Latest News From Bumper Radio

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jun. 7, 2018) – Afternoon downpours could spell disaster for millions of road trippers this summer, thanks to an unlikely suspect – tires. New research from AAA reveals that driving on relatively worn tires at highway speeds in wet conditions can increase average stopping distances by a staggering 43 percent, or an additional 87 feet — more than the length of a semi-trailer truck — when compared to new tires. With nearly 800,000 crashes occurring on wet roads each year, AAA urges drivers to check tread depth, replace tires proactively, and increase following distances significantly during rainy conditions.

“Tires are what keep a car connected to the road,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. “Even the most advanced safety systems rely on a tire’s basic ability to maintain traction, and AAA’s testing shows that wear has a significant impact on how quickly a vehicle can come to a stop in wet conditions to avoid a crash.”

In partnership with the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center, AAA conducted testing to understand performance differences at highway speeds between new all-season tires and those worn to a tread depth of 4/32” on wet pavement. AAA research found that:

MCHENRY, Ill., June 4, 2018 -- The Raybestos® 1953 Chevrolet® pickup build project is complete. The restored classic will now hit the road for a North American tour before one lucky automotive professional wins it for their very own.

"We have restored a lot of very cool vehicles, including the iconic 1969 Raybestos Mustang, but I think this 1953 Chevy pickup might be our best build yet," said Kristin Grons, marketing manager, Brake Parts Inc. "The team at Schwartz Performance led by the master, Jeff Schwartz, really outdid themselves this time and a big thank you to all of our build partners for their participation in another incredible build. I know the lucky winner will enjoy showing off this classic truck as they cruise their neighborhood."

As part of the restoration project, Schwartz Performance installed its famous bolt-in "G-Machine" chassis system as well as an off-the-shelf performance disc brake upgrade package, using Raybestos components and Raybestos Truck & Medium Duty specialty disc brake pads. In addition, over 20 premier suppliers partnered with Raybestos to help restore and modify the pickup.

Summers here are hard on our cars but even harder on our residents and pets.

From June 1st through August 31st, H & I Automotive will be giving their customers a $10 discount if they bring in a case of water!

The water will be donated to two amazing local organizations: House of Refuge and Valley of the Sun Dog Rescue.

House of Refuge is a faith-based, non-profit 501(c)(3) that provides supportive services and transitional housing to homeless families. Click here for more information.

Valley of the Sun Dog Rescue is a no-kill animal shelter and has been a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization since the year 2000. Click here for more information.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 30, 2018) –More than 1,050 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver in 2016 during the 100 Deadliest Days, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That is an average of 10 people per day – a 14 percent increase compared to the rest of the year, according to data analyzed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. As school lets out for summer, AAA stresses the importance of preparing and educating inexperienced teen drivers for some of the most dangerous driving days of the year.

“The number of fatal crashes involving teen drivers during the summer is an important traffic safety concern and research shows that young drivers are at greater risk and have higher crash rates compared to older and more experienced drivers,” said Dr. David Yang, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety executive director. “Through education, proper training, and involvement of parents, we can help our young drivers to become better and safer drivers, which in turn keeps the roads safer for everyone.”

Speed and nighttime driving are significant factors contributing towards the number of crashes, and subsequently fatalities, involving teen drivers during the 100 Deadliest Days (statistics based on 2016 NHTSA FARS data as analyzed by the AAA Foundation):

Let's ask The Car Coach, Lauren Fix about some easy hacks to keep your car from getting too hot when it's parked outside in the sun all day.

Toyota TeenDrive365 Video Challenge Selects Winner from 1,300 Submissions in Nationwide PSA Competition

SILVER SPRING, Md., May 22, 2018 -- To educate their peers on the dangers of distracted driving, high school seniors Kirklin "Mack" Hopkins (17) and Kellen Stadler (18) of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte, North Carolina, send a clear message: A single second can have life-long consequences. Their poignant video, titled "It's Not Fine," is the winner of the Toyota TeenDrive365 Video Challenge, a national driver safety public service announcement competition, using the tools of storytelling to get through to young drivers.

More than 1,300 videos were submitted to the competition by students to help inspire safe driving habits and spark a national conversation about staying safe behind the wheel.

"It's Not Fine delivers a direct and powerful narrative that highlights the dangers of distracted driving and the ability of teens to encourage safe driving behavior," said Mike Goss, general manager at Toyota Social Innovation.

The video opens with Sarah riding in the vehicle as her older sister Ellie texts and drives. Sarah says, "Mom said not to." Ellie says, "It's fine. I do it all the time. It's only for a second." The video cuts to years later, with Sarah now old enough to drive and behind the wheel. Believing "it's fine" to text and drive, Sarah follows her sister's example, with devastating consequences.

"The driver-safety video by Mack and Kellen is professional, resolute and a great example of how teens can influence their peers and others," said Dr. Tracey Harrill, principal at Providence High School. "We are very proud of their work to communicate that 'it's not fine' to text and drive."

