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[VIDEO: Taylor Swift on the scourge that is bad parent drivers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/video-taylor-swift-on-the-scourge-that-is-bad-parent-drivers/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/video-taylor-swift-on-the-scourge-that-is-bad-parent-drivers/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/video-taylor-swift-on-the-scourge-that-is-bad-parent-drivers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Taylor Swift hosts Saturday Night Live - Click above to watch the video

Allow us to make a couple admissions. It's our opinion that with the notable exception of Celebrity Jeopardy, Saturday Night Live hasn't been funny since Belushi. Before she got upstaged by an apparently off-his-meds Kanye West, we thought Taylor Swift was a dry cleaner. That said, it's understandable that we had extremely low hopes (like, none) for a SNL sketch involving the young Miss Swift to be watchable, let alone funny.

But guess what? Us old dudes was wrong, way wrong! She's not only funny, but apparently installed a camera in our little sister's bedroom circa 1991. Talk about the perfect ensconced in misery, unhappy to be alive 15-year-old girl. And her reaction to the dangers of driving during the birds and the bees speech, well, just watch for yourself, after the jump.

Continue reading VIDEO: Taylor Swift on the scourge that is bad parent drivers

VIDEO: Taylor Swift on the scourge that is bad parent drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Saturday Night LiveSaturdayNightLiveTaylor SwiftTaylorSwiftteenagersTeensTextingTexting while drivingTextingWhileDrivingThu, 12 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Teens copying enemies' license plates to get revenge via speed cameras]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/24/teens-copying-enemies-license-plates-to-get-revenge-via-speed-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/24/teens-copying-enemies-license-plates-to-get-revenge-via-speed-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/24/teens-copying-enemies-license-plates-to-get-revenge-via-speed-c/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Teens are known for having a lot of time, some seriously outrageous ideas for filling that time, and a slightly obsessive need for revenge. Add a few residential speed cameras into that mix, and what you have is a creative perversion of the entire speed camera system. Teens in Maryland have evidently been printing out the license plates numbers of rival teens, putting them on their own cars, and then purposely blasting by speed cameras posted in residential neighborhoods. The rival teen -- or his parents -- then gets a $40 citation in the mail.

The police say they haven't heard anything about it, and the local government doesn't sound like it has come up with any way to prevent or limit the habit. Which means that teens will be teens, and parents will be left to complain about it and fight the citations in court. Said one parent, "I hope the public at large will complain loudly enough that local Montgomery County government officials will change their policy of using these cameras for monetary gain. The practice of sending speeding tickets to faceless recipients without any type of verification is unwarranted and an exploitation of our rights." Oh, these kids today...

[Source: The Sentinel]

Teens copying enemies' license plates to get revenge via speed cameras originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>etchumormarylandprankpranksspeed cameraSpeedCameraspeedingspeeding ticketSpeedingTicketteenagersteensWed, 24 Dec 2008 17:58:00 EST<![CDATA[AAA: Teen crashes cost society $34 billion per year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/aaa-teen-crashes-cost-society-34-billion-per-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/aaa-teen-crashes-cost-society-34-billion-per-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/aaa-teen-crashes-cost-society-34-billion-per-year/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nobody would argue that the potential for lost-life is the worst thing about teen crashes, but the related monetary expenses are also rather staggering. AAA estimates that teen crashes ended up costing more than $34 billion annually in medical expenses, lost work, property damage, quality of life loss and other related costs in 2006 alone. According to AAA, fifteen to seventeen year-old drivers were involved in nearly a million crashes in 2006, injuring 406,427 people and killing 2,541. Each fatality carries an average cost of $3.841 million while injury accidents post an average of $50,512.

According to their research, AAA suggests that states should take up graduated driver licensing strategies, which they say are proven to reduce fatal crashes involving teen drivers by an average of 38 percent. Browse through the press release after the break for the whole set of sad statistics.

