Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ruh Oh: Florida drops all charges against woman framed by police for traffic accident]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/30/ruh-oh-florida-drops-all-charges-against-women-framed-by-police/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/30/ruh-oh-florida-drops-all-charges-against-women-framed-by-police/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/30/ruh-oh-florida-drops-all-charges-against-women-framed-by-police/#commentsFiled under:


Click above to view the video after the jump

This is just... well, decide for yourselves. A Hollywood, Florida police officer rams into the back of a woman's car. Three other cops arrive on the scene and they concoct a fictional story about a cat jumping out of a car, and the officer thinking it's a pedestrian, thereby causing the accident. They then pinned a DUI charge on the woman. The cops even went so far as to change the angle of the pictures to make it look like the woman swerved in front of the police car. And it gets worse from there -- and it's all caught on the video. One of the officers says on tape (NSFW language), "I don't lie and make things up ever because it's wrong, but if I need to bend it a little bit to protect a cop, I'll do it -- She's freaking hammered anyway."

All charges have been dropped against the woman by the Broward State Attorney's Office and all four officers are now on administrative duty pending the completion of the investigation. To paraphrase Dave Barry, only in South Florida.

[Source: NBC Miami]

Continue reading Ruh Oh: Florida drops all charges against woman framed by police for traffic accident

Ruh Oh: Florida drops all charges against woman framed by police for traffic accident originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AccidentCrashFloridaPoliceThu, 30 Jul 2009 15:59:00 EST<![CDATA[World's longest fingernails clipped in SUV accident]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/14/worlds-longest-fingernails-clipped-in-suv-accident/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/14/worlds-longest-fingernails-clipped-in-suv-accident/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/14/worlds-longest-fingernails-clipped-in-suv-accident/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Seatbelts save lives... and prevent broken fingernails, too. An apparently unbelted Lee Redmond was ejected from her SUV during an accident earlier this week. While the noteworthy Utah resident somehow survived the crash, her record-setting fingernails didn't fare as well. The Guinness Book of World Records-certified growths (yeah, they are more than a bit grotesque) were all broken, apparently leaving Redmond rather stumped.

As she recovers in the hospital from her injuries it would be wise to ponder the case of Shridhar Chillal. The previous record fingernail holder from India cut his own nails off in search of a more normal life several years ago. However, he was so emotionally distressed afterward that he had them glued back on. Apparently, when it comes to fingernails, there's nothing that a bit of super glue can't fix!

[Source: Google/AP]

World's longest fingernails clipped in SUV accident originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AccidentbrokenCrashFingernailsguiness book of world recordsGuinessBookOfWorldRecordsLee RedmondLeeRedmondSUVSat, 14 Feb 2009 10:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Porsche test engineer killed in autobahn crash]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/13/porsche-test-engineer-killed-in-autobahn-crash/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/13/porsche-test-engineer-killed-in-autobahn-crash/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/13/porsche-test-engineer-killed-in-autobahn-crash/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A Porsche test engineer was killed on the autobahn early Friday morning during a round-the-clock test while at behind the wheel of a next-generation 911 Cabriolet prototype. The 25-year veteran tester was part of a three-man driving team that operated in shifts around the clock.

While the cause of the accident is not yet known and the victim has not been named, what is understood is that the 51-year-old driver's car slid under the center guardrail around 2:40 am on the A5 autobahn between Frankfurt and Heidelberg. Porsche spokesman Dirk Erat says that the car was not taking part in a high-speed test, as those are not carried out on public roads. Thanks to everyone for the tips.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Porsche test engineer killed in autobahn crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>911accidentautobahncabriocabrioletcarreracrashporscheprototypeFri, 13 Feb 2009 11:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Mii sought in Japanese hit-and-run]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/04/mii-sought-in-japanese-hit-and-run/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/04/mii-sought-in-japanese-hit-and-run/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/04/mii-sought-in-japanese-hit-and-run/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



In Japan's Kanagawa prefecture, it looks like you can add 'police sketch artist' the list of occupations being killed by technology. The authorities there evidently skipped the pad and pencil and went straight to the Nintendo Wii when they had to come up with an image of the perpetrator, using the Mii digital avatar tool.

It would almost be more believable if the police were actually looking for an avatar that had escaped its console and gone on a joyride, rather than looking for a human being who looks like an avatar that looks a little surprised and a little high.

