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Reverse psychology
Friday, May 11, 2012
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 300 fatalities and 18,000 injuries occur in the US every year that involve a vehicle backing up. Among the death count, 78% involve cars and light trucks, and of those, 44% involve children under five while 33% involve people 70 and up.
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Driving GM's semi-autonomous Cadillac
Friday, April 13, 2012
Call me a Luddite if you will, but in-car technology has always been something that incenses, rather than excites me. All of my vehicles pre-date "connectivity," and never once has my phone enjoyed an automotive hookup - because it's generally turned off while I'm driving.
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Cadillac's Sensor Fusion
Friday, April 06, 2012
Although we're not quite at the stage where machines have become, as in the Terminator movies, sentient beings ready to take over the world - the recent integration of systems has given vehicles an almost uncanny sensory awareness.
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Cadillac XTS Safety Seat
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The all-new Cadillac XTS luxury sedan begins production this spring as the industry's first car to use "directional tactile sensation" to warn of crash threats while driving and parking. And what are those exactly? Bum cues.
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Australia opens with Golden Rules
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) opened its 2012 season in Australia with a ringing endorsement of its Golden Rules campaign for safe driving -- drivers from every team posed on the grid at Melbourne's Albert Park circuit holding cards bearing the rules.
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The great nanny state
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I was thinking of giving this blog the following titles: "Technology will be the death of us" or "Useless technology we pay for." I thought about it, then was reminded of a comment I got in one of my reviews. The commenter was in the market for a new car and when he found out that the stability control system in the car he was interested in could not be shut off manually, he got very upset.
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When baby makes three Part II
Friday, March 02, 2012
A short while ago, I started giving you some car related tips for new moms. Make sure you check them out and here's part II. At a year, baby and seat face forward, which is better, but you still don't want your passenger to get kicked unmercifully every time they sit in your car.
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The Inverse Relationship
Monday, February 13, 2012
I've come to believe that an inverse relationship exists between the degree of vulnerability a motorist is exposed to and the level of danger they choose to pursue. What do I mean? Simple: the less protection one has, the more risk he/she is willing to accept.
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Crazy Cousin Billy
Thursday, February 09, 2012
We have all heard the expressions "Big Brother is watching" and "nanny state," which means that many people feel the government interferes in their personal lives too much. Who is to say that we don't really need it?
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Hand-Crank Windows and Skidding Tires
Monday, January 16, 2012
I had a startling reminder of just how far economy cars have come in the last several years. I was saddled with a 2009 bare-bones Ford Focus as a temporary ride while my car was being repaired. I jumped into the loaner, which had been delivered to my office, and headed for the parking gate. As I rolled up to the card-reader, my hand fumbled for the power window switch: mistake No. 1.
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SuperTooth HD Handsfree Speakerphone: Review
Monday, January 02, 2012
Safety behind the wheel has taken on a whole new dimension with the introduction of the smartphone. Many an accident now results in the use of this new breed of device. Whether you're sending or receiving a text message, keeping up with your friends' lives on Facebook, writing a note on Twitter or just making a simple phone call (remember those?), one second of distraction is all it takes.
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Canada updates child seat safety regulations
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced that updated child car seat safety regulations come into force on January 1, 2012.
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Replacement cars for worried Volt owners
Monday, November 28, 2011
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) study showing that electrical fires can flare up in the Chevrolet Volt several days after a severe crash has pushed GM to adopt a rather unusual policy: the automaker will lend a free alternate vehicle to worried owners.
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Must-have winter features
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Fellow Canadian wintertime driving enthusiasts, rejoice! Winter is almost here. Mother Nature will soon dump frigid nastiness all over our roadways. That makes driving delightful for those who'd rather hit the road with a cup of hot chocolate in a snowstorm than stay in and think about shoveling.
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Emergency preparedness: not just for Boy Scouts
Friday, September 23, 2011
The Boy Scout motto is "be prepared". That's also a great motto for anyone taking their car on the road, whether it's winter conditions, a back-road adventure, or just an everyday commute. Most of the time, we get to where we're going uneventfully, but there are a number of easy-to-pack items that can come in handy if that trip suddenly becomes eventful.
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Government of Canada takes action on child road and traffic safety
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Researchers will be tackling the issue of traffic and road injuries in Canadian children thanks to a new significant investment by the Government of Canada. The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State, Science and Technology, made the announcement today on behalf of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
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Look overhead!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
It's no secret. In fact, even if we tried to keep it a secret, given the amount of coverage this story has garnered, people in Namibia are aware of what's going on here. Yes, Montreal's road infrastructure is kaput.
