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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that, beginning today, June 1, 2016, rental car agencies must fix any and all open safety defects before renting out vehicles to customers. U.S Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and NHTSA Administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind have long advocated for safe rental cars free of open recalls, and the new legislation requiring it was recently passed by the Congress in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015.

“When a family picks up a rental car on vacation, they should be able to expect it is free of any known safety defect,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “I thank Congress and the safety advocates who helped turn this common-sense idea into law.”

The national average price of gas reached a new 2016 high over the weekend, and today’s average of $2.38 per gallon is the most expensive average since September 2015.  Gas prices have moved higher by two cents per gallon on the week and 16 cents per gallon on the month. Although pump prices have increased for 28 of the past 33 days, consumers continue to benefit from yearly savings and prices are down 42 cents per gallon compared to a year ago.

The cost of crude oil has moved higher over the past few weeks, which has made gasoline more expensive to start the summer driving season. Crude oil prices have increased due to unexpected disruptions in places like Canada and Nigeria, while questions continue to mount over future production in Venezuela. Since early April, the cost of crude oil has increased by more than $13 per barrel to the highest levels since 2015. With all other factors being equal, a $1 per barrel change in the price of crude oil can increase gas prices by 2.4 cents per gallon. Prices may continue to fluctuate on the heels of news related to global oil supply and the U.S. dollar, which could have a major impact on what drivers pay for gasoline this summer.

It's summertime and for most of us that means road trips! Join automotive expert, Lauren Fix The Car Coach, as she discusses tips to keep you safer on the road while you are traveling this summer!

If you are planning a road trip this summer, it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t just put gas in your car and go, says the non-profit Car Care Council. A pre-trip vehicle check can determine how road-ready your vehicle is so you can take steps to have any problems fixed before heading out for vacation.

Gas prices have fallen for nine consecutive days, reaching today’s average of $2.33 per gallon. Gasoline demand remains on track to set a new all-time high for the 2016 summer driving season, however, crude oil remains relatively less expensive than recent years which is contributing to direct savings at the pump.  Drivers are saving a nickel per gallon on the week, but are paying five cents per gallon more on the month. Averages are down 46 cents per gallon versus this same date last year, attributed year-over-year surpluses, and these savings are likely to continue as supply appears more than capable of keeping pace with growing demand.

WILTON, Conn., June 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A brand new DUI monitoring system that allows parents and their kids to partner up to prevent drinking and driving launches August 1 in the Apple App Store. The GUARDRIDE™ system uses the Apple IOS platform on all fifth generation iPhones or newer. The system uses a BACtrack™ Mobile Bluetooth breathalyzer and leading edge facial recognition software to perform a 30 second test for young drivers before they get behind the wheel. If the kid fails the tests, or starts driving without taking the tests, their parents are notified so they can take action. GUARDRIDE just launched the system with an Indiegogo crowdfunding charitable campaign on June 22, to help donate systems to high schools where DUI tragedy has struck.
  
"Underage kids drink and drive 2.4 million times a month. Being the parent of two teenagers I worry, because I know that even a good kid can make a bad decision," said Brian Griffin, founder of GUARDRIDE. "I didn't want to be constantly worrying every time my kids went out with their friends, so I looked for a solution that could help but there was none so I created GUARDRIDE, which is based off the idea of "trust but verify," to give myself and other parents a tool to help keep our kids safe from drinking and driving."

The great American road trip is back; Memorial Day travel volume will be second-highest on record

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 19, 2016) – AAA projects more than 38 million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend. That is the second-highest Memorial Day travel volume on record and the most since 2005. Spurred by the lowest gas prices in more than a decade, about 700,000 more people will travel compared to last year. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 26 to Monday, May 30.

“Americans are eagerly awaiting the start of summer and are ready to travel in numbers not seen in more than a decade,” said Marshall Doney, AAA President and CEO. “The great American road trip is officially back thanks to low gas prices, and millions of people from coast to coast are ready to kick off summer with a Memorial Day getaway.”

Automotive expert Lauren Fix, The Car Coach shares how to get clear, crisp bluetooth technology for your car and beyond with JBL TRIP from HARMAN. Stay safe, minimize distractions and get fantastic sound with this new technology tested by your favorite Car Coach!

Despite fear, AAA survey reveals that experience with vehicle technology leads to trust

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 1, 2016) – Three out of four U.S. drivers report feeling  “afraid” to ride in a self-driving car, according to a new survey from AAA. With today’s heightened focus on autonomous vehicles, this fear poses a potential concern to the automotive industry as consumers may be reluctant to fully embrace the self-driving car. Despite this significant fear, AAA also found that drivers who own vehicles equipped with semi-autonomous features are, on average, 75 percent more likely to trust the technology than those that do not own it, suggesting that gradual experience with these advanced features can ease consumer fears.

“With the rapid advancement towards autonomous vehicles, American drivers may be hesitant to give up full control,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. “What Americans may not realize is that the building blocks towards self-driving cars are already in today’s vehicles and the technology is constantly improving and well-trusted by those who have experienced it.”

Today, Americans are safer on our roads than ever before. Thanks to decades of effort, our vehicles better protect us in crashes and increasingly help us avoid crashes. We’ve seen dramatic reductions in drunk driving, increases in seat belt use, and are better addressing the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. We’re holding companies accountable when they don’t live up to their obligations to report safety defects, and our agency accountable for rooting out unsafe vehicles. We made significant progress in 2015. In 2016, we will double our efforts to keep Americans safe on the road, whether they drive, ride or walk.

–NHTSA Administrator Mark R. Rosekind, Ph.D.