Transportation

UAB: Driving with the dog not a good idea for seniors

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Sunday, May 5th, 9:00 am

From the University of Alabama at Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Senior drivers who always take a pet in the car are at increased risk for being involved in a motor vehicle collision, said University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers. In a study published in Accident Analysis and Prevention on May 2, 2013, the research team said both overall and at-fault crash rates for drivers 70 years of age or older were higher for those whose pet habitually rode with them.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Mercedes-Benz advertising for 1,000 new jobs

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Thursday, April 11th, 11:59 am

VANCE, Ala. (AP) - Automaker Mercedes-Benz has begun accepting applications for about 1,000 new jobs it plans to add with the start of C-Class sedans at its Vance assembly plant near Tuscaloosa.

The Tuscaloosa News reports (http://bit.ly/YL4dbq ) that the company expects to begin training workers on the sedan production later this year. Mercedes spokeswoman Felyicia Jerald says the firm will begin making the vehicles for delivery to dealer showrooms sometime next year.

Mercedes plans to add a new sport utility vehicle to its Vance production in 2015. About 400 more workers will be hired for that work. The current hiring, however, is only for the C-Class expansion.

Information from: The Tuscaloosa News, http://www.tuscaloosanews.com

View Comments | Post a Comment

Fewer US teens dying in teen-driver crashes

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Sunday, April 7th, 2:00 pm

(HealthDay News) -- The number of teen driver-related fatalities has dropped by almost half in the last six years, and the number of teen passengers killed in crashes involving teen drivers fell 30 percent in the United States from 2008 to 2011, a new national safety study reported Thursday.

On the other hand, the report on teen drivers found that texting, email, speeding and drinking remain deadly distractions.

The findings, from a joint report by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State Farm Insurance, showed positive news in that 54 percent of teen passengers reported that they always used seat belts.

And there were other encouraging trends among teen passengers from 2008 to 2011:

- There was a decline in the risky behaviors of teen passengers, ages 15 to 19.

- The number of teen passengers who were killed in crashes and not wearing seat belts fell 23 percent.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Hyundai-Kia recalling nearly 1.9 million vehicles

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Thursday, April 4th, 5:26 pm

By TOM KRISHER

AP Auto Writer

DETROIT (AP) - Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are recalling almost 1.9 million vehicles to fix problems with air bags and brake light switches.

The switch recall covers almost 1.7 million vehicles - most of the automakers' model lineups from the 2007 through 2011 model years.

In addition, Hyundai Motor Co. is recalling about 194,000 Elantra compacts from 2011 to 2013 to fix an air bag problem.

A faulty switch can stop the brake lights from illuminating when drivers press on the pedal, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents posted Wednesday on its website. Also, the cruise control may not turn off when a driver steps on the brake, push-to-start buttons may not work, and a feature that stops the driver from shifting out of park without a foot on the brake may fail.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Gas prices in a downward trend across Ala.

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Wednesday, March 27th, 3:32 pm

Alabama drivers are getting a little relief at the pump. You may have noticed gas prices have dropped about 20 cents in the last month. It's a welcome sight as many people are traveling for spring break.

Several drivers say they pay close attention to gas prices and they're always searching for the cheapest prices.

"I get gas every three days and I spend $20 at a time so I end up spending a lot on gas. Less now that we moved. I still work in Trussville so it's a big of a drive but I spend a lot of time hunting for the station with the cheapest gas prices," driver Mia Osborn said.

Right now it looks like that's in Tuscaloosa where regular unleaded averages $3.43. In Birmingham, the average is $3.45, which is still cheaper than the state's average of $3.47. The national average is $3.65.

This time last month gas prices were hovering around $3.65 while the national average was $3.77.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Ala. airports impacted by possible control tower cuts

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Monday, February 25th, 5:38 pm

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Air traffic control towers across Alabama are facing closure due to the proposed cuts by the Federal Aviation Administration.

If the sequester goes through at the end of the month, Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood says he'll make other cuts first, but eventually he would be forced to cut air traffic controllers. That decision would delay flights across the nation.

Among the Alabama airports impacted by these potential cuts are Mobile Downtown, Dothan Regional and Tuscaloosa Regional airports.

Pilots like FOX6 Chief Meteorologist J-P Dice say they depend on the control tower to know what's going on around them. If the control towers are closed, air traffic controllers are out of a job.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Small changes can help the fuel in your tank last longer

Submitted by Melanie Posey, Fox 6 News Reporter

Monday, February 18th, 2013, 11:13pm

Small changes can help the fuel in your tank last longer

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Monday, AAA said that for 32 straight days, gas prices have gone up in the U.S. and their daily fuel gauge report shows the average price for regular gas in Alabama is now $3.57.

That's an increase of 35 cents in the last month. Experts say the rise in prices is due to three things: rising crude oil prices, refinery closures and production cuts.

With every dollar counting so much, there are some easy wasy to make the gas last. Franklin Automotive has some simple suggestions to help consumers.

1. Check your tires.

"If your tires aren't properly inflated or if the alignment is not done properly, both of those things can create drag. And if there's drag it's going to make your motor work hard to push the car," Booth Armstrong said.

2. Keep up with preventative maintenance, like oil and filter changes.

View Comments | Post a Comment