Charity Scandals

Recently, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has conducted an industry wide investigation into car donation charities.  He just started this examination, and has already found a heart breaking scandal.  It seems that the charity called “Hope for the Disabled Kids, Inc” has been duping its donors and disabled kids for years to the tune of over $2 million dollars.  Shoba Bakhsh, the owner/CEO, instead of helping the children her charity claims to aid, lavished her family with real estate in Florida, paid off Macy’s credit cards, paid off tuition for her own children’s schooling, and has over $250,000 in her personal checking account.

 Her website, which has been removed from the internet, claimed the following 

• Donations will “be used to benefit disabled children by purchasing medical equipment”
• Donations will “help pay for medical expenses for families who are unable to afford them”
• Donations will “purchase book, toys, games and food during the holidays to distribute to children in hospitals” 

In my opinion this is one of the worst crimes a human can commit.  Think of the assistance she could have given to the countless children who need a wheelchair to move, an apparatus to breathe, a blood testing kit to eat.  This woman had children of her own too, which makes this crime even sicker.  How could she not see the needs of disabled children through her own able-bodied children, and further, how could she ignore them?  My heart broke when I read this story because some one else who will read this story may not donate to charity now.  This woman not only didn’t care about ruining a charitable industry’s good name, which has far reaching implications, but also ignored disabled children.  Who does that?  What a monster. 

Don’t stop donating cars to charity though

This blog is more of an outlet to vent about such a despicable crime, and I invite you to share your venting in the comments field below.  This is not an all out attack on charitable organizations.  God knows we need all the charity we can muster.  I just wanted my readers and fellow car enthusiasts to know that homework is now required from donors; know who you are donating to, and what they have previously put donations toward.

Picture Courtesy of Car Tech

There are a few similarities in the two electric cars:

• both have electric engines,
• both are greener than vehicles previous,
• both have 8 year/100,000 mile battery warranty,
• both are considered fun to drive, and
• both are expected to be pioneers in the evolution in electric engines.

This is where the similarities end though.  While the two cars often get thrown into the same group, they are actually worlds apart.

Electric Hybrid versus Electric Plug In

First of all the Leaf is the only car powered 100% by its electric engine.  The Volt’s batteries are recharged by its electric engine after its first 40 miles and act as the car’s generator after this.  The Leaf has to be recharged after 100 miles while the Volt can go for about 340 miles.  This is by far the biggest advantage that the Volt has over its competitor and really separates the two cars from a functionality standpoint.  With only a hundred mile range, the Leaf will not see many road trips.  This car is more suited for local errands, and with today’s families, it will certainly find a role.  I know on an average Saturday while running errands and enjoying my free time, I can easily put 60 miles on my car, so the Leaf would be perfect.  However the Leaf is limited to just this, as anything over 50 miles away requires a charge that could take up to 8 hours with a 240V charge or 20 hours with the standard plug 120V charger.  There are a few places where recharging will only take 30 minutes, but they are not readily available yet.  This limited range certainly restricts the car’s usability, especially since the Volt’s recharge time is only about 3 hours.

If the Leaf is an Apple, than the Volt is an Orange

Once this major difference is accepted, the Leaf has a lot to offer.  It handles well, has ample headroom and a spacious cabin, and most important of all, it is about $12,000 less than the Volt.  Certainly one could argue that the Volt’s advantage in range and function warrants the price difference, but there is another factor to the equation.  Since the Leaf’s motor is all electric, you never have to worry about burning gas or having to deal with the maintenance issues of a combustion engine, like changing the oil or replacing the spark plugs and/or timing belts.  These things add up after years of driving. Another notable difference is in the acceleration.  The Leaf is described as “quick” and “peppy,” as electric motors have a lot of initial torque.  On the flip side of the coin, words like “sluggish” and “somewhat delayed” have been used to describe the Chevy Volt’s acceleration.

The Volt is not a Bad Car!

