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NHTSA To Make EDRs Mandatory On Vehicles

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According to announcements made by the U.S. government, next month the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be making an official announcement to make Event Data Recorders (EDR’s) mandatory on vehicles. The bill was proposed by Senator Tom Udall last year, after problems of unintended acceleration on Toyota vehicles.

The information stored by the EDR’s will record a short period of data starting from just before the accident to just shortly after. It will be used by state authorities to determine the cause of the crash, by the NHTSA to compile real world statistics and by American automobile manufacturers to help them understand crashes and how they take place.

Not everyone agrees with mandatory EDR’s. Critics say that the boxes will make the purchase of vehicles more expensive for consumers, while privacy experts question how the information will be used. They say that small modification to the EDR’s could allow your driving to be monitored all the time. Police would be able to issue speeding tickets without actually being at the scene, or insurance companies to judge your driving before they determine your rates. Some feel that the information could go as far as to be used to track a drivers every move.

Volvo Recalls XC90 Crossover Vehicles

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Volvo has announced the recall of certain 2010-2011 XC90 Crossover Vehicles manufactured between January 2010 to August 2010. In a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), complaints of sudden loss of power steering is the result of a pipe that was manufactured out of specification. According to Volvo, the power steering fluid leak from the oil pipe connection at the steering gear valve housing will eventually lead to an increase in noise and a gradual loss of power steering. In the recall, expected to begin on May 31, the dealer will replace the oil pipe on the power steering rack. Owners wanting more information can contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.

California Hybrid Owners Carpool Privileges

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California has always been a leader in environmentally friendly living. In 2004 we were one of the first to pass a law restricting vehicles’ greenhouse gas emissions and since then the legislation has been extended twice. One of the stipulations of the legislation gave almost 85,000 hybrid owner access to drive in the carpool lanes. On July 1, these get out of traffic free cards are about to expire, and this has hybrid owners protesting

Since the inception of the law, the amount of hybrid, and now electric vehicles on the road have significantly increased. This increase is starting to make car pool lanes more congested especially in the state of California where the percentage of hybrid is now well over 24%. According to state senator, Fran Pavley, one of the original sponsors of the legislation, “An extension of the carpool lane privileges in unlikely to bear fruit.” She says that taking away these privileges ranks right up there with taking away someones firstborn. She added that the legislation should be extended for at least one more year since vehicles that qualify for the new green sticker program do not go on sale until next year.

California Hybrid carpool privileges

Asleep Behind The Wheel Drowsy While Driving

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) drowsy driving results in 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and over 100,000 accidents each year. Drowsy driving is considered as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. It causes slower reaction times, vision impairment, lapses in judgment and delays in processing information. Still, over 50% of American drivers say that they drive while drowsy, and 28% admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel. According to a recent study by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), drowsy driving has become more of a problem than previously estimated.

This week is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week®, a NSF public awareness campaign to educate drivers about sleep safety. Drowsy driving is a year round problem with transport drivers pushed by deadlines and shift workers working odd hours, but during the summer, the problem gets even worse. People trying to make the most of their vacation tend to ignore the signs of fatigue, resulting in an increase in drowsy driving accidents on the road.

Automakers and independent electronics companies have come up with solutions to this problem ranging from simple head positioning monitors to integrated sensor systems. While both are effective, they do have their limitations and can be expensive. The makers of a new device called the Anti Sleep Pilot are taking a different, more affordable, approach to keeping drivers alert on the road. The Anti Sleep Pilot offers a standalone model as well as an IPhone app that requires regular input form the driver to ensure that they are alert. The device is constantly calculating the drivers personalized driving fatigue levels according to 26 different input parameters. It not only alerts drivers that they are falling asleep at the wheel, but was designed to prevent drivers from getting into a dangerous situation in the first place.

2012 Honda Civic Recalled For Fuel Leak

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Honda has announced a recall for certain 2012 Civic 2 door and 4 door vehicles, to repair a possible fuel leak. The suspect vehicles, manufactured between April 21, 2011 through May 2, 2011, may have been manufactured with a misaligned o-ring in the fuel feed line allowing a small amount of fuel to seep through. Because many of the vehicles have not been sold yet, it is estimated that the recall will affect a little over 1,150 Civic owners. Honda will be sending out recall notices this month and urge owners to contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 if they have any questions.

Audi Cars Recalled For Fuel Problems

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Volkswagen is recalling Audi model vehicles for a problem with the fuel system that could lead to a fuel leak and a potential vehicle fire. The problem is being blamed on aging plastic material in the fuel tank rollover valve. Stress from the ventilation line to the rollover valve nipple could lead to cracking of the nipple resulting in a fuel leak. The vehicles involved in this recall are equipped with 4.2L engines and include:

Owners receiving the recall notice can take their vehicles into their local dealer to have the rollover valve nipple replaced or reinforced. For more information, contact Audi at 1-800-822-2834.

BMW Mini Cooper Investigated For Steering

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Difficult steering in BMW’s 2004-2005 Mini Cooper has lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to upgrade its investigation to include almost 60,000 vehicles. The investigation began last fall with over 500 complaints filed with the NHTSA, and 4,500 warranty claims with BMW. Among the complaints were allegations of five minor crashes, three of which resulted in a fire. The suspect part is a malfunctioning cooling fan which causes an under voltage condition in the power steering electrical system. Drivers have complained about loss of power assist making it difficult to maneuver the vehicle, and the inability to restart the vehicle because of a drained battery. If the investigation leads to a recall, over 200,000 Minis built between 2001-2007 could be involved.

Electric Cars Get Top Crash Test Ratings

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When the first mainstream electric cars, the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, hit the market, they were advertised as being easy on the pocketbook and good for the environment. Because of their size and weight, may consumers had concerns that safety may have been compromised in order to meet the promised fuel efficiency. Recent crash tests done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have shown that this just isn’t true. In fact, both cars have received “Top Safety Ratings” receiving the highest possible ratings for front, side, rear, and rollover crash protection. According to Joe Nolan, the IIHS chief administrative officer, Eco-minded drivers keen on switching to an electric vehicle should not think twice about buying a Leaf or Volt for highway driving. General Motors and Nissan have shown that safety doesn’t have to be sacrificed for fuel economy.