Ride-Sharing Apps Take Off
From urban dwellers to long-distance commuters, more and more Americans are opting to leave the driving to others – and taking advantage of the growing number of ride-sharing apps available today.
The potential audience is huge. Census survey data shows the percentage of people car-pooling has remained around 10 percent for several years. Some 5 percent of commuters use public transportation and a whopping 76 percent drive alone. But convincing people to give up a car and share a ride with a stranger? With the number of ride-sharing apps popping up recently, it could just be that the time is right.
While some are limited to certain cities or geographic areas, other startups have intentions of going national, while yet still more are already doing business nationwide. The basic principle is the same: passengers looking for a ride use the app to post their request and the app searches for drivers in the vicinity willing to provide rides. Security concerns about riding with a stranger are handled by thorough prescreening. Cost of the ride varies, with some fares a voluntary donation at a recommended amount. User ratings help keep things on an even keel. A low rating of a passenger may mean drivers will refuse that person’s ride request in the future.
Here's a round-up of a few of the larger ride-sharing operations currently available.
SideCar
San Francisco-based SideCar launched its on-demand ride-sharing app at the end of June, available for iPhone and Android devices across the U.S. SideCar vets drivers with a background check, proof of valid insurance, proof of driver’s license and proof of registration. Rides are also tracked using GPS. As for passengers, they need to register with a valid credit card.
Zimride
Passengers in need of a local or long-distance ride can hook up with Zimride, now serving San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Tahoe and Las Vegas. The app uses Facebook to enable real connections: setting up a profile, booking a ride or posting a ride. What’s it cost? Recent postings on the site included $40 per passenger from Los Angeles to San Francisco, $35 per person from Santa Barbara to Berkeley, and $40 per person from Oakland to Los Angeles.
Lyft
From Zimride, Lyft is an on-demand ride-sharing app competitive with SideCar. Lyft screens drivers, runs criminal background checks, and conducts a phone interview followed by an in-person interview with prospective drivers. Lyft rider fares are voluntary, based on a community average. Like SideCar, Lyft has a rating system for drivers and passengers. Drivers and passengers authenticate using Facebook. Currently, Lyft is only available in San Francisco using iPhone.
Avego
Using the Avego iPhone app, drivers can offer their unused seats to other people in real-time. The app combines GPS-enabled real-time ride-matching with fully automated payment transaction management, safety features, real-time passenger information, and commute reporting. At the end of the journey, Avego automatically charges the rider a fair and predetermined price for the trip, based on a per-mile default rate. Users (driver and passenger) rate each other using 1 to 5 stars. If either rates the other with 1 star, they will never again be matched together. See our previous coverage of the Avego ride-sharing app or check out the video below for more details.
Weeels
As previously reported, Weeels is limited to taxi-takers in the New York City area only, and the app isn’t as user-friendly as some others. Still, if you can put up with the hassle of creating a personal profile and don’t mind fiddling with inputting addresses for pickup when time is of the essence – and you’re in New York City – Weeels is yet another potentially workable ride-sharing solution.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Stay Awake At The Wheel This Labor Day With These 10 Tips
Getting in that last-minute travel with the family this Labor Day holiday weekend may be a high priority on your list, but trying to cram in too many miles in too short a time could well be a recipe for disaster.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleepiness slows driver reaction time, impairs vision, and causes lapses in judgment and delays in processing information. Research studies show that being awake for more than 20 hours results in impairment equal to blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent, which is the legal limit in all states. In addition, 20+ hours awake means it’s possible for the driver to fall into a three to four-second microsleep – without even realizing it.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that driver fatigue causes 100,000 crashes each year, resulting in an estimated 1,550 deaths. A survey last November by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 96 percent of Americans say drowsy driving is unacceptable behavior, but one-third admit they do it anyway.