The Volt does have a few advantages though.  I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Volt has more storage capacity, a more comfortable backseat, and obviously, shorter charging times.  The range and recharging time allows this electric car to be the only car a family needs where the Leaf would have to play more of a secondary role.

What do you think? Do you think the Leaf can be a family’s only car?  Although both electric cars are considered to be in the same group by the general public, the overall differences make them unique, with each serving its own purpose.

Its time to sell your old gas guzzler car then!

When you are ready to make the leap into the next generation of cars, you are still going to need to sell your old gas guzzler car. So bring your used car into Big Bucks Auto and lets make a deal!

The Terrafugia Transition – The Flying Car

Picture Credit to ABC News

Many futuristic movies contain scenes that involve flying cars, like the Delorean from “Back to the Future.”  “The Jetsons” are also a great example.  This must point to the fact that someday we will all be flying in our cars instead of driving them and that road construction, and traffic will fortunately be a thing of the past.  Well, this concept is getting closer and closer to reality as the Terrafugia Transition makes its way to the road/air. The world’s first flying car just jumped its first hurdle; the FAA accepted the vehicle’s weight.  It’s a big deal because the weight of a flying vehicle determines what class it is in.  “Light sports aircraft” are required by the FAA to weigh in at the most 1,320 pounds and the Transition was given a 110-pound exemption.  This categorization is important because an operator of a light sports aircraft only needs 20 hours of logged flight time which makes obtaining a pilot’s license a lot easier than the next weight class.  Only a few more hurdles exist and this car will be on the road; some say by the end of 2011.  Who knows, ten years from now, we may see as many folded-up wings on the road as we now see airplanes in the sky.

Gibbs Aquada – The Amphibious Car

Picture Credit to Gibbs Technology

Though Gibbs Technologies is running into regulation issues, the first massively produced amphibious car is also close to getting on the road too.  To put it best, I will quote Zach Bowman from Autoblog: “the main issue seems to be that regulatory bodies want the car to conform to safety and emissions standards for both cars and boats. Unfortunately, those two worlds aren’t exactly compatible. For starters, the EPA wants the Aquada to use a standard catalytic converter. Unfortunately, the emissions equipment needs to operate at close to 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit – nearly 1,200 degrees more than what the U.S. Coast Guard allows.” Hopefully the EPA will get over this and lend a hand to this project; much like the FAA did for the Transition.  One unique thing about this car is that the steering wheel is in the middle of the dash board, and not on the left side.  The driver’s seat is in the middle of the car with two passenger seats located next-to and behind the driver.  Also, there are no doors, you jump in the car Dukes of Hazard style. I would love to own a car that doubles as a boat.  Though the vehicle will be pricey, there wouldn’t be a need for owners to buy a boat, a trailer, a vehicle strong enough to tow it, or pricey water’s-edge docking space.

The Tesla Roadster 2.5 – The Electric Car

Picture Credit to Tesla Motors

This car is already here and on the road.  Why you haven’t seen it yet is because there are only a few prototypes in the USA.  Another reason is because there are very few recharging stations in the USA.   The Tesla Roadster 2.5 is the younger brother of the 2.0 but it comes with many improvements garnered from customer feed back.  The big statistic is that the car has a 245 mile range, much further than other all-electric cars.  The Nissan Leaf’s range is only 200 miles.  Recharging is as easy as plugging it into your wall.  There are some fun, impressive stats too.  This car can go from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds which is faster than the Porsche GT3 RS or Ferrari 430 F1.  The car is practically silent.  At the end of the day though, this car is rather pricey.  We are talking about hundred thousand dollars or so.  As all technology does though, it will become cheaper and more plentiful in the future.

The Car Revolution

This all adds up to one thing for me – the car revolution has begun, and we moving quickly.  We are literally reinventing the wheel here, especially in the case of the Aquada, where the wheels fold up and under the car for better hydrodynamics.  So to all of the people who thought it would never happen, “Back to the Future” is becoming more and more like reality.  Perhaps soon some one will invent a time machine too!

