.

Here's some tips on how you can reduce the environmental impact of washing your car.

Recommendation from Sammy the Steelhead, "Go to a commercial car wash when your car needs cleaning to conserve water and prevent stormwater pollution." Commercial car washes recycle water and send wastewater to treatment systems where it is treated before being discharged into a waterway.

If you must wash your car at home, use the environmentally friendly car washing tips listed below to reduce water use and prevent stormwater pollution:

• Use a bucket and special biodegradable soap. Use as little soap and water as possible. Look for products that do not contain nonylphenol surfactants that act as endocrine disrupters that change the sex of fish and phosphates that contribute to algal blooms and low oxygen levels in waterways. When you are done, dump your bucket of soapy water into a sink, drain, or toilet that goes to a treatment system or into a vegetated area.


• Use a trigger spray nozzle to control water flow from the hose and reduce water use.


• Wash the car on a grassy area or other porous surface where soil microbes and vegetation can filter and break down pollutants and keep wash water out of the street and storm drains.


• You can also dike off your driveway and direct wash water into a landscaped area or vacuum it up with a ShopVac rather than allowing it to run into the street.


• Support environmentally friendly charity car wash events that block off nearby storm drains, use minimal amounts of water, and divert wash water to the sanitary sewer or nearby landscaping.

Auto transport companies in California - CA

1. All America auto transport - Auto transport company

7514 Wisconsin Ave.

Bethesda, MD 20814

1-800-227-7447

1-800-CAR-SHIPPING

Fax: 877-859-4500 (toll free)

Website: http://www.aaat.com

Car transport quote: http://www.aaat.com/quote.cfm

2. American Interstate Crossings - Auto transport company

14661 Myford Road, Suite C
Tustin, California, 92780

Daytime phone: 949-480-3762
Fax: 714-734-0537

website: http://www.viatruck.com and Car Transport quote

3. American Transportation - Auto transport company

25055 Starr St
Loma Linda, California, 92354

Daytime phone: 909-583-4220
Secondary phone: 909-583-4993
Fax: 909-796-0594

Website: http://www.americanautotransportation.com and Car Transport quote

4. Ats Transportation Services - Auto transport company

1355 Heritage Way
Gilroy, California, 95020

Daytime phone: 408-842-5341
Secondary phone: 800-229-9781
Fax: 408-842-1692

Website: http://www.atstransport.com and Car Transport quote

5. Auto Transport 4 Less - Auto transport company

PO Box 39926
Downey, California, 90240

Daytime phone: 310-227-2861
Fax: 310-263-1208

Website: http://www.autotransport4less.com and Car Transport quote

6. Big Brothers Auto Transport - Auto transport company

3335 Placer Street #132
Redding, California, 96001

Daytime phone: 877-235-2330
Secondary phone: 530-243-2330
Fax: 530-243-2322

Website: http://www.bigbrotherstransport.com and Car Transport quote

7. Bullseye Auto Transport - Auto transport company

18900 Live Oak Rd.
Red Bluff, California, 96080

Daytime phone: 530-529-6972
Secondary phone: 530-529-6986
Fax: 530-527-8122

Website: http://www.bullseyeautotransport.com and Car Transport quote

8. D&B AUTO TRANSPORT - Auto transport company

3610 BANBURY DR #2D
RIVERSIDE, California, 92505

Daytime phone: 951-534-2002
Secondary phone: 951-500-5262
Fax: 951-479-8718

Website: http://www.dbautotransport.com and Car Transport quote

9. Nationwide Carriers - Auto transport company

6359 seastone way
sacramento, California, 95831

Daytime phone: 877-251-4394
Secondary phone: 916-613-4588
Fax: 916-422-5877

Website: http://nationwidecarriers.com and Car Transport quote

10. Reliable Carrier Group - Auto transport company

6233 Ravenna Way
Elk Grove, California, 95757

Daytime phone: 800-381-2068
Secondary phone: 916-230-3659
Fax: 916-200-0193

Website: http://www.rcgauto.com and Car Transport quote

11. Wise Auto Shipping - Auto transport company

41002 Langerfield Curt
lake Elsinore, California, 92532

Daytime phone: 866-604-6414 x704
Secondary phone: 951-240-5726
Fax: 866-401-2324

Website: http://www.wiseautoshipping.com and Car Transport quote

Inspection of Vehicles and Parts by a Qualified Car Club Representative

As a Qualified Car Club Representative you shall:

• Only inspect vehicles not owned by you or any immediate family member;
• Only inspect vehicles that are of the type, era, make and model that the Recognized Car Club you are a member of specializes in;
• Not charge for the inspection or for completion of the Inspection Statement;
• Immediately notify the Department of Motor Vehicles, Driver and Vehicle Records Division if you relinquish your membership in the Recognized Car Club that has designated you as a Qualified Car Club Representative.

