Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[UK driver bricks father's Audi TT into side of house]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/uk-driver-bricks-fathers-audi-tt-into-side-of-house/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/uk-driver-bricks-fathers-audi-tt-into-side-of-house/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/uk-driver-bricks-fathers-audi-tt-into-side-of-house/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



A family in Lowestoft, UK woke up to quite a surprise Sunday morning when they found a bright red Audi TT parked in their living room. While the details of the crash are unknown, the video shows the TT lodged halfway into the side of a house after the car somehow drove through a hedge, launched in the air and drove over two parked cars.

From the angle of the accident shown on the BBC video, it appears the roads may have been snowy or ice and there was a berm behind the hedges, which apparently launched the car into the air helping it drive over a parked BMW 3 Series Coupe and an Audi A4 Avant. Reports indicate that the driver was in his 20s, and he suffered serious head injuries and was taken to the hospital in critical condition; there were three people inside the house, but none of them were injured. The car belonged to the driver's father.

Scroll down for three videos showing the aftermath of the accident, and head over to BBC for that news report.

Continue reading UK driver bricks father's Audi TT into side of house

UK driver bricks father's Audi TT into side of house originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audi ttcar crashvideoMon, 25 Mar 2013 16:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20516868/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/25/uk-driver-bricks-fathers-audi-tt-into-side-of-house/20516868/article-detail.xml 20516868 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/audi-tt-crash-1364232237_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/audi-tt-crash-1364232237.jpg <![CDATA[Massive Alberta highway pileup sends 300 people to hospital after crash]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/22/massive-alberta-highway-pileup-sends-300-people-to-hospital-afte/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/22/massive-alberta-highway-pileup-sends-300-people-to-hospital-afte/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/22/massive-alberta-highway-pileup-sends-300-people-to-hospital-afte/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Alberta, Canada snowstorm chain-reaction crash aftermath

A massive pileup in Canada was the result of a huge snowstorm that struck a busy stretch of Alberta highway between Edmonton and Calgary near Leduc, sending over 300 people to the hospital and causing what Alberta Health Services are treating as "a mass casualty event."

Reports on social media indicate hundreds of cars, transport trucks and buses ended up smashed and scattered across both directions of the highway, with many vehicles being violently tossed around or landing in ditches.

Unsurprisingly, Royal Canadian Mounted Police are blaming blowing snow, icy road conditions and poor visibility for the countless crash pileups. Emergency services reports suggest roughly 300 people were taken to hospital and about 100 of those patients required further medical attention. Fortunately, there's been no reports of any fatalities thus far, though crash victims were transported to nearby hospitals for various injuries.

"Several vehicles and a tractor trailer are off the road and in the ditch due to slippery road conditions," said Leduc RCMP constable Tim Gaultois, adding it will be sometime before the full extent of the carnage is known. The numerous collisions also forced police to shut down the main highway and divert traffic to alternate routes, creating traffic chaos and lengthy lines for many Alberta drivers. Scroll down to watch a Reuters video news report.

Continue reading Massive Alberta highway pileup sends 300 people to hospital after crash

Massive Alberta highway pileup sends 300 people to hospital after crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>albertaalberta clippercar crashchain-reaction crashpileupvideoFri, 22 Mar 2013 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20514838/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/22/massive-alberta-highway-pileup-sends-300-people-to-hospital-afte/20514838/article-detail.xml 20514838 http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/lead.jpg <![CDATA[Corvette driver escapes decapitation in crash by ducking]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/18/corvette-driver-escapes-decapitation-in-crash-by-ducking/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/18/corvette-driver-escapes-decapitation-in-crash-by-ducking/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/18/corvette-driver-escapes-decapitation-in-crash-by-ducking/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Corvette driver escapes harm in accident where his sports car went under a tractor trailer, nearly decapitating him

You wouldn't believe it by looking at the Corvette in these pictures, but the driver of the Chevrolet that slammed into the back of this moving truck survived with only non-life threatening injuries. The crash occurred near Los Angeles on the southbound 405 Freeway on Monday, March 4. Fire crews reportedly had to raise the moving truck in order to extricate the driver, who escaped perhaps the worst possible death imaginable - decapitation - by simply ducking prior to impact.

