Should police be able to seize cash from drivers? (usbr.gov)

Have you ever purchased a car, truck or motorcycle off of eBay or Craigslist that was located in another state?

Late this winter, our editor did just that, buying a used car from Tennessee that was located on Craigslist. Likewise, the same editor bought a motorcycle off of eBay this past weekend in the state of Indiana.

Both were cash transactions, and in each of the cases above, our editor carried cash in excess of a thousand dollars during the trip to complete the deals.

The transaction for the motorcycle was well under a thousand dollars, but the purchase of a used car in Tennessee involved thousands of dollars. All in cash, carried in an envelope, to be handed over in return for a title and a classic German sports car.

But could it just have easily been a Porsche that never was.

Had he been pulled over by the police in the state of Tennessee, it’s possible he would had crossed over the border without that cash, as intended. But also without the used car too, since the cash had been seized by the police during the traffic stop.

He’s Just an Insurance Adjuster

That may strike you as something that could never happen. Not in the United States, right? Unfortunately, it may be far more common than you think.

George Reby of New Jersey is a professional insurance claim adjuster by trade. He’s the guy who handles settlement anytime a driver makes a claim on their car insurance policy. So he’s probably seen a little bit of everything possible in the way we damage our automobiles.

And in his personal life, he’s also seen some things he never thought he’d see happen in the United States. Things like police in Tennessee taking the $22,000 in cash he was carrying.

Reby was on his way to attend a conference in Nashville. He’d made a few bids on items on eBay that were located in the directions of his travels. And he was prepared to close any of those eBay deals if he managed to win the items.

But during his travels, Reby was stopped by police on Interstate 40 in Putnam County, Tennessee. During that stop, Officer Larry Bates didn’t charge Reby with any crime. Bates simply seized the cash Reby had, and sent him on his way.

George Reby committed no crime. He was doing something that many of us have done, no matter what our reason – simply carrying a few thousand dollars in cash with him as he traveled.

And He’s a Nail Salon Owner

Beyond teling the harrowing tale of George Reby, for more than a year now, television station WTVF-TV of Nashville, Tennessee has been investigating how police agencies in the Volunteer state seize money from motorists.

And there are stories much worse than Rebys, such as the case of Van Huynh. Huynh had immigrated to the United States from Vietnam in 1999, and became a citizen after becoming eligible seven years later.

Huynh has indeed lived an American dream, owning a number of nail salons. He’s also seen an American nightmare, having been dragged to the police station in handcuffs despite having committed no crime, and then further interrogated for hours.

Huynh was carrying $50,000 in cash, hoping to close a deal on what would be his third nail salon. During a traffic stop, his car was searched and the money located.

And while Huynh wasn’t arrested, he did endure four hours of police demanding he prove his cash wasn’t related to drugs.

Is the State of Tennessee Policing for Profit?

As part of the “War on Drugs” police agencies in Tennessee are permitted and even encouraged to seize cash from out of state motorists. Traversing the legal system often proves difficult for many, but if a motorist doesn’t make the considerable effort it often takes to get such monies returned, the police agency gets to keep the money.

If you’re engaged in criminal activity, it seems you’d expect such treatment. But as the cases of Reby and Huynh indicate, things like this happen to normal, everyday Americans that aren’t committing any crime other than enjoying the freedom cars provide each of us.

But it’d be wrong to single out just Tennessee. Such cases occur throughout the United States. One such was when motorist Robert Shaw, 43 was pulled over for failure to signal by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Shaw was traveling to visit friend in Arizona, and also planned on a trip to Las Vegas. Shaw was intent on having quite the time in Sin City, and was carrying $14,000 in cash to enjoy his trip.

Shaw was initially charged with a crime. The charge was dropped quickly, but even now, police still don’t want to return the money, despite bank records and other proof demonstrating that the money isn’t tied to drugs.

“It’s a lot easier for police to seize your money — ill-gotten or not — than it is for you to get your money back, even when you’re no longer charged with any crime,” said Steve Elliott, editor of Toke of the Town.  ”It’s just another one of the absurd, excessive tactics used by law enforcement in the name of the ‘War on Drugs.’”