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Ford Technology conference: Ideas for older drivers
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
For many Baby Boomers, it must often appear that they're being somewhat left behind in this modern age of automotive technology and in-car connectivity. Yes, whilst they struggle to adapt and adjust to this new high-tech era, it must seem to them as if most of this new technology is being aimed at the younger generation rather than their age group. So what's being done on the behalf on the older driver?
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Is "Ange Gardien" or Guardian Angel the perfect way to improve road safety?
Friday, July 01, 2011
All over the world, thousands of drivers (especially young ones) die in car accidents because they feel invincible, take too many risks and don't heed the Highway Safety Code. The impact of awareness campaigns is hard to measure, and governments are still looking for concrete solutions to this veritable scourge. The Ange Gardien system invented by Canadian Denis Hugron may be what they've been looking for.
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Invincible
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
It's always a gut-wrenching moment when you learn that someone you know, someone you admire and even someone you hate dies. Ryan Dunn, star of the Jackass TV series on MTV that spawned three movies, killed himself along with a friend last Monday after crashing his Porsche 911 GT3 against a tree.
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Towing season is the right time to be safe
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
This summer, as with every other summer, thousands upon thousands of Canadians will hit the highways and byways of our great country towing campers, power toys or both behind their trucks and SUVs. Whatever the length of the weekend, should you find yourself on the freeway, you'll without a doubt notice huge flocks of road trains headed towards campgrounds or the lakes.
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Death toll on Canada's roads continues to decrease
Friday, May 20, 2011
As part of National Road Safety Week, Transport Canada is pleased to announce that fewer people are dying and suffering injuries on Canadian roads every year. Transport Canada today released statistics that confirm the continuing decline in severe road collisions.
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BMW develops Left Turn Assistant
Saturday, May 21, 2011
On May 17 and 18, BMW tested its new Left Turn Assistant technology on a street corner in Wolfsburg, Germany, as part of the INTERSAFE 2 event. A true little technological marvel, the system could well prevent road accidents and frustration in the not-so-distant future.
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MIT looks at driver distraction
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Bryan Reimer, from the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), recently talked to Edmunds about his research into how cognitive demands and new technologies affect drivers of all ages.
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Unlimited fines for minors to make roads safer?
Friday, May 13, 2011
Attending a Ford event as part of the ''Sur la route en toute sécurité'' tour, traffic safety expert Robert Poeti spoke with Auto123.com about various actions Quebec could take to make the roads safer.
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Decade of Action for Road Safety launches in Canada
Thursday, May 12, 2011
The world is celebrating the official launch of the Decade of Action for Road Safety today, a United Nations initiative led by the World Health Organization. To highlight the event, several landmarks around the world, including the CN Tower in Toronto, will be illuminated in yellow. Transport Canada has taken the opportunity to challenge Canadians to change their driving habits.
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Are we safe yet?
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Every time someone asks me for advice because they're shopping for a new or pre-owned vehicle, no one ever asks which is the safest car or truck they can buy. Price, reliability, after-sales service, interior space, handling and horsepower are among the main purchase criteria, while safety is but a very minor concern.
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Seat belt usage on the rise in Canada
Thursday, January 27, 2011
A Transport Canada study has revealed that 95% of Canadians now wear their seat belt, a 3% increase compared to the last study conducted in 2006-2007.
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First vehicle platooning tests are a success
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Ever wanted to read the newspaper or stretch your legs while driving on the highway? Well, it now seems closer to reality than fiction. The first vehicle platooning tests were performed by Volvo in Sweden and the automaker is reporting a success.
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2012 Ford Focus introduces torque vectoring control
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
The highly anticipated 2012 Ford Focus is slowly coming out of the shadows, and the American automaker has announced that the model will be delivered standard with a torque vectoring control system that will increase stability in corners by lightly applying the brakes on one side only.
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Toyota Canada to make six active safety features standard on every new 2011 vehicle
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Toyota is not kidding around with safety; after the much-publicized episode of recalls due to sticking accelerator pedals earlier this year, they are doing everything in their power in order to change the negative perception that some customers might have concerning the safety of their vehicles. Therefore, they have announced the introduction of their Star Safety System for all their 2011 vehicles, in a press release today.
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A Survival Guide to Holiday Office Parties
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
With Christmas and New Year's Eve fast approaching, everyone is planning to have a good time with their family, friends and work colleagues. Unfortunately, there are still too many people drinking and driving, as reminded by the avalanche of tragic news on TV. Without further ado, here are some great alternatives to consider before and during your office parties and family reunions this holiday season.
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Five tips for safe Holiday road trips
Monday, November 15, 2010
ROCKLEIGH, N.J. - Preparing to take a road trip this holiday season? While it's a time to be thankful and merry, Irv Gordon - who as the first person to drive 2.8 million miles in the same car has taken more road trips than anyone - encourages people to also be keenly alert on the roadways.