What's supposed to prevent a crash like this from becoming lethal is a Mansfield Bar, so named because the low-hanging bar affixed to the rear of semi truck trailers became mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after the death of popular movie actress Jayne Mansfield in 1967 from a rear-end collision with a tractor trailer.

The Mansfield Bar is designed to prevent under-riding, and in 1998, the rules governing them were revised to lower the bar to 22 inches off the ground. Even at the height, some vehicles, including sports cars like the Corvette, have leading edges that are low enough to clear them. That's particularly true when the car in question is braking hard and its weight is pitched forward, lowering the nose even more).

As we reported earlier today, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has conducted tests on currently sold tractor trailors and found that while all of the examples tested prevented under-riding during a full-width crash, their effectiveness fell sharply when the overlap of vehicle and bar was reduced to 50 percent and 30 percent. In the latter case, only one trailer managed to prevent under-riding, despite all of the trailers passing current US and Canadian crash standards.

Fortunately for this man, the combination of the crash-worthiness of the Corvette, the Mansfield Bar on the truck - and the fact that he had enough wits about him to duck at the last minute - all combined to save his life.

Corvette driver escapes decapitation in crash by ducking originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car crashchevroletchevrolet corvettechevycorvetteiihsmansfield barnhtsarear-end crashrick mcclureMon, 18 Mar 2013 19:14:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20507771/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/18/corvette-driver-escapes-decapitation-in-crash-by-ducking/20507771/article-detail.xml 20507771 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/la-corvette-truck-crash-opt-01_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/la-corvette-truck-crash-opt-01.jpg <![CDATA[Car crash occurs in background of live news report]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/23/car-crash-occurs-in-background-of-live-news-report/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/23/car-crash-occurs-in-background-of-live-news-report/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/23/car-crash-occurs-in-background-of-live-news-report/#commentsFiled under: ,

Live news crash

See those two cars in the background, over the left shoulder of the talking head? They are in the process of crashing into one another, right there, live on the air. We're not sure what's more shocking, the crash or the reporter's reaction, which is to, well, stand there.

What's perhaps most interesting about this strange occurrence is that it points out the ridiculousness of many local TV news reports. Every day, reporters are sent out to stand in front of buildings to deliver live news reports about events that are not happening live.

Occasionally, as in this situation, some news actually does break out.

Click past the jump to see the full clip.

Continue reading Car crash occurs in background of live news report

Car crash occurs in background of live news report originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car crashcrashlive car crashlive news crashlive tv crashlocal newslocal tv news reportThu, 23 Feb 2012 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20178052/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/23/car-crash-occurs-in-background-of-live-news-report/20178052/article-detail.xml 20178052 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/tvcrash-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/tvcrash-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Drive a Tank adds mobile home crushing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/19/drive-a-tank-adds-mobile-home-crushing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/19/drive-a-tank-adds-mobile-home-crushing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/19/drive-a-tank-adds-mobile-home-crushing/#commentsFiled under: ,

Drive A Tank mobile home crush package

We checked driving a tank off our list of 1,001 Car Things To Do Before You Die in The List #0433 - or at least our hosts, Jessi and Patrick, did. They performed this feat at the aptly named Drive A Tank company in Kasota, Minnesota.

Drive A Tank offers a number of packages that include not only piloting up to three tanks in a day, but also history lessons on the usage of tanks in battle, a tour of their facilities and the chance to fire some historic military firearms. As Jessie herself experienced, there's even a Car Crush package that lets you drive a Chieftain Main Battle Tank over an auto that's past its prime.

But crushing a car may not be enough for you, which is why Drive A Tank just added mobile home crushing to its list of options. According to co-owner Tory Borglum, crushing cars has been a big hit with customers, but once the crush bug had bitten them, people wanted more. And so, Tony and company began intercepting mobile homes headed to the junkyard for one more fling on their tank course.

The Mobile Home Crush package starts at $500 and goes up to $3,495. Drive a Tank has also expanded its fleet of available military vehicles to drive with some non-treaded transports. New to the company this year are two M35 2&frac12;-ton cargo trucks and a GMV-spec military Humvee.