[Source: AAA]

Continue reading AAA: Teen crashes cost society $34 billion per year

AAA: Teen crashes cost society $34 billion per year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaateenteen accidentsteen driversteen safetyteen-accidentsteen-driverteen-driversteen-safetyTeenAccidentsteenagerteenagersTeenDriversteensTeenSafetyThu, 10 Apr 2008 07:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Steer clear of the youngins on the road and get behind the old guy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/23/steer-clear-of-the-youngins-on-the-road-and-get-behind-the-old-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/23/steer-clear-of-the-youngins-on-the-road-and-get-behind-the-old-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/23/steer-clear-of-the-youngins-on-the-road-and-get-behind-the-old-g/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For drivers between the ages of 16 and 24, the price of insurance can seem more than a little unfair. While $125 per month could insure a luxury vehicle for someone in their 30s, a 16 year-old couldn't get such a rate for a Pinto. There's a very simple reason for this disparity; young motorists are by far the most dangerous drivers on the road. A study by the Rand Corporations shows that while 13-percent of all drivers are between the ages of 16 and 24, 43-percent of all accidents come from that age group. It's a good thing everybody seems to be on the phone while driving, it may not hurt as much when you don't see that pimped out Neon coming.

While young drivers are an accident waiting to happen, those over the age of 65 are much safer than their unearned reputation may suggest. Senior citizens make up 15-percent of all drivers, but only cause 7-percent of the total accidents. Maybe it's because people are a little more careful when they see a Crown Victoria on the road, but that AARP discount appears to be well-deserved anyway. Next time you're on the freeway and you see a Buick Roadmaster in the right lane, get behind it, it's probably one of the safest places on the road.

[Source: Reuters]

Steer clear of the youngins on the road and get behind the old guy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>65accidentsDrivingElderlyinsuranceTeensMon, 23 Jul 2007 11:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Misguided youth: Teen driving distractions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/22/misguided-youth-teen-driving-distractions/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/22/misguided-youth-teen-driving-distractions/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/22/misguided-youth-teen-driving-distractions/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Many have observed the recent uptick in teenage drivers having accidents while text messaging, often with tragic consequences. Liberty Mutual and Students Against Destructive Decisions have recently carried out research that shows texting to be the list-topping distraction among the more than 900 teens they polled. SADD and Liberty Mutual have been collecting data for seven years about teen behavior, attitudes and decision making while driving. They've amassed a treasure trove of information about what kids do while they should be driving, and how effective their parental units are at laying out and enforcing rules.

Rather than merely yell about the sky falling while burying their heads in the sand, Liberty Mutual and SADD have developed a set of recommendations for parents when it comes to teen drivers. The suggestions are all good, and mostly common sense; things such as being familiar with your state's graduated licensing laws, following through with consequences for flouting rules, you know, all the stuff we used to be worried about our parents doing. We hope the effort has some effect - even without the distraction of electronic toys while driving, teenagers are the least experienced drivers on the road, and thus need to be the most vigilant about having all their facilities concentrated on the task of keeping a 3,000 pound potential weapon in control.

follow the jump to see what other top distractions affect teen drivers

[Source: SADD]

Continue reading Misguided youth: Teen driving distractions

Misguided youth: Teen driving distractions originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentsdistractiondrivingsafetyteenstextSun, 22 Jul 2007 14:04:00 EST<![CDATA[New fines for teen speeders in MA come in one size: XXXL]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/20/new-fines-for-teen-speeders-in-ma-come-in-one-size-xxxl/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/20/new-fines-for-teen-speeders-in-ma-come-in-one-size-xxxl/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/20/new-fines-for-teen-speeders-in-ma-come-in-one-size-xxxl/#commentsFiled under: ,

Based on recent moves in Indiana, Virginia, the PSA's in Australia, and now Massachusetts, speeding of the teen and adult varieties is the latest headline-grabbing menace to society. Massachusetts' Junior Operators' License Law, which outlines the punishments meted out to traffic offenders under the age of 18, was recently strengthened.


One of the first victims was Jackie Crawford, four weeks shy of her 18th birthday, who was given a ticket for going 35 in a 25. First came the $100 fine. Then came the 3-month license suspension. Then came mandatory attendance in the State Courts Against Road Rage program, as well as a driver attitude retraining course -- both of which her mother had to drive her to because Jackie's license was suspended. Then came the $500 fee to have her license reinstated. But she won't actually get her license back until she retakes both the written and the driving tests again... and pays the fees for those as well. In MA, 25 means 25, especially if you're under 18.

Thanks for the tip, Dylan!