Inspections you conduct shall include:

• Verification of the origination of each major component part on the vehicle. Major component parts include: the engine, transmission, cowl, door, frame, body, rear clip or nose;
• Verification that each non-original part is essentially the same in design and material to that originally supplied by the manufacturer for the specific year, make and model of vehicle, including the appropriate engine, body material, and body shape. A modification from the original specifications may be permitted if the modification is of historic nature and essentially the same in design and material to that originally supplied by the manufacturer for vehicles of that era or if the modification could be considered to be in the category of safety features. Safety-related modifications include hydraulic brakes, sealed-beam headlights and occupant protection systems. A modification involving accessories shall be limited to those accessories available in the era to which the vehicle belongs; and
• Completion of a Recognized Car Club Representative Inspection Statement for Classic Assembled Motor Vehicles.

Completion of the Qualified Car Club Representative Inspection Statement for Classic Assembled Motor Vehicles:

• Section 1 shall be completed by the vehicle owner;
• You will need to complete Section 2 by indicating the vehicle year, make, model and serial numbers for all major component parts. If a part does not have a serial number, be sure to indicate this on the statement;
• Indicate in the appropriate area, which of the major component parts are not original parts for the vehicle you are inspecting;
• Indicate in the appropriate area, whether or not the parts listed on the inspection statement are essentially the same in design and material to that originally supplied by the manufacturer for the year, make and model of vehicle;

2009 New Luxury Cars Make Companies

List of car making companies released new luxury cars 2009, 2010.

Acura


Hyundai


Maserati


Rolls Royce

Audi

Infiniti

Maybach

Saab

Bentley

Jaguar

Mercedes-Benz

Toyota

BMW

Lexus

Porsche

Volvo

Cadillac

Lincoln

NHTSA, CPSC and Evenflo to Announce Recall of Embrace Infant Car Seat/Carriers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in cooperation with Evenflo Company Inc., today announced a recall of the following consumer product. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.)

Name of Product: Evenflo Embrace Infant Car Seat/Carriers.

Units: About 450,000

Manufacturer: Evenflo Company Inc., of Vandalia, Ohio

Hazard: When used as an infant carrier, the handle can unexpectedly release, causing the seat to rotate forward. When this happens, an infant inside the carrier can fall to the ground and suffer serious injuries.
Incidents/Injuries: Evenflo has received 679 reports of the handle on the car seat/carriers unexpectedly releasing, resulting in 160 injuries to children. These reports include a skull fracture, two concussions, cuts, scrapes and bruises.

Description: The recall involves Evenflo Embrace Infant Car Seat/Carriers made before April 8, 2006. The recalled car seat/carriers have model numbers beginning with 317, 320, 397, 398, 540, 548, 549, 550, 556, 597, 598 or 599. The model number and production date information can be found on a white label on the bottom of the carrier and on the top of the convenience base. Models beginning with “5” are units sold with the travel system (compatible stroller). “Evenflo” is on the carrying handle and car seat base. Embrace infant car seat/carriers made on or after April 8, 2006, are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Department and juvenile products stores nationwide sold the car seat/carriers from December 2004 through September 2006 for between $70 and $100 when sold alone and between $140 and $200 when sold with a compatible stroller.

Manufactured in: United States and China

Remedy: Consumers should not use the handle until the repair kit has been installed. The product can continue to be used as a car seat when secured in a vehicle. Contact Evenflo to receive a free repair kit that strengthens the handle latch. Recall notice will be sent to all registered owners of the recalled product. The recalled units should not be returned to the retailer.

Pass a Driving Test : Tips for Making Turns in a Vehicle

Classes of License

The Federal standard requires States to issue a CDL to drivers according to the following license classifications:

Class A - Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Class B - Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.

Class C - Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is placarded for hazardous materials.

10 Steps to Buying a New Auto Car

Step 1: Getting Ready to Buy a New Car

Step 2: New Car Incentives and Rebates

Step 3: Finding Your New Car

Step 4: Getting the Best New Car Price

Step 5: The New Car Test Drive

Step 6: Trading In Your Old Car

Step 7: Negotiating with the Car Dealer

Step 8: Finishing the New Car Deal

Step 9: Signing the Paperwork

Step 10: Driving Your New Car Home

Race Car Crashes on the Race

Automobile Emissions: An Overview

Cars and Pollution

Emissions from an individual car are generally low, relative to the smokestack image many people associate with air pollution. But in numerous cities across the country, the personal automobile is the single greatest polluter, as emissions from millions of vehicles on the road add up. Driving a private car is probably a typical citizen's most "polluting" daily activity.

