If You Thought Your Last Traffic Ticket Was Bad…

Imagine one that cost $200,000. That is exactly what a man in Finland received after being caught going 50 mph in a 25 mph zone. While this world record speeding fine is certainly not the norm in Europe, it is possible in places such as Finland and Denmark, where the amount of the ticket is based on annual income. Here are a few other places where speeding tickets might sting a little (or a lot).

• Canada – Although most tickets will not levy a fine of over $1,000, the maximum penalty is $25,000. Last year, a man paid $12,000 for driving his motorcycle 164 mph.
• United Kingdom – Depending on how fast you are driving, you can be fined up to $8,000.
• Norway & Iceland – Like Denmark and Finland, Norway’s fines are based on annual income. The cost of a speeding ticket is 10% of the driver’s annual income, plus jail time if your offense is deemed excessive. Iceland imposes a maximum fine of $2,700 to encourage safe driving on their dangerous roads.
• France, Switzerland, & Italy – Excessive speeding may result in jail time and fines up to $2,100
• Portugal – Reckless drivers can face fines up to $1,800 – and must pay them on the spot. Whether you are caught speeding, talking on the phone while driving, or not buckling your seatbelt, you may not drive until the fine is paid. Many police cars are even equipped with ATMs to make this enforceable.
• United States – Each state imposes its own speeding fines. The most expensive states to be caught speeding include Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Nevada, and New Hampshire, with a maximum penalty of $1,000. However, until last year when the law was repealed, Virginia took the cake by allowing fines up to $2,500 for drivers caught going just 10 mph over the limit.

Why There Won’t Be As Many 5-Star Vehicles This Year

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been performing their New Car Assessment Program, perhaps better known as the Five-Star Safety Rating System, since 1978. This year, however, they have decided to shake things up and have drastically revised the system. Due to the major changes, the 2011 models cannot be compared to previous years, and the ratings are not likely to be shown on new vehicles for at least a few more weeks, if not longer.

One major change to the test is the addition of a small female dummy. In years past, a medium-sized male dummy was used in all tests to represent all drivers. However, the NHTSA realized that this did not properly represent the American population. The new dummy is being used to represent smaller women and children, and injuries sustained to the smaller dummy will be compared to those of the larger. Other new features of the test include a side pole test, used to represent a vehicle’s collision with narrow stationary objects, such as trees or telephone poles, and the disclosure of whether or not vehicles come with crash-avoidance technology.

The NHTSA made the decision to update the test because they feel that after several years of being tested in the same way, automakers have figured out the protocol, and know exactly what they need to do to earn a top rating. Last year, almost every vehicle tested earned 4- or 5-star ratings, so the NHTSA decided it was time to raise the standards. This year, new models will also be awarded an overall score for the first time, based on their scores on each category. Each category will weigh in differently, and the new overall scores will make it easier for consumers to compare vehicles.

Useless Car Facts

• Windshield wipers were invented by a woman. Other automobile inventions
that were thought up by women include: carburetors, an electric engine starter, a
clutch mechanism, and insulation for spark plugs.

• The very first speeding ticket was issued in 1902.

• Airbags inflate 40 milliseconds after an accident and move at 4500 mph.

• In 1924, a Ford vehicle cost $265.

• Most car horns honk in the F key.

• Ferrari makes a maximum of 14 vehicles per day.

• The first vehicles used levers in place of steering wheels.

• The world’s longest traffic jam was 109 miles long. It happened in 1980 on the French Autoroute between Paris and Lyon.

• The world’s longest lasting traffic jam occurred this past year, in Augus 2010. The jam, which took place in Beijing, China, was 60 miles long and lasted 10 days.

• The Chevy Nova had very poor sales when it was sold in Mexico. Why? Nova means “doesn’t go” in Spanish.

Mercedes Celebrates 125 Year Anniversary

January 29, 2011 will mark the 125th birthday of one of the most important innovations of our time: Mercedes-Benz. In 1886, Karl Benz created the first modern automobile by attached a gasoline engine to a carriage. He patented his gasoline engine on January 29, 1886, and since then he has been known as the father of the modern automobile. Mercedes-Benz is the oldest automotive brand still in existence in the world today.

To celebrate 125 years Mercedes-Benz is releasing a new global TV commercial. This commercial will highlight their past, present and future and will begin their new campaign selling “The Best or Nothing.”

The CEO of Mercedes-Benz is calling for a worldwide declaration of January 29th to be the “Day of the Automobile.” After 125 years of innovation, Mercedes-Benz is certainly on the path to some big changes for the future of their vehicles. The CEO agrees, stating that “the automobile is heading for the biggest changes in its 125-year history.”

Simple Steps to Selling a Car

Privately selling a vehicle you wish to get rid of can seem like a complicated and difficult task to take on. And although selling a vehicle to a dealer is much easier than doing so privately, trading in at a dealership almost always forces the seller to take a hit on the transaction price. On the other hand, private vehicle sales usually end in a win-win situation, since the seller gets more for the vehicle, and the buyer often pays less than they would for the same used car at a dealership.