Oh, and the sign says "This man is wanted for a hit and run - if you see him please report him to Kanagawa police immediately." You might start your search in Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 2. As comical as this is now, mark our words: We haven't seen the last of this.

[Source: Kotaku]

Mii sought in Japanese hit-and-run originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentavataretcgovernmenthit and runHitAndRunhumorjapanmiipolicewiiWed, 04 Feb 2009 01:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Michigan International Speedway joining with state to create car test facility]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/michigan-international-speedway-joining-with-state-to-create-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/michigan-international-speedway-joining-with-state-to-create-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/michigan-international-speedway-joining-with-state-to-create-car/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Michigan International Speedway (MIS) plays host to two NASCAR races: the 3M Performance 400 Presented by Bondo in the Sprint Cup Series, and the Carfax 250 in the Nationwide Series. Both races are likely to involve a fair number of cars crashing into each other, so it's ronic, then, that the MIS has been selected by the Michigan Department of Transportation as a neutral testing facility for car-to-car and car-to-road technology that are expected to one day prevent cars from crashing.

The testing is a part of Michigan's "Connected Vehicles" program, which is examining the practical use of technologies that allow cars to communicate with one another. The $100 million state program is four years into its five-year term, and needed a site where it could test a variety of makes and a range of components without giving anyone home-field advantage. The Speedway is now that site.

Between automakers and technology suppliers, Connected Vehicles is expected to add up to 40,000 jobs to the Michigan economy, 1,000 in 2009 alone. The larger goal behind it is for Michigan to position itself as a center of automotive technology and research -- and were it to succeed and end up creating cars that can't crash, that would make a nice filler for the vacuum created by the Detroit 3.

[Source: Detroit News | Image: Ronald Martinez/Getty]

Michigan International Speedway joining with state to create car test facility originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentcrashgovernmentmdotmichiganmichigan department of transportationmichigan international speedwayMichiganDepartmentOfTransportationMichiganInternationalSpeedwaymismotorsportssafetytechtechnologytestingFri, 30 Jan 2009 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[When are the most dangerous times to be on the road?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/23/when-are-the-most-dangerous-times-to-be-on-the-road/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/23/when-are-the-most-dangerous-times-to-be-on-the-road/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/23/when-are-the-most-dangerous-times-to-be-on-the-road/#commentsFiled under:



Automobiles have become safer over the years, yet every time you get in a car, you're rolling the Reaper's dice. On average, 110 people die on the road each and every day. While many accident fatalities can be attributed to drinking and driving, not wearing a safety belt or reckless driving, some of the danger is compounded by the time of day people are on the road.

Forbes has compiled a litany of data showing which times are the the least safe to get behind the wheel, and the numbers are startling. For example, the most dangerous time of the day to drive is the afternoon rush hour. Between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m., there are an average of 6.6 deaths per hour in the US. While the afternoon wins on volume, the most dangerous time per driver on the road is between midnight and 4 a.m. According to the publication's findings, 5.87 people per 100 million on the road at this time never make it home. 36% of night time fatal accidents involve drunken driving, as opposed to 9% during daylight hours. Of the people killed on the road after midnight, 71% were found to not be wearing a safety belt, verses 55% during the day.

The study also took into account the top days to die in an auto accident. Despite a diminished rush hour, Saturday is the deadliest day of the week, with 158 fatalities per day. The most deadly month? August. Worst day of the year to be on the road? The Fourth of July, by far. And if you are making travel plans for the Thanksgiving weekend, take a plane. It's the most dangerous holiday weekend to be on the road. Hit the read link below to view the Forbes story in its entirety. It won't make you want to swear off driving, but it may make you think twice about when you drive.