Continue reading Drive a Tank adds mobile home crushing

Drive a Tank adds mobile home crushing originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car crashdrive a tankmobile homemobile home crushtony borglumwisconsinSun, 19 Feb 2012 10:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20174478/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/19/drive-a-tank-adds-mobile-home-crushing/20174478/article-detail.xml 20174478 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/drive-a-tank-mobile-home-crush_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/drive-a-tank-mobile-home-crush.jpg <![CDATA[UK insurer says "reckless fog light drivers" cause 300,000 accidents a year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/uk-insurer-says-reckless-fog-light-drivers-cause-300-000-accid/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/uk-insurer-says-reckless-fog-light-drivers-cause-300-000-accid/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/uk-insurer-says-reckless-fog-light-drivers-cause-300-000-accid/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It would probably be easier for researchers to change tracks and start telling us what doesn't cause cancer or obesity or car accidents. Latest on the list of automotive smash-up causes, according to a study by UK insurer Swiftcover, are drivers leaving their fog lights on in good visibility. The numbers are brazen, with Swiftcover attributing "as many as 300,000" accidents and two million near misses in the last 12 months "caused by drivers leaving fog lights on in the same period."

The UK highway code prohibits driving with one's fog lights on in conditions with visibility greater than 100 meters. Swiftcover's study says the lights dazzle other drivers, especially in London where 50 percent of incidents were registered, and that this applies to both front and rear fog lights.

Follow the jump for a press release on the study and a link to the Highway Code if you need a refresher.

Continue reading UK insurer says "reckless fog light drivers" cause 300,000 accidents a year

UK insurer says "reckless fog light drivers" cause 300,000 accidents a year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car accidentcar crashfog lightfoglightinsurancestudyswiftcoverswiftcover.comukunited kingdomwreckTue, 31 Jan 2012 11:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20159161/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/31/uk-insurer-says-reckless-fog-light-drivers-cause-300-000-accid/20159161/article-detail.xml 20159161 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/13kiasorentoreview2011_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/13kiasorentoreview2011.jpg <![CDATA[Why are snowy roads like these never closed?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/why-are-snowy-roads-like-these-never-closed/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/why-are-snowy-roads-like-these-never-closed/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/why-are-snowy-roads-like-these-never-closed/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Another winter naturally means more videos of snowy carnage, as Mother Nature teams up with an inclined road to befuddle even those drivers who are used to such conditions. This time the location is Bountiful, Utah on January 21, where a slick bit of downhill becomes an automotive Slip-n-Slide.

The video after the jump gets off to a slow start, but about a minute or so in, things start going really wrong. By the end, we can only wonder why drivers at the top of the hill noting the demolition derby at the bottom still decide to take their chances. We also wonder why the road wasn't, oh, closed - either by police or a good samaritan. Follow the jump to see the ballet of carnage for yourself.

Continue reading Why are snowy roads like these never closed?

Why are snowy roads like these never closed? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentbountifulbountiful utahcar crashcrashsnowutahwreckTue, 24 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20155144/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/24/why-are-snowy-roads-like-these-never-closed/20155144/article-detail.xml 20155144 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/utahroadcarnage_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/utahroadcarnage.jpg <![CDATA[Turns out a Dixie Horn doesn't ensure a smooth landing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/12/turns-out-a-dixie-horn-doesnt-ensure-a-smooth-landing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/12/turns-out-a-dixie-horn-doesnt-ensure-a-smooth-landing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/12/turns-out-a-dixie-horn-doesnt-ensure-a-smooth-landing/#commentsFiled under: ,



Let us count the ways in which this stunt fails:
  1. No Dodge Charger.
  2. No Waylon Jennings.
  3. No Daisy Duke.
Need we even continue?

Listen kids, if you're going to pull off a successful Duke boys stunt, you need more than a J.C. Whitney horn. While we give these guys credit for the staging and the timing of the Dixie blast, there's a lot of work that remains to be done. (Try brushing up on your Dukes of Hazard opening credits, for starters.)

To watch the video, click through the jump. Just be careful to stick the landing.

