________________________________________________________________________________

ALERT: 2008 Chevy Malibu beats Honda Accord for "Car of the Year!"
Detroit Auto Show names Chevy Malibu as "Car of the Year" - 2 years in a row!

Defensive Driving, Oregon Online Audio Overview
& Possible Insurance Cost Reductions via Classes

Right of Way....Which is Right?

Cheaper Car Insurance For Your Teenage Driver

What is E85 Flex Fuels All About?

Parent-Teen Driving Coaching

38% Fewer Teen Deaths With GDL

What Year Did The Car First Arrive in Oregon?

Insurance: What to do When You're in an Accident

________________________________________________________________________________

ALERT: 2008 Chevy Malibu beats Honda Accord for Car of the Year!
Detroit Auto Show names Chevy Malibu as "Car of the Year" - 2 years in a row

This article is available from Automotive News
Written by Richard Truett

ARTICLE SUMMARY
DETROIT -- For the second straight year, General Motors has won North American Car of the Year honors. The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu defeated the Honda Accord and the Cadillac CTS. Truck of the year honors went to the Mazda CX-9. This was the first time any Mazda vehicle has won since the awards' inception in 1994.

Winners were named this morning at the start of press days for the North American International Auto Show.
The Malibu topped a field of 15 nominees for the car award.The CX-9 finished first of 13 vehicles for the truck award. Winners were selected by a jury of 45 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. Jurors award 10 points to the cars and 10 to the trucks. They can award all their points to one vehicle or divide them among vehicles in each category.

________________________________________________________________________________

Defensive Driving, Oregon Online Audio Overview
& Possible Insurance Cost Reductions via Classes

Oregon's DMV has an Online Audio version of its driving manual here.
The specific audio file for Defensive Driving is Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
Oregon's DMV, ODOT & AAA refers requests for classes to
(among other providers) www.drivereducationcenter.com, 503-581-3783.

*What is Defensive Driving?

Defensive Driving is driving in a manner that utilizes safe driving strategies to enable motorists to address identified hazards in a predictable manner.

The benefits of taking a defensive driving class vary with each state, but often include:

- A reduction of points on your driver’s license following a ticket

- No increase in your car insurance

In some states, successful completion of a defensive driving course can mean a reduction of up to 10% in your insurance rates for a period of three to five years (Oregon DMV says you'll need to check with your insurance provider for any course benefits).

In some states, students have the option to take defensive driving courses online or by watching a video tape or DVD, while other states only allow students to take defensive driving in a classroom setting.

Curriculum of a Basic Defensive Driving Course

The sections below provide a basic outline of the information that is typically covered in defensive driving courses.

Traffic Crashes

Losses from traffic crashes have both social and personal impacts.

- Approximately 41,000 die annually as a result of traffic collisions, with an additional 3,236,000 injuries.

- About 38% of all fatal car crashes are alcohol related

- 30% of all fatal car crashes are attributed to speeding.

Psychological Factors

Psychological factors are simply events or occurrences on the roadways that can affect driving. Though some of them are beyond the control of the driver, psychological factors can be controlled by the driver if he knows what to look for and how to handle it.

Human Factors – DUI

The specific effect of each drug on your body takes place in differing stages, the effect of drivers operating a vehicle while under the influence is disastrous.

The Dynamics of a Crash

Vehicle crashes are almost always a preventable result of a series of events. The combination of speed, place of impact and size of object being impacted can determine the severity of the crash. In every accident, however, the act of one vehicle hitting another vehicle or other object is not the only collision that can occur.

The concept of the second collision, in which the driver and other passengers collides with the windshield, seat or other object within the car when not wearing a seat belt can be just as dangerous as the initial collision.

Safety Equipment

Approximately half of all deaths that are result of an automobile crash could have been avoided if the victim were wearing a safety belt properly. Of course safety belts are only the most commonly thought of vehicle safety equipment. Items such as air bags, child safety seats and head rests all serve to protect drivers and passengers and reduce the risk of injury or death in the event of a crash.