Sources of Auto Emissions

The power to move a car comes from burning fuel in an engine. Pollution from cars comes from by-products of this combustion process (exhaust) and from evaporation of the fuel itself.



The Combustion Process

Gasoline and diesel fuels are mixtures of hydrocarbons, compounds which contain hydrogen and carbon atoms. In a "perfect" engine, oxygen in the air would convert all the hydrogen in the fuel to water and all the carbon in the fuel to carbon dioxide. Nitrogen in the air would remain unaffected. In reality, the combustion process cannot be "perfect," and automotive engines emit several types of pollutants. "Perfect" Combustion: FUEL (hydrocarbons) + AIR (oxygen and nitrogen) ==>> CARBON DIOXIDE + water + unaffected nitrogen Typical Engine Combustion: FUEL + AIR ==>> UNBURNED HYDROCARBONS + NITROGEN OXIDES + CARBON MONOXIDE + CARBON DIOXIDE + water

Exhaust Pollutants

HYDROCARBONS: Hydrocarbon emissions result when fuel molecules in the engine do not burn or burn only partially. Hydrocarbons react in the presence of nitrogen oxides and sunlight to form ground-level ozone, a major component of smog. Ozone irritates the eyes, damages the lungs, and aggravates respiratory problems. It is our most widespread and intractable urban air pollution problem. A number of exhaust hydrocarbons are also toxic, with the potential to cause cancer. NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx): Under the high pressure and temperature conditions in an engine, nitrogen and oxygen atoms in the air react to form various nitrogen oxides, collectively known as NOx. Nitrogen oxides, like hydrocarbons, are precursors to the formation of ozone. They also contribute to the formation of acid rain. CARBON MONOXIDE (C0): Carbon monoxide is a product of incomplete combustion and occurs when carbon in the fuel is partially oxidized rather than fully oxidized to carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon monoxide reduces the flow of oxygen in the bloodstream and is particularly dangerous to persons with heart disease. CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2): In recent years, the EPA has started to view carbon dioxide, a product of "perfect" combustion, as a pollution concern. Carbon dioxide does not directly impair human health, but it is a "greenhouse gas" that traps the earth's heat and contributes to the potential for global warming.

Evaporative Emissions

Hydrocarbon pollutants also escape into the air through fuel evaporation. With today's efficient exhaust emission controls and today's gasoline formulations, evaporative losses can account for a majority of the total hydrocarbon pollution from current model cars on hot days when ozone levels are highest. Evaporative emissions occur several ways: DIURNAL: Gasoline evaporation increases as the temperature rises during the day, heating the fuel tank and venting gasoline vapors. RUNNING LOSSES: The hot engine and exhaust system can vaporize gasoline when the car is running. HOT SOAK: The engine remains hot for a period of time after the car is turned off, and gasoline evaporation continues when the car is parked. REFUELING: Gasoline vapors are always present in fuel tanks. These vapors are forced out when the tank is filled with liquid fuel.



What Has Been Done to Control Automobile Emissions?

The Clean Air Act of 1970 gave EPA broad authority to regulate motor vehicle pollution, and the Agency's emission control policies have become progressively more stringent since the early 1970's. EPA standards dictate how much pollution autos may emit but automakers decide how to achieve the pollution limits. The emission reductions of the 1970's came about because of fundamental improvements in engine design, plus the addition of charcoal canisters to collect hydrocarbon vapors and exhaust gas recirculation valves to reduce nitrogen oxides. The advent of "first generation" catalytic converters in 1975 significantly reduced hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. The use of converters provided a huge indirect benefit as well. Because lead inactivates the catalyst, 1975 saw the widespread introduction of unleaded gasoline. This resulted in dramatic reductions in ambient lead levels and alleviated many serious environmental and human health concerns associated with lead pollution. The next major milestone in vehicle emission control technology came in 1980-81.

In response to tighter standards, manufacturers equipped new cars with even more sophisticated emission control systems. These systems generally include a "three-way" catalyst (which converts carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water, and also helps reduce nitrogen oxides to elemental nitrogen and oxygen), plus an on-board computer and oxygen sensor. This equipment helps optimize the efficiency of the catalytic converter. Vehicle emissions are being further reduced by provisions of the 1990 Clean Air Act. Mobile source provisions include even tighter tailpipe standards, increased durability, improved control of evaporative emissions, and computerized diagnostic systems that identify malfunctioning emission controls.

What Has Emission Control Meant for Air Quality?