Should Motorists Be Concerned?

Most Americans don’t carry large amounts of cash on them on a regular basis. There are some that do, however. But even typical motorists, especially those who are traveling out-of-state, may find themselves carrying thousands of dollars to purchase something they found via eBay or Craigslist; to pay bills with as they travel; for legitimate business and commercial purposes; or even to simply gamble away.

We always recommend driving in a safe, defensive manner. Doing so gives police little reason to stop a driver, outside of an equipment failure such as a tail light that given up the ghost. Remember to check the lights on your car as part of your seasonal maintenance, but more often is better.

Seat belts may not be mandatory in every state, but remember to keep them on – and not simply because it’s probably the law, but because they’ll help you make it out alive if you’re involved in a crash.

And don’t forget - many car insurance policies actually provide for legal representation for drivers in cases where they’re being detained or charged with crimes as they relate to said driving. Check your policy details to see if you’ve got such coverage as one of your benefits.

Police are investigating two murders on Mississippi roads.

Two motorists in Mississippi have been murdered in the past week, and police believe the two killings appear to be connected.

On May 8, 74-year-old Nebraska resident Tom Schlender was shot on Interstate 55 close to the town of Pope, MS. Three days later, on May 11, Mississippi resident Lori Carswell found dead on Mississippi Highway 713. Both were found dead along side the road, near their automobiles.

While the FBI has been called in to assist, local and state law enforcement not only indicate a connection between the killings, but also believe it’s possible the killer is posing as a police officer and pulling motorists over before shooting them.

There are no known witnesses to either incident. Police ask that anyone with knowledge of either crime to contact the Mississippi Bureau of Investigators at (662) 563-6400.

We caution anyone driving through Mississippi to take advantage of Mississippi law if they’re unsure of an unmarked police car that’s signaling for them to pull over. Motorists have the right to turn on their hazard lights to allow an officer to know they’re acknowledging their presence and pulling over. Once the hazard lights are turned on, drivers should proceed to the nearest populated area to ensure their safety. If it’s dark, drivers should pull over in an area that’s well lit.

However, motorists cannot simply refuse to stop for police, as law enforcement is quick to point out. Drivers can contact the Mississippi Public Safety hotline toll free at 1-888-827-4637 to further alleviate fears of someone posing as an officer.

30% of young drivers admit they text behind the wheel. (drugfree.org)

Teen drivers have the highest car insurance premiums of any age group of motorists, based mainly on their inexperience behind the wheel, which often means wrecks and claims within their first year. The high premiums end as these neophyte motorists age and gain experience, but most parents can expect to significant increases when they add a teen driver to their auto policy.

But it isn’t just the lack of experience that leads to such high premium cost – teens also make questionable decisions at times - which only serves to further increase their overall risk as drivers. Decisions such as texting or engaging in voice conversations with their phones when driving.

And a new study from Consumer Reports again indicates that even though a majority – 80 percent – of young motorists (ages of 16 to 21 years old) believe that any use of a smart phone for data-related tasks such as texting, using apps such as Facebook or surfing the web is a very dangerous thing to do, 29 percent of them engage in such behavior. Nearly one-third – 29 percent – admitted that they had texted while driving in the past month.

Younger drivers also seem to realize that voice conversations aren’t exactly safe while driving, either. 63 percent say such behavior is dangerous, but almost half of these younger motorists do this as well, with 47 percent admitted they had made a phone call manually, without the use of a handsfree device.

Once again, however, it appears that parental influence can make a big difference in how young motorists act. Previous studies have shown that parents who use phones for voice conversations and other activities often have children that engage in the same behaviors.

“Our survey showed that while far too many young people are driving while distracted, they are less likely to do so when their parents, friends, or siblings set a good example,” said Rik Paul, Consumer Reports Auto Editor. “We encourage everyone to stop the car in a safe place if they need to use a cell phone. And if they’re riding with a driver using a handheld phone, ask him or her to put it down and stop gambling with their safety.”

