Latest News From Bumper Radio

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 13, 2014  -- Women and younger car owners are the most likely to give a nickname and associate a gender to their vehicles, according to a new report from DMEautomotive. The survey on car-naming behavior investigates the depth of the emotional connection between consumers and their cars as represented by the degree to which they personify and ascribe a gender to their vehicles. The survey was fielded among approximately 2,000 consumers in 2013, and also revealed that one in five car owners nickname their vehicles.

Bloomington, Ill., January 13, 2014 — Nearly all drivers could improve what is in their trunk to be better prepared for roadside emergencies. A new survey by State Farm and KRC Research shows two-thirds of drivers (67 percent) had some sort of “junk” in their trunk ranging from car detailing equipment to toys and used food or drink containers. Additionally, drivers shared a variety of strange “junk” items in their trunk including an old gorilla costume to an inflatable sheep to a wedding dress. Getting rid of the “junk” (non-emergency supplies) and adding the right supplies will help people deal with the unexpected and get back on the road.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., March 18, 2014 -- Singing out loud is the number one activity while driving, according to a consumer survey from DMEautomotive released in conjunction with National Collision Awareness month. And more dangerous distracted driving activities such as sending/receiving a text, talking on the phone, and eating, rank in the top five activities performed while driving. 

While singing out loud doesn't make distraction.gov's list of distracted driving activities, the rest in the top five do. This is sobering given that in 2012 alone, 3,328 people were killed in distracted-driving crashes.[1] And, according to the DMEa survey, younger drivers are much more likely to be multi-tasking while driving: roughly 9 in 10 admit to engaging in other activities while driving – and they are significantly more likely to be doing every single distracted driving behavior measured in the survey from texting, eating, talking on phone, using email, watching TV, working on laptop, changing clothes and putting on makeup.

BOSTON, March 18, 2014 -- Teens know that drinking or using a cell phone while driving are dangerous behaviors – that's no surprise. What is surprising is that according to a new survey from Liberty Mutual Insurance and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), teens seem to have a different definition of what it actually means to engage in these potentially deadly behaviors. From drinking or texting while driving to using a designated driver, the new survey highlights a sharp disconnect between what teens acknowledge as risky behavior and what they actually admit to doing behind the wheel.

Spring is here and so are rising gas prices. Not to worry, says the Car Care Council. A few simple and inexpensive vehicle maintenance steps can stretch your dollar at the pump and go a long way toward protecting the environment.

“Many motorists don’t realize that fuel consumption is directly related to auto care and has a significant impact on how much gas you use,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Gas prices can climb quickly, but the good news is that you can fight back. By properly maintaining your vehicle, you can improve fuel economy while saving money.”

The non-profit Car Care Council encourages motorists to be car care aware and perform simple maintenance to improve fuel economy.

Car expert Lauren Fix, The Car Coach demonstrates how to properly and legally hitch a trailer. Watch frightening footage of what happens when a trailer is improperly hitched.