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[Many more people surfing the web while behind the wheel]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/27/many-more-people-surfing-the-web-while-behind-the-wheel/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/27/many-more-people-surfing-the-web-while-behind-the-wheel/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/27/many-more-people-surfing-the-web-while-behind-the-wheel/#commentsFiled under: , ,



If you think texting while driving is dangerous, then you may be shocked to learn that many people do more than just text while driving, they actually browse the web while behind the wheel, and the number of people who do it is on the rise.

A USA Today report cites a study that recently polled nearly 4,000 drivers from the age of 18 and older. The study discovered an alarming amount of people surfing the web while driving, which is known as "webbing." Among drivers 18-to-29-years old, 48 percent admitted to this practice in 2012, up from 29 percent in 2009.

The trend stems largely from the proliferation and combination of smartphones and social media, even in older age groups. The practice of "webbing" outside of the 18-29 demographic increased from 13 percent in 2009 to 21 percent in 2012.

With the popularity of GPS-enabled smartphones, time spent surfing the web while operating a motor vehicle could also be attributed to using a phone's navigation app or researching local businesses while on a trip. Regardless of its purpose, this dangerous practice will likely start getting the same sort of attention from safety groups that texting while driving receives now.

Many more people surfing the web while behind the wheel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>distracted drivingsurfing internet while drivingtextingtexting while drivingusa todaywebbingTue, 27 Nov 2012 11:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20385864/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/27/many-more-people-surfing-the-web-while-behind-the-wheel/20385864/article-detail.xml 20385864 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/molly-mcfarland-texting-driving-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/molly-mcfarland-texting-driving-628.jpg <![CDATA[Rental car fuel tops $9/gallon in U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/04/rental-car-gas-tops-9-gallon-in-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/04/rental-car-gas-tops-9-gallon-in-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/04/rental-car-gas-tops-9-gallon-in-u-s/#commentsFiled under:

Hertz

It's never a good idea to return a rental car with less than a full tank of gas. The reason? The rental car companies usually charge a fee if you don't fill up before dropping off. And according to a report in USA Today, that fee has, in some cases, gotten a lot steeper.

The national newspaper polled 102 rental companies at 13 major airports to gauge how much is being charged per gallon for renters who don't fill up before returning their loaner. Surprisingly, 54 of those airports were charging less than the average fuel price at local stations, likely because many companies haven't adjusted their per-gallon charge to reflect rising gas prices. Another 43 rental stores were charging more than the average gas station.

Meanwhile, the Hertz rental company is in a league of its own. The USA Today poll shows that the rental giant was charging $9.29 per gallon of petrol at 13 locations. Dollar and Thrifty weren't far behind at a pair of locations, with a price of $8.99/gal. For perspective, at $9/gal, it would take around $275 to fill up the typical full-size pickup, and about $110 to top off a Ford Focus.

While those are some ridiculous pump prices, this is one instance when the punishment is nearly 100 percent avoidable. After all, if you don't want to get slapped with a $9.29/gal bill, all you need to do is fill up before dropping off the vehicle. Unfortunately, you're still going to pay well over $4/gal in most areas.

Rental car fuel tops $9/gallon in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 May 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hertzrental carrentalsthriftyusa todayWed, 04 May 2011 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19931112/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/04/rental-car-gas-tops-9-gallon-in-u-s/19931112/article-detail.xml 19931112 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/gyi0060276063_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/gyi0060276063.jpg <![CDATA[<i>USA Today</i> counts down decade's most improved looking vehicles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/29/usa-today-counts-down-decades-most-improved-looking-vehi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/29/usa-today-counts-down-decades-most-improved-looking-vehi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/29/usa-today-counts-down-decades-most-improved-looking-vehi/#commentsFiled under:

Hey good lookin' - Click above for high-res image gallery

USA Today looked at cars on sale between 2000 and 2009 and ranked them in order of most improved. Before you get hot and heavy in the comments, let us remind you that they are only talking about the way the cars look. Not how they perform. Trust us, there will be plenty for you to get angry about as is.

We noticed that there were a few cars USA Today left off the list that the vehicular brain trust here at the blog about autos thinks are very much improved. The Ford Taurus being one example. Sure, the new Taurus is large, but the old Taurus (aka Ford 500) was a bulbous bore.