And peer pressure appears to have a positive purpose, at least when it comes to texting or driving. Nearly half of the respondents to the Consumer Reports study indicated they were less likely to text or call when they had friends aboard as passengers. And nearly the same number – almost 50 percent – say they’ve asked a driver to stop using their phone behind the wheel out of fear for their own safety.

Other Findings 

Additional findings from the Consumer Reports survey of 16- to 21-year-olds include:

• 84 percent said they had seen other young people talking on the phone while driving.
• 71 percent said they had seen friends texting while driving.
• 48 percent of the respondents said they’d observed their own parents talking on the phone behind the wheel.
• 15 percent  said they’d personally observed their mom or dad texting while driving.
• 8 percent of respondents said they’d used an app on their smartphone within the last month.
• 7 percent said they’d emailed or used a social media app like Facebook in the last 30 days.

Some Young Drivers Have Seen the Light, Though

Despite the fact that so many of these younger drivers do in fact text or use their phone for voice conversations while driving, a group of respondents said they had either reduced or stopped allowing their phones to be a cause of distracted driving. Why the change? For 61 percent of them, it was being informed of just how perilous the activity is. 40 percent said that laws banning texting or cellular use had led to their decision.

Other significant reasons for putting the cell phone out of reach included pressure from family members, coming in at 28 percent. And finally, nearly 20 percent of these young drivers personally knew someone that had been in a crash because of distracted driving.

2012-13 Mustang models are among four being recalled for transmission reverse sensors. (Ford)

Ford Motor Company and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have dropped four recalls involving five different vehicles in a single day, although three of them are aimed directly at the Ford Windstar. Let’s go over the single recall that doesn’t involve that discontinued front-wheel drive minivan first.

Ford is recalling approximately 10,500 models of 2012 Expeditions, 2011-2012 F-150s, 2012-2013 Mustangs and 2012 Lincoln Navigators over non-compliance with FMVSS #102, which requires all automobiles to signal when they’re in reverse.

In this case, the vehicles involved appear to have a defective transmission reverse sensor. Complaints include vehicles not being in reverse after being shifted, or worse, shifting into reverse without illuminating the back up lights.

Here’s how the models being recalled break down:

• 2011 and 2012 F-150 models built from October 13, 2011, through February 27, 2012, at the Dearborn Truck Plant and the Kansas City Assembly Plant.
• 2012 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator models built from October 19, 2011, through December 17, 2011, at the Kentucky Truck Assembly Plant.
• 2012 and 2013 Mustang models built from October 17, 2011, through January 9, 2012, at the Automotive Alliance Plant.

Ford dealerships will inspect and replace the transmission reverse selector on affected models, free of charge.

Ford will begin notifying owners by mail in June. Owners with questions or concerns can contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relations toll free at 1-866-436-7332 referencing Ford Recall Campaign Number 12C23. Customers may also contact NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, referencing NHTSA Campaign ID #12V190000.

Three Windstar Recalls, One Day

Ford is recalling Windstars in Virginia and Puerto Rico. (wikipedia.org)

Usually one recall is enough to make an owner cringe, but if you drive a Ford Windstar, there’s a total of three up on the table, with models sold in Virginia and Puerto Rico both being recalled. Let’s break them down one at a time:

The first Windstar recall only affects those sold and registered in Puerto Rico. 9,400 Windstars made from September 1, 1997 and July 3, 2003 may have cracked rear axles. Ford’s Safety Recall Campaign is #12S30, and NHTSA’s Campaign ID is #12V195000.

The second Windstar recall affects 23,000 models sold or registered in the state of Virginia. Corrosion in the control arms can lead to a loss of steering. Ford’s Safety Recall Campaign number is 11S16 and NHTSA’s Campaign ID is #12V194000.

The third Windstar recall again affects 27,000 models in Virginia, with the exact same issue as those sold in Puerto Rico – the potential for a cracked rear axle. Affected units were manufactured between September 1, 1997 and July 3, 2003. Ford’s Safety Recall Campaign number is 10S13 and NHTSA’s Campaign ID is #12V193000.

