(Prudent Press Agency) --- Crashes that killed three people in the days leading up to the 2010 Sturgis SD motorcycle rally that were attributed to sudden deflation of rear tires should be investigated as possibly involving defective tires, said Billy Edwards, attorney. “Properly made tires don’t suddenly go bad, but a defect can cause even a new tire to blow, especially if it’s subject to the heat and stress of a long trip,” said Edwards, a tire defect legal expert.

Tires can fail for a number of reasons, but a common scenario involves a bead defect leading to structural weakness in the tire itself and the development of a serious and spontaneous leak. Factors in whether and when a defective tire bursts include load, inflation pressure, speed, heat and oxygen, Edwards said. “Riders on long journeys are usually carrying heavier loads at higher speeds and over longer distances, which are all tire stressors,” he said.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Amid the national debate about perceptions of Muslim Americans by New Yorkers, a Suffolk County jury recently found for a Muslim man who was injured in a 2003 automobile accident when his vehicle was struck by a Suffolk County police car that was driven recklessly through a stop sign.

The case, Amro Elnakib v. County of Suffolk (Index No. 9429/04), was tried this month in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Suffolk, before Judge Ralph Costello. The case involved a car accident that happened on January 25, 2003, at an intersection in a residential neighborhood in Bay Shore, N.Y.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- The minutes and hours after a car wreck can be chaotic and confusing. If you have been in an auto collision and you are not seriously injured, you need to remember four things to protect yourself. You can remember these tips by using the acronym CENT:
- Call Police
- Gather Evidence
- Notify Insurance Carrier(s)
- Obtain Treatment

You can also print out this page and keep it handy in your glove box in case you are in an accident.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- The tragic off-road racing accident last weekend, in which eight people were killed and dozens injured when a driver racing in the California 200 desert race in Lucerne Valley lost control of his vehicle, is raising serious questions about the safety precautions and regulations surrounding off-road events.

Last Saturday night, an off-road vehicle participating in the race went airborne and landed on top of spectators, six of whom died at the scene. Nine others were airlifted to local hospitals and two of them died later in the evening.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Extended Warranty Company and Vehicle Service Contract provider US direct Protect has made getting a quote for coverage even more simple than it already was.

When you log onto to their website usdirectprotect.com or carservicecontract.com and put in your vehicle information, your information is immediately emailed to a VSC agent who manually shops the rates of the top carriers. US Direct Protect has licensed software that allows them to download the rates from 6 of the top Administrators. After choosing the best coverage at the best price the agent then emails the customer or calls them with the pricing. “Sometimes there will be a few great options for the customer, so at that point we ask them there intent in keeping the vehicle along with the monthly mileage they use and tailor the policy to their needs,” States Department Manager Rich Stark.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Honda has always positioned itself as a leader in the environmental movement. Their commitment to fuel efficiency, solar, hybrid and fuel cell technologies set them aside from other automobile makers in the early years before the recession hit. Honda has had a finger on the pulse of buyer’s trends. The following are just a few of the technologies Honda has employed over the years to make Honda some of the safest most environmentally conscious cars on the market.

Fuel efficiency. The importance of this concept cannot be underestimated in the consumer’s eyes. Consumers are looking to pay less for a vehicle while still getting fuel efficiency and top of the line safety features. Honda fulfills both these needs. “Over the past 33 years, Honda has maintained its position as a fuel-efficiency leader, including 24 years at the top of the EPA's automobile fuel-economy rankings. American Honda had the highest EPA fleet-average fuel economy of any automaker in model year 2008, the last year for which full and final production data is available,” according to Honda.com
Ecological Drive Assist System helps encourage a driver’s fuel-efficient habits. It helps guide drivers to reduce hard accelerations and quick stops and maintain a steady driving speed. This promotes fuel economy.
Offering affordable hybrid vehicles. Honda’s hybrid CR-Z, Honda Insight and Civic Hybrid have all hit the market with favorable reviews. The latest CR_Z combines fuel economy with a sporty look and feel.
Utilizing aluminum and high-strength steel to help increase fuel economy without compromising safety features.
“Honda has led all automakers in the introduction of vehicles that meet or exceed increasingly stringent exhaust emissions regulation. First gasoline-powered LEV, ULEV, SULEV, and AT-PZEV vehicles introduced to U.S. consumers. For model year 2010, all Honda and Acura vehicles meet or exceed U.S. EPA Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standards on an individual model basis, without the use of fleet averaging,” according to Honda.com.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Yorkshire’s largest supplier of Iveco commercial vehicles has undergone a brand refresh to coincide with a move into the Manchester market. Northern Commercials worked with integrated marketing agency, Fantastic Media on the project and has also launched a new website to support their, sales, service and parts department. After thirty successful years in the industry Northern Commercials growth into new territories prompted a brand and marketing review. The company turned to Fantastic Media, because of the agency’s industry experience and also its results focused method of working.

After bringing the brand up to date with bold colours and clean lines Fantastic designed and built a website to act as a company brochure and information site, and also showcase Northern Commercials current vehicle stock. Gary Pattison, Senior Account Manager at Fantastic Media said: “The team at Northern Commercials are a pleasure to work with and it’s little wonder they have such a such a great reputation for excellent service. The new marketing push will aim to strengthen an already solid brand.” Moving forward Northern Commercials will now undertake a strategic marketing campaign in partnership with Fantastic. Along with updates to the website this will encompass online marketing, PR, direct marketing and other ongoing strategies to reach the company’s target audience and as with all Fantastic’s campaigns will focus on achieving results in line with Northern Commercials overall business objectives.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- In addition to having your weight and height measured, your blood pressure checked and vital signs recorded, your annual physical usually consists of answering a series of questions from your doctor. Along with the typical queries of whether you smoke, drink, use drugs and wear a seatbelt, comes a new one: do you talk on the phone or text while driving?