[Source: Forbes]

When are the most dangerous times to be on the road? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentdrunken drivingDrunkenDrivingfatal accidentsFatalAccidentsforbes magazineForbesMagazinefourth of julyFourthOfJulymotor safetyMotorSafetysafetystudysurveyThanksgiving weekendThanksgivingWeekendtraffic safetytraffic studyTrafficSafetyTrafficStudyFri, 23 Jan 2009 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Flying rat poop leads to collapse of gas station canopy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/23/flying-rat-poop-leads-to-collapse-of-gas-station-canopy/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/23/flying-rat-poop-leads-to-collapse-of-gas-station-canopy/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/23/flying-rat-poop-leads-to-collapse-of-gas-station-canopy/#commentsFiled under: ,

Pigeons -- flying rats, rock doves, what have you -- are probably not on anyone's favorite list of fowl, but lately they've been bringing the house down. Well, not houses exactly, but bridges and awnings if you believe the news. Last year it was reported pigeon poop helped cause the bridge collapse in Minnesota -- pigeon excreta being remarkably effective at rusting things out. Now, at a Yuma, Arizona gas station, an awning collapsed under the weight of wet guano. The folks in charge let up to five inches of dung collect on the flat awning, and when it rained, the mass of that mess brought the whole thing tumbling down. Lost in the hail of excrement: a BMW and a HUMMER. Let this be a lesson to you: beware the Columbidae.

[Source: MSNBC]

Flying rat poop leads to collapse of gas station canopy originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentcollapsegas stationGasStationpigeonpoopTue, 23 Dec 2008 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota of Jamaica Camry looks suspiciously like Honda Accord]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/19/toyota-of-jamaica-camry-looks-suspiciously-like-honda-accord/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/19/toyota-of-jamaica-camry-looks-suspiciously-like-honda-accord/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/19/toyota-of-jamaica-camry-looks-suspiciously-like-honda-accord/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



If you visit the Toyota Jamaica website and have a look at the box under Toyota cars, you'll see these models listed: Avensis, Camry, Corolla, Yaris. Look at the pictures next to the cars listed, and you'll see an Avensis, an Accord, a Corolla, and a Yaris. That's right -- there's a Honda Accord thumbnail pictured next to the link for the Toyota Camry. According to tipster Michael, it's been that way for more than a year. We can certainly understand the odd spelling error or even the wrong picture... for a little bit. But substituting your bread-and-butter for your direct competitor's bread-and-butter for more than a year? Well, life is indeed relaxed in Jamaica town. Thanks for the tip, Michael!

[Source: Toyota Jamaica via Wheels Jamaica]

Toyota of Jamaica Camry looks suspiciously like Honda Accord originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentadvertisingdealershonda accordHondaAccordJamaicamarketingmistakestoyota camrytoyota jamaicaToyotaCamryToyotaJamaicawebsiteFri, 19 Dec 2008 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[US DOT report confirms speed not major cause of accidents]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/us-dot-report-confirms-speed-not-major-cause-of-accidents/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/us-dot-report-confirms-speed-not-major-cause-of-accidents/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/us-dot-report-confirms-speed-not-major-cause-of-accidents/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sometimes numbers lie. But we keep them around because they tell the truth more often than not. The NHTSA undertook a two-and-a-half year study that examined 5,471 injury accidents nationwide in order to figure out how accidents were being caused. Government researchers conducted their own evidence gathering at crash sites in order to establish a first-hand account of causation. What did they find? Among other things, that more drivers crashed as a result of crossing the center line (11%) than as a result of speeding (5%). Speeding, in this case, defined by "too fast for conditions," not necessarily above the posted limit.

In accidents where driver error was the cause, speeding also came in last as a causative: the 8% who drove too fast were tied with the 8% who fell asleep or had heart attacks while driving. What's more, the NHTSA's causation percentages are strikingly similar to the percentages found in an independent study conducted by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. In its study of crashes in 2007, the VDoT found that 2.9% were due to speeding -- dead last -- while 3.8%t were due to drivers falling asleep or falling ill at the tiller.

What will this mean to the politicians setting and revising speed limits based on the "Speed Kills!" mantra? Probably nothing. But it's nice to know, and nice to have the government researched numbers to back it up.

[Source: The Newspaper]

Continue reading US DOT report confirms speed not major cause of accidents

US DOT report confirms speed not major cause of accidents originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentaccidentscar accidentcar crashCarAccidentCarCrashnhtsaresearchspeedingstudytraffic accidentsTrafficAccidentsThu, 18 Dec 2008 10:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Andrea Pininfarina killed in motorcycle accident]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/andea-pininfaina-killed-in-motorcycle-accident/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/andea-pininfaina-killed-in-motorcycle-accident/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/andea-pininfaina-killed-in-motorcycle-accident/#comments

We're saddened to convey the latest reports from Italy on the untimely passing of Andrea Pininfarina. Andrea Pininfarina, head of the eponymous design studio, was the son of Sergio Pininfarina and grandson of the carrozzeria's founder Battista "Pinin" Farina.