Leading Warranty, Low Deductible and Transferability Give Hyundai the Highest CPO Value

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., May 22, 2018 -- Hyundai was named the Best Non-Luxury Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Program by Autotrader for 2018, helping customers to make reliable choices when selecting a certified pre-owned vehicle. Experts at Autotrader recognized Hyundai CPO vehicles as the top choice for used car shoppers, noting its leading manufacturer warranty coverage, low deductible and transferability.

"If you're shopping for a mainstream vehicle, look at Hyundai, it has one of the best warranties in the entire automotive industry," said Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader. "When you combine the new-car 5-year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper comprehensive warranty, powertrain coverage of 10 years/100,000 miles, which is better than a new-car purchase and unlimited mileage roadside assistance, Hyundai is truly offering an unprecedented value. In addition, the coverage is fully transferable to subsequent owners, which will add value to the vehicle if an owner does sell before the warranty expires."

For 2018, the 10 Best Non-Luxury and Luxury CPO Programs were identified based on a series of factors, including powertrain warranty length (with a minimum of six years or 100,000 miles of coverage from the original sale date), available inventory, bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage, deductible amount and transferability to future vehicle owners.

Gas prices jumped 12 cents over the past 14 days, and six-cents since last Monday, landing the national average at $2.93 – the highest price point going into the Memorial Day weekend since 2014.

“AAA forecasts nearly 37 million travelers will hit the road for the holiday weekend. Compared to an average of the last three Memorial Day weekends, pump prices are nearly 50 cents more expensive and climbing,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “Trends are indicating that this summer is likely to bring the national average to at least $3/gallon.”

Today, 14 states tout an average of $3.00 or more. Outside of the typical West Coast states, Idaho and Utah, this count includes six Northeast and Mid-West states: Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, Washington, D.C., Illinois and Michigan. In addition, Arizona, New Jersey, and Rhode Island are all within four-cents of hitting the $3 mark.

Quick Stats

The largest monthly increases are: Minnesota (+28 cents), Wisconsin (+27 cents), Missouri (+25 cents), Connecticut (+23 cents), Delaware (+23 cents), Illinois (+23 cents), Wyoming (+22 cents), Kansas (+22 cents), Arizona (+21 cents) and Texas (+21 cents).

The nation’s topten most expensive markets are: California ($3.71), Hawaii ($3.68), Washington ($3.41), Alaska ($3.36), Nevada ($3.32), Oregon ($3.31), Idaho ($3.16), Utah ($3.14), Connecticut ($3.11) and Pennsylvania ($3.08).

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 22, 2018) – Following high-profile incidents involving autonomous vehicle technologies, a new report from AAA’s multi-year tracking study indicates that consumer trust in these vehicles has quickly eroded. Today, three-quarters (73 percent) of American drivers report they would be too afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle, up significantly from 63 percent in late 2017. Additionally, two-thirds (63 percent) of U.S. adults report they would actually feel less safe sharing the road with a self-driving vehicle while walking or riding a bicycle.

“Despite their potential to make our roads safer in the long run, consumers have high expectations for safety,” said Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations. “Our results show that any incident involving an autonomous vehicle is likely to shake consumer trust, which is a critical component to the widespread acceptance of autonomous vehicles.”

Surprisingly, AAA’s latest survey found that Millennials – the group that has been the quickest to embrace automated vehicle technologies — were the most impacted by these incidents. The percentage of Millennial drivers too afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle has jumped from 49 percent to 64 percent since late 2017, representing the largest increase of any generation surveyed.

At $2.87, the national gas price average jumped six cents on the week in part due to the White House’s decision to re-impose sanctions on Iran. As a result, 36 states are seeing gas prices that are a nickel or more expensive than last Monday.

“The Administration’s move combined with the switchover to summer blend, growing global demand and shrinking supply continues to fuel pump prices as we approach the summer driving season,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “AAA predicts that the national average may reach $3/gallon this summer, especially if crude oil prices continue to increase.”

Motorists are seeing 19 percent of gas stations selling gas for $3.01 or more. Today’s gas price is 16-cents more expensive than one month ago and 53-cents more than one year ago.

Quick Stats

The nation’s top 10 most expensive markets are: California ($3.69), Hawaii ($3.67), Washington ($3.38), Alaska ($3.31), Nevada ($3.30), Oregon ($3.28), Utah ($3.15), Idaho ($3.14), Connecticut ($3.04) and Pennsylvania ($3.04).
The nation’s top 10 states with the largest weekly increases are: Ohio (+15 cents), Missouri (+12 cents), Kentucky (+11 cents), Minnesota (+11 cents), Delaware (+10 cents), Florida (+10 cents), Colorado (+9 cents), Maryland (+8 cents), Oklahoma (+8 cents) and West Virginia (+8 cents).