#1 The Bugatti Veyron

The Bugatti Veyron is indeed the most expensive car in the world coming in at a cool 1.7 million dollars.  It is named after the racer Pierre Veyron who won the 1939 24-hour Le Mans race while racing for the original Bugatti company.  This car looks like a cross between a formula one racer and the old version of the famous Bugatti.  The ultimate price of this car comes down to one thing

The famous Bugatti Design.

alone, and that is speed.  At 1001 horsepower, the Bugatti is the fastest street-legal car in the world from 0-60mph; it only takes 2.5 seconds.  It is the second fastest car overall though, topped by only the SSC (Shelby Super Cars) Ultimate Aero (257 mph versus 254 mph) but the Ultimate Aero looks more like a formula one racer.  Also, it is reported that it actually reached 270mph hour, but it electronically wont allow itself to go over 254mph because the tires may not be able to take that kind of speed.  The BBC television program Top Gear calls this car the “Car of the Decade.”

#2 The Ferrari Enzo

The Ferrari Enzo is the second most expensive car in the world coming in far behind the Veyron at an even million dollars.  The car’s name is from Enzo Ferrari, the owner of Ferrari.  This is why it is referred to as both the “Enzo Ferrari” and the “Ferrari Enzo.” With flip top doors and its formula one racer styling it is quite an imposing vehicle.  It almost seems one must be trained to drive this car.  It doesn’t seem like something the average Joe should just hop into and try to operate.  Its ultimate price comes from balancing both speed and control.  It goes from 0-60 in 3.8 seconds, tops out at 217mph, and 660 horsepower, but also has a technologically advanced breaking system that allows you to control the car around turns.  This is the red sports car all of us men had a similar poster of hanging in his bedroom for at least one day in his life!

#3 The Pagani Zonda

Photo Credit to CarAdvice.com

Compared to the first two cars, the price of just $741,000 seems like a bargain; its a million dollars less than the Veyron and 25% cheaper than the Enzo.  But the Pagani Zonda is still awesome.  This car is a two-seater and only 10 cars a year are made making it the rarest of the three.  Some of the engineering of the Zonda was done by Formula One Champion Juan Manuel Fangio.  The Zonda tops out at 215 mph and goes from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.  It is ultra light-weight and boasts 594 horsepower.  Most consider this car to be priceless because it so rare.

All three cars have similarities

All three cars come from Italy first of all.  Italy is known for their famous sports cars.  Lamborghini comes to mind, and they didn’t even make the list.  All three cars’ price tags come from a balance of the latest technology in speed and control.  They all have massive engines that produce massive power.  All three have the finest accessories including leather seating, halogen bulbs, and dashboards that would remind one of a fighter jet.  These cars are true beauties.  So the next time you see a Porche or an Aston Martin, remember, they may be the cream of the crop, but they are not included in the world’s most expensive cars.

2010 started off with a gigantic recall of Toyotas.  Eight million vehicles needed new accelerator pedals and floor mats, costing Toyota over $2 billion.  Recent news asserts that now Chrysler will recall 600,000 vehicles throughout North America.  GM also just had a huge recall of 1.5 million vehicles over a faulty heated washer fluid system.  While we haven’t seen numbers like 8 million, the recalls just keep coming.  Car companies have been recalling cars at an alarming rate this year.  Here are a variety of just some of the recalls:

Lexus

In May of this year, Lexus recalled one of its luxury SUV lines after Consumer Reports tested it and found a problem with the electronic stability control system during certain maneuvers. The recall affected 8,300 Lexus LS vehicles in Japan and in the United States.

BMW

In February, Insideline.com reports that, “BMW recalled 38,000 2008-’11 1 Series cars in the U.S. because of a possible fire hazard, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”  In a less significant number, they also recalled about 740 vehicles in April due to not meeting an American electric standard.