According to the announcement by Confindustria, the industrial association over which Sergio once presided and of which Andrea served as vice-president, Andrea was killed in a motorcycle accident in Turin, not far from the company's headquarters. He was only 51 years old. Our condolences to the entire Pininfarina family, and our appreciation to Guy for alerting us to the sad news.

[Source: International Herald-Tribune via theCarfanatic.com]

Andrea Pininfarina killed in motorcycle accident originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentandrea pininfarinaAndreaPininfarinabreakingmotorcyclemotorcycle accidentmotorcycle accident andrea pininfarinaMotorcycleAccidentMotorcycleAccidentAndreaPininfarinapininfariaThu, 07 Aug 2008 08:52:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Fiat 500 vs. Audi Q7, guess who wins]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/video-fiat-500-vs-audi-q7-guess-who-wins/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/video-fiat-500-vs-audi-q7-guess-who-wins/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/video-fiat-500-vs-audi-q7-guess-who-wins/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to view the video after the jump

Small, fuel efficient vehicles are all the rage right now, and many SUV owners are willing to do just about anything to get out of their gas guzzling transportation. Problem is, if you do get a new MINI or Yaris, you still have to drive it out into the automotive wilderness. SUVs and big pickup trucks are still omnipresent, and driving a vehicle that barely comes up to the bumper on an F-150 just doesn't look that safe. Automakers will tell you that their new go-karts get five stars in crash tests and that they're as safe as ever, but wouldn't you like to see what would happen if a three-ton SUV hit one of these miniature motor vehicles?

The good news is that there is just such a video that resides on YouTube, and it pits the massive Audi Q7 against the cute and tiny Fiat 500. While we would desperately like the folks at Fiat to send the 500 State-side, watching the video doesn't exactly make us want to drive one ourselves. Hit the jump to see how the Fiat fared, but if you have a strong affinity for crash test dummies, you may want to take a pass on this one.Thanks for the tip, JC!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Fiat 500 vs. Audi Q7, guess who wins

VIDEO: Fiat 500 vs. Audi Q7, guess who wins originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above to watch video

We are inundated with safety reminders every time we get into our cars and turn the key. Your car reminds you to fasten your safety belt with incessant beeps and warning lights fill your dashboard when brake or airbag sensors think something is wrong. But, as the video pasted after the break proves, even standing next to your car can be dangerous under the right circumstances. Dynamometers, or dynos, can be awfully dangerous and are usually surrounded by some sort of guard rail, but not this one in Russia Serbia. While it's hard to ignore the guy in the red pants, keep your eyes on the older gentleman at the rear of the room.

While our first inclination was to laugh, the reality is that this face-plant could have been much worse. We're glad that the man in the video appears to be alright. Papa!

[Source: Dragtimes.com]

Continue reading VIDEO: Safety 101 around a dynamometer

VIDEO: Safety 101 around a dynamometer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentdynodyno accidentdyno-accidentDynoAccidentrussiaFri, 04 Apr 2008 15:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Another GT-R bites the dust]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/24/another-gt-r-bites-the-dust/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/24/another-gt-r-bites-the-dust/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/24/another-gt-r-bites-the-dust/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Click above for more pics of this bashed up Nissan GT-R

This isn't the first Nissan GT-R to find itself looking like an accordion. We brought you another shattered GT-R in Hong Kong in early January, and a GT-R fender bender a few days later in Shibuya (Tokyo). An Autoblog tipster just sent us a link to yet another bashed-up GT-R in Malaysia. As a purely objective observation, the latest incident does a decent job of demonstrating the integrity of the Nissan GT-R's safety cage. Too bad it's at the expense of supercar carnage. Are we the only ones who think this Nissan GT-R bloodshed is getting out of hand? Thanks for the tip, Eric!