Continue reading Turns out a Dixie Horn doesn't ensure a smooth landing

Turns out a Dixie Horn doesn't ensure a smooth landing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car crashcar failcar jumpcar stuntdixie hornduke boysdukes of hazzardvideoThu, 12 Jan 2012 19:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20147163/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/12/turns-out-a-dixie-horn-doesnt-ensure-a-smooth-landing/20147163/article-detail.xml 20147163 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/dukeboys-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/dukeboys-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Three killed in 52-car autobahn crash]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/19/three-killed-in-52-car-autobahn-crash/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/19/three-killed-in-52-car-autobahn-crash/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/19/three-killed-in-52-car-autobahn-crash/#commentsFiled under: , ,



A minor two-car accident on a German autobahn turned into a 52-car pileup with three deaths and two dozen injuries on Friday night. On a stretch of A31 not far from the Dutch border, two sedans got into a "harmless fender bender" in heavy fog. A German newspaper report said traffic isn't normally heavy there, so it could have taken a few minutes as 50 more cars plowed into that original incident.

Two of the deaths occurred after two drivers left their cars and perhaps sought safety behind a guardrail; they were found under another car that had flipped the barrier. The final fatality was found in his car that had slid down an incline beside the road.

"Autobahn" describes any German highway and most are speed limited, so this isn't necessarily about unrestricted speed. Investigators don't yet know what caused the accident, but another German report claims that police are investigating for potential manslaughter charges. Follow the jump for a video of the aftermath.

Continue reading Three killed in 52-car autobahn crash

Three killed in 52-car autobahn crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentautobahncar accidentcar crashcrashgermanySat, 19 Nov 2011 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20110551/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/19/three-killed-in-52-car-autobahn-crash/20110551/article-detail.xml 20110551 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/autobahnaccident52_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/autobahnaccident52.jpg <![CDATA[9-year-old trapped by accident survives for days on Pop-Tarts, Gatorade]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/15/9-year-old-trapped-by-accident-survives-for-days-on-pop-tarts-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/15/9-year-old-trapped-by-accident-survives-for-days-on-pop-tarts-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/15/9-year-old-trapped-by-accident-survives-for-days-on-pop-tarts-g/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nine year old survies car crash

A car accident near Cove City, North Carolina left a nine-year-old girl stranded upside down in a 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for two days. According to the Associated Press, a pedestrian spotted the overturned car and alerted authorities, who discovered the child alive. Temperatures at night dropped below 30 degrees, but the child's coat kept her warm and a supply of Gatorade and Pop-Tarts kept her fed and hydrated until help arrived. Sadly, the accident claimed the life of her 39-year-old father, Douglas Landon. The little girl, meanwhile, is currently recovering at a local hospital. The Washington Post reports that the vehicle's speedometer was stuck at over 100 mph, but friends and colleagues of the victim are quoted as saying that there's no way Landon would have been driving that fast.

Landon's daughter is recovering with her mother, who says that her child is talkative but very upset about the loss of her father. Medical personnel expect her to make a full recovery. Click past the jump for a video clip, and check out the WaPo article for more on this heart-wrenching story.

Continue reading 9-year-old trapped by accident survives for days on Pop-Tarts, Gatorade

9-year-old trapped by accident survives for days on Pop-Tarts, Gatorade originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car crashcove citycraven countydouglas landonlandonnine year old girl car crashnine-year-oldvideoTue, 15 Nov 2011 18:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20106937/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/15/9-year-old-trapped-by-accident-survives-for-days-on-pop-tarts-g/20106937/article-detail.xml 20106937 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/car-crash-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/car-crash-628.jpg <![CDATA[Honda teammates collide on last lap of British Touring Car race]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/08/honda-teammates-collide-on-last-lap-of-british-touring-car-race/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/08/honda-teammates-collide-on-last-lap-of-british-touring-car-race/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/08/honda-teammates-collide-on-last-lap-of-british-touring-car-race/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Honda teammates collide during BTCC race
Honda teammates collide on last lap of BTCC race - Click above to watch the video after the break

Uh oh, looks like someone just got Red Bulled. Don't know what that means? Remember back to the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix, in which the Red Bull racer driven by Mark Webber was leading the race with his teammate, Sebastian Vettel, right behind in second. It appeared to everyone watching that the famous energy drink's team would earn the first two spots on the podium, but it was not to be.

Vettel dove to the inside in a daring and dangerous maneuver and collided into his teammate. Vettel's day was done, Webber managed to finish the race in third. Stupid.