If you’re a Windstar owner with concerns or questions, contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relations toll free at 1-866-436-7332 referencing the above recall campaign number as it applies to you. Or you can also contact NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, referencing the NHTSA Campaign ID number for your situation.

At least not yet.

I just try to tell myself that folks like the ones I’m getting ready to talk about are outliers. Just like the folks who think making meth in cars is a good idea, these don’t represent humanity at large. But rather, they provide cautionary tales of just how stupid our species can be.

A House Divided Cannot Stand

We've heard of taking sports too seriously, but politics? (jdbeckerstores.com)

Yesterday we demonstrated why it’s never a good idea to step in front of a moving motor vehicle. But what about stepping in front of one that isn’t moving, and refusing to get out of the way?

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Jeffrey Radle and his estranged wife Amanda Radle had been arguing for some time over who the wife was planning on voting for in the primary election on Tuesday, May 8.

When Mrs. Radle was attempting to leave to cast her vote, her husband jumped in front of her Dodge Durango, and wouldn’t let her pass. Once she thought she had an opening, Jeffrey Radle jumped in front of the Durango and was hit.

Something’s eventually gonna give, and it’s not going to be three tons of steel in this equation. And it also wasn’t the wife’s resolve to cast her vote. But Jeffrey Radle’s head, neck and back – all injured – certainly did.

Chippewa Falls Police indicated they had been called to the residence many times over domestic matters and believed the couple to be separated.

Mama Has to Tan, You Wait Here

Reminds us of "rich, Corinthian leather." (foxnews)

Seeing as how it’s not even been two weeks after America learned who Patricia Krentcil was, this one isn’t a shock. Krentcil is infamous for not only her own addiction to tanning, but also for allegedly making her five-year-old daughter participate in soaking up the rays, too.

Just as Krentcil gets her own action figure (if people actually buy these, then perhaps we are without hope) we hear of another mom who is just as fixated on her visit to soak up man-made UV rays, and she has a young daughter, too!

Only this one wasn’t trying to get her six-year-old daughter to tan. Rather, she just parked her car, leaving it running across the street from her normal tanning haunt. And her six-year old daughter was left there.

You might not find that especially shocking, but it does look like the six-year-old needed to be there. Someone has to take care of the 10 month old infant, right?

According to WGAL-8 Television, police spotted the idling car, and discovered the two children inside. An officer began talking to the six-year-old.

“He asked the girl where her parents were at and the young girl said that her mother was across the street at the tanning salon. As he spoke to the young girl, he also observed an infant in a child restraint seat in the rear seat area. The young girl said that she was not to talk to strangers and began to cry. The officer explained that he was not a stranger and that he was there to help,” said a statement WGAL obtained from police.

And of course, this latest candidate for “mom of the year” Krista Mann of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania not only left her kids unattended in a running automobile – she also wasn’t supposed to be driving in the first place. Her drivers license had been suspended for a DUI conviction.

Strap ‘Em Down!

At least he didn't use duct tape. (wane.com)

Ok, so there’s no way the last one rates mom of the year status – and don’t forget mom on Mother’s Day this Sunday, either.

Father’s Day may be a bit further down the road than the day we celebrate mothers, but here’s one father who ought to be happy his kids made it through the ordeal he put them through earlier this week.

Aaron Stefanski of Ft. Wayne, Indiana had to make a quick stop at the liquor store. He did leave his kids in the car while he made his purchase. And to make up for their inconvenience, he must have thought his kids needed a bit of “fun.”

So Stefanski used a tow strap and proceeded to affix four kids to the hood of his car. Stefanski’s two sons, ages 4 and 5, his 6-year-old daughter and the 7-year old daughter of his female companion, Jessica Clark, traveled only three blocks before police managed to pull him over.

“I was only going to drive around the corner. I thought they would like it,” he would later tell police, according to a report from the Journal Gazette.

And as you might imagine, Stefanski’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) proved to be 0.17 at the time of his arrest, so he was already more than twice the legal limit before his liquor store stop.

Pedestrian takes to air after being hit by automobile.