• Efforts by government and industry since 1970 have greatly reduced typical vehicle emissions. In those same years, however, the number of miles we drive has more than doubled. The increase in travel has offset much of the emission control progress.


• The net result is a modest reduction in each automotive pollutant except lead, for which aggregate emissions have dropped by more than 95 percent.


• With ozone continuing to present a persistent urban air pollution problem, future vehicle emission control programs will emphasize hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide reductions. Carbon monoxide control will remain critical in many cities, and limits on vehicle-generated carbon dioxide may become important in the future.

Flex-Fuel Vehicles

Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) are designed to run on gasoline or a blend of up to 85%

ethanol (E85). Except for a few engine and fuel system modifications, they are identical to gasoline-only models.

FFVs have been produced since the 1980s, and dozens of models are currently available. Since FFVs look just like gasoline-only models, you may have an FFV and not even know it. To determine if your vehicle is an FFV, check the inside of your car's fuel filler door for an identification sticker or consult your owner’s manual.

FFVs experience no loss in performance when operating on E85. However, since a gallon of ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gasoline, FFVs typically get about 20-30% fewer miles per gallon when fueled with E85.

Your Car’s Emergency Kits

You never know what might happen on the road, so it’s best to be prepared. Keep these items in a box in your trunk:

• battery powered radio and extra batteries


• flashlight and extra batteries


• AAA or roadside emergency card


• blanket


• booster cables (also called jumper cables)


• fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)


• first aid kit


• bottled water


• non-perishable high energy foods, such as: granola bars, energy bars, trail mix, dried fruit, raisins, crackers


• maps


• shovel (in case you need to dig your car out of the snow)


• tire repair kit and pump


• flares

Performance of Golf Car Announcement

PRODUCT: Golf Cars - Club Car, Inc. of Augusta, Ga. is voluntarily recalling about 7300 model year 2002 Club Car gasoline-powered DS Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles for fuel tank replacement. The recalled vehicles are serial numbers 0229-169750 through 0236-197543. The serial number is located on a decal just above and to the right of the accelerator pedal. The golf cars were sold from February 2002 through April 2002 through authorized Club Car dealers nationwide for $4000 to $9000.

PROBLEM: The fuel tank may leak, posing a potential fire hazard.

INCIDENTS/INJURIES: Club Car and CPSC first announced a recall/inspection program of these cars May 7, 2002 after two reports of leaking fuel tanks. Since that announcement, Club Car has received eight additional reports of leaking fuel tanks. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using the recalled vehicles immediately and inspect the tank and storage areas for any sign of leakage prior to use. If signs of leakage are present, consumers should discontinue use of car and contact the nearest Club Car Dealer immediately. The fuel tank replacement will be done free of charge. Club Car has notified consumers directly about this updated recall to schedule tank replacement. For more information, contact Club Car at (877) 252-7682 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.




CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

What should I do if someone is injured in car?

The law requires you to give reasonable assistance to anyone who is injured. For example, you may need to call an ambulance, take the injured person to a doctor or hospital, or give first aid—if you know how.

If you are not trained in the appropriate first aid procedures, do not move someone who is badly hurt; you might make the injury worse. However, you should move someone who is in danger of being hurt worse or killed (for example, in a car fire) even if you do make the injury worse.

To help prevent additional collisions, try to warn other motorists that an accident has occurred. Placing flares on the road (only if there are no flammable fluids or items nearby), turning on your car’s hazard lights and lifting the engine hood are usually good ways to warn others on the road. Arrange to get help for anyone who is injured, and try not to panic.

Tips to Improve your Car Driving More Efficiently

Drive Sensibly



Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Observe the Speed Limit



While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.

You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas.

Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Remove Excess Weight




Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.



Avoid Excessive Idling

Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.


Use Cruise Control

Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Use Overdrive Gears

When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

How to Identify a Cleaner Auto car

Step 1. Print out these instructions and the "Find a Car" page of the car you are interested in and take them to the dealership.

Step 2. At the dealership, find the make and model you are looking for, with the engine size and transmission type you want. Example: Honda Insight, 3 cylinder with a manual transmission.



Step 3. Some automakers post the emissions standard (LEV, ULEV, SULEV, or ZEV) on the window sticker. If the vehicle you are looking for is a passenger car, and if you find the emissions standard on the window sticker, you have found the car you want. If you don't find it there, look under the hood for the Vehicle Emission Control Information label. This label is usually placed in front on the radiator shroud (Arrow number 1 on the picture below) but may also be found on the wheel well cover (Arrow 2), the underside of the hood (Arrow 3) or some other visible location in the engine compartment. For a passenger car, once you find the emissions standard of the version you're looking for, you're done.