So memorable was the incident that it's now become a verb. The latest set of teammates to pull a Red Bull? Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden, who race matching Honda Civics in the British Touring Car Championship. On the last lap of the second race at Oulton Park on June 5th, Neal, who was in second place behind his 'mate, decided he deserved to take the win. His passing maneuver, though, ended in tears.

See for yourself in the video after the break.

Continue reading Honda teammates collide on last lap of British Touring Car race

Honda teammates collide on last lap of British Touring Car race originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>british touring car championshipbtccbttc accidentbttc crashcar crashcrash videogordon sheddenhondamatt nealred bulledtouring carvideoWed, 08 Jun 2011 12:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19961768/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/08/honda-teammates-collide-on-last-lap-of-british-touring-car-race/19961768/article-detail.xml 19961768 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/honda-last-lap-crash_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/honda-last-lap-crash.jpg <![CDATA[Queensboro Bridge "Off-Ramp of Doom" claims third VW]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/queensboro-bridge-off-ramp-of-doom-claims-third-vw/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/queensboro-bridge-off-ramp-of-doom-claims-third-vw/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/queensboro-bridge-off-ramp-of-doom-claims-third-vw/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Volkswagen Golf crash at the queensboro bridge
Volkswagen Golf crash at the queensboro bridge - Click above to watch video after the jump

The Queensboro bridge in New York City has seen its third major accident involving a Volkswagen since March. According to The New York Post, a 2007 Volkswagen Golf lost control while exiting the bridge, struck scaffolding erected outside of a building and landed on top of a parked livery vehicle. The driver of the VW was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries. No one else was harmed in the incident.

That's a better outcome than in both of the previous accidents. The post reports that in April, the driver of a Jetta lost control in that exact location and spun into two store fronts. The driver later died of her injuries. Likewise, in March, a single-car accident at the off ramp resulted in the death of a pedestrian. The driver of that particular Volkswagen Golf lost an arm as a result of his injuries.

At this point, it's unclear what will be done to curb speeding on the off-ramp. Hit the jump to view a news report of the latest incident.

Continue reading Queensboro Bridge "Off-Ramp of Doom" claims third VW

Queensboro Bridge "Off-Ramp of Doom" claims third VW originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentcar crashcar wreckcrashnew york cityqueensboro bridgevolkswagenwreckTue, 17 May 2011 12:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19941720/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/17/queensboro-bridge-off-ramp-of-doom-claims-third-vw/19941720/article-detail.xml 19941720 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/vw-golf-crash-queensboro-bride_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/vw-golf-crash-queensboro-bride.jpg <![CDATA[How much do traffic deaths cost your state? CDC has the answer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/16/how-much-do-traffic-deaths-cost-your-state-cdc-has-the-answer/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/16/how-much-do-traffic-deaths-cost-your-state-cdc-has-the-answer/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/16/how-much-do-traffic-deaths-cost-your-state-cdc-has-the-answer/#commentsFiled under: ,

Car Crash

Every year, the United States loses in the neighborhood of 30,000 people to traffic accidents. That's like the entire population of a medium-sized town being wiped out annually. The number of deaths not only wreaks havoc with families, but it puts a strain on our economy.

In recognition of the rising costs of traffic fatalities - not just in the U.S., but globally - the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2011-2020 the Decade of Action for Road Safety. The ten-year span will be marked by increased consciousness of driving habits, road conditions and vehicle safety. In honor of the event, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has put together some alarming statistics.

In 2005, traffic deaths wound up costing just over $41 billion in medical bills and work lost. Yes, that's billion with a "B." According to the CDC, 10 states stood head and shoulders above the rest in monetary losses. Those were: California, at $4.16 billion, Texas, at $3.50 billion, Florida, at 3.16 billion, Georgia, at $1.55 billion, Pennsylvania, at $1.52 billion, North Carolina, at $1.50 billion, New York, at $1.33 billion, Illinois, at $1.32 billion, Ohio, at $1.23 billion and Tennessee, at $1.15 billion.

Though these 10 states handily outranked the others, the CDC tallied up the monetary total for all of the 50 states. To see how your home state fared, check out the CDC website. If the U.S. can rack up such an alarming total by itself, we shudder to think what the global costs of car wrecks is.