Volkswagen

VW is the latest industry leader to join the circus of car recalls. They recalled almost 16,000 Routan model minivans after a fault was found in its sliding door wiring that could spark fire, according to reports.

Kia

Yahoo reports, “Kia has recalled 468 cee’d and 6,585 Picanto models in the UK after identifying safety issues. According to Kia, affected cars could ’suffer insufficient brake force,’ although the company is keen to stress there have been no reported incidents in the UK.”

This must be a pattern.

It is almost difficult to keep track of all the recalls.  One can perform a Google search with just about and carmaker and the word “recall” and get results with staggering numbers from this year alone.  This can be viewed as part of a larger pattern though.  Mike Qunicy of Consumer Reports says government investigations have led to the recall of more than 25 million vehicles – by every major U.S. automaker – over the past three years.  Many attribute this to all the new technology being packed into new cars, as with new technology comes unthought-of problems. 

Recalls happen

 It is comforting to know that most recalls are announced before any tragic accident occurs, but recalls can cause car accidents and they most certainly have done so.  There are even a few deaths attributed to recalls.  The only certain way to avoid automaker errors is to altogether avoid cars.  Though it sounds unusual, one can get by without owning a car and there are many services out there that help to make it possible.  So sell you car to bigbucksauto.com and get out of your car, because who knows what vehicle will be on the next recall list.

Here’s a video interview recently of me, Buddy Evans, co-owner of Big Bucks Auto™ – one of the largest car buying services in the Tri-State area – discussing the three typical approaches used when it is time to sell your car and how using Big Bucks Auto™ services are quick, convenient, and safe.

Summary of Video Interview

Option for Selling Your Used Car:

Option One: The Used Car Trade-in

If buying another car, you could trade it to a dealer. However, doing such has its shortcomings. When you trade in a car rarely do you get the car’s true dollar value and often walk away having overpaid for a new car, been under compensated for your trade-in and ultimately feel dissatisfied.

Option Two: Consignment with Auto Dealers

There are car dealerships that will offer to take your car in consignment, which to the blind eye looks great, but this structure leaves little incentive to dealerships so selling your car could take some time – They are in the business of selling their cars; there isn’t much motivation to sell your car.

Option Three: The Car For Sale Approach

You could take out an ad in the local paper, slap on a “for sale” sign and open yourself and your household to a world of people. From setting up appointments, to having showings, this can be a very time consuming process – especially to those who work full-time and/or have children. Not only that, but in today’s world you can never be too cautious of who you let into your home. If doing this, listen to your gut and be careful and make sure you are selling your car correctly!

A Safer, More Convenient and Quicker Car Sale

What sets Big Bucks Auto aside – making it a better solution to selling your car – is that we have nothing to sell you. Big Bucks Auto™, New York’s largest car buying service is safe; it’s convenient and most importantly it’s quick. You bring in your car, we evaluate it, we buy your used car and within twenty minutes you walk out with a check.

As the nation’s headlines were focused on the rising cost of health care last year, we forgot to watch the auto insurance companies. 

The Insurance Information Institute found that in 2009:

 “…the average cost of auto insurance on sedans rising by 5.7 percent to $1,031 for a typical policy including collision and comprehensive coverage. The 2010 study is based on costs associated with five top-selling 2009 models selected by AAA.” 

According to another report in USA Today, the average policy will rise 4 percent to $875 per year, following an average increase of 3 percent last year.  All of the statistics point to the same trend. 

Auto insurance is rising.

Auto insurance rates are going up.

