“What to do in case of accident?”

5 Things Every Driver Should Have at All Times

Easy steps toward green driving from the synthetic oil experts at Royal Purple. Find out how you can make your vehicle environmentally friendly with these simple car care tips.

(NAPSI)— “Green driving” may be easier—and more important—to achieve than many people think.

It’s important because, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, highway vehicles account for 28 percent (1.5 billion tons) of U.S. CO2 emissions each year. Fortunately, even if getting a “green” or emissions-friendly vehicle isn’t in your budget, you can still reduce your car’s footprint on the planet. Here are some tips to consider:

TASK: TRUE or FALSE

________4. Royal Purple motor oil has been reported to reduce fuel consumption by                 as much as 10 percent compared to ordinary petroleum-based or                         synthetic lubricants.

________5. Always  check your car before you go on the road.

.Car Accident caught in tape.

CAR ACCIDENTS OF TEEN DRIVERS

Teen driver deaths are on the rise (sylvar, Flickr). The number of teen drivers dying behind the wheel is on track to increase for the first time in more than eight years, according to a study released Thursday. Researches from the Governors Highway Safety Association report an 11 percent overall increase during the first six months of 2011, the latest period for which data was available. The percentage of 16-year-olds killed spiked by 16 percent while the percentage of 17-year-olds killed rose by 7 percent. The study comes weeks after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration projected a 0.9 percent overall decrease in the number of traffic fatalities for 2011. “While it’s good news that overall deaths appear to have declined during the first six months of 2011, we are concerned that the trend with teens is going in the opposite direction,” said Troy E. Costales, chairman of the GHSA, a nonprofit organization used by states to improve traffic safety and influence national policy. Final statistics for 2011 will not be available for at least six months, according to Jonathan Adkins, a spokesperson for GHSA. But historically, the summer months that have yet to be counted tend to account for larger numbers of teen deaths. If the trend holds, it will mark the first time in eight years the number of teen drivers killed has risen. Dr. Allan Williams, who authored the study, suggests improving economic circumstances have contributed to an overall increase in teen driving, and thereby increasing their risk. The number of deaths among 16- and 17-year-olds rose to 211 in the first six months of 2011, up from 190 in 2010. Although there is concern about the increase, experts note the number is still historically low, considering it was at 254 in the first six months of 2009. There was no direct correlation in the study between the increase and use of cell phones for either talking or texting, but those factors remain an ongoing concern. “As parents, we must set and enforce strict rules for our new drivers, making sure risks are minimized,” Costales said. “This includes limiting other teens in the car, limiting nighttime driving and absolutely prohibiting any type of cell phone or electronic device use while driving.” Twenty-three states revealed an increase in the number of teen deaths. Nineteen states had declines and eight had no change. Texas suffered the most teen deaths with 26 in the first six months of 2011, followed by North Carolina (17) and Florida (15). Among the states suffering the biggest increases were Illinois (up 8 from 2010’s pace to 12 overall), Missouri (up 7 to 10 overall) and Florida and North Carolina, which were both up six. Eight states reported zero deaths of 16- and 17-year-olds during the first six months of 2011. Alabama enjoyed the biggest decrease, losing seven fewer drivers in the time period, followed by Georgia which was four behind last year’s pace. “While it is not a surprise that these numbers are stabilizing or slightly increasing, states should not accept these deaths as something that cannot be prevented,” Williams said. “More work can and should be done to save teen lives.”

TASK: CORRECTING JUMBLED LETTERS

Direction: Arrange the jumbled letters to form a  word found in the article.

1. nete verids= _______________

2. hawighy= __________________

3. tapereceng= ________________

4. ringdiv= ___________________

5. lamaaba=__________________

6. tedah= ___________________

7. cimonoce= _________________

8. noitgarozano= ______________

9. fesufrign= __________________

10. dicacten= _________________

In the global automotive industry things are really heating up as the traditional players fight for a top spot in the race for global dominance. General Motors Corp., which has been number one in terms of global auto sales for over 75 years, is fighting to keep that title in the face of growing competition from Toyota. Last year Toyota was trailing General Motors by only 261,805 units.

Though it looks inevitable that Toyota will claim top spot, increased sales in China (GM is now #1 in China beating former top dog Volkswagen) and surging sales in India have buoyed global sales for the General despite declining sales in North America. General Motors boss Rick Wagoner recently stated “If we can keep growing where the opportunities are to grow, someone’s going to have to hustle pretty hard to catch up with us like that.” That said, according to the Wall Street Journal being #1 is no longer a top priority for Rick Wagoner and General Motors.

Ford Motor Company, once #2 globally, is in third place with sales at just over 6.2 million units. Strong sales in Europe have offset a seemingly endless sales decline of blue oval vehicles in North America. Once best sellers like the Ford Focus and Ford Explorer now sit on dealer lots as more innovative and fresh competition lure away new buyers. Ford would be wise to devise a more coherent product planning strategy instead of letting great cars waste away without any clear vision.