Last week we talked about how stopping in the middle of the road is never a good idea. But we realize there are times when motorists have no choice, due to a mechanical breakdown that leaves them inside a traffic lane.

However, if you do suffer such a breakdown, do everything in your power to get your car out of traffic safely. A stationary car stuck in lanes of traffic may be struck from behind, so turn on hazard lights to increase your visibility to others.

And if such an event happens, it probably goes without saying that it’s never a good idea to get out of your car and walk around in the middle of traffic. If you’re on a seldom-traveled road, then safety may allow you to do so.

But if you’re on a busy highway, you’d better stay put and call for help. Seriously. Leaving the confines of your interior only serves to place you in great danger.  Don’t become a statistic.

There’s a reason why pedestrians aren’t permitted on interstates and freeways, and getting out of your car only increases the danger you already face.

Recently in Russia, a motorist who suffered a mechanical breakdown on an expressway decided he’d get out of the vehicle and walk in traffic. And it turned out to be quite the mistake, as you’ll see from the video below, captured by another motorist who has a dashboard camera installed.

Our flying pedestrian managed to escape with a broken leg and a short hospital stay, but we imagine he felt the impact for some time after. All over his body, despite just a broken leg.

My experience in a crash into a tree on an icy road as a passenger didn’t leave me with anything broken, but it did leave me sore for days.

This guy was lucky, no matter how violent the scene appears. There’s no doubt with just a few different conditions, it could have been tragic; another needless loss of life involving automobiles.

A Volkswagen Passat TDI recently traveled more than 1,600 miles on a single tank of diesel. (vw.com)

Have you ever thought that buying a diesel car might be right for you? While diesel engines may be uncommon in our cars here in North America, heavy-duty pickup truck buyers have embraced diesel engines for years, and they’re standard equipment on the heavy haulers in commercial tractor trailers.

Diesel has been a mainstay in Europe for years, mainly because diesel is much less expensive there in comparison to gasoline, which is highly taxed. In the United States, diesel is usually a few cents more expensive than gasoline.

That’s not to say diesels haven’t been seeing increased sales in the U.S. In the first quarter of 2012, the sales of diesel cars jumped by 35 percent. And that’s after they gained more than 27 percent in greater sales in 2011, according to the Diesel Technology Forum.

Right now, diesel cars account for just three percent of overall sales. But with the successive quarterly and yearly increases, diesel appears primed to continue moving upwards. Baum and Associates have predicted that by 2015, diesel cars will account for 6 percent of the entire market, or double their current amount.

Why Are Diesels So Uncommon?

As we stated earlier, diesel is a popular option for those who buy pickup trucks. And all three of the domestic automakers offer diesel options in their heavy duty pickup trucks. Buyers select diesel over gasoline in these trucks for a number of reasons, including:

• Reliability.
• Better fuel efficiency – savings of 10 percent to 30 percent over gasoline engines.
• Higher resale value.

Many of the same arguments can be made for diesel cars, but the choices in the north American market are few and far between. European nameplates, such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen offer many cars with diesel power plants in the U.S. But the domestic Big Three as well as Japanese and Korean automakers have shied away from doing the same. However, that’s about to change.

GM is Bringing a Diesel Powered Cruze to Market

You might not know it, but General Motors sold more than a half-million diesel powered cars last year. That’s because none of them were sold in North America. Rather, they found new homes in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. And they’d like to sell them here in the U.S., too.

33,000 of those cars were the Chevrolet Cruze, equipped with a diesel engine. And GM will soon introduce a Cruze containing a diesel power plant here in the United States. This despite that the Cruze is already a top 10 selling car as a gasoline-powered entry.

“Even with high fuel prices, we’re seeing more consumers willing to invest in more advanced technology, fuel-efficient vehicles,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, a non-profit educational organization. “We’re really excited about what the Chevy Cruze brings to this segment. It’s already a successful car in its fuel efficiency and market acceptance. With GM’s advanced clean-burning diesel technology under the hood, Cruze stands to be a game changer.”