Health Insurance Coverage

Our Nation’s headlines have recently been focused on the rising cost of health care, and rightfully so.  Take a look at some startling facts and statistics:

• From 2000 to 2006, overall inflation has increased 3.5%, wages have increased 3.8%, and health care premiums have increased 87% (Source: Kaiser Family Foundation).
• The United States spends twice as much on health care per capita ($7,129) than any other country . . . and spending continues to increase. In 2005, the national health care expenditures totaled $2 trillion. (Source: National Center for Health Statistics)
• About half of the bankruptcy filings in the United States are due to medical expenses. (Source: Health Affairs Journal)

These are truly scary numbers.  Americans suffer while health insurance companies record profits.  Let’s hope the bill that was passed helps out those 46 million Americans who can not afford health care plans.

Car Insurance Quotes Are Rising

The car insurance companies are now facing the same scrutiny that the health insurance industry was in that many Americans think the rates are too high.  Yet,  Americans are driving less than last year

J. Robert Hunter, an insurance consumer advocate with the Consumer Federation of America, is urging state regulators to find out why rates are rising when Americans are driving, in total, billions of miles less than a year ago. 

“As Americans drive less because of the price of gas, fewer claims will be filed with insurance companies,” Hunter said in a letter to the nation’s governors in June. “Whether this will mean windfall profits for insurers or rate cuts for the consumers is up to governors and state regulators to determine.”

So we are driving less, yet paying more for our car insurance.

What does this mean for you?

It’s time to do one of three things even if you have the best car insurance. 

1. You can raise your deductable to lower your overall monthly payment.  But then you have to hope and pray you don’t get into a major accident. 
2. Fix your credit rating.  Every car insurance company examines your credit report and charges you accordingly.  Unfortunately, this can take quite some time. 
3. Sell your car to a trusted industry leader like Bigbucksauto.com.  Getting rid of your car al together may seem drastic but many people do not even realize that they have an opportunity to live with out their cars. 

By carpooling to work, receiving goods via mail, and when necessary, renting a car, you can effectively erase your car insurance payments, even if that means that the money saved has to go towards your health insurance. You can live without your car, but not without your health.

Automotive Alternatives or What to Ride After You Sell Your Car

As New Yorkers become more green minded in their daily routines, pedestrians and drivers alike are noticing more bicycles, motorized scooters, and even Segways on city streets and sidewalks.  Rickshaws are clogging city streets.  Bicycle-only lanes are now opening one after another.  We opened the High Line Park just last year.  There is a movement going on right now, one we will surely look back on someday as the beginning of the end of automotive transportation as we know it. 

 Obviously there are plenty of alternatives to cars.  Let’s take a look at some  best car alternatives out there. Why drive an expensive, gas-guzzling, environment-polluting, parking nightmare when you can be uber hip and cool riding one of these:

Bikes and Bicycles; Still the Number One Car Alternative

 When one sells the the car that brought them to New York City, they usually take their money to the nearest bike shop.  With a zero carbon footprint, low cost, and the benefits of exercise, it is a solid option for New Yorkers or anyone who lives in one of the USA’s most walkable cities. 

Ultra Smart Vehicle: Perfect for a Commuter

Check out this USV or Ultra Smart Vehicle or Electric Bike! It has a 20 mile range on the battery alone and costs $0.07 to fill up. Loaded with everything you will need to make commuting a refreshing, cost effective experience- comfortable and safe front and rear Fox suspension, disk brakes, powerful 500w motor, and Kevlar reinforced tires to keep you rolling over sharp stuff (like glass!) Have a long commute? No problem. You can add a 20ah lithium-ion battery that will more than double your range!  All shiny and with your choice of paint colors almost any used car can be sold to match the $5,995 price tag. ,.

Though the benefits of riding a bike are huge, the bicycle is not for everyone, so we shall move on.

Motorized Scooters

Motorized scooters get incredible gas mileage that some estimate between 70 and 100 mpg.  India, the world’s 2^nd most populated country, sold over 85% more in April 2010, then in April 2009. 

We are seeing their numbers obviously jump in New York too.  One can plainly see more and more parked on the city streets and in city parking garages everyday. There are two schools of thought with scooters: New and vintage.

