Latest News From Bumper Radio

LEESBURG, VA Oct 7 2026 - Fall Care Month in October is the perfect time for car owners to have their vehicles inspected before the temperatures drop and severe weather hits, says the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

ASE recommends that motorists have the following areas of their vehicles checked by a well-trained automotive service professional before winter arrives:

Battery – Cold weather is hard on batteries, so it's wise to check the battery and charging system for optimum performance.

Antifreeze – Antifreeze (coolant) should be flushed and refilled at least every two years in most vehicles.

Brakes – Have the brake system checked. Brakes are critical to vehicle safety and particularly important when driving on icy or snow-covered roads.

Tires – Check the tire tread depth and tire pressure, including the spare. If snow and ice are a problem in the area, consider special tires designed to grip slick roads.

PHOENIX – This week, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Office of Communications and Public Involvement won two national awards from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), a national nonprofit group that represents and supports state departments of transportation. The awards were presented during the annual TransComm conference for AASHTO communications professionals.

ADOT’s winners are:

SR 187 Improvement Project: Public Involvement Approach without a Consultant

This award recognizes public outreach efforts for transportation improvements, without the help of a consultant. The State Route 187 Improvement Project Community Relations team used a variety of methods to educate and engage drivers and residents about this project within the Gila River Indian Community and surrounding communities of Casa Grande, Coolidge and Sacaton Flats. To address limited Internet access and mail service in the area, ADOT’s team posted flyers at popular community destinations and delivered directly to homes, ran informational spots and banners on tribal television and maintained ongoing communication with tribal leadership to ensure the community received updates on the project.

Data shows overall crashes trending downwards

PHOENIX – Traffic fatalities in Arizona decreased for the third straight year in 2025. 

There were 1,156 traffic fatalities on all Arizona roads in 2025, which is a 5.2% decrease in fatalities from 2024. The total number of crashes also dropped, falling from 123,535 in 2024 to 118,052 in 2025 — a 4.4% decrease.

Despite a trend in fewer fatalities and crashes, those numbers remain near all-time highs. 

“Fewer fatalities on Arizona’s roadways is a move in the right direction, but even one death is one too many,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said. “We work to build and maintain highway infrastructure to safely connect Arizonans, but we can’t reduce crashes and fatalities alone. Crash data shows that decisions drivers make are the leading factors in crashes; we need everyone to make smarter decisions behind the wheel so we all safely arrive at our destinations.” 

ADOT MVD once again at the forefront of digital ID options

PHOENIX – ADOT MVD is providing a new digital wallet option for Arizona residents. Arizona is one of the first states to offer a digital wallet that will be able to not only hold more documents than just an ID or driver license, but also alert the owner of certain due dates and other reminders. 

In addition to holding a digital version of a driver license or state ID, the Arizona Wallet will soon have the ability to securely hold digital versions of other important documents, such as vehicle registration, title and more. 

They removed more than 12,000 bags of litter from state highways

PHOENIX – Numbers only begin to describe the value that Adopt a Highway volunteers brought to state highways during 2025, but they are impressive nonetheless:

Bags of litter collected: 12,876

Individuals volunteering: 7,270

Groups participating: 764

Total hours worked: 16,163

Value of these efforts: $545,000

PHOENIX – Construction is set to begin on the second segment of the I-10 Wild Horse Pass Corridor Project next week, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. This project will widen the highway from two to three lanes in each direction between Phoenix and Casa Grande.

The entire I-10 Wild Horse Pass Corridor Project runs along 26 miles of I-10 in both directions from the Loop 202 Santan/South Mountain Freeway to just north of the City of Casa Grande and consists of four project segments. The next segment of the project (the second out of four) will begin active construction on Jan. 12. This segment is the 10-mile stretch of I-10 in both directions from Gas Line Road to south of State Route 387 or just north of the City of Casa Grande. The contractor for this segment is FNF Construction, Inc. 

Check out over 3,000 of the country’s coolest hot rods, trucks, customs, muscle cars and classics on display!

See the highly anticipated Goodguys 2025 BASF “Top 12” cars and trucks of the year up-close, in-person, and together for the first time!

Grab a spot in the stands and experience Goodguys AutoCross racing series action all weekend long featuring season-ending “Duel in the Desert” AutoCross Shootout on Saturday afternoon!

Check out the Squarebody Syndicate/GSI GM Truck Get-Together Special Area!

Experience an earth-shakin’ Nitro Thunderfest and a tire-smokin’ burnout exhibition presented by Summit Racing!

Search for automotive treasures and hard-to-find parts at Arizona’s biggest automotive swap meet of the year or find a new project vehicle in the Cars 4 Sale Corral!

Shop and meet with over 100 of the industry’s top manufacturers and service providers!

Enjoy live music and the Auto World Family Fun Zone featuring a Model Car Make & Take on Saturday and Sunday (while supplies last)!

See which rides take home the top awards of the weekend including Builder’s Choice Awards by Dean Livermore and his crew from Hot Rods by Dean and so much more!

And on Sunday, bring out those late model American made or powered late models of all years for our Meguiar’s All-American Sunday celebration!

ORLANDO, FL – According to AAA’s latest survey on autonomous vehicles, 13% of U.S. drivers would trust riding in self-driving vehicles – an increase from last year, when this number was 9%. Despite this slight increase, 6 in 10 U.S. drivers still report being afraid to ride in a self-driving vehicle. For drivers, enhancing vehicle safety systems remains a priority over the development of self-driving, with interest among drivers decreasing from 18% in 2022 to 13% this year.

“Most drivers want automakers to focus on advanced safety technology,” said Greg Brannon, the automotive engineering director at AAA. “Though opinions on fully self-driving cars vary widely, it’s evident that today’s drivers value features that enhance their safety.”