And beyond GM, Mazda has also announced they’ll be bringing a diesel powered automobile to market in North America in 2013. While most expect it to be found under the hood of the Mazda CX-5, we think there’s a chance the company may offer such a power train in multiple models, including the Mazda 3.

We don’t think consumers will be in any rush to buy them, however.

One Diesel Sets a Distance Record

A huge selling point for diesel automobiles is their fantastic fuel-efficiency. And one couple – Helen and John Taylor – recently demonstrated just how fuel-efficient an ordinary diesel automobile can be.

The couple drove their Volkswagen Passat TDI from Houston, Texas to Sterling, Virginia – 1,626 miles – on a single tank (19.322 gallons) of diesel. That works out to a staggering average fuel economy of 84.1 miles per gallon.

While this hyper-milage experience may not be something the rest of us can replicate, we will mention the Passat TDI has an EPA estimate of 43 miles to the gallon, which still works out to getting 830 miles per fill-up.

Don't allow aggression to get the better of you. (nydaily.com)

Ever find yourself behind the wheel of your car, convinced that there’s no reason why you should let another motorist pass you, so you speed up, above and beyond the posted limit on the road, just so they cannot overtake you?

Or let’s say another motorist is stuck to your bumper, acting as if he’s a NASCAR driver using your draft. Do you find yourself wanting to brake check to see if you can pry them from your rear end?

And why is that motorcycle cutting through lanes of cars? Surely that can’t be legal! Maybe I ought to block him from passing?

There are plenty of frustrations on the road, and other drivers are among some of the worst each of us will encounter. Drivers that make us angry, that make us mad, and that have us boiling over and foaming at the mouth.

But are they the problem? Or is it our reaction to them that’s the problem?

Your Inner Reptile

According to Dr. Paul D. MacLean, a neurosurgeon, human brains have three major components:

• Neocortex. This is the upper and outer layer responsible for our cognition.
• Limbic. Covered by the neocortex, the limbic portion of the brain is responsible for our emotions. Affection, guilt and more arise from this region.
• R-Complex. Also called the “reptilian complex”. This is where aggression, hostilities and fits of anger arise from.

Thus, dealing with our own aggressive tendencies behind the wheel means keeping our inner reptile at bay. It appears that each of us, no matter how nice a person we might be, can instantly morph from our standard personas into a fire-breathing beast, all by allowing the deep, reptillian portion of our brains to take over.

Anger, excitement, competition, wrath, and many more base emotions can be dredged up, all while we’re supposed to just be driving. We’ve gone from simply being a common motorist and have become an aggressive driver.

Aggressive Driving: Defined

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that far too often, aggressive driving is a culprit in many crashes and collisions. According to NHTSA, as many as two-thirds of the annual fatalities on highways in the United States may have a link to driving aggressively.

NHTSA defines aggressive driving as: Committing a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property. However, the American Automobile Association (AAA) has a much different take on aggressive driving, which defines it as hostility spread across four different categories:

1. Anger
2. Impatience
3. Competing
4. Punishing

So let’s break down each of these four categories. Don’t forget to look at your own behaviors in the past, to see if you’re guilty of any of these behaviors.

You Wouldn’t Want to See Me When I’m Angry

As good as a driver as you may be, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment if you expect other drivers to always meet your expectations. They won’t, guaranteed.

But our anger doesn’t simply come from fellow motorists. It’s also apt to rise from the environment around us as well. Dealing with a grumpy passenger, being stuck at a red light you’re convinced never changes or getting stuck in traffic can all cause us to blow our tops.

What’s the answer? Simply take a few deep breaths, and let it pass.

I’m Late, I’m Late!

Impatience is often a cause of aggressive driving, and why oh why does it always seem we have to wait and why is it that I’m again running late?

Rather than allowing impatience to take control, make sure you budget the time for travel during your normal schedule. That means leaving early, not rushing on the way, and always having contingencies for problems that may creep up, such as construction projects.

Remember, the point is to get to your destination safe and sound, so driving at a breakneck pace does little good if you end up injured in a motor vehicle crash and don’t even make it to your final destination.

Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer Go!