But our real choice is the Maserati Gran Turismo, especially as the last generation Maser GT looked, well, lousy. Or at least like something Maserati might have sold when Chrysler owned them. That said, take a peek at the gallery, and discuss USA Today's list amongst yourselves.


Gallery: USA Today's 10 Most Improved Looking Cars

Chevy MalibuFord MustangToyota PriusHyundai SonatoNissan Altima

[Source: USA Today]

USA Today counts down decade's most improved looking vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cadillac CTSCadillac CTS CoupeCadillacCtsCadillacCtsCoupeFord TaurusFordTaurusMaserati Gran TurismoMaseratiGranTurismoTop 10Top10USA TodayUsaTodayTue, 29 Dec 2009 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19297130/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/12/29/usa-today-counts-down-decades-most-improved-looking-vehi/19297130/article-detail.xml 19297130 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/630usa_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/630usa.jpg <![CDATA[Lots overflowing with repo vehicles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/14/lots-overflowing-with-repo-vehicles/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/14/lots-overflowing-with-repo-vehicles/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/14/lots-overflowing-with-repo-vehicles/#commentsFiled under: , ,

What's the second biggest purchase after a home? Most of the time, it's a car. And with so many people losing their homes, it's really no surprise that so many people are also losing their cars. Repossession companies are reporting record business -- so much so in fact that they are securing additional lots on which to store the delinquent goods.

It's estimated that this year will see a 10-percent rise in car repossessions, with 1.6 million vehicles expected to disappear from driveways and streets. It would be the second year of double-digit rises in repos. (And that doesn't count recreational vehicles like boats, which should suffer even higher rates of return.) And it appears no one has been spared -- repo men report taking back high-end trucks as well as luxury cars from gated communities.

The culprit, as in the housing debacle, has been claimed by some to be the generous auto loans given to those who perhaps should have got a bit less to spend. One repo man said it would have been worse if employment hadn't stayed relatively strong. That will be little comfort to banks like Wells Fargo that -- by itself -- wrote off $1 billion in bad loads last year.

[Source: USA Today]

Lots overflowing with repo vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto repossessionAutoRepossessionbad loansBadLoansbankingcar repossessionCarRepossessionloansrepossessionusa todayUsaTodayvehicle repossessionVehicleRepossessionThu, 14 Feb 2008 16:49:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1115291/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/02/14/lots-overflowing-with-repo-vehicles/1115291/article-detail.xml 1115291 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/repossession_high_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/repossession_high.jpg <![CDATA[More details on XM / Sirius merger revealed]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/27/more-details-on-xm-sirius-merger-revealed/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/27/more-details-on-xm-sirius-merger-revealed/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/27/more-details-on-xm-sirius-merger-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There are a lot of questions surrounding the proposed merger of competing satellite radio providers XM and Sirius. USA Today had a chance to ask a few to Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin, the would-be CEO of the two companies if the merger is allowed to take place. Below are some bullet points from the interview with answers to the most burning questions.
  • Fees would not likely be raised above $12.95/month
  • Dual receiver radios will likely be available that can receive both XM and Sirius content
  • People with radios that receive only one service can continue to receive just that service
  • Both brands and services will remain intact
  • Live, real-time satellite television will be offered
It's still not clear to us, at least, how exactly this merger will work. Karmazin says that content from service will be available to subscribers of the other service soon after the merger goes through, but it isn't clear whether those subscribers will need to purchase a compatible receiver, perhaps a dual receiver, or if XM channels will be broadcast across the Sirius network and vice versa. We'd also like to know what effect the merger will have on automakers who have already aligned themselves with one service and have been installing Sirius or XM receivers in their vehicles for years now. Clearly there are cost savings that can be realized, otherwise the merger would never have been proposed, but we're wondering if the imminent confusion caused by the merger will hurt the two brands in the long run.

[Source: USA Today via Kicking Tires]

More details on XM / Sirius merger revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersinterviewKarmazinMel KarmazinMelKarmazinmergerquestionssiriusUSA TodayUsaTodayxmTue, 27 Feb 2007 18:04:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/841598/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/02/27/more-details-on-xm-sirius-merger-revealed/841598/article-detail.xml 841598 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/02/1763820_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/02/1763820.jpg -1 2