April 2018

Edmunds forecasts auto sales to dip in April

(April 27, 2018) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds forecasts that 1,335,313 new cars and trucks will be sold in the U.S. in April for an estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 16.9 million. This reflects a 19 percent decrease in sales from March and a 6 percent decrease from April 2017. Analysts note that there were 24 selling days in April this year, compared to 26 last year.

"April's sales slip may seem disheartening, but the spike we saw in March was an anomaly considering our expectations for 2018," said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds executive director of industry analysis.

AAA research finds hit-and-run deaths reach record high

(April 27, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than one hit-and-run crash occurs every minute on U.S. roads, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. These resulted in 2,049 deaths in 2016 — the highest number on record and a 60 percent increase since 2009.

With the number of hit-and-run crashes on the rise, AAA is calling for drivers to be alert on the road in order to avoid a deadly crash and always remain on the scene if a crash occurs.

GasBuddy reveals U.S. states with the most aggressive drivers

(April 26, 2018) BOSTON — Aggressive driving habits like speeding, rapid acceleration and braking is the quickest way to waste gas and lower gas mileage by as much as 40 percent, costing drivers up to an extra $477 per year in fuel consumption. With gas prices at the highest levels since 2015, GasBuddy reveals the states with the most aggressive drivers, causing them to make more frequent trips to the pump.

Gas demand at record highs for April as pump prices continue to rise

(April 25, 2018) The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest data registers consumer gasoline demand at 9.857 million barrels per day. That is the highest level ever on record for April and exceeds typical summer demand measurements. As demand skyrockets, gas prices increased across the country on the week with five states seeing double-digit jumps. The national average ticked up a nickel to $2.76.

Kelley Blue Book performs real-life plug-In hybrid testing ahead of Earth Day

(April 20, 2018) IRVINE, Calif. — In the world of transportation there is a major focus on the future of automotive, from autonomous vehicles to electrification. While the future isn't here yet, and pure electric and hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles have their challenges for full-time use, the present offers plug-in hybrid vehicles with great fuel efficiency, smart value and no range anxiety.

In time for Earth Day, the editors at Kelley Blue Book evaluated four plug-in hybrids on the market today, the Chevrolet Volt, Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid and Toyota Prius Prime, in a real-life comparison, including a long-distance road trip from the busy Los Angeles freeways to Northern California.

Hidden tax: Motorists shell out $76 billion in 2018 for gas taxes

(April 19, 2018) BOSTON —Against a backdrop of gas prices that have risen sharply in the last two weeks, motorists are sure to be upset — they’ll be paying $4 billion more in gasoline taxes in 2018 than they did in 2017. That’s $76 billion, or $208 million every day, up from the $72 billion total in 2017.

National gas price average highest since summer 2015

(April 17, 2018) At $2.71, gas prices are at their most expensive point in nearly three years and continue to climb. On the week, the national average increased a nickel. Motorists in six west coast states are paying more than $3/gallon. Across the country, only 27 percent of gas stations are selling gas for $2.50 or less.

Double digit age means double trouble for vehicle breakdowns

(April 17, 2018) ORLANDO, Fla.— As 64 percent of family travelers gear up for a road trip this summer, AAA warns that the majority of U.S. vehicles are at a higher-than-average risk for a breakdown. A new analysis of AAA roadside data shows that vehicles 10 years and older are twice as likely to end up stranded on the side of the road compared to newer vehicles and on top of that, the odds of needing a tow quadruples.

Rand McNally launches 95th edition of iconic Road Atlas

(April 16, 2018) SKOKIE, Ill. — With road trips on the rise and just two months until the official start of the summer travel season, Rand McNally today launched the 95th edition of its iconic Road Atlas. With almost half of all Americans choosing road trips as their vacation of choice, the large format, easy to view Road Atlas still delivers a big-picture perspective and failsafe backup in the car.

Honda encourages drivers to remove driving distractions

(April 13, 2018) TORRANCE, Calif. — Honda is supporting Distracted Driving Awareness Month with "Remove the Distractions," a series of short videos on Honda's social media channels aimed to raise awareness around the perils of distracted driving.

The campaign features four 10-second videos, dubbed 'Astronaut,' 'UFO,' 'Tricycles,' and 'Portal' where users are presented with a driving scenario in which a text message pops up on the screen, interrupting the scenery. When the text disappears, the video reveals surprising imagery that would have been missed as a result of being distracted.