No, traffic signals are not NHRA tree lights. And the highways aren’t NASCAR tracks where you simply turn left at as high a speed as possible. This means not challenging other drivers, or allowing them to do the same to you. Competitive behaviors aren’t a match for your drive to Wal-Mart.

That being said, if you want to race, you can. There are ample opportunities out there, from working your way through the SCAA ranks to simply doing a track day with your car or motorcycle. Just don’t do it on the road, and don’t expect your insurance company to cover damaged if you’re racing on the highway.

Judge, Jury and Executioner

Finally, it isn’t the place of any driver to seek to “punish” other drivers. This means not flipping the bird or making other obscene gestures. Not blocking other cars or motorcycles. And for certain, you should never be looking to trade blows in a physical confrontation with another driver.

Give others the benefit of the doubt. They’re just human, like you. Remember, your goal is to get to your destination, not to act as judge, jury and executioner on the roadway. If you observe dangerous behavior from a driver that’s bound to put others in harm’s way, contact law enforcement and let them handle the situation.

If you find yourself falling victim to any of these behaviors, it’s time to reexamine how you approach driving, as well as how you manage and cope with stress. Don’t let your reptilian brain take over!

Automakers love to bring back feelings of nostalgia, often styling their cars with a nod to the ones that came before. And we’re quite happy to see another nod to the past in the latest numbers released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that indicate traffic fatalities in 2011 fell to a level not seen since 1949.

Preliminary estimates of 2011 data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) indicates that 32,310 were killed in fatal crashes in 2011. Let’s take a look at the last seven years of fatalities extracted from FARS so you can see just how much they’ve declined during this short period of time:

• 2005: 43,510 fatalities

• 2006: 42,708 fatalities

• 2007: 41,259 fatalities

• 2008: 37,423 fatalities

• 2009: 33,883 fatalities

• 2010: 32,885 fatalities

• 2011: 32,310 fatalities

As you can see, just seven years ago, a staggering 10,000 more Americans died in fatal traffic crashes than did in 2011. That means fatalities in 2011 represent a decrease of more than 26 percent over 2005. That’s an impressive reduction, even if 2011 only posted a decline of about 1.7 percent as compared to the 32,885 fatalities that occurred in 2010.

These Numbers are Preliminary, Not Final

We will caution however, that the fatality numbers being offered by NHTSA for 2011 aren’t simply FARS records, but projections. That means there is potential for a greater number of fatalities once the books on 2011 are finally closed.

Here’s how NHTSA says the projected number was arrived at: They extracted data from FARS as well as FastFARS (FF), and Monthly Fatality Counts (MFC). Before you get lost in an alphabet soup, we’ll explain what each data set is:

• FARS is a census of fatal traffic crashes in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
• FastFARS (FF) is an early fatality notification systems that captures the fatalities recorded by states. It allows NHTSA to rapidly collect data, often in real-time.
• Monthly Fatality Counts (MFC) data is again data provided by the states provided each month. Data in the MFC is independent from FARS or FastFARS.

NHTSA used the same methodology for the 2011 numbers as they have in previous years, including 2010. It employs time series cross-section regression applied to analyze data by region and time (month).

Americans Actually Traveled Less by Car in 2011

Beyond the decrease in traffic fatalities, it also appears that Americans traveled less by car in 2011. NHTSA says that the preliminary data they’ve gotten from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shows that the total number of miles traveled by Americans was 35.7 billion miles less than in 2010. That’s a 1.2 percent decrease.

But even will less miles driven, the preliminary estimates also indicate that the lack of miles isn’t the reason for less fatalities in 2011. Let’s look at the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles of travel – a ratio of the number of fatalities that take place for each 100 million miles driven – over the past seven years:

• 2005: 1.46 fatalities

• 2006: 1.42 fatalities

• 2007: 1.36 fatalities

• 2008: 1.26 fatalities

• 2009: 1.15 fatalities

• 2010: 1.11 fatalities

• 2011: 1.09 fatalities

As you can see from the ratio, even though the total number of miles driven by American motorists fell, the ratio of deaths per miles driven also fell. We’ll await the final numbers on 2011 from NHTSA, but these preliminary ones are positive, and we do hope they prove to be accurate.