[Source: Worcester Telegram via Car Advice]

New fines for teen speeders in MA come in one size: XXXL originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lawsmassachussetsspeedingstatesteensFri, 20 Jul 2007 17:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Spoiled Brats: Forbes makes teen-car wishlist]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/07/spoiled-brats-forbes-makes-teen-car-wishlist/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/07/spoiled-brats-forbes-makes-teen-car-wishlist/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/07/spoiled-brats-forbes-makes-teen-car-wishlist/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ford Fusion

No matter how dramatic your explanations of how you walked barefoot uphill in the snow both ways are, the fact remains that teenagers will at least need access to a car from time to time. Given that your youngun' will be talking on the phone, listening to the radio, text messaging, chewing gum and chatting with passengers (all while breaking graduated-licensing laws), you want to give him or her the best chances of surviving a possible crash. Better yet (especially for the passengers, who never seem to fare as luckily as the driver), a car that can handily avoid an accident is the safest of all. That's part of the reason why we Autobloggers like a little starch in the ride, swift action from the steering, good strong brakes and enough power to get the hell out of the way should the need arise.

Forbes Magazine also sees the need for kids to have cars that emphasize safety. They've compiled their list of Smart Cars for Teen Drivers, and that doesn't mean a bunch of those little bean-shaped things, either. Forbes picked 15 cars as good rides to put teenagers in. While they may not all generate a lot of excitement in the hearts of the kids they envision getting behind the wheel, we don't see a problem with them. After all, we sure didn't get new cars when we started driving. We delve into a few of the picks after the jump.

[Source: Forbes}

Continue reading Spoiled Brats: Forbes makes teen-car wishlist

Spoiled Brats: Forbes makes teen-car wishlist originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carsforforbesnew driversNewDriversparentsratingssafestsafetysmartsmart cars for teensSmartCarsForTeensteenagersteenstop pickTopPickWed, 07 Mar 2007 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Truant Tennessee teens won't get shot at free Chevy Cobalt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/04/truant-tennessee-teens-won-t-get-shot-at-free-chevy-cobalt/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/04/truant-tennessee-teens-won-t-get-shot-at-free-chevy-cobalt/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/04/truant-tennessee-teens-won-t-get-shot-at-free-chevy-cobalt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



When I was in high school, I got a plastic trophy for four years perfect attendance. In Tennessee this year, five high school seniors with rock solid immune systems who have also resisted the temptations of truancy will be the recipients of a free Chevy Cobalt through a new incentive program called "The Chevy Drive for Perfection." The program blankets 26 Middle Tennessee counties and will track the number of absent-free seniors throughout the school year. Come next June, those with perfect attendance will be entered into a drawing and five will drive off to college in a brand new Cobalt. And all I got was a stinkin' trophy.

[Source: The Tennessean]

Truant Tennessee teens won't get shot at free Chevy Cobalt originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Aug 2006 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cobalthigh schoolHighSchoolperfect attendancePerfectAttendanceteensTennesseetruancytruantFri, 04 Aug 2006 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Will the American market's new small cars resonate with young buyers?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/08/small-cars-may-not-sell-among-trendy-youths/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/08/small-cars-may-not-sell-among-trendy-youths/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/08/small-cars-may-not-sell-among-trendy-youths/#commentsFiled under: ,

Continued gas price hikes have intensified media coverage on subcompacts like the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and upcoming Nissan Versa. Bloomberg's Doron Levin, though, questions if young Americans will truly embrace the 'Small is Beautiful' trend.

He points out that today's young people don't necessarily see 'inexpensive' and 'gets great gas mileage' as top priorities  for their vehicles. According to a study by automotive analysts, such buyers feel a sense of entitlement fostered by their parents. Levin's own daughter rejected a perfectly running Ford Taurus and rode with friends until given a Chevrolet Blazer.

Levin does address the lone exception, Scion. In fact, he writes that the Japanese automakers have the most experience in marketing small vehicles, and are the best equipped to persuade reluctant Americans of their validity. As the Toyota Echo showed, though, even they have had their share of flops.

What do you think of Levin's analysis? Have your say in 'Comments.'

Related: Toyota, Honda, Nissan's smallest prepped for battle; Chrysler, Ford, and GM missing the subcompact wave?

[Bloomberg via Financial Express]

Will the American market's new small cars resonate with young buyers? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 May 2006 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>compact carsFitsmall carsSmallCarsteensVersaYarisyouthMon, 08 May 2006 11:04:00 EST