Along with other safe driving tips like making sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up, watching your speed and being a defensive driver, here are 10 tips to help keep you awake at the wheel this Labor Day weekend
(1) Get a good night’s sleep first. Preparation for a Labor Day weekend driving trip should include getting a full night’s rest the night prior to heading out on the road. That may be tough to do, with last-minute work deadlines, packing and other family responsibilities, but if you’re going to be driving with the family in tow, it’s your responsibility to keep them safe by making sure you’ve had enough sleep. How much sleep do you need? Experts recommend 7 to 9 hours.
(2) Don’t drive when you’d normally be asleep. Whether you’re trying to avoid traffic congestion by driving at night or you’ve got a long road ahead and want to drive straight through, avoid driving at times when you’d normally be asleep. Also see these tips for safe driving at night, if you absolutely must drive during the night hours.
(3) Don’t consume a heavy meal before setting out. Not only will you run the risk of indigestion by eating a heavy meal and then beginning your long drive, but you may also have a tendency to nod off. Keep mealtime light before driving to help stay awake and alert.
(4) Take your time. It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to get to your destination as fast as possible. After all, this may be the last family road trip until Thanksgiving or Christmas and you want to maximize your time away. But don’t do it at the expense of safety. Driving non-stop and through the night is never recommended.
(5) Stop for breaks often. Keeping alert and awake means that you need to pull over to a safe location, get out of the vehicle and take a break. Stopping to refuel is one time to do this logically, as well as making quick stops to grab a snack, take a walk, check out a destination en route, even to go shopping. Use a quick break to change drivers as well. The recommended time between breaks is every two hours or 100 miles.
(6) Keep your co-pilot by your side. It’s often called the buddy system, and for good reason. When you travel long distances by car, don’t drive alone. Having someone next to you in the vehicle (preferably a driver) can help keep you awake and alert by talking with you, monitoring for any signs of fatigue, and switching off driving with you when necessary.
(7) Avoid taking medications and alcohol. Many medications list drowsiness as a side-effect and come with the caution to not use them before driving. Combine medications and alcohol and the effect increases. If you regularly take medications that cause drowsiness, forego taking them until you arrive at your destination – or have someone else drive. And never consume alcohol before getting behind the wheel.
(8) Caffeine helps – for a while. While drinking coffee won’t keep you awake if your body is ready to shut down, having a couple of cups of caffeine will provide temporary alertness for several hours. That could be sufficient to allow you to get to your intended destination safely.
(9) Take a nap if you’re tired. When you start to exhibit signs of sleepiness such as repeated yawning, trouble keeping your head up, missing turns, traffic signs and exits, difficulty focusing, repeated blinking, inability to clearly remember the last few miles driven, swerving, tailgating and/or hitting rumble strips, it’s time to pull off the road. Find a safe place and take a 15-20 minute nap. Just be sure you’re careful about excessive drowsiness when you wake up. Here’s where those two cups of coffee might help you regain alertness.
(10) Break up the trip to include an extra overnight or two. If you’re driving solo, or don’t have a switch-off driver, and have a long distance to travel, it may be advisable to add an extra overnight both ways to ensure you’re not driving when you’re too sleepy to do so safely.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Selling Your Ride? Used Cars To Remain Valuable Through 2014
If you have plans to sell your current ride anytime soon, we have good news and great news.
The good news is that your used car isn't depreciating very much, and it's not likely to do so for the next couple of years. That prediction comes from the National Automobile Dealers Association, which says that used cars are likely to retain a good portion of their value through at least 2014.
As an example, NADA gives the example of a used car worth $12,000. Over 2012, that vehicle is likely to depreciate by about 15.7%, or $1,884. In 2014, that same $12,000 used vehicle would likely slip $1,992 in value, which isn't much more.
What's more: NADA's depreciation figures are just averages. Certain types of cars -- namely, hybrids and smaller fuel-efficient models -- may hold their value far better.