Gallery: Wrecked Nissan GT-R


[Source: NAGTROC]

Another GT-R bites the dust originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AccidentBashedBrokenCrashIncidentNissannissan gt-rNissanGt-rnissangtrMon, 24 Mar 2008 18:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Irony: Red light cameras a safety impediment]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/14/irony-red-light-cameras-a-safety-impediment/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/14/irony-red-light-cameras-a-safety-impediment/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/14/irony-red-light-cameras-a-safety-impediment/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Red light cameras are nothing more than a surreptitious tax. Oh sure, they're sold to municipalities as a safety benefit, but what else would you say if you wanted to be paid to install, administrate, and monitor your little ticket-writing bots? The cities and towns that put the cameras greedily snap up the extra revenue generated by dangerously short yellow lights and overzealous cameras. Patrick Bedard has been poking holes in the theory that traffic cameras are the salve for behind the wheel idiocy, and a recent study by the University of South Florida Public Health agrees that the cameras actually cause accidents. Other studies also back up the findings that drivers are quicker to slam on their brakes at yellow lights when they spot the cameras. While it should not play out with a rear ending, nobody maintains a safe following distance, or even pays attention. In some cases, the rate of red light running is low enough that the cameras cause a spike in incidents, proving that the cure can sometimes be worse than the sickness.

[Source: Kicking Tires, Photo: Morning Chu Hi]

Irony: Red light cameras a safety impediment originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentaccidentscameracrashfloridainfractionred lightRedLightrevenuesafetystudytickettraffictraffic cameraTrafficCameraviolationFri, 14 Mar 2008 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA["Dear Dodge, Thank you for giving the Ram a really strong frame."]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/07/dear-dodge-thank-you-for-giving-the-ram-a-really-strong-frame/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/07/dear-dodge-thank-you-for-giving-the-ram-a-really-strong-frame/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/07/dear-dodge-thank-you-for-giving-the-ram-a-really-strong-frame/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



There is a good reason to pay attention to those "Bridge May Be Icy" signs that are posted at nearly every overpass in the U.S., and the guy in the photo above would likely have died for ignoring the warning if it weren't for his Dodge Ram. The Ram's sturdy frame is the only thing standing between this lucky mother trucker and a 70 foot fall to the riverbed below. And the picture is the best argument we've seen to date against unibody pickups that would have slid right over the edge. Click here to see more pics of the Ram's high-wire balancing act.

[Source: Wrecked Exotics]

"Dear Dodge, Thank you for giving the Ram a really strong frame." originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentDodge Ramdodge ram accidentdodge ram bridgeDodgeRamDodgeRamAccidentDodgeRamBridgeframepickup truckPickupTruckFri, 07 Mar 2008 09:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Wienermobile down!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/12/wienermobile-down/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/12/wienermobile-down/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/12/wienermobile-down/#commentsFiled under: ,



The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile may be the most unique and recognizable vehicle on American roads, but even a 7,000-pound hot dog can spin out of control on a patch of ice. The 27-foot-long rolling tribute to pig lips and chicken necks lost its footing and spun into an embankment on highway 15 in Pennsylvania on its way to Penn State for a recruiting visit. Neither of the two women riding in the flailing frankfurter were hurt in the incident, and a tow truck was able to get the over-sized sausage back onto the road.

We're not sure how fast the two women were driving the Wienermobile when the spin-out occured, but this incident only proves that even giant wieners can benefit from stability control. Click the read link below for a lot more bad hot dog humor.

Thanks for the tip, bakerlaw67!

[Source: Star-Gazette]

Wienermobile down! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidenthot dogHotDogOscar MayerOscarMayerWienermobileTue, 12 Feb 2008 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Volvo found guilty of manslaughter, fined]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/01/volvo-found-guilty-of-manslaughter-fined/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/01/volvo-found-guilty-of-manslaughter-fined/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/01/volvo-found-guilty-of-manslaughter-fined/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Two children tragically lost their lives when French driver Catherine Kohtz lost control of her Volvo 850. The 1999 incident, which Kohtz blamed on a loss of braking ability in her Volvo, has led to French courts handing down a finding of manslaughter. The guilty verdict against Volvo also carries an €200,000 fine, though Volvo holds that there wasn't anything wrong with the car's braking system and will likely appeal. Driver Kohtz was fined €300 and also sentenced to a six-month jail term, which was suspended.