Here are 10 steps to make the process of privately selling a vehicle a little less intimidating:

1. Know the market. It will save a lot of time and make the selling process much easier if you are aware of whether or not your car is in demand, and how quickly it should sell. Also be aware of the time of year, since some cars (like convertibles) will sell better during the summer months, while others (vehicles with 4WD) will do better in winter.

2. Assess the vehicles condition and price competitively. There are many tools available online to help with this process. You should also price the vehicle slightly above what you are willing to settle for to allow for negotiations.

3. Prepare the vehicle to be sold. Have any work done that needs to be taken care of and clean the car, inside and out.

4. Know state laws and regulations for selling cars.

5. Advertise.

6. Evaluate prospective buyers. Use your best judgment when talking to people who are interested, and avoid those who seem pushy, unreasonable, or shady. Agree to a meeting time and place with buyers you are interested in.

7. Conduct a test drive, but make sure it is safe and well-planned. It is not a bad idea to bring someone with you, and do not let the prospective buyer take the car alone. It is also a good idea to drive the car for them first, so you can explain the controls.

8. Get to know the buyer and learn why they are interested in the vehicle. Doing so can help you relieve their doubts, and also judge how interested they really are.

9. Negotiate the price and handle any complications. If the buyer discovers something that needs to be fixed, you may want to lower the price of the vehicle for them.

10. Finalize the sale.

Simple Steps to Buying a New Car

The previous post gave 10 easy steps to making the process of buying a used car a little easier. But buying a new vehicle can be just as challenging. Cars are an expensive purchase, so you want to make sure you are buying the right car for your needs, but also not overpaying. While the amount of vehicles available ensures that you should be able to find your perfect car, the number of automakers, models, and trims make this a daunting task.

Since it can be difficult to know where to even begin, here are 10 steps to get started and guarantee that you make the right purchase:

1. Calculate how much you can afford
2. Narrow down your shopping list, based on which automakers and models you like, and what you can afford
3. Research the vehicles online
4. Know what the right price is. Research the MSRPs, compare dealerships’ pricing, and look into incentives and rebates
5. Decide whether you will lease or buy the vehicle. If you are buying, look into different financing options. It is also a good idea to look into insurance costs and warranties
6. Test drive
7. Decide exactly which vehicle you want. Choose the make, model, trim, color, and options
8. Sell or trade your current vehicle, if you are planning to do so
9. Negotiate. The MSRP is the suggested retail price, so you should be able to talk the dealer down. If you are looking at more than one dealership, use that to your advantage to get the best deal
10. Close the deal and drive away with your new vehicle

Simple Steps to Buying a Used Car

Buying a used car is not easy. You can never be positive that the vehicle you purchase will not turn out to be a lemon, especially since the vehicle has a long history that you can’t tell just by looking at it. There are several steps you can take to make the used car buying process as easy as possible, and hopefully reduce the chances of making a purchase you later regret.

1. Figure out how much you can afford
2. Choose the right vehicle for you
3. Research how much the vehicle is worth
4. Research the vehicle. Search online for any recalls or problems other owners have had with that model.
5. Decide where to shop for the car. Do you want to buy from a private owner, or a dealership?
6. Contact and communicate with the seller. Let them know you are interested.
7. Get a full history report on the exact vehicle you are looking to purchase
8. Conduct a thorough walk-around to inspect the vehicle. Then, take the car for a test drive.
9. Negotiate with the dealer. You will almost always be able to talk the dealer down from his original price.
10. Close the deal

Vehicle Fire Safety Tips

One of the scariest incidents that can happen while driving is a vehicle fire. While most people do not expect their car to suddenly catch on fire while driving, vehicle fires do happen more than you might think. According to reports, there are 33 car fires every hour in the United States, 18% of which occur on a road or highway. Vehicle fires also cause around 370 deaths, 1,675 injuries, and $1.41 billion in damages every year.

Preventing a vehicle fire is the easiest way to avoid injuries and damage. Routine maintenance and yearly check-ups will help minimize the likelihood of a fire. Additionally, if you smell burning rubber or plastic, safely pull over and investigate. If you suspect that your car may be leaking fluids, place a newspaper under your vehicle at night and check the next morning for stains. Finally, investigate any fuses that frequently blow. This can be a sign of electrical issues, and overloaded wires can cause a fire.

While prevention is key, it is also important to know what to do if your vehicle does catch on fire. Here are five steps that will help keep yourself and your passengers safe, as well as minimize damage.

1. Immediately move to the right shoulder or lane.
2. Stop the vehicle and turn off the engine.
3. Get yourself and all passengers out of the car and move as far away from the vehicle as you can. Get at least 150 feet away, but also make sure the area is safe and secure.
4. Call 911.
5. If possible, warn other traffic and onlookers to keep away.