The great news? This means that you should have many more options when it comes to replacing your ride. As we mentioned earlier this month, low depreciation rates mean that the price difference between new cars and used cars can be pretty slim -- especially when dealer incentives are taken into consideration. So, for example, instead of trading in your used car for another used model, you might be able to score a brand-new car for about the same price.
Why are cars retaining their values
As we've discussed several times before, today's used car values are high for a number of reasons. Chief among them:
1. Car sales bottomed out during the Great Recession. Fewer cars were made during that time, and fewer were bought, too. That has put a dent in the availability of used models, and as we all remember from Economics 101, when supply is reduced and demand stays constant, prices edge higher.
2. Although the economy is still shaky, the recession is over, and car sales are on the rise. However, NADA points out that automakers aren't overproducing vehicles like they did before the crash. That limits the inventory of new cars, which boosts new-car values and also trickles over to keep used cars from depreciating too much.
3. Consumers are holding onto their vehicles for longer than ever. That's not just because of economic concerns, it's also because cars are made better than they once were. Ultimately, that decreases the availability of used cars, causing their value to rise.
Are you looking to trade in your current vehicle soon? Will you replace it with a new or used model? Let us know your plans in the comments below.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Where Do America’s Best (And Worst) Drivers Live?
Human beings are pretty funny: put anyone behind the wheel of a car, and suddenly he's kvetching about all the idiots on the freeway. We seem certain about our own infallibility, but we can't all be stellar drivers, can we?
Indeed, we cannot. And Allstate has the data to prove it.
The insurance powerhouse has just released its eighth annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report", which uses claims data to rank America's 200 (technically, 193) largest cities in terms of residents' car collision frequency. Although the data comes solely from Allstate customers, the company writes about 10% of all U.S. auto policies, which would seem to give a reasonably accurate picture for the nation as a whole.
Allstate says that Americans tend to be involved in a collision once every 10 years. Not surprisingly, the cities that scored better than that average tended to be smaller ones. Here are the top five, in reverse order:
5. Lincoln, Nebraska (12.4 years between accidents)
4. Madison, Wisconsin (13 years between accidents)
3. Fort Collins, Colorado (13.6 years between accidents)
2. Boise, Idaho (13.8 years between accidents)
1. Sioux Falls, South Dakota (13.8 years between accidents)
Compare those stats to those of drivers in the safest big cities (i.e. those with over 1,000,000 residents), and you'll notice a steep drop-off:
5. Houston, Texas (7.9 years between accidents)
4. Chicago, Illinois (7.9 years between accidents)
3. San Antonio, Texas (8.3 years between accidents)
2. San Diego, California (8.8 years between accidents)
1. Phoenix, Arizona (10.2 years between accidents)
But of course, what we all want to know is: where do the worst drivers live? Allstate is too nice to tell us that in its press release, but we found it in the accompanying data:
10. Alexandria, Virginia (6.4 years between accidents)
9. San Francisco, California (6.4 years between accidents)
8. Jersey City, New Jersey (6.4 years between accidents)
7. Hartford, Connecticut (6.3 years between accidents)
6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6.2 years between accidents)
5. Providence, Rhode Island (6 years between accidents)
4. Newark, New Jersey (5.9 years between accidents)
3. Glendale, California (5.5 years between accidents)
2. Baltimore, Maryland (5.3 years between accidents)
And the worst drivers in America? No surprises here:
1. Washington, D.C. (4.8 years between accidents)
If you're so inclined, here's a short video about the report:
Did your city get a fair shake? Feel free to grouse about Allstate's findings in the comments section below.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
GM To Dems & GOP: No More Cars For Your Conventions
Since 1980, General Motors has provided cars to both Republicans and Democrats for their national conventions -- and it's done so free of charge. But according to a report in Detroit News, that policy has come to a screeching halt.
Typically, GM has supplied the conventions with several hundred complimentary vehicles. (Last time the groups met, in 2008, the total was about 400 cars per event.) Those vehicles are used to shuttle attendees around their respective convention cities, easing organizers' transportation worries.