Crash Prevention Techniques

In a typical defensive driving course, students learn crucial crash prevention techniques that include:

• Scanning the roadway and adapting to surroundings
• Employing the two-second rule for following distances
• Knowing your vehicle’s stopping distance
• Being aware of reaction distance
• Environment hazards
• Vehicle emergencies
• Sharing the road
• Passing and necessary clear distance
• Right of way
• Speed adjustments and railroad crossings

State Traffic Laws

The final portion of many state defensive driving curriculum requirements is state-specific traffic laws. While for many students this portion serves as a mere refresher course, state traffic laws are not always known by all students.

And especially in states were defensive driving courses are taken as a result of receiving a speeding ticket or other traffic violation, relearning these traffic laws can help turn a traffic offender into a good defensive driver.

The Goals of Defensive Driving

The goal of an effective defensive driving program is to properly educate students in all areas of driving, offer instructions for developing a positive attitude behind the wheel and increase the driver’s awareness and focus to ultimately help reduce the risk of accidents.

back to top

________________________________________________________________________________

Which way is Right?...Who Does Has the Right of Way?

*Who Has the Right of Way?

Laws never really grant the right of way. Instead, the law simply states when the right of way must be yielded. Therefore, you should never assume that you have the right of way, but you should be aware of when you must yield to other motorists. You should yield the right of way in the following instances:

• At a yield sign;
• To pedestrians in a crosswalk;
• To persons using a seeing eye guide dog;
• To persons using a white cane with or without a red tip;
• At uncontrolled intersections where vehicles are already in the intersection;
• At “T” intersections where you must yield to vehicles on the through road;
• When turning left in which case you must yield to oncoming pedestrians, cars, etc.;
• When driving on an unpaved road that intersections with a paved road; and
• When returning to the roadway after the car is parked.

Yield to the Driver on the Right

Few areas of traffic safety are more misunderstood than the “Yield to the Driver on the Right” rule. This is the rule that controls most intersections when drivers arrive at an intersection simultaneously.

If you reach an uncontrolled intersection at close to the same time, the vehicle who actually reached the intersection last is the driver who must yield the right of way. If you reach the intersection at the same time, the driver on the left should yield the right of way.

Pedestrians, Bicyclists, School Buses and Emergency Vehicles

- Pedestrians always have the right of way at intersections and crosswalks.

- Bicycles, since they are considered “vehicles,” are subject to the same rules as other drivers

- The right of way must always be yielded to emergency vehicles, construction vehicles and workers and school buses during the instances we have already discussed.

Right of Way on Mountain Roads

If two vehicles meet on a narrow mountain road in which there is only room for one vehicle to travel at a time, the vehicle going downhill must yield to the vehicle traveling uphill. The downhill vehicle should pull over enough to allow the other vehicle through; unless it is more practical for the uphill vehicle to find a wider space or turnout.

Should you ever insist on the right of way?

The driver should never assume that other drivers will start or complete any maneuver and should never insist on the right of way nor attempt to force their way into traffic. Drivers should try to anticipate other driver’s actions as well as yielding whenever needed or required by law. Giving up the right of way to other drivers also helps to avoid crashes, as does gaining eye contact with all operators of motor vehicles that come directly into conflict with you. Drivers should attempt to be both courteous and conscientious toward other drivers.

back to top

________________________________________________________________________________

back to top

________________________________________________________________________________

What is E85 Flex Fuels All About?

(April 12, 2007, www.chevrolet.com) E85 FlexFuel vehicles can run on either gasoline or E85 — a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline — or a combination of both. E85 ethanol fuel is a cleaner-burning, mostly renewable fuel source made from U.S.-grown biomaterial, such as corn or other grain products. It helps reduce greenhouse gases and can enhance the nation’s economy and energy independence. Availability of this special fuel varies by state.