How much do traffic deaths cost your state? CDC has the answer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 May 2011 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentcar crashcdccenter for disease controlcrashtrafficunited nationsMon, 16 May 2011 07:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19940594/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/16/how-much-do-traffic-deaths-cost-your-state-cdc-has-the-answer/19940594/article-detail.xml 19940594 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/car-crash_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/car-crash.jpg <![CDATA[21-year-old driver survives 200-foot plunge into Grand Canyon]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/27/report-21-year-old-driver-survives-200-foot-plunge-into-grand-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/27/report-21-year-old-driver-survives-200-foot-plunge-into-grand-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/27/report-21-year-old-driver-survives-200-foot-plunge-into-grand-c/#commentsFiled under:

grand canyon

Veering off the road is a scary event. Veering off the road that runs around the rim of the Grand Canyon is downright terrifying. Typically, a scenario that involves the terms "Grand Canyon," "automobile" and "plunge" usually end with the phrase "the fat lady has sung." For one particular 21-year-old man, that luckily doesn't seem to be the case.

Stating that he "accidentally drove over the rim," the driver and his vehicle dropped 200 feet before winding up snagged in some trees. The man climbed back to the top of the canyon's rim, flagged down help and was treated at an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. This leads us to believe the vehicle in question was either a Canyonero or the driver's bones are made up of a mixture of horseshoes and rabbit's feet. In any case, we're glad he made it out alive.

[Source: AZ Daily Sun | Image: kasyhap_hc/Flickr CC 2.0]

21-year-old driver survives 200-foot plunge into Grand Canyon originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arizonacanyonerocar crashgrand canyongrand canyon accidentgrand canyon surviverplungeWed, 27 Apr 2011 17:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19925220/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/27/report-21-year-old-driver-survives-200-foot-plunge-into-grand-c/19925220/article-detail.xml 19925220 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/grand-canyon_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/grand-canyon.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Lexus shows off world's coolest driving simulator in new safety commercial]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/13/video-lexus-shows-off-worlds-coolest-driving-simulator-in-new/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/13/video-lexus-shows-off-worlds-coolest-driving-simulator-in-new/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/13/video-lexus-shows-off-worlds-coolest-driving-simulator-in-new/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lexus driving simulator
Lexus' next (really) big thing - Click above to watch commercial after the jump

It's no longer kosher for carmakers to run simulations on computers that can fit on desks, because that's for chumps. If you don't have gear fit for a Hollywood blockbuster or a trip to Mars, well, you're not really serious about this whole car thing, are you?

Lexus has joined the latter camp with its new driving simulator, built to simulate crash avoidance. Inside the metal bulb is a Lexus LS460, surrounded by a 360-degree facsimile of a real driving environment. It's their next big thing, so they say. Us? We just want to reserve it when Gran Turismo 5 finally comes out. Follow the jump to watch the spot.

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading Video: Lexus shows off world's coolest driving simulator in new safety commercial

Video: Lexus shows off world's coolest driving simulator in new safety commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentcar crashcrashdriving gamedriving simulatorlexus driving simulatorsimulatorvideo gameWed, 13 Oct 2010 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19672046/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/10/13/video-lexus-shows-off-worlds-coolest-driving-simulator-in-new/19672046/article-detail.xml 19672046 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/lexusaccsimulator_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/lexusaccsimulator.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Mythbusters put the science of crashing cars to the test]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/06/video-mythbusters-put-the-science-of-crashing-cars-to-the-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/06/video-mythbusters-put-the-science-of-crashing-cars-to-the-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/06/video-mythbusters-put-the-science-of-crashing-cars-to-the-test/#commentsFiled under: ,

Hyundais Daewoos sacrificed in the name of science - Click above to watch the videos after the break

In between repeated bouts to literally knock your socks off (well, not yours exactly, but you get the idea, right?) last night, the Mythbusters crew decided to revisit an old myth that was drawing the ire of the show's fans for quite some time. And it's sure to be an interesting topic to automotive enthusiasts.

When two cars collide, each traveling 50 miles per hour, does the resulting force equal one car hitting an immovable object at 100 miles per hour?