The XB-562 Deluxe High Powered Personal Transportation Scooter comes complete with everything that allows it to live up to it’s name!  With headlights, tail lights, blinkers, horn, key lock ignition & has a lockable trunk box for storing items. The trunk can be used as an ice chest to carry your drinks & ice. It is is capable of running up to 4 hours on a single charge and the smart charger that is included with each scooter can charge the batteries in 1 to 3 hours and have it ready to go for another day of fun. The XB-562 will cruise you at 17 – 21 MPH and can be used both during the day and at night.

Even more amazing, this scotter will only debit your ATM card a measly $549.00

Within the idea of the tradition and culture of the past, Vespa, the well known Italian Scooter company, continues to offer invention and modernity with new scooters. An exceptional average fuel economy of 70 mpg means you’ll dip into your wallet far less frequently than even public transportation users as an average of just $8 fills up your tank. With models ranging from $3,200 to almost $7,000 and many accessories as well, Vespa Scooters are a stylish alternative to owning a car.

Go Vintage and Uber Cool!

Nothing says “cool” quite like a vintage Vespa. Depending on how handy you are with a set of tools, finding the unique vintage ride can begin anywhere from a junkyard  for a project that needs working on to simple online shopping that can find you a perfectly restored vintage beauty. For example, the 1966 Italian original pictured above has been completely restored and can be yours for $2,950.

The Segway

Once considered a toy for the rich, the Segway now lends itself to the masses. While we don’t see them clogging the sidewalks of New York just yet, be assured they are on their way to making more of an impact.  Especially now that their original listing prices of 8 years ago have become quite affordable. Of course, just a plain old Segway might not do; even when you have a Segway, you can still “pimp” your ride:

Check out the Segway Junkyard in California where they have many versions of decked out customized Segaways and pall the parts and fixens to do it yourself!

The bottom line is that there are more and more great alternatives to owning a car these days and more reasons than ever to sell your car!

By now, everyone has heard of the Times Square Bomb Scare. We feel the need to point out how one chooses to sell their car can have an effect on national security. It doesn’t seem to make sense, but the simple need to sell your car can have long reaching and very far flung consequences and the potential to affect the stability of the whole world as the a real Times Square explosion would have had it gone through as the Times Square Bomber had planned!

Sell Your Pathfinder on Craigslist; a Terrorism Car Bomb

Imagine you sell your car to a stranger on CraigsList and a week later the FBI is pounding down your door asking about why your car is now rigged to be a car bomb in the heart of New York City! That’s exactly what happened to Peggy Colas. Little did this 19-year-old Connecticut woman know what she was getting into when she sold her Nissan Pathfinder on Craigslist. After all, she was only selling her used car so what real danger could that entail?

 Peggy probably thought that she had achieved the exact goal that she desired when she sold her Pathfinder for $1300 cash. It didn’t matter who she sold the car to, she had money! Of course, we now know the Time Square suspect, whose name we now know to be Faisal Shahzad wanted Peggy’s Nissan Pathfinder to be an integral part of his planned Times Square Bomb.

Turning Your Car into a Bomb

When one buys a car to make it into a terrorist car bomb, you don’t really want people to know about that, which is why Faisal Shahzad declined any paperwork and the bill of sale.  He removed the VIN from the Pathfinder’s dashboard and switched out license plates that were stolen.  He then tinted the windows and packed enough explosive material to kill or seriously injure hundreds of people shopping around Times Square. It was the private car sale on Craigslist and Peggy’s lack of experience that allowed the wannabe Car Bomber to achieve those goals.

 After selling her Nissan Pathfinder, Peggy went about her normal life.  One week later the FBI was knocking on her door.  We can all see where she went wrong here.  Why would some one decline paperwork that proves ownership?  No matter what the explanation was, she should have sensed something was very wrong.  Now people are asking, “Why did she sell her vehicle in the fashion, and why didn’t she call the police?”  Some even say that she should be held liable due to her poor judgment.  This poor 19-year-old’s reputation is being pulled through the mud.  Imagine how she would have felt had the bomb killed people.  We can only hope that one day she lives it down.

