An excellent piece of investigative journalism by NBC Los Angeles catches valets all over the city putting up fake no parking signs, jamming meters, and using customers’ cars to shuttle valets around.
driving
Survey Shows Public Support For Ban on Text Messaging While Driving
By 9.2.09
Following the news yesterday of calls to ban text messaging while driving, Nationwide Insurance just released a survey showing broad public support for such a ban — 8 in 10 Americans. On the down side, nearly half of drivers (49%) say a law restricting use of cell phones would not change their behavior, claiming that they don’t currently use cell phones while driving. Funny, because, according to Nationwide’s survey in 2008, “80 percent of drivers admit to talking on their cell phone while driving.” Either 30% of respondents suddently stopped using cell phones while driving, or people are in serious denial.
Man 'Makes It Rain' On L.A. Freeway, Causes Traffic Jam
By 8.17.09
Who says you’ve got to be an enfant terrible pro athlete to make it rain? A plain old 56-year-old man Los Angeles authorities describe as “disturbed” took it upon himself to send dollar bills a-soaring on L.A.’s westbound 210 Sunday as he drove down the freeway.
Reminder: Distracted Driving Is Bad And Dangerous
By 7.23.09
We had a robust debate on Monday on the use of cell phones and wireless devices while driving. Since then, Consumer Reports Cars has taken a look at the actual statistics for accidents caused by driver distraction, and also the cell-while-driving laws actually on the books in the United States in different localities. Spoiler alert: Texting while driving isn’t a good idea.
By 5.12.09
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Please Stop Texting While Driving Two recent incidents with conductors of public transit vehicles getting into accidents while texting have magnified the consequences of using cell phones while operating a vehicle. Surprisingly, there are few complaints about other drivers sexting while driving. [Consumer Reports Cars]
Public Transit Ridership Highest In 52 Years
By 3.10.09
See, here’s some good news to the wallet-gouging gas prices of 2008: ridership of public transportation was up to 10.7 billion trips last year, “the highest level of ridership in 52 years” according to the American Public Transportation Association. It was the fifth consecutive year that ridership increased, but it may come to an end in 2009 because of skyrocketing unemployment.
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon Uses Liposuctioned Fat As Fuel For Car
By 12.30.08
And here’s number 16 on our grossest stories of 2008 list: an LA plastic surgeon is in trouble for powering his car with “lipodiesel” from his patients’ fat. Ewwww.
Verizon Wireless Roadside Assistance Apologizes For Sucking
By 10.15.08
Earlier this month we shared Jason’s tale of incompetent Verizon Wireless Roadside Assistance—how the operator “helping” him acted like she’d been huffing paint on her break, and eventually just abandoned him with a “Sorry, I can’t help,” left on his voicemail. Verizon saw Jason’s story and contacted him about it. Below is the follow up he sent us yesterday.
Verizon Wireless Roadside Assistance CSR Running On Empty, Just Like Your Vehicle
By 10.2.08
Here are the morals of this story:
Sign Of The Times: $100 "Pay At The Pump" Limit
By 8.11.08
Reader Paul sends in this photo of a sign he saw at a gas station in Texas. First people were upset that gas stations were putting “outrageously high” holds of $100 on their cards when they paid at the pump. Now $100 is just the most you can buy at the pump without going inside and having them swipe your card. Sad.
By 5.9.08
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MSNMoney wonders, can American families get by with just one car? [MSNMoney]
5 Car Lease Myths
By 2.4.08
Mark Solheim over on Kiplinger thinks leasing cars has a bad rap, and that more people should be doing it. “If you know what you’re looking for and negotiate smart—and get over the five myths below—leasing can be a good deal.”
Grandmother Arrested At McDonald's For Refusing To Pull Car Forward
By 1.25.08
Merola said the McDonald’s employees told her to wait there for her food. Merola was handcuffed behind her back and put in the cruiser. Another officer arrived and took her to the Pinellas County Jail .
Peter Pan Driver Idles Bus For Thirty Minutes To Punish Passengers Who Complained About Swerving
By 12.15.07
A Peter Pan bus driver took revenge on passengers who complained about his unsafe driving by refusing to let anyone off the bus while making an unexpected thirty minute stop in Framingham, MA. One angry passenger who noticed the driver’s erratic swerving, Brian Moore, blogged about his experience as a surprise hostage on the trip from New York to Boston.
America's 20 Most Discounted Cars
By 11.5.07
BusinessWeek has thoughtfully rounded up the 20 most discounted cars for your bargain-hunting enjoyment. From total failures to the recently redesigned, here are 20 cars you shouldn’t pay too much for—and probably won’t have to. What the hell is a Chrysler Aspen, anyway? A Mitsubishi Raider?
Chrysler Introduces Lifetime Powertrain Warranty
By 7.30.07
Effective immediately, Chyrsler is upgrading its three-year, 36,000 mile powertrain warranty to a lifetime warranty. The warranty only applies to original owners and lessees, and specifically excludes rental companies and corporate fleets. Still, it’s a good news, right? The car experts at Jalopnik think it could be better:
When Warmer Temperatures Throw Off Gas Pumps, Consumers Pay
By 7.9.07
“In the summer time fuel gets hot and as the fuel gets hot the volume expands, but the energy does not,” says a new report from NPR. The basic idea is that while the volume of fuel expands and contracts, the amount of potential energy within the gas stays the same. A gallon of gas at 80 degrees won’t push a car as far as a gallon of gas at 60 degrees.
By 7.1.07
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Virginia needs money, so the fine for failing to use a turn signal will now be $1,050.
