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WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has designated 10 proving ground pilot sites to encourage testing and information sharing around automated vehicle technologies. These proving ground designations will foster  innovations that can safely transform personal and commercial mobility, expand capacity, and open new doors to disadvantaged people and communities. These designations are a logical next step in the Department’s effort to advance the safe deployment of automated technology. 

“The designated proving grounds will collectively form a Community of Practice around safe testing and deployment,” said Secretary Foxx.  “This group will openly share best practices for the safe conduct of testing and operations as they are developed, enabling the participants and the general public to learn at a faster rate and accelerating the pace of safe deployment.” 

The proving grounds will also provide critical insights into optimal big data usage through automated vehicle testing and will serve as a foundation for building a community of practice around automated vehicle research.

Basic auto care goes a long way toward improving the safety and dependability of a vehicle. Whether you do it yourself or visit a trusted professional technician, the non-profit Car Care Council recommends 10 Fall

Car Care Month maintenance procedures to help make sure your car is operating at its best before winter arrives.

“Fall Car Care Month in October is the ideal time to give your car some extra attention before harsh winter weather sets in,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Taking a little time for auto care now can help you avoid the headaches of a costly emergency breakdown later.”

• Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
• Check the hoses and belts to make sure they are not cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or showing signs of excessive wear.
• Check the battery and replace if necessary. Make sure the connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free.
• Check the brake system annually and have the brake linings, rotors and drums inspected at each oil change.
• Inspect the exhaust system for leaks, damage and broken supports or hangers if there is an unusual noise. Exhaust leaks can be dangerous and must be corrected without delay.
• Check the engine to make sure it is delivering the best balance of power and fuel economy and producing the lowest level of emissions.
• Check the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system as proper heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and safety reasons, such as defrosting.
• Inspect the steering and suspension system annually, including shock absorbers, struts and chassis parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends and other related components.
• Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
• Check the wipers and lighting so that you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

New partnership aims to end traffic fatalities within the next 30 years

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Highway Administration, and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration are joining forces with the National Safety Council (NSC) to launch the Road to Zero Coalition with the goal of ending fatalities on the nation's roads within the next 30 years. The Department of Transportation has committed $1 million a year for the next three years to provide grants to organizations working on lifesaving programs.

"Our vision is simple – zero fatalities on our roads," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "We know that setting the bar for safety to the highest possible standard requires commitment from everyone to think differently about safety – from drivers to industry, safety organizations and government at all levels."

The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline has increased for 12 of the past 14 days, reaching today’s price of $2.26 per gallon. Today’s average price is 3 cents more than one week ago, 8 cents more than one month ago and 6 cents less than one year ago.

Over the weekend, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina saw the arrival of Hurricane Matthew and residents in those areas expressed significant concerns about the availability of gasoline leading up to and following the storm. Ports and fuel terminals in all three states were closed ahead of the storm. Fortunately, there were no refineries threatened by the path of the storm and by Friday afternoon many ports in southern Florida were already cleared by the Coast Guard and open to receive vessels.

AAA identifies the top mistakes teens make when learning to drive

WASHINGTON (October 12, 2016) – Over the past five years, teen drivers were involved in nearly 14,000 fatal crashes and more than 4,200 of those crashes involved speeding. According to a new AAA survey of driving instructors, speeding is one of the top three mistakes teens make when learning to drive. With 65 percent of those instructors also reporting that parents today are worse at preparing their teens to drive compared to a decade ago, AAA cautions parents that their involvement is key to preventing deadly mistakes behind the wheel.

“Nearly two-thirds of people injured or killed in a crash involving a teen driver are people other than the teen,” said Bill Van Tassel, AAA’s manager of Driver Training Operations. “Involved parents really can help save lives, so it’s important for parents to coach their teens to slow down, as well as to avoid other common mistakes.”

The average price at the pump has fallen for 15 of the last 16 days, for a total savings of 4 cents per gallon. The national average currently sits at $2.22 per gallon, which is two cents less than one week ago, one cent more than one month ago and 1 cent more year-over-year. The National average is down 17 cents per gallon versus the 2016 peak price reached in June ($2.39).