And in fact, it's been smart for GM to offer those rides -- especially in 2008. After all, that was a rough year for automakers, and by late summer and fall, they'd begun making trips to D.C. to ask for government support.
But now, in 2012, things are different. GM (and its cross-town rival, Chrysler) received controversial bailout funds from the Bush and Obama administrations, and GM in particular has been dogged with the label "Government Motors" for nearly four years. Although GM hasn't explained the decision to end its longstanding car program for political conventions, we suspect that part of the rationale is to move the company away from the political arena.
Providing vehicles to the GOP, for example, might look like over-compensation, sucking up to some of GM's harshest critics. Doing the same for the Democratic convention could fuel assertions that the company is still deeply tied to the Obama administration. Nixing the program altogether gives GM a veneer of non-partisanship.
No rallies, either
That reasoning might also explain why GM and Chrysler have both prohibited presidential campaign events at their facilities. According to AutoNews, both automakers decided early this year not to host political events on-site. Though the presidential and vice presidential candidates have toured company plants, they've been asked to hold rallies elsewhere. Vice president Joe Biden, for example, spoke at a United Auto Workers hall last May, rather than from the floor of a GM factory.
Our take
All in all, it's a smart move for GM and Chrysler to stay out of the political fray. We've seen several recent examples of how polarizing companies can become when they announce support for one party platform or the other. GM and Chrysler have been working hard to dodge political bullets over the past four years -- particularly those fired by Republicans. By stepping away from each party, they take the long, high road back toward political neutrality.
That said, the automakers' employees remain free to take part in political campaigns on their own, and when they do, they seem far more likely to support Democrats than Republicans. Detroit News reports that GM employees have contributed $7,600 to Mitt Romney and about three times as much -- $21,905 -- to President Obama.
We'd be curious to hear your take on all this. Are GM and Chrysler still political hot potatoes? Will these maneuvers keep them above the fray? Drop us a line, or leave a note in the comments below.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Car Sales May Jump 18.7% Due To Demand For Fuel Efficiency
New car sales have been breaking records in 2012, and there's little sign of that changing in August. In fact, analysts at Kelley Blue Book expect that this month's figures could ring in 18.7% above last year, putting U.S. dealers on track for seasonally adjusted annual sales of 14.4 million vehicles.
What's moving?
KBB expects the biggest driver of this jump to come from fuel-efficient rides. Subcompacts should be at the head of the pack, with 42.4% gains over August of 2011. (That's not only because of their fuel economy, but also because there have been so many recent additions to the segment, like the attractive Chevrolet Spark.)
Also making big strides: compacts and compact crossovers, sales of which are expected rise 30.9% and 38.1% over last year, respectively. Midsize vehicles will see slightly less growth, at 24.3%.
Interestingly, full-size pickups are also likely to climb by about 6.7% in August. Though today's models are more fuel-efficient than their predecessors, the gains may also be attributable to the rebounding housing market: advancing truck sales are usually a sign of growing demand in the construction sector.
Why now?
KBB attributes the strong sales to a number of factors, including:
- Consumer sentiment, which is on the rise: Although the U.S. economic recovery seems sluggish, customers appear more optimistic about its long-term prospects and are more willing to invest in a new vehicle.
- High used-car values: As we mentioned earlier this month, the difference in price between new cars and used cars can be pretty minimal. In light of that, a KBB survey found that 53% of customers who might've looked at used vehicles are instead opting for brand-new ones.
- High gas costs: Prices at the pump have continued to climb, putting pressure on family budgets. Shoppers are looking at fuel-efficient rides as a way to save money down the road.
Of course, there's at least one factor skewing these impressive results: sales growth from Japanese automakers, particularly Honda and Toyota, which are expected to rise 51% and 31% over August of last year, respectively.