Kohtz's accident was initially attributed to reckless operation, and tensions in the town of Wasselonne have been stirred by the circumstances of crash. Rumblings of Kohtz, relatively wealthy, having bought her way out of a more serious outcome for the death of two ten year olds from lesser means have been dividing the town in eastern France. An investigation determined that the brakes in the Volvo 850 suffered from a problem known to Volvo. Rather than recall 180,000 850s, Volvo is alleged to have quietly asked its dealers to fix a rubber pipe prone to rupture or detachment, causing a loss of braking ability. An investigating magistrate contended that service documents instructing dealers how to repair the problem were overly vague, leading to an improper and ineffective repair on Kohtz's car. For a company with such an emphasis on safety, its surprising that it would try to cover up a major flaw in such a crucial system. Volvo argued that the service documents that were seized outline an innocuous fault, and that something else like a loose water bottle behind the pedal was to blame.

[Source: BBC via Winding Road; The Independent]

Volvo found guilty of manslaughter, fined originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sometimes you come across a story that makes you say, "I get it... But I don't get it..." A computer consultant in a rental car recently showcased his unflagging trust in technology, and just barely lived to tell the story. Following the instructions the GPS was giving him -- religiously, in this case -- he was told to make a right turn... onto train tracks. And he did it.

We can't ever imagine a case in which making a right turn onto train tracks could be an acceptable course of action, no matter who's giving the command. Especially in light of some of the places our own GPS has tried to lead us. And not only did the driver make the turn onto the tracks, but he got stuck there -- just as a passenger train was coming. Not being known for their ability to stop on any amount of coinage, and in spite of the man's waving, the train plowed into the car in a "fiery crash."

No one was hurt in the crash -- the driver got out of the way in time. However, the 500 passengers who were stranded for hours probably wanted to do unkind things to him once they found out he was all right. Yet if he's not hurting now, the bill he gets from the rental car company might change that. Even if he checked the comprehensive option, we can't imagine that a train and 250 feet of damaged railroad tracks are covered in the rental company's Loss Damage Waiver.

Thanks for the tip, Brian!

[Source: MSNBC]

Man follows GPS directions, runs into passenger train originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dave Chappelle did a bit about going for a ride with a friend of his in New York City. His friend driving, Chip, started racing down a Manhattan street. When he was pulled over by NYPD, Chip told the officer, "I didn't know I couldn't do that" -- and after a scolding, the officer let him go with "Now go on, get out of here!"

We aren't sure if a 29-year-old man in Washington had the same thing in mind when one evening, after driving in the opposing lane for less than a block, he totaled his car on a light pole. His one-word answer to the police, when he was asked what happened, was this: "pterodactyl." And it appears to have worked: the man was treated at a local hospital and released.

The man's alcohol level was "minimal." We don't know what he was drinking, but it must have been powerful. So on this New Year's be careful out there. And watch out for flying, Mesozoic-era reptiles.

Thanks for the tip, Gary!

[Source: Herald]

Pterodactyl ruins man's Christmas originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentcar crashCarCrashMon, 31 Dec 2007 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Golden Gate bridge accident averted by selfless driver]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/29/golden-gate-bridge-accident-averted-by-selfless-driver/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/29/golden-gate-bridge-accident-averted-by-selfless-driver/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/29/golden-gate-bridge-accident-averted-by-selfless-driver/#commentsFiled under:

We don't particularly enjoy posting about auto accidents, as totaled cars and injured humans is never a good conversation starter. Every once in a while, though, we get an opportunity to post about a crash that didn't happen thanks to the quick thinking and selfless nature of a good samaritan. Such a near miss happened yesterday in San Francisco when a driver on the Golden Gate became unconscious and her Jeep Grand Cherokee came to a stop in the second lane from the center divide. John Beatty almost rammed his Ford F-350 into the back of the Jeep, but stopped just in time. The 50-year-old man from Mill Valley, CA then noticed the Jeep began to creep forward and to the left. Realizing it was headed towards the divide and into oncoming traffic, Beatty positioned his truck in front of the SUV so that it would hit him instead of crossing over. He then guided the Jeep across two lanes of road, which had fortunately been cleared of traffic when other drivers began to realize what Beatty was doing. Unfortunately, there is a sad ending to this story, as the unconscious driver of the Jeep eventually died at the hospital. If it hadn't been for Beatty, however, you would've heard about a fatal multi-car accident on the Golden Gate bridge last night.

Thanks for the tip, Patrick!

[Source: sfgate.com]

Golden Gate bridge accident averted by selfless driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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