This year’s seasonal refinery maintenance continues across the United States and select regional markets are still under pressure as a result of planned and unplanned maintenance. The West Coast is enduring the fall turnaround season but is still feeling the impacts of shutdowns at the PBF’s Torrance, California refinery. Similar pressure is still being felt on the East Coast with rumors of refinery outages in the Philadelphia area. Although gasoline demand typically retreats during the fall due to lower driving demand and the switchover to winter-blend gasoline, continued unplanned outages could create volatility and put pressure on the national average in the near term.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is taking a proactive safety approach to protect vehicles from malicious cyber-attacks and unauthorized access by releasing proposed guidance for improving motor vehicle cybersecurity.

"Cybersecurity is a safety issue, and a top priority at the Department," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "Our intention with today's guidance is to provide best practices to help protect against breaches and other security failures that can put motor vehicle safety at risk."

Kick-off the 2017 hot rodding season in style at the Goodguys 8th Spring Nationals Giant Car Show, March 10-12 at WestWorld in sunny Scottsdale, AZ! 

One of the fastest growing events on the Goodguys event schedule, the 8th Spring Nationals will showcase over 2,500 1972 & older hot rods, customs, muscle cars, trucks, and classics on display throughout the stunning desert landscape of WestWorld! The event also features over 200 vendor exhibits, a Giant Swap Meet & Cars 4 Sale Corral, Goodguys AutoCross timed racing competition, Nitro Thunderfest Dragster Exhibition, a Model Car Show, special parking areas on Saturday, a FREE Kids Zone and so much more! Plus, late model American made or powered muscle cars, customs and trucks are welcome on March 12th for the K & N Filters All American Sunday! For complete details and to register your vehicle or purchase tickets, visit www.good-guys.com.

Event Contact Information:
Goodguys Office Phone: (925) 838-9876
WestWorld of Scottsdale: Website | (480) 312-6802
Facility Map

Event Hours:
Friday, March 10 - 8am to 5pm
Saturday, March 11 - 8am to 5pm
Sunday, March 12 - 8am to 3pm

Where: 
WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 W. Pima Rd., Scottsdale, AZ,

Tickets: 
General admission: $20 per day, Kids (7-12) $6. A $5 parking fee is charged by WestWorld.
Discount general admission tickets are $17 and available at www.good-guys.com until midnight the night before the event.

Military (active or retired) receive a $5 discount off general admission with military ID card.

Phone: 
GoodGuys: (925)838-9876.

Web: 
https://www.good-guys.com/sn-2017

Event Highlights:

• Over 2,500 Rods, Customs, Classics, Muscle Cars and Trucks thru '72
• K&N Filters All American Sunday welcoming American made or powered vehicles of all years
• Goodguys AutoCross
• Nitro Thunderfest Dragster Exhibition
• Vendor & Manufacturer Exhibits
• Swap Meet
• Cars 4 Sale Corral
• Model & Pedal Car Show
• AutoCross for Kids benefitting the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer
• Kids Zone - Free Arts and crafts, games, prizes & more!
• Kids Free Revell Model Car Make-N-Take - Get your kids involved in model building.
• Complimentary Guest Shuttles provided from spectator parking
• AutoCross Bar & Grill
• Live music Entertainment with The Faded Crew & City Nights
• Featured club: Arizona Street Rod Association

Additional Event Info: 
Visit www.good-guys.com. You can also find Goodguys on Facebook. 
 
Event Contact: Betsy Bennett
(503) 246-0237
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As Halloween nears, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding Americans to drive sober and to keep an eye out for trick-or-treaters. Drinking and increased pedestrian traffic on Halloween night has historically been a dangerous combination.

On Halloween night in 2015, 106 people died nationwide, and more than half of those deaths (55) involved a crash with a drunk driver, compared to one-third on an average day. More than one-quarter of Halloween crash fatalities were pedestrians, compared to 15 percent on an average day.

As children take to the streets on Halloween to trick-or-treat, their risk of being injured by a motorist increases greatly. Excited trick-or-treaters often forget about safety, so motorists, parents and caregivers must be even more alert. 

The national average price for gasoline remains relatively flat compared to one week ago, although pump prices have been pressured higher in some regions due to disruptions on the Colonial Pipeline. Today’s average price for regular unleaded gasoline is $2.22 per gallon, which is one cent more than one week ago, four cents less compared to one month ago and the same price year over year.

While drivers in a number of states (30) are paying less at the pump week-over-week, some volatility remains in Southeastern portions of the United States where gasoline prices saw upward momentum as a result of the Colonial Pipeline disruption. Line 1 operations were restored on Sunday afternoon after more than a week of downtime following a deadly explosion on Line 1 last week. While delivery of fuel has resumed, it may take a week before affected states see any relief at the pumps.