Below are some common questions and answers about E85 Flex Fuels.

Q. What is E85 ethanol?

A. Ethanol is a high octane, domestically-produced renewable fuel. E85 ethanol is an alternative fuel to gasoline and is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline – although the exact percentages vary seasonally. 

Q. What are the benefits of using E85 ethanol instead of gasoline?

A. At GM, we believe that the biofuel with the greatest potential to displace petroleum-based fuels in the U.S. is ethanol.  And there are several other benefits to using E85 ethanol,including:

• Ethanol, the major component of E85 ethanol, is a renewable fuel.
• Using E85 ethanol helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Using E85 ethanol helps to reduce dependence on petroleum, and helps create greater diversity in our nation’s energy supplies and sources.
• Using E85 ethanol has the ability to help improve vehicle performance because E85 ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline which allows for more horsepower and torque.
• Using E85 ethanol helps to reduce smog-forming emissions.
• Using E85 ethanol can help to support rural communities and the domestic agriculture industry.

Q. Isn’t ethanol only able to be produced from corn? Doesn’t this divert corn away from food and feed markets?

A. No. Ethanol can be produced from a variety of materials, and other options are being explored now for production in the U.S. Although not yet in large-scale commercial production, “cellulosic ethanol” is an emerging technology to produce ethanol from agricultural waste and forestry residues such as corn stalks or rice husks, or from purposefully–grown crops such as switch grass or trees. An added benefit is that the production of cellulosic ethanol results in greater greenhouse gas reductions than achieved by producing ethanol from corn.

In regards to affecting food and feed markets when creating ethanol from corn, the National Corn Growers Association has published reports that show that there is plenty of corn available for all uses. In addition to fuel, the ethanol creation process yields high-quality livestock feed and food production. The Association has also stated a goal of accommodating the long term projected increase in ethanol production from 4 billion gallons in 2005 to 12.5-15 billion gallons, without giving up the U.S. corn industry’s domestic and export markets.  (Additional statistics on the use of corn in the U.S. include: In 2003, 57% of the total corn grown in the U.S. was used as animal feed and 19% of the total crop was exported.  Ethanol production currently consumes about 13% of the total U.S. corn crop.) 

Q. In terms of cost, which is more expensive – gasoline or E85 ethanol?

A. The price of E85 ethanol varies by market and can fluctuate just like any other fuel. During the spike in gasoline prices in September 2005, the price of E85 ethanol was as much as 60 cents a gallon less than gasoline in some places. In 2006, the price of ethanol reached new highs as refiners abruptly replaced the additive MTBE with ethanol. This sudden increase in demand produced a temporary price spike that made E85 ethanol more expensive than gasoline in some areas. However, ethanol production costs are significantly below today’s price of gasoline. In the future, we expect E85 ethanol to be cheaper per mile than gasoline when gas prices are high and more expensive per mile when gas prices are low. 

As is the case with all forms of fuel, the larger the network of fueling outlets and the greater the use of the fuel, the more competitively priced that fuel will be. For more information on E85 ethanol pricing around the country, visit www.E85fuel.com.

________________________________________________________________________________

back to top

________________________________________________________________________________

BOISE - February 14, 2007: Sixteen-year-old drivers are involved in 38 percent fewer fatal crashes and 40 percent fewer crashes resulting in injuries in states with graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs that have at least five of seven common components, according to a release to be issued this week by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

     "Motor vehicle crashes remain the number one cause of death for teens in the United States, and roughly 1,000 16-year-old drivers are involved in fatal crashes each year," according to J. Peter Kissinger, AAA Foundation president and CEO. The Foundation commissioned the study to better understand the ability of legislation to make a difference on teen driver safety.

     "Based on the research results, the impact of GDL programs is highly impressive," said AAA Idaho Director of Public and Government Affairs Dave Carlson.  "Senate Bill 1119 which will be up for a hearing in the next week or two would amend Idaho's teen licensing law to make it more effective."