Primary care physician Dr. Amy Ship believes that as technology evolves it is a doctor's duty to counsel on the dangers of new risks. And hearing the message directly from your own doctor holds more weight than reading the warning on a side of a box or watching a 20-second public service announcement.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Over the past two decades, nearly 20 percent of Maryland's traffic fatalities have occurred in Prince George's County. This figure is nearly equal to the combined highway deaths for Baltimore County and Montgomery County, which ranked second and third, respectively. In response, the Prince George's County Police Department has formed a Traffic Enforcement Unit consisting of eight officers who will target roads and intersections that are notorious for accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians.

Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) spokesman David Buck identified one reason why Prince George's dominates this statistic: high speed roads such as Routes 4 and 5 in close proximity to frequent pedestrian activity. Officer Henry Tippett, a Prince George's County police spokesman, highlights other factors: "What we're finding in a lot of accidents is, speed is a contributing factor, and also lack of an occupant wearing a seat belt," Officer Tippett told The Gazette. "In a lot of fatal accidents, they wouldn't have been fatal if a seat belt had been worn."

(Prudent Press Agency) --- New Jersey's multitude of turnpikes, highways and streets present a host of dangers to motorists. Drunk, distracted or reckless drivers create a constant need for defensive driving and good sense. Blind intersections, perilous curves, poorly maintained road surfaces, inadequate signage and markings, bad weather -- all of these conditions pose challenges to even the most diligent drivers.

But those are all factors that drivers can anticipate and understand. When faulty automobile equipment leads to a motor vehicle accident, you are betrayed by the very equipment that you trust to deliver you and your family safely on your daily rounds.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- As retail locations for Saturn are phased out, Santa Clarita and Los Angeles area Saturn owners will experience no interruption in the qualified care and service of their vehicles. That’s because Parkway Motorcars has been named an official Saturn Authorized Service Provider—the only such service center within a 30 mile radius of Santa Clarita.

“Providing factory-certified maintenance with genuine Saturn parts and honoring all factory warrantees is essential to maintaining an owner’s vehicle properly,” said Bob Bakshi, Parkway’s President and CEO. "We’re honored to provide that standard of automotive care to Saturn owners here in the Santa Clarita Valley and in the greater Los Angeles area."

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Extended Warranty Company National Warranty Services Inc launches its new website on Thursday July 29th. The California based Extended Auto Warranty and Vehicle Service Contract provider currently receive quote requests on usdirectprotect.com and will now also give customers online quote's at carservicecontract.com.

"CarServiceContract.com is more quote friendly," Explains Director of Sales Operations, David Cunningham.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Motorcyclists who follow the rules of the road and wear personal protective gear can still be seriously injured when involved in an accident with a motor vehicle that is much bigger and heavier than they are. Motorcycle riders are physically exposed to the extreme forces unleashed in a collision and are more vulnerable to injury than the occupants of a car who are protected by airbags, seatbelts and the automobile frame around them.


Common Causes of Car vs. Motorcycle Accidents
One of the major causes of car vs. motorcycle accidents is the failure of other drivers to see the motorcycle in traffic, with intersections being the most dangerous place for a motorcycle. Speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, road and weather hazards, faulty equipment and improper lane changes also contribute to car vs. motorcycle accidents. In Florida the incidence of motor vehicle accidents is increased by the enormous number of visitors on our roadways who are unfamiliar with the area and become distracted drivers when seeking out a particular destination.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- The Toyota recall crisis has brought motor vehicle safety back into the national spotlight, sparking public outcry, controversy and no shortage of legislative action. Congress is now considering the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 (MVSA), which aims to address many of the same safety issues highlighted by Toyota's safety recall debacle.


Unintended Acceleration
Many of the MVSA's provisions focus on preventing unintended acceleration in passenger cars, the main safety concern in the Toyota recall. The act would establish a minimum clearance for foot pedals, likely in response to Toyota's early claims that the incidents of unintended acceleration were caused by faulty pedal design and pedal obstructions due to ill-fitting floor mats. In addition, to prevent injury in cases of equipment failure or malfunction, the MVSA calls for more redundancy in the controls of new automobiles, including mandatory override braking systems on all new vehicles to allow drivers to stop even if the throttle stuck open.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- In the best of conditions, tractor trailers are dangerous vehicles simply due to their size and weight. The average semi can carry more than 40,000 pounds of cargo, let alone the mass of the truck, fuel and trailer. The average passenger vehicle, on the other hand, weighs only 4,000 pounds -- a deadly match in a collision.


When truck drivers get too little sleep or spend too much time behind the wheel, the results can be disastrous. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, 30 to 40 percent of trucking accidents are the result of driver fatigue. And the people most likely to be injured in these accidents are not the over-tired truck drivers, but the drivers and passengers in the other vehicles. In 2008, 69 percent of the people who died as a result of a trucking accident were driving or riding in a passenger car or truck. Commercial truck drivers are just like other drivers -- once they get tired, they are more likely to make mistakes. The difference, however, is that their mistakes will likely be much more deadly. Tired truck drivers may be less aware of the position of their vehicle and other vehicles on the road. They are more likely to follow too close or change lanes without checking for other vehicles. Fatigued truckers are also more prone to distractions from talking on cell phones, texting, communicating with dispatchers, and using on-board computer and GPS systems.