Step 4. For light trucks, SUV's and vans, to be sure you're getting the vehicle you want you may also have to match the underhood label ID printed on our spec sheet. Light truck standards are more complicated, and often vary with a vehicle's weight class.

US Airways Flight crashed into the Hudson River

A passenger plane, US Airways flight, has crashed into the Hudson River in New York City. Passengers, some wearing life jackets, are being rescued from the chilly waters. According to the TV reports, Flight 1549 was en route from La Guardia to Charlotte, North Carolina, carrying 148 passengers and 5 crew members. Prior to going down in the water the pilot reported a bird strike after hitting a flock of geese. According to Flighaware.com, the plane was in the air for just six minutes after take-off. Temperatures in New York are in the low 20s. Within minutes of hitting the water, the jet was nearly completely submerged. Still, there have been no reports of fatalities as a flotilla of boats — many of them water taxis — converged on the plane to rescue the passengers and crew.

Brad Keselowski vehicle crashes victory lane

The car of driver Carl Edwards clips the safety fence while airborne near the finish line on the final lap Sunday during the Aarons 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.


Part-time Sprint Cup series driver Brad Keselowski wrecks Carl Edwards out of his way to win the Aaron's 499. Seven fans are injured by debris from the wreck.

Safety Driving Tips for Winter Session

The following tips to keep you and your family safe while driving in winter weather:

No matter the season, drinking and driving is dangerous and illegal.

Make sure your vehicle is in good working order.

Have working wiper blades

Fill up on antifreeze and window-washer fluid

Check for proper tire inflation

Ensure your battery has sufficient charge

Keep an emergency kit ready in your vehicle. It should include:

A blanket or warm clothes (boots, coat, gloves)

A flashlight

Jumper cables

Tow rope

Shovel

Bag of sand or cat litter for traction

Battery-operated radio

State map to use in case of a detour

Snacks such as raisins, candy bars or other items that store well

To avoid slipping off the roadway, drive more slowly and give yourself more room to stop.

Brake gently to prevent skidding



If your vehicle does get stuck:

Never spin your wheels. That only digs the tires in more deeply

Use a shovel to dig around the wheels and undercarriage

Turn the steering wheel from side to side to clear snow away from the front tires

Gently ease the vehicle out



If that doesn't work, try rocking the vehicle by shifting into forward and giving it some gas and then shifting it into reverse and accelerating until the vehicle is free

Let other people know your travel plans so if you don't arrive they'll know where to start looking.
Tell people the route you plan to take

Make sure your vehicle has fresh air if you become stuck by checking the exhaust system to see if it's plugged by snow.
Open a window or turn off your car if necessary

Carbon monoxide produced by your vehicle is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill

Acura Advanced Sports Cars

Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept side

Acura Advanced Sports Car

Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept rear

Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept front

Gray Acura Advanced Sports Car

Acura Advanced Sports Car at Geneva Autoshow

Top 10 Tech Cars and specifications

• Power Plant: 462-kW (620 hp) supercharged 6.2-L aluminum V8 • Transmission: Close-ratio 6-speed manual; dual clutch • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: Information not available • Claimed CO2 Emissions: Information not available • More: Chevrolet is very proud of the fact that the ZR1's power-to-weight ratio is better than that of the Ferrari 599, the Lamborghini LP640, and the Porsche 911 GT2.

• Power Plant: 110-kW 1.4-L turbocharged fuel-stratified injection engine; 30-kW electric motor • Transmission: S-tronic 6-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox, a pairing of two manual gearboxes • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: 4.9 L/100 km (48 mpg) in mixed-mode operation • Claimed CO2 Emissions: 112 g/km • More: Minus the hybrid, the Metroproject is likely a preview of Audi's upcoming A2 subcompact.
• Power Plant: 1.8-L four-cylinder 190-kW (255 hp) turbocharged homogeneous charge compression ignition engine • Transmission: 7-speed automatic with integrated electric motor assist • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: 5.3 L/100 km (44 mpg) during cruising • Claimed CO2 Emissions: 127 g/km • More: The way Germans pronounce “DiesOtto” (the company's name for the engine design) sounds just like “DeSoto.” Daimler sold Chrysler (which owned DeSoto) this year, so shouldn't Mercedes-Benz pick another name?