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2011 Ford Explorer More Adaptable Than Ever for Drivers and Roads
Friday, November 12, 2010
Whether hauling mountain bikes through mud ruts or groceries and kids through rush hour traffic, the new 2011 Ford Explorer will adapt to peoples' lives more than ever - building on the capability, flexibility and utility that made it America's favorite SUV for two decades.
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The next big thing from Lexus is not a car
Saturday, October 16, 2010
TORRANCE, Calif. -- Lexus' latest innovation in its pursuit of perfection isn't a new vehicle. It's an idea... the idea that a car that will never have an accident may be possible. The automaker is using the world's most advanced driving simulator to enable its engineers to design technology that will help make driving safer.
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Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Third Round of Booster Evaluations
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
ARLINGTON, VA -- Boosters are better than they used to be at fitting lap and shoulder belts on 4 to 8-year-old kids to restrain them in a crash. So parents don't have to search as hard for a good fit for their child and vehicle. Most belt-positioning boosters, though, don't offer consistently good fit in all vehicles. This is the bottom line in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's third round of booster evaluations.
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Roadway Animal Detection System (RADS)
Monday, August 30, 2010
RADAR was once relegated the realm of military technology and sci-fi movies, but today, it's becoming increasingly prevalent in the automotive world for a whole pile of reasons.
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TRW Unveils Next Generation Head Protection System for Convertibles
Sunday, August 22, 2010
ALFDORF, Germany - TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW), the global leader in active and passive safety, today unveiled its second generation Head Protection System for Convertibles (HPSC II) -- demonstrating the Company's commitment to constant innovation and affordable safety.
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40 years in the service of safety
Friday, August 13, 2010
For 40 years now the Volvo Car Corporation's Accident Research Team has documented and analysed traffic accidents involving Volvo cars. Many of the safety systems presented over the years build on know-how gained from the Accident Research Team's impressive database.
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A Crash Avoidance Systems Using Wireless and GPS Technologies
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Ford Motor Company's researchers are developing advanced crash avoidance systems that use wireless and GPS technologies. The system helps vehicles to communicate with each other in traffic and help drivers to avoid accidents.
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Motorists: 50% Vision Loss and No Hearing
Saturday, July 31, 2010
It's easy to lose--at least temporarily--50% of your vision and all of your hearing. Really! Just climb into a car and begin driving. Your vision will be restricted to the band of sight provided by the vehicle's windshield and side glass--and as for your hearing, it'll be restricted to the whine of the kids and the groan of the engine.
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Attention mommies and daddies!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The consumer protection magazine Protégez-Vous has just published its latest issue, which deals in large part with car seats and strollers.
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Continental Comes Out With An Emergency Steer Assist To Help Drivers
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
With the development of Emergency Steer Assist, Continental, the international automotive supplier, is pursuing an entirely new approach to accident-prevention driver assistance systems. "Many of the systems in use today are restricted to intervening in the longitudinal dynamics, Emergency Steer Assist is the lateral dynamics complement to Emergency Brake Assist", said Dr.
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Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve Together To Promote eSafety in Cars
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Blainville, Quebec -- It was a little weird seeing Schumacher and Villeneuve sitting together at a table, 13 years after the famous incident during that last race of the 1997 F1 season, when Michael tackled Jacques in order to prevent him from passing. Of course, Schumacher broke his car and Villeneuve pursued to finish 4th and win the championship.
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SYNC your Ford to Google Maps
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Drivers who enjoy the convenience of Ford SYNC with Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI) soon will be able to select a destination on Google Maps and send it to their Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicles.
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Buckle up, it could save your life
Monday, May 31, 2010
On Friday, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) and comedian and spokesperson Mario Jean kicked off the 3rd edition of the Opération ceinture, or Operation Seat Belt, a vast campaign whose goal is to increase the rate of seat belt use in the province of Québec.
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Chevrolet Joins Oprah's ''No Phone Zone'' Campaign
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Detroit - Today, Chevrolet joined the "No Phone Zone" campaign, created by Oprah Winfrey and Harpo Studios, to combat distracted driving. General Motors Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre, along with UAW employees from GM's Lansing Delta Township assembly plant, announced Chevrolet's support of the campaign in a taped segment during "The Oprah Winfrey Show" dedicated to the first national "No Phone Zone" Day.
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Event Data Recorder Mandate to Improve Vehicle Safety
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
General Motors applauds Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) for introducing legislation to mandate Event Data Recorders (EDRs) in all new vehicles. EDRs can provide important crash related data that will help promote vehicle and occupant safety on America's roads.
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New EyeSight, the Latest Safety Function From Subaru
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today
announced that it successfully completed the development of the "New EyeSight", Subaru's unique driving
assist system using stereo camera technology. Based on the current EyeSight system, the safety device was
upgraded with new features to improve driving assist functions, automatic braking management system and
user-friendliness.