As you might recall, Mother Nature made 2011 a very tough year for Japanese car companies, thanks to the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that devastated the country in March of that year and unrelated flooding that crippled production in Thailand. Those events had a negative impact on inventory, which naturally impacted sales. So, we'd expect to see substantial growth in 2012 as Japan and its automakers recover.
However, KBB says that recovery from natural disasters isn't the only thing fueling growth at Toyota and Honda. The automakers have also benefited from redesigned models, and, of course, their largely fuel-efficient lineups. In fact, sales of the Toyota Prius grew 97% over the first seven months of 2012.
We'll compare these projections with real sales numbers in a couple of weeks, when official figures for August become available.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2013 Infiniti JX35: Recall Alert
Nissan is conducting a voluntary safety recall of certain 2013 Infiniti JX35 luxury crossovers over a fuel system problem that could cause inaccurate fuel gauge readings.
A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site lists the number of potentially affected vehicles at 7,842. Affected vehicles were built between the start of production, February 15, 2012, through June 22, 2012.
Documentation from Nissan (PDF) filed with the NHTSA indicates that other Nissan and JX35 vehicles built after the recall dates are not affected because the installation procedure related to the component in this recall is unique to the 2013 Infiniti JX35 in this production range. The automaker further said that the assembly issue at the supplier has since been corrected.
The problem stems from an assembly error where the fuel transfer tube may have been improperly routed inside the fuel tank. As a result of misrouting, the fuel level float may be prevented from dropping as fuel is used, causing the dashboard fuel gauge to display inaccurate readings.
The vehicle may unexpectedly run out of gas and stall, even though the fuel gauge may read that the tank is full. This increases the risk of a crash.
Nissan will notify owners of affected 2013 Infiniti JX35 crossovers to take their vehicles to a Nissan dealer. The fuel transfer tube will be inspected for proper routing and rerouted, if necessary. A new O-ring will be installed after inspection. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The Nissan safety recall is expected to begin September 4, 2012.
In the meantime, owners of vehicles involved in the campaign with any questions or concerns may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Alternatively, owners of vehicles involved in the campaign may also contact NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to http://www.safercar.gov. Reference the NHTSA campaign ID No. 12V398000.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Ford Taurus, Explorer, Lincoln MKS Get Five-Star Crash Ratings
The 2013 Ford Taurus large family sedan, Ford Explorer crossover and Lincoln MKS large luxury sedan have each earned a five-star overall crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
The rigorous NCAP testing combines a vehicle’s performance in frontal and side-impact crash tests and resistance to rollover.
Built on the same platform and at the same Chicago Assembly Plant, the 2013 Ford Taurus, Explorer and Lincoln MKS also share powertrains and some safety equipment that Ford says helped the vehicles achieve the five-star top safety pick rating.
These include redesigned airbags and restraint system enhancements, including safety belt anchor pretensioners and locking safety belt tongues. In addition, the 2013 Ford Explorer crossover boasts the first passenger-side knee airbag in a Ford vehicle.
Other standard or available safety features include Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert, SOS post-crash alert system, forward collision warning with brake support, curve control and Safety Canopy system. The Explorer has available inflatable safety belts for the second row. The Taurus and MKS have standard AdvanceTrac ESC (electronic stability control), while the Explorer has standard AdvanceTrac with RSC (roll stability control).
At present, these are the first 2013 Ford and Lincoln vehicles to earn NHTSA five-star status.
For more information, see The Car Connection full review of the 2013 Ford Taurus,
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2013 Land Rover LR2: First Look
Though it doesn't offer the sporty, sensuous, coupe-like lines of the Range Rover Evoque, the 2013 Land Rover LR2 does offer much of the Evoque's compact crossover appeal, in what is ultimately a more useful package.