It seems like such simple physics, no? But don't forget Newton's third law. To quote the great Wikipedia of knowledge, "Whenever a first body exerts a force F on a second body, the second body exerts a force −F on the first body. F and −F are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction." Or, more simply, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Great, thanks for that, Einstein Newton. What does that have to do with crashing cars? Glad you asked. Find out in the videos pasted after the break. Warning: A large number of Hyundais Daewoos were harmed during these videos. Oh, and the results of the crash testing may surprise you.

[Source: Mythbusters]

Continue reading Video: Mythbusters put the science of crashing cars to the test

Video: Mythbusters put the science of crashing cars to the test originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 May 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100 mph crash100MphCrash50 mph crash50MphCrashadam savageAdamSavagecar crashcar crash testCarCrashCarCrashTestcrashcrash testCrashTestjamie hynemanJamieHynemanMythBustersmythbusters car crashmythbusters crashmythbusters crash testmythbusters crash videomythbusters discovery channelmythbusters videoMythbustersCarCrashMythbustersCrashMythbustersCrashTestMythbustersCrashVideoMythbustersDiscoveryChannelMythbustersVideoThu, 06 May 2010 15:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19466728/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/06/video-mythbusters-put-the-science-of-crashing-cars-to-the-test/19466728/article-detail.xml 19466728 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/mythbusters-crash_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/mythbusters-crash.jpg <![CDATA[Study: Want to improve your odds of surviving a crash? Have another sammich]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/study-want-to-improve-your-odds-of-surviving-a-crash-have-anot/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/study-want-to-improve-your-odds-of-surviving-a-crash-have-anot/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/study-want-to-improve-your-odds-of-surviving-a-crash-have-anot/#commentsFiled under:



There aren't a lot of positives about being overweight, but a study by the University of Michigan shows that there could be one reason for the chunky among us to celebrate. U of M studied 300,000 traffic fatalities obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration between 1998 and 2008, and it has reportedly found that overweight people had a 22 percent lower fatality rate than underweight people. However, the story changes for the worse if you're a man with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 to 50 and you are not wearing a safety belt. The study shows that obese men are 10 percent more likely to die in an accident if they don't buckle up.

There was reportedly no statistical evidence that showed that females were affected by their weight in a crash. Unfortunately, there was evidence that women were 1.1 times as likely to die in a car crash then were men. And everyone is safer when buckled up, as evidenced by the not-so-surprising observation that those who do not fasten their safety belts are 2.1 times more likely to die in a car accident. U of M says that the study does show that the large mass of some men shows that airbags and seat belts may need to be redesigned in the future because their larger size could possibly be overwhelming the safety equipment. Maybe we won't have that extra pastrami on rye after all.

[Source: AnnArbor.com | Image: Lili Nelson]

Study: Want to improve your odds of surviving a crash? Have another sammich originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air bagAirBagauto safetyAutoSafetyBMIcar crashcar safetyCarCrashCarSafetyobeseoverweightoverweight driveroverweight driversOverweightDriverOverweightDriversU of MUniversity of MichiganUniversityOfMichiganUOfMFri, 12 Feb 2010 13:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19355373/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/12/study-want-to-improve-your-odds-of-surviving-a-crash-have-anot/19355373/article-detail.xml 19355373 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/erwinwurm-fat_car_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/erwinwurm-fat_car.jpg <![CDATA[VIDEO: Low-flying pelican results in Bugatti Veyron Hydro Edition <b>[*UPDATE:</b> Now with actual crash footage!]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/video-low-flying-pelican-ends-up-creating-bugatti-veyron-hydro/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/video-low-flying-pelican-ends-up-creating-bugatti-veyron-hydro/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/video-low-flying-pelican-ends-up-creating-bugatti-veyron-hydro/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above to watch the video after the jump

This is one of the saddest, yet most amusing sights we've ever seen. A $1.6 million Bugatti Veyron sitting in a salt water lagoon, door open, in two feet of nasty, corrosion-inducing muddy water. While the sight is sad, how the event allegedly transpired is downright hilarious. The unnamed owner of the vehicle, traveling through Galveston, Texas to look at some high-end property, was reportedly talking on his cell phone when a low-flying pelican distracted him. The driver swerved to avoid the big bird, dropped his cell phone, and in the process the front passenger tire hit a mud patch.

