AAA Foundation study reveals the dangers of getting less than seven hours of sleep

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 6, 2016)- Drivers who miss between one to two hours of the recommended seven hours of sleep in a 24-hour period nearly double their risk for a crash, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 35 percent of U.S. drivers sleep less than the recommended seven hours daily. And with drowsy driving involved in more than one in five fatal crashes on U.S. roadways each year, AAA warns drivers that getting less than seven hours of sleep may have deadly consequences.

“You cannot miss sleep and still expect to be able to safely function behind the wheel,” said Dr. David Yang, executive director for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Our new research shows that a driver who has slept for less than five hours has a crash risk comparable to someone driving drunk.”

The national average price of regular unleaded gasoline has increased for seven consecutive days, reaching today’s price of $2.18 per gallon. Today’s average price represents an increase of five cents per gallon compared to one week ago, four cents less than one month ago and 14 cents more than the same date last year.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) elected to cut its collective production when the group met last Wednesday in Vienna, Austria, in an effort to rebalance the global oil supply and raise prices. Markets reacted quickly to the production agreement with crude oil gaining 12% and leading to increased retail prices. The deal is set to take effect in January 2017.
Traditionally this time of year gives way to lower gas prices as a result of cheaper to produce winter-blend fuel and less demand. However, due to the agreement from OPEC it is still unclear if prices will retreat considerably ahead of the upcoming holidays.

NHTSA intends to upgrade 5-Star Ratings to new era of safety

NHTSA has set the standard for safety, helping consumers find safer cars with its 5-Star Safety Ratings for more than 30 years. Now, buying a safer car just got easier with the new Overall Rating that makes comparing vehicles simple: More Stars mean Safer Cars. 5-Star Safety Ratings measure the crashworthiness and rollover safety of vehicles. Five stars is the highest rating, one is the lowest.

• Search 5-Star Safety Ratings
• On YouTube: SafercarTV has all our crash test videos

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., -- Hyundai is debuting a new mobile app for owners called MyHyundai with Blue Link. The new app integrates services currently available in the previously separate Blue Link and Car Care mobile apps. This MyHyundai app makes it even easier for customers to access Blue Link remote start, schedule service, get vehicle diagnostics and view how-to videos similar to how they can use the MyHyundai.com owner website. It will have additional features in the future. Compatible with smartphones and tablets, the MyHyundai app is available for free download on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

"Hyundai is constantly striving to make things better. Bundling all of these great services into one app simplifies and enhances the ownership experience for our customers," said Barry Ratzlaff, executive director, digital business planning and connected operations, Hyundai Motor America. "The 'There Is an App for That' movement has caused a lot of clutter on cellphones and we hope our approach keeps that clutter down to a minimum. Look for Hyundai to continue to deliver more through this one-app solution."

The inclusion of Blue Link remote and Assurance Car Care features into the MyHyundai makes vehicle management and ownership seamless. Currently, owners can manage their Blue Link account, along with tracking vehicle service history, scheduling maintenance and checking vehicle information on MyHyundai.com.

To access the full set of app features, users will need to activate their Blue Link service with the remote package. Customers without a current Blue Link subscription can get a demonstration of the Blue Link remote features inside the MyHyundai app.

After dropping for two months, including a streak of 53 of 54 days, pump prices are again on the rise heading into Labor Day weekend. The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline has increased for 14 consecutive days. Today’s average price of $2.22 per gallon marks an increase of six cents per gallon compared to one week ago and eight cents per gallon compared to one month ago. Despite the increase, drivers are paying 27 cents less than they did at this same time last year and are on track to pay the lowest Labor Day gas prices since 2004.
According to a AAA survey, 55 percent of Americans say they are more likely to take a road trip this year due to lower gas prices. OPIS projects that Americans will purchase about 400-million gallons of gasoline each day over Labor Day weekend, at an aggregate cost of about $880-million per day. While the national year-over-year discount remains, it has closed substantially from more than fifty cents just ten days ago.

A number of factors have been driving prices higher for motorists including: higher crude oil prices, refinery issues in the Gulf Coast, and the threat of a tropical weather system moving into the Gulf of Mexico. The rising crude oil prices can be attributed, in part, to talks of an agreement to limit production amongst OPEC countries and news from the U.S. Federal Reserve that the U.S. may raise interest rates in the next couple of months.