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Designed To Protect: The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
Friday, April 16, 2010
Detroit - The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze's class-leading safety features and structural strength were demonstrated today in a blunt manner - engineers crashed it. It was a planned test that highlighted the active and passive safety features, as well as the technology, of Chevrolet's new, fuel-efficient sedan.
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Seatbelt enforcement campaign will save lives
Monday, April 12, 2010
Orillia, ON - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be increasing enforcement throughout the province to ensure that motorists everywhere do their part in saving lives by buckling up. The increased enforcement is part of the Spring Seatbelt Campaign which is a partnership between the OPP, Ontario Ministry of Transportation and other road safety partners. The campaign runs from April 14 to 24, 2010.
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Side Blind Zone Alert in Buick LaCrosse
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
It has happened to every driver at one time or another; another vehicle hiding in your blind spot when you are trying to change lanes. Even when no crash results, your heart pounds from the adrenaline rush of the close call.
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Blackberry Application Keeps Roads Safe
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Orlando, Fla. - Auto TextBak, an application for BlackBerry Smartphones, offers a simple solution to the ever-growing epidemic of texting while driving. The application enables users to easily set an away message that will automatically reply to incoming text messages, much like an out-of-office email response.
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US vs Canada on road safety
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
I just got back from the New York auto show with my buddy Phil the Photographer and we both noticed a stunning difference between both countries where warnings, hazards and general safety are concerned.
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General Motors to Expand Brake Override Software Globally by 2012
Monday, April 05, 2010
Detroit - General Motors will expand use of "enhanced smart pedal" technology globally to all passenger cars with automatic transmissions and electronic throttle control, providing an additional safeguard to enhance customer confidence.
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An Order of 288 School Buses with SCR Technology for Daimler Trucks North America
Monday, March 22, 2010
Durham School Services, which transports students throughout the U.S., has placed an order with Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) for 288 Saf-T-Liner EF school buses with SCR technology. Delivery of the vehicles, which are made by Thomas Built Buses, is scheduled to commence in late May 2010. The buses will be used for transporting public school students in Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana.
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Myth VS. Fact: Alcohol Breath Tester
Saturday, March 20, 2010
With the recent drink drive prosecution of rugby legend JPR Williams, after he tried to get away with drink driving by putting a penny under his tongue, two questions have to be asked; firstly, why do people get behind the wheel under the illusion they are fit to drive, and risk people's lives?
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2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet: Assistance in critical situations
Monday, March 08, 2010
Preventing traffic accidents is at the heart of Mercedes-Benz's commitment to
safety. This is why the engineers in Sindelfingen are dedicated to advancing the development of sophisticated assistance systems which warn and assist the driver in critical driving situations and can act autonomously if there is acute danger.
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Honda Begins Sales Of New Safety Driving Simulator
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Honda has begun selling a new automobile driving simulator in Japan. The revised simulator has been designed to help improve road safety by allowing users to experience and learn from potentially dangerous driving situations in a safe virtual environment.
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Drivers Need To Prepare For The Switch To Daylight Saving Time
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Burnaby, BC - Time springs ahead one hour on March 14th, but will you? Time changes reflect a change in social clocks not biological ones and studies show that our circadian rhythms (body clocks) don't adjust to these changes naturally.
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The xB And Corolla Are The First Toyota Models To Earn Top Safety Pick
Monday, March 01, 2010
The Scion xB and Toyota Corolla bring to seven the number of small cars consumers have to choose from that earn the Institute's highest safety designation. To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, rollover, and rear impact tests and be equipped with electronic stability control.
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Volvo Cars' active safety system German ADAC test winner
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The largest automotive organisation in world, German ADAC, has carried out an extensive comparison test of different automatic speed and distance control systems.
Volvo XC60 clearly won the test in which six different models were compared.
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Toyota Recall the 2010 Prius and 2010 Lexus HS 250h to Update ABS Software
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
TORRANCE, Calif.,- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc, today announced it will conduct a voluntary safety recall on approximately 133,000 2010 Model Year Prius vehicles and 14,500 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h vehicles to update software in the vehicle's anti-lock brake system (ABS). No other Toyota, Lexus, or Scion vehicles are involved in this recall.
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Toyota suspends sales of 8 models
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Following the recall announced on January 21st regarding sticking accelerator pedals, Toyota Canada Inc. decided to suspend sales of eight models in its line-up. Seven production lines in five North American plants will also be suspended for a week.
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News & Events Multimedia
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Gone is the dash-mounted flower vase in the latest version of Volkswagen's Bug. Gone too is much of its cutesiness, replaced by a notable degree of sportiness intended to broaden the Beetle's target market by attracting male attention.
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