• Power Plant: 298-kW (400 hp) 4.4-L twin-turbocharged direct-injection V8 • Transmission: 6-speed automatic; steering wheel–mounted paddle shifters • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: Information not available • Claimed CO2 Emissions: Information not available • More: The X6 lineup is likely to include both hybrid-electric and 197-kW 3.0-L six-cylinder diesel variants in the near future; the BMW X5 sport utility, to which it is closely related, will offer that diesel in 2009.
• Power Plant: 358-kW (480 hp) 3.8-L twin-turbocharged V6 • Transmission: Rear transaxle with sequential 6-speed; paddle shift • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: Information not available • Claimed CO2 Emissions: Information not available • More: It took the company months to decide if the US $70 000 car would be released as a Nissan or an Infiniti in the United States; in the end, it stuck with the global Nissan brand despite Infiniti's upscale image.

• Power Plant: 66-kW (89 hp) 1.3-L Miller-cycle 16-valve four-cylinder • Transmission: Continuously variable transmission (CVT) • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: 4.3 L/100 km (55 mpg) on Japanese combined cycle • Claimed CO2 Emissions: 129 g/km • More: The “platform” or understructure will be the basis for a new Ford Fiesta in Europe, and Ford is considering selling it in the United States.

• Power Plant: 224-kW (300 hp) 4.2-L V8; 313-kW (420 hp) supercharged 4.2-L V8• Transmission: 6-speed automatic; shift-by-wire control and paddle shifters • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: Information not available • Claimed CO2 Emissions: Information not available • More: The XF is built on the underpinnings of the retro-styled S-Type, but you'd never know it; the production car retains (most of) the panache of Jaguar's jaw-dropping C-XF concept.

• Power Plant: 24-kW (32 hp) 623-cc aluminum two-cylinder • Transmission: Continuously variable transmission (CVT) • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: 4.7 L/100 km (50 mpg) • Claimed CO2 Emissions: 120 g/km • More: Tata plans to sell an upscale version in Europe, possibly for as little as one-third the price of the cheapest new car today. European makers are apprehensive.

• Power Plant: 1.4-L 59-kW (80 hp) three-cylinder turbodiesel • Transmission: 5-speed manual • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: 3.8 L/100 km (62 mpg) in mixed urban/highway use • Claimed CO2 Emissions: 99 g/km • More: The BlueMotion tag indicates the most fuel-efficient variation of each model Volkswagen sells.

• Power Plant: 2010 model: 254-kW (340 hp) 3.5-L turbocharged gasoline-direct-injection V6 • Transmission: 6-speed automatic • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: Information not available • Claimed CO2 Emissions: Information not available • More: The EcoBoost engine was originally christened TwinForce, but Ford renamed it to play up fuel savings and lower emissions, moving away from a high-performance image.

Car Tire Identification Number

Avoid Toll Traffic

If I'm forced to be on the road while gas prices are sky-high, few things bring me more joy than cruising tollright through toll plazas while lines of cars, each paying cash, sit in traffic and prolong their gas guzzling.

Suckers.

I can honestly say that my Aaat has changed my life—maybe not to the extent that my iPod has, but it has saved me much time and considerable road rage over the past three years.

With the help of a transponder mounted to your windshield, Aaat allows you to drive right through specifically marked toll lanes without stopping. Your transponder is linked to your personal checking account, and simply deducts the cost of the toll from your balance. No stopping. No reaching in the seat cushions hoping for exact change. No risking rolling up to the tollbooth with insufficient funds. (This MAY have happened to me, summer of '04 crossing the Walt Whitman Bridge into Philadelphia.)

Aaat specifically works for toll roads in the Northeast, reaching into the Midwest, and the southern border of Virginia. Other regions of the country have their own Aaat equivalent systems. Check out your state's department of motor vehicles website to see what program they have to offer.

Hopefully, saving time not sitting in toll lines will get you to your summertime destination a little quicker, and you'll have to suffer from one less "are we there yet?" coming from the backseat.

Road trips not your thing? Here are some travel tips to expedite the airport security process.

Tips for Traveling Abroad

Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service at travelregistration.state.gov. This will help us contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.

Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.

Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. If it does not, consider supplemental insurance.

Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. Other information about the countries you will visit.

Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.

Auto Transport Services

To clutch, budge, or transmit from one place to another means Transport and Auto Transport means to carry, move or convey vehicles from one place to another. Auto Transport is the simple, fast and affordable way to do business. Auto Transport services are needed by a miscellaneous cluster of populace and companies. Many people find it crucial and fewer exclusive to contract an auto transport companies to ship their cars, rather than transporting them themselves across the country. Vehicles can be transported by airplane, large ships, railroad car, or truck.

Auto Transport companies are copiously licensed and takes smugness in eminence of customer care. There brand of service is a straightforward one that continues to craft thousands of contented customers worldwide. Auto Transport companies first and only aspiration is to spontaneous and deliver your car to you safely and in a timely manner. They offer proficient transportation at reasonable rates. The company keeps each and every customer informed of the entire auto transportation process.