This is quite evident when you look at the recently discontinued Ford Taurus and Lincoln LS, vehicles that carried substantial brand equity at one point but failed as they became stale and irrelevant amongst their respective competition. If Honda and Toyota can keep the Accord and Camry nameplates going after more than 2 decades, why has Ford had such a difficult time doing the same?

The big news isn’t just at the top of the list. Riding high on a global auto sales increase of over 11% in 2005, Hyundai Automotive Group is in high gear. The Korean automotive giant has moved into sixth spot behind DaimlerChrysler. Since 1999, Hyundai has passed established players such as Honda, Fiat, Nissan, and Renault. Hyundai doesn’t plan on getting too comfy in sixth spot as they’ve set their sights on being in the top five by the end of the decade.

They’ve got their work cut out for them as fifth place DaimlerChrysler is currently selling about 1 million more vehicles annually. But I wouldn’t bet against Hyundai. In the last 10 years they’ve beaten just about everyone’s expectations. Volkswagen is holding steady in fourth place with over 5.2 million vehicles sold in 2005. 2006 and 2007 should see modest increase in auto sales with the introduction of the next generation Golf (now known as the Rabbit) in North America and new models such as the Volkswagen Eos.

Although nothing is for certain in the auto industry, one theme holds true. No car company has an inherent right to the top spot. It has to be earned through great cars and trucks. In this list the big winner is the consumer. 

TASK: MATCHING TYPE

Connect each characteristic in column A to the automotive firm in column B.

                      Column A                                                          Column B

1. Number one in terms of global auto sales             * Hyundai Automotive Group

   for over 25 years.

2. Claim the top spot and increased sales in             * Ford Motor Company

    China

3. Third place with sales at just over 6.2                 * Volkswagen

    Million units.

4. Automotive group that considered in a                 * General Motors Group

    high gear.

5. I holds steady in fourth place place with               * Toyota

   over 5.2 Million vehicle sold in 2005

“Little Red Corvette” –

Prince (taken from his 1983 album1999) 

While the album’s titular track may be the one that gets

parties started (or shuts them down, as the case may often be),

“Little Red Corvette” was the bona fide backseat make-out

jammy from Prince’s fifth outing.

The combination of Prince’s

slinky slither of a voice and the synth saturated click track

rhythms made for one dirty sounding song,

one that conjures up images of sweaty groping

in the bucket seats of a Stingray. 

The exact nature of the song is anybody’s guess

(though with vintage Prince of this nature, if you go for

down-n-dirty you’re probably on the right track): 

Move over baby (move over baby) 
Gimme the keys (gimme the keys) 
Im gonna try 2 tame your little red love machine 
(Im gonna try 2 tame your little red love machine)… 

Of course the Purple One goes straight for the

 jugular with innuendo up the wazoo, never being quite

clear as to whether he’s talking about an actual car or

a red hot mamma. It’s up to you to decide,

but we’re pretty sure what the end result is

(tachometer in the red, in case you’re clueless).

TASK: CONTEXT CLUES

Direction: Encircle the letter that best describe each word in the song.

1. Bona Fide

a. Real b. illegal c.good

2. Jammy

a. Pure b. Fake c. lucky

3. Slinky

a. Cute b. Hot Elegant

4. Slither

a. Smooth b. Slide c. Rough

5. Jugular

a. Blood b. Veins c. Bone

6. Vintage

a. New b. Classic c. Reckless

7. Titular

a. So-called b. Actual c. Ready

8. Saturated

a. Flooded b. Washed c. Clear

wellisnthatnice:

SLS Retro by Ni.St|Photography on Flickr.

Len Cutter woke one morning earlier this year to find his late-model Honda Civic had some reconstructive work done. The rear window was laying, broken, across the rear seats, although nothing inside the car was taken. As it turns out, the thieves were after his roof rack.

“They’re going to break into my car and steal a roof rack?” he said. “Gimme a break.”

Cutter, of Long Beach, California, fell victim to a common trend in auto thievery: components are now more attractive than the car itself.

Vehicles are getting harder to steal outright, especially given massive advances in anti-theft technology (current hi-tech keys won’t even allow you to turn the engine over unless the right microchip is present, moving hotwiring into the realm of cultural artifact). As a result, car thieves are stealing components such as GPS devices, DVD systems, rims and tires and, indeed, roof racks, rather than the whole vehicle. Yet, as cars become more futuristic, some old trends are returning. Here are the top trends in auto knavery that you need to keep in mind:

1. Odometer Fraud

Amid so many technological advances, the full digitization of the dashboard has had an effect on odometers. Odometer rollbacks are “back in a big way,” said Christopher Basso of Carfax. “There is widespread use of digital odometers. People are getting software off the internet rather than cracking open the dash and hand-cranking back the odometer. It’s harder to detect as there are no physical signs the vehicle has been tampered with.”