Selling Your Car? Avoid the Terrorists and Car Bombers!

Selling a car privately is not the simplest of tasks since there are legal obligations and ramifications involved.  Aside from the obvious hassles of placing ads, answering the phone, and waiting for strangers at your home, you can also be contributing to a terrorist attack on our country!  

After the Times Square Bomb Scare, people should realize that perhaps selling your car to strangers isn’t the best option. Now that the obvious risks are exposed, you need know how to sell your car and know for sure that the car won’t be involved with any crime. Since most folks won’t be doing criminal background checks and contacting the FBI for approval before they hand over the keys to their automobile, we suggest that you spend 20 minutes at Big Bucks Auto and sell you car the easy, quick and SAFE way in New York!

Avoid the possibility of self incrimination, your name in the news for the wrong reasons, and police beating down your door in the middle of the night and when it is time to sell your car, sell it to the professionals.  We will buy your used car and guarantee that this will not ever happen to you!

Remember, you never know who you will opening the door to when you sell your car.

Autoinsurance.org is a website chocked full of car facts and information about car insurance.  Auto insurance consumers and even just driving enthusiasts have the opportunity to view immense amounts of information that every auto insurance consumer should be privy to.  Autoinsurance.org exports their information through articles containing facts, stats, and graphics that are easy to read and comprehend.  This graphic on the top ten most stolen cars in the US is a prime example:

A portion of the image with facts about cars and their effects on the environment

More Free Car Facts than Possible to Digest!

The best thing about AutoInsurance.org, besides offering free car facts, is that they are all about the education of people through research. The site is completely free for anyone and is not run by the government or any car insurance companies. They have taken the hard part out of researching online and compiled the internet’s most comprehensive resources on related information.

Hybrid Cars & Car Pollution Facts  

The recent wave of green minded movements has made consumers more conscious of their carbon footprint.   Hence our society has a new found hunger for hybrid cars.  Autoinsurance.org has plenty of information on this topic too.  Again, we can view in great detail the information on a graph, and it looks like this:

Drunken Driving fatalities facts worldwide and in the USA

Drunk Driving, Car Accident, & Crash Facts

 The graphic on car accidents is extremely informative.  They emphasize how texting while driving and talking on the cell phone while driving is a major contributor to car accidents.  Another one of America’s biggest killers is drunk drivers.  Every time we enter a vehicle we are at their mercy of these drivers.  Most of us know of or are a family member of a victim of a car crash.  At autoinsurance.org there is plenty of data on this topic as well.

Worldwide and USA drunk driving fatalities facts

Car Facts and Advice Articles:

Some articles do not need a graph to get a point across.  Their article, “The Planned Accident – Avoiding Auto Insurance Fraud” is a piece that suggests how to drive in a style that does not permit being taken advantage of by fraudulent drivers looking for false claims to make.  This is probably the most valuable article a young driver can read. Other articles’ topics range from telecommuting in order to save on insurance premiums, to adding your teenager to your policy, and even why Geico pulled all of its ads off of Glen Beck’s show.  There are even tests to take to make sure you are still a knowledgeable and safe driver.

 This site is very informative, and I would highly suggest all drivers to read over the information provided.  Information in these articles makes all drivers more aware of their potential surroundings and pitfalls.  They pack a lot of information into these graphs.  It is nice to see a third party putting some straight facts out into the public for all to read.  Its not all graphs and pie charts though.  They give out fun facts, and statistics that will make you laugh too.  For example, “More people die in America while walking in cross walks than illegally jaywalking.”  So the next time you need to know some insurance statistics, advice about driving in general, or just need a laugh, surf on over to www.autoinsurance.org and enjoy the reading.