Race Car Fuel Dispenser Operator belted down when Methanol Tank Exploded

A 49-year-old male auto dealer/ buyer working as a race car fuel dispenser, died from injuries received when a methanol tank at an automobile racetrack exploded in the fuel building. The wooden fuel building was constructed of sheet plywood supported by 4- by 4-inch and 2- by 4-inch wood supports. The fuel building housed both the pit concessions and the fuel storage and dispensing area. The decedent had filled several plastic fuel containers for the racers at the racetrack. It is unclear if he was filling another container, or was transferring methanol from a 55-gallon drum to a 1,000-gallon methanol holding tank when the explosion occurred. Although on fire, he was able to exit from the burning building. A racecar driver who was also a firefighter wrapped a shirt around the decedent’s face and pulled him away from the burning building. Emergency response personnel who were already on site provided medical assistance and transport to a local hospital. He sustained burns over 80 percent of his body. He died the next day at the hospital. Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA) personnel found that there were no grounding straps used and that the wiring was not rated for the area.

Recommendations:

• Racetrack owners should ensure that flammable material use and storage is in compliance with applicable safety standards and NFPA recommendations.
• Racetrack owners should train employees who dispense/transfer racing fuel to do so in a manner that will minimize the production of static electricity.
• Racetrack owners should develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive health and safety program that includes, a job hazard analysis and employee training in hazard recognition and avoidance. The safety program should include provisions for fuel distribution personal to use fire rated clothing.
• Racetrack owners should contact MIOSHA Consultation, Education and Training (CET) or other safety and health professional to conduct an inspection of the racetrack to identify potential hazards and racetrack compliance with applicable health and safety laws.
• Racetrack owners should comply with NFPA 610, Guide for Emergency Response and Safety at Motorsports Venues standard.
• Racetrack owners should contact their local jurisdiction’s building inspector to review any changes in existing building use.

All America AutoTransport Services

All America Auto transport has been transporting all types of vehicle from 1964. It is transporting vehicles to all the cities in United States of America and overseas. We have many satisfied customers which include individuals, military, government personnel, sports teams and corporate houses. We will ship your vehicle very safely. All American Auto transport has a fleet of over 500 car transport trucks. Every truck is fully covered by public liability, property damage and cargo insurance.

We provide various types of services to our clients, some of them are open auto transport, enclosed car shipping, door to door service and terminal to terminal vehicle shipping. Car shipping is nothing but shipping your vehicle from one location to another on an auto carrier truck. We at aaat.com do understand the importance of your car. We will ship your car safely within a reasonable time for a fair price. Our workers are educated on handling your vehicle.

International pedestrian Road Transport Safety performance

Australias pedestrian fatalities with other OECD nations between 1990 and 1997. The comparisons are drawn taking into account the population and level of motorisation of the countries reported. Pedestrian fatalities per 100 000 population The number of road deaths for every 100 000 population is a measure of the public health risk associated with road use. Table 1 within the report shows that pedestrian road safety in Australia compares unfavourably on this basis, with a number of OECD nations.

Australia had 1.78 pedestrian road fatalities per 100 000 population in 1997, slightly above the median for the OECD as a whole (1.68). Within Australia, in 1997, Tasmania had the lowest rate with no pedestrian fatalities per 100 000, whilst the Northern Territory had the highest rate at 9.09 per 100 000. Only in Tasmania, ACT and South Australia was the pedestrian fatality rate below the OECD median.

Fatigue management programs in the road transport industry

Fatigue and fatigue management has attracted considerable interest in the long distance road transport industry over the last few years because it has been acknowledged increasingly as one of the industry's major problems. The research that has occurred because of this interest has clarified a number of aspects of the problem. Most notably it has shown that regulatory approaches that are generic and attempt to limit working hours and manage rest in a "one size fits all" approach is not necessarily the best approach (Williamson, Feyer, Coumarelos and Jenkins, 1992; Feyer, Williamson, Jenkin and Higgins, 1993; Arnold, Hartley, Penna, Hochstadt, Corry, & Feyer, 1996). Not only are such approaches difficult to implement and police, surveys of drivers and the industry indicate that regulatory approaches are unlikely to succeed because they do not accommodate the differing needs for rest between individual drivers or the differing operational needs of companies.