     The Foundation study concludes that certain characteristics common to effective state laws result in fewer fatal crashes and injury crashes.  Seven basic GDL components were included as criteria in place in states across the U.S. They include:

• A minimum age of 16 years for receiving a learner's permit. Idaho's minimum is 14 1/2 to take a drivers education course, followed by a minimum 4-month supervised permit process.
• A requirement to hold the learner's permit for at least 6 months before receiving a license that allows any unsupervised driving. Idaho's law relies on a 4-month period. SB 1119 would raise the minimum to 6 months.
• A requirement for certification of at least 30 hours of supervised driving practice during the learner stage. Idaho's current law calls for 50 hours, 10 of which are at night.
• An intermediate stage of licensing with a minimum entry age of at least 16 years and 6 months. Idaho's intermediate stage is less defined and generally starts as young as age 15.
• A night-time driving restriction for intermediate license holders, beginning no later than 10 p.m. Idaho's provision is stronger than most, limiting unsupervised night driving until the licensee reaches age 16.
• A passenger restriction for intermediate license holders, allowing no more than one passenger (except family members). A similar restriction is included in the Idaho bill under consideration.
• A minimum age of 17 years for full, unrestricted licensure. Idaho's law allows full privileges as early as age 16, but depending on the age a new driver enters the licensing process, an amendment to current law would add up to six months until age 17 when certain passenger restrictions would be in effect.   

     The AAA Foundation study is based on an analysis of crash data compiled and made available by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Census data, a comparison of current state laws, and information provided by AAA Government Relations.

Idaho by the Numbers
     Despite a 5.6 percent decrease in serious injury and fatal collisions during the first four years following passage of Idaho's law in 2000, Idaho teen drivers between 15-19 are still overrepresented in such crashes.  In 2005, the state recorded 38 teen fatalities involving drivers 15-19 years, down from 68 in 2001 when the law went into effect. Unfortunately, this driver group was involved in 2.5 times as many crashes as would be expected based on the number of licensed drivers they represent.

     Though they represented just 6.8 percent of licensed drivers, teens ages 15-19 were involved in 13.5 percent of all drivers in fatal and serious injury crashes, based on crash safety data from Idaho's Office of Highway Safety.

    A 2006 study also conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that 285 people were killed in Idaho teen-involved crashes from 1996-2004. Among those were 111 teen drivers 15-17 years of age, 106 passengers, 50 occupants of other vehicles, and 17 pedestrians or non-motorists.

     "We hope lawmakers will understand that more needs to be done to help new drivers gain the kind of experience that will ultimately make them better and safer drivers," Carlson said. "We believe legislation now under consideration is a reasonable and prudent way to address the problem."

AAA Idaho led a coalition that helped rewrite a 50-year-old drivers licensing model which previously only required students to pass 30 hours of classroom instruction and just 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training.

(Source: AAA Oregon/Idaho)

back to top

________________________________________________________________________________

back to top

________________________________________________________________________________

If You Are In An Automobile Accident:

• Call the police.
• Obtain information such as the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and license numbers of all persons involved in the accident and all witnesses. Also, record the time, date, location, road conditions, make and year of the vehicles involved, insurance information, apparent damage and injuries, and your version of what happened. Call your insurance agent or insurance company with your policy number and other relevant information as soon as possible. Be sure you cooperate fully with the insurance company and ask your agent what documents, forms, and data you'll need.
• Take notes each time you talk to your insurance company, agent, lawyers, police, or others involved in the situation. Write down the dates, times, names, and subjects you talked about, as well as any decisions or promises made.
• Ask your insurance company if you have coverage for a rental vehicle if your car is not drivable and save any receipts and bills, including those from a car rental or towing and storage of your damaged car.
• If you have a dispute with your insurer about the amount or terms of the claim settlement, you can contact your state insurance department for assistance.

(Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners 2007)

back to top

________________________________________________________________________________