Chief among the comprehensive updates for the 2013 model year is the replacement of the previous LR2's in-line six-cylinder engine with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder found in the Evoque. Rated at 240 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque, it is actually more powerful that the six-cylinder it replaces. A six-speed automatic transmission handles gear changes, with CommandShift manual-shift mode and sport mode for more spirited or technical driving.
Land Rover says the new turbocharged engine will be more fuel efficient than the previous model, but hasn't revealed how much of an improvement we can expect. Aiding efficiency are Land Rover's Intelligent Power System Management and Smart Regenerative Charging systems, which reduce engine load and thereby reduce fuel consumption.
Exterior and interior styling updates for the 2013 LR2 give the premium compact crossover a more modern look without edging into the fashion-centric urban style of the Range Rover Evoque. There's still a healthy dose of classic Land Rover charm, particularly in the interior, where familiar round-knob and rectilinear surface themes dominate.
A new 7-inch touch screen color display is the central control unit for the optional navigation system and Meridian audio. The center stack sheds the previous Terrain Response dial in favor of buttons for the individual modes.
In front of the driver, a 5-inch display mounted in the instrument cluster relays key vehicle information like temperature, fuel levels, Terrain Response mode, and gear position. Higher-spec HSE models also get a rear-view camera with "hitch assist" to ease backing up and towing.
All models of the LR2 also get standard grained leather, dual sunroofs, and a choice of three new colors.
Driver convenience gets a slight boost for 2013 as well, as the LR2 no longer requires the key to be docked in the car, instead requiring its mere presence somewhere within the cabin--say, within the driver's pocket--to enable function of the pushbutton ignition.
Despite their metropolitan flair, the Land Rover range is still meant for serious off-road business, and to that end, full-time Haldex four-wheel drive supplies traction to each wheel. The traction is monitored by Land Rover's Terrain Response system, which takes complex considerations of surface condition, wheel sensor information, and more to deliver optimum traction in difficult conditions. The driver can select from General Driving, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud & Ruts, or Sand modes for specific challenges. Other off-road driver aids include Hill Descent Control and Roll Stability Control.
Prices for the 2013 Land Rover LR2 start from $37,250, rising to $39,750 for the LR2 HSE, and $42,350 for the LR2 HSE LUX. Look for more details on trim-level specifications, gas mileage, and more, as the 2013 LR2 draws closer to launch.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Most-Stolen Car In The U.S.? 1994 Honda Accord…Again
The singling out of the 1994 Honda Accord as the most-stolen car in the United States last year isn’t exactly music to the ears of owners of the popular family car. According to the latest report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the 1994 Accord once again tops the list, making this the car’s fourth consecutive appearance as the car thieves most love to steal.
The ’94 Accord’s lack of security features and its popularity as the main reasons why the car is so frequently stolen. In 1997, Honda began equipping its vehicles with immobilizer systems, preventing them from running unless the driver had the key.
The NICB compiles its annual “Hot Wheels” report by crunching data submitted to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) by law enforcement agencies across the country.
Number two on the list is also a Honda, the 1998 Honda Civic. A surprise entry in the top three is the 2006 Ford F-150 pickup, the first time a truck ranked so high on the most-stolen list since the NICB began tracking thefts in 2000. Two other full-size pickups, the 1999 Chevrolet pickup and the 2004 Dodge pickup, came in at spots number seven and eight, respectively. The 2002 Ford Explorer SUV ranked ninth.
Fourth place belongs to the 1991 Toyota Camry, another traditionally best-selling family sedan. Two other sedans, the 1994 Acura Integra and the 1994 Nissan Sentra, ranked in sixth and 10th place. The 2000 Dodge Caravan, the only minivan on the list, was the fifth most-stolen vehicle last year nationally.
As for the increase in thefts of later-model vehicles, the NICB says that’s the result of thieves being able to illegally obtain replacement key codes for specific vehicles.
There is some good news though in that overall, thefts are decreasing. According to FBI crime statistics, thefts haven’t been this low since 1967.
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This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