With the introduction by Queensland Department of Transport of an alternative compliance approach, the Fatigue Management Programme, the focus has moved to increasing the flexibility available to companies and drivers to manage fatigue in ways that suit them, rather than trying to match their work demands to the working hours regulations. The programme attempts to encourage companies to take a primary role in planning for fatigue management by developing Fatigue Management Programmes (FMP'S) for work-rest scheduling on particular routes. While this approach is clearly in harmony with the findings of the research on fatigue, it has some fundamental difficulties, most notably because there is very little information available on what constitutes effective alternative work-rest schedules in comparison to the working hours regulations. If the FMPs are to be useful, it is imperative that the work-rest schedules they allow offer no loss in the ability of drivers to manage fatigue, and preferably that they improve fatigue management.

One way of improving the effectiveness of the FMP approach is to develop a range of model work-rest schedules that have demonstrated effectiveness for managing fatigue. These models can then help in designing work-rest schedules that provide additional flexibility for companies and drivers to meet their operational needs, but still manage driver fatigue most effectively. The aim of this project was to begin to develop some model work-rest schedules by evaluating work-rest schedules that had been operating under the current regulated regime and some FMP approaches that had been allowed to begin operating under the pilot FMP scheme.

Conclusions

This project has demonstrated that evaluation of work-rest schedules using standardised and sensitive methods for measuring fatigue is an effective approach to fatigue management. The results have identified work-rest schedules which have demonstrated capacity to manage fatigue as well as identifying the features of work-rest schedules which need to be modified to ensure that fatigue is maintained at the lowest possible levels.

Evaluation of the current working hours regime suggests that provided drivers are rested to begin with, one full cycle of the regulated regime does not produce fatigue or performance capacity decrements that are of concern for safety. There is considerable evidence however that performance decrements increase significantly as the schedule becomes more demanding. This is a warning signal for the development of alternative approaches to ensure that schedules are designed that do not simply increase the demands on drivers. The evidence from both evaluations of alternative FMP approaches reinforces these conclusions as the results for both alternative compliance schedules suggested that they increased the demands on drivers, but did not balance them sufficiently with rest in order to allow recuperation and recovery from accumulated fatigue. These results do not mean that the working hours regulatory regime is the only satisfactory approach to managing fatigue. The results show clearly that it is possible to increase trip length to 16 hours, say, and still maintain good performance levels. It is not possible, however, to continue to do 16 hour trips without a longer break than is usually allowed, even in the regulated regime.

The challenge for the road transport industry now is to use information like this and build on it to provide better guidance to drivers and companies on how to trade-off work and rest safely. These evaluations show that greater flexibility in scheduling is possible, but that it needs to be evaluated carefully. The development of model work-rest schedules that have been evaluated is clearly one way of assisting the industry down the path of better fatigue management.

Australia's international road transport safety

The number of deaths for every 10 000 registered vehicles is a method of comparing road fatalities taking into account the level of motorisation.

Road fatalities relative to vehicle ownership have declined significantly in Australia since 1975.

In 1975, there were 5.8 deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles in Australia, in 1998 this had decreased to 1.5

The median rate for the OECD nations reported has also declined. In 1975, the OECD median was 7.2, by 1998 it was 2.0

For the years reported, Australia’s rate ofdeath per 10 000 registered vehicles is below that reported for the OECD median.

In 1998, Australia recorded 1.5 deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles. Australia ranked equal 6th of the 27 OECD nations for which this information was available.

Sweden had the lowest rate recording 1.2 deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles.

Korea, with 8.0 deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles, had the highest rate of the OECD nations.

The number of deaths for every 100 000 of population is a measure of the public health risk associated with road use.

The public health risk associated with road use has declined significantly in Australia since 1975.

In 1975 there were 26.6 deaths per 100 000 population in Australia, in 1998 this had decreased to 9.4.

The median rate for the OECD nations reported has also declined. In 1975, the OECD median was 18.4, by 1998 it was 11.0.

In 1998, Australia recorded 9.4 road deaths per 100 000 population. Australia ranked equal 8th of the 27 OECD nations for which this information was available.

Sweden had the lowest rate, recording 6.0 deaths per 100 000 population.

Korea, with 22.6 deaths per 100 000 population, had the highest rate of the OECD nations.

Reduction of Road Transport Related Optimism Bias and Risk Taking

Optimism bias regarding road-related optimism bias may contribute to road deaths and injuries by increasing risk-taking on the road. Because driver training courses may worsen road-related optimism bias, components of driver training courses which seek to reduce this bias are important. Although optimism bias is difficult to reduce, techniques developed and evaluated during this research program appear to have some promise. Further, a session of a driver training program (the 'Low Risk Driving Course') designed to combat optimism bias appears to have comparable efficacy. These approaches share two important components: teaching drivers to have a realistic view of their past experience, and motivating them to think realistically in order to minimize their crash risk. Further research is required to promote a better understanding of road-related optimism bias and to refine techniques which reduce it.