Odometer rollbacks increased 57 percent from 2004-2008 (the last year for which data is available), with more than 450,000 cases reported annually. Over the last five years there’s been a nearly 60 percent increase in the number of vehicles reported with odometer rollbacks, Basso says. The number of unreported cases — where a consumer is unaware there is a problem — is potentially much higher.
 
“It is a big and growing problem that continues to plague used-car buyers,” said Basso.

But Frank Scafidi, of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, says rolling back odometers “is not as easy as it used to be.”

“It happens here or there but it is not the predominant cause of auto fraud. Just like making moonshine, you’re still going to find people somewhere doing it because they know how to do it. It’s just now most people prefer to get their alcohol at a liquor store.”

2. Car Cloning

Scafidi says one of the newest auto frauds is “car cloning.” Cloning occurs when multiple (usually higher-end) cars of the same model are stolen and registered with a VIN number from a legitimate vehicle.

“The thieves go get a VIN number from a showroom floor and reproduce it three or four times and attach it to the stolen vehicles and then ship them to four or five states,” said Scafidi. “The multiple VIN numbers for us are the biggest red flags out there, and we go get ‘em.”

The FBI says that car-cloning rings — often established for decades — operate in most major cities nationwide. While there is no way to calculate true rates of car cloning, the FBI says it constitutes a “significant percentage” of  vehicle thefts, the value of which totaled $6.4 billion in 2008. The agency recommends always buying your car from a reputable dealership and checking your car’s VIN number with your state’s licensing agency before you buy.

Common warning signs that you may have bought a cloned car include receiving unpaid traffic tickets you haven’t sustained; a model being sold for much less than buyer’s guides indicate it should be; scratches or evidence of tampering on the car’s VIN number on the door frame or engine block; or a missing vehicle history report.

Terri Miller, director of Michigan’s Halt Auto Theft program,  says: “We’re seeing a lot of cloning. They’ll go to a scapyard and buy a clean title and they can then use that number on a vehicle of the same make and model.”  
 
3. Component theft and resale

With car stereos — traditionally the item most stolen from cars — getting harder to pilfer as a result of electronic security measures, thieves are getting more inventive.

Nationally, more than 75,000 airbags are stolen every year, according to the FBI. Thefts of GPS and DVD systems are increasing alongside the popularity of the devices among aftermarket buyers. Thefts of xenon headlights are also a growing problem. The advantage (or disadvantage) of component theft: The goods often are difficult to track and usually there’s a fairly constant demand for them.

Miller says component theft is “the biggest thing. As cars are getting harder to steal, they have to steal parts of  them. We’re seeing easily fenced items such as tires, rims and GPS units getting stolen.”

She says many items end up being sold online or on the street. In many cases buyers may think they’re buying a legitimate product rather than a stolen part. She says that criminal enterprises, like legitimate businesses, mainly work on the basis of supply and demand.

“Occasionally, when, for example, Ford Taurus airbags are on back order, we’ll see an increase in thefts.”

4. Carjackings

You may think that carjackings had gone the way of spinning rims, but rates are holding steady in Southern California and increasing in Michigan. And there are pockets of America urban areas where the trend never really died down.

Officer Canales of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart Division says carjacking is still “pretty common.”

“We get a few every now and then, usually a gun or knife is involved. It can be anything from high-value to low-value [cars] but we see more Hondas — Accords and Civics — and Toyotas.”

Carjackings occur most frequently in urban areas and account for about three percent of all thefts, the Insurance Information Institute reports.

“A co-worker of my husband last week was carjacked outside  a pizza parlor,” Miller said. “He pointed a gun and said, ‘You know what I want,’ and drove off in his brand-new Mustang.

“Most carjackings involve a weapon so we always advise motorists to hand over their keys before they become a statistic,” Miller says. 

Where You Live Is As Important As What You Drive

A motor vehicle is stolen in the United States every 33 seconds, according to the FBI. In 2008, most vehicles — or 37.8 percent, were stolen in the South, followed by the West at 33.9 percent, the Midwest at 18.3 percent and the Northeast at 10 percent. But thefts are decreasing by about 12 percent year on year for the last five years.

“Thefts follow technology,” said Scafidi. “Smart keys or digital security devices are playing a big part in the reduction.”

Here are the latest car theft statistics from broken down by city and model.

Rank (by density)/ Metropolitan / Vehicles Stolen

1. Laredo, TX 1,792 
2. Modesto, CA  3,712
3. Bakersfield, CA  5,530
4. Stockton, CA  4,479
5. Fresno, CA5,875
6. Yakima, WA1,525
7. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 26,374
8. Visalia-Porterville, CA 2,440
9. Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 10,706
10. Albuquerque, NM 4,815
Source: Auto thefts by cities 2009; National Insurance Crime Bureau

TASK: ESSAY WRITING

* Write an essay advocating the importance of safety when it comes to driving, and state the role of technology in today’s road precaution.