Officials hope changes in Florida's PIP coverage will lower premiums.

Like all states with no-fault insurance systems in place, Florida has experienced a number of troubling issues, including massive amounts of fraud aimed at the mandatory $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage attached to every single car insurance policy in the state.

PIP coverage pays for medical expenses for those injured in car crashes, regardless of fault. And it’s often used by organized crime, with doctors and medical clinics providing no treatment yet being reimbursed. Staged accidents and fraudulent claims are often used to get at PIP benefits, raising the costs of insurers, which are then passed on to policy holders throughout the state.

But with Governor Rick Scott’s signature on Friday, May 4 2012, Florida’s chief executive signed off on a new law that brings changes to the state’s car insurance system. Ones that officials hope will help eliminate fraud and ultimately reduce the policy premiums of motorists in the state.

“By helping reduce fraudulent auto-accident claims, this legislation will benefit the pocketbooks of every Florida family who drives an automobile,” Governor Scott said after signing the bill into law. “I am glad to do my part in keeping the cost of living low in Florida, and I will continue to work to find ways to do so.”

How extensive is auto insurance fraud in Florida? According to Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate (ICA) Robin Westcott, the frequency of car crashes in the state declined by 12 percent during the period between 2005 and 2010. Despite the decline in the number of crashes, payments made through PIP benefits claims rose by a whopping 66 percent during that same time.

While some of the increase is due to inflation, much of it stems directly from the insurance fraud that takes place on a daily basis in the Sunshine state. House Bill 119, titled “Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Protection Insurance” is meant to allow the state to seek out staged accidents, will require clinics and doctors to strengthen their treatment and billing practices, and hopefully, provide some savings for Florida motorists.

“With the signing of this bill today, Florida will release the chokehold that fraud has on Florida’s insurance consumers,” said Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. “I commend Gov. Scott for signing this important piece of legislation and for his tireless work to ensure that we pass significant reforms to protect our fellow Floridians.”

What’s Changed For Policy Holders?

The $10,000 PIP requirement stays in place, so there’s no real change in the type of policies Florida motorists will have to buy. However, that doesn’t mean significant differences aren’t present in the new law, because there are a number of changes. Motorists should be aware that:

• Treatment must be sought within a 14-day window after an accident.
• There are new limits in place as to using PIP benefits. Only “emergency” medical services will allow for the entire $10,000 PIP benefit to be used. The law defines “emergency” medical services as conditions “of sufficient severity which…could reasonably be expected to result in any of the following:”
• Serious jeopardy to patient health.
• Serious impairment to bodily functions.
• Serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.
• Any treatments considered “non-emergency” care, such as chiropractic and physical therapy are now capped at a maximum of $2,500. Some consumer advocates worry this may be too small an amount in some cases.
• Some treatments are no longer covered by PIP. Acupuncture and massage therapy are two that will no longer be eligible for PIP reimbursement.
• Police will now document everyone involved in a crash or collision. Previously, “passengers” could claim to have been involved in an accident without any documentation proving they were present. This will no longer be possible.
• Penalties for healthcare providers convicted of insurance fraud have stiffened. Doctors or other healthcare professionals will lose their license for five years and will now be barred from receiving any PIP benefits for 10 years after a conviction.

So Rates Will Go Down for Florida Motorists?

Maybe, but it’s honestly too early to tell. Florida’s CFO has said 2014 will be the real test of the law, and the state expects rates to drop by 25 percent by that year.

Keep in mind that PIP premiums have undergone a massive increase in just a short amount of time. Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation says that from 2008 to 2010, car insurance companies operating in the state saw the amounts they paid out rise from $1.45 billion to $2.45 billion. A billion dollars more in two years.

And that’s been felt in the pocketbooks of motorists throughout the sate. In 2008, an average policy holder had a PIP premium of $376. And for next year, 2013, that PIP premium is projected to be right under one thousand dollars at $992. If the law is successful, residents may see PIP decline by a few hundred dollars.