A quad-turbo, 16-cylinder engine may be able to get you to 60 mph in under three seconds, but it doesn't work well with mud, so the supercar made a b-line for an adjacent lagoon. The ultra rare Veyron (reportedly one of 15 copies here in the States) was still running after it rested nearly belt-line high in the salt water, as local news affiliate KHOU reported the 1,000+ hp engine "gurgled like an outboard motor for about 15 minutes before it died." It probably would have been a great idea to kill power to the engine (and even shut the door) once the Veyron hit the muck, but hey, what do we know?

Hit the jump to watch video of the Veyron as it is extracted from its salty abyss. And if you own a Veyron, let this be a lesson to you that having money doesn't necessarily mean you have the skill to drive a supercar, especially when you're on the phone. Thanks to everyone for the tips!


*UPDATE: Now with actual (incredible) crash footage! (and no, we don't see any pelicans, either). WARNING: Second video contains explicit not-safe-for-work language.

Gallery: First Drive: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
[Sources: KHOU; YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Low-flying pelican results in Bugatti Veyron Hydro Edition [*UPDATE: Now with actual crash footage!]

VIDEO: Low-flying pelican results in Bugatti Veyron Hydro Edition [*UPDATE: Now with actual crash footage!] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crashing Remote Controlled Clunkers: click image above to watch the video

Q: What are a redneck's last words? A: "Hey y'all, watch this!" Only in this fine piece of reporting by CNN, the only (self-described) rednecks behaving badly are the ones having that third helping of funnel cake mixed with that seventh Bud Lite. No sir, in this here video, all the clunkers getting crashed are done-in by remote control.

Now, at first blush you might be a smidge disappointed that no amateur Wisconsin Evil Knievel types are hurling themselves off the cliff of a quarry towards both certain hospital time and everlasting glory. But, as the crashed cars pile up, it becomes pretty dang clear that Bob Moravitz - the brains behind the event - knows what the people want. Just like in Roman times, the people want carnage - and lots of it. Enjoy the video, after the jump.

[Sources: CNN; KARE-TV/USA Today via 0-60]

Continue reading VIDEO: Hey y'all, crash your clunkers

VIDEO: Hey y'all, crash your clunkers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car crashcar crashesCarCrashCarCrashesCrash for ClunkersCrashForClunkersTue, 18 Aug 2009 12:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19132011/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/08/18/video-hey-yall-crash-your-clunkers/19132011/article-detail.xml 19132011 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/crash4clunkers_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/crash4clunkers.jpg <![CDATA[STUDY: Majority of highway fatalities caused by deficient road conditions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/study-majority-of-highway-fatalities-caused-by-deficient-road-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/study-majority-of-highway-fatalities-caused-by-deficient-road-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/study-majority-of-highway-fatalities-caused-by-deficient-road-c/#commentsFiled under: , ,



What would you think to be the leading contributor to fatalities in car crashes here in the States? Failure to use seat belts? Speeding? Drunk driving? Think again. According to a new study commissioned by Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), the leading cause of highway fatalities is deficient road conditions. In fact, the study asserts, with a roadway-related crash occurring every minute on American streets, inadequate roadway infrastructure is responsible for the majority of highway fatalities in the United States and over a third of injuries incurred in non-fatal crashes as well.

Given the state of many roadways, you might think that the situation - like America's road network - is beyond repair. However, the study, entitled "On a Crash Course: The Dangers and Health Costs of Deficient Roadways," assesses the financial cost alone of crashes caused by these substandard roadways - as a whopping $217 billion annually, including medical bills, loss of productivity and property damage. That's more than three-and-a-half times the $59 billion which local, state and federal governments in the United States invest in improving America's roadways. PIRE's solution? Improving road conditions, of course, including better signage and markings, widening shoulders and removing obstacles from roadsides. Follow the jump to read more on PIRE's findings and suggested solutions for what it deems is one of the largest killers in America.

[Source: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation | Image: STR/AFP/Getty]

Continue reading STUDY: Majority of highway fatalities caused by deficient road conditions

STUDY: Majority of highway fatalities caused by deficient road conditions originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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