Bicyclists Save $4.6 Billion By Riding Each Year
To put the punctuation on an incredibly successful 2012 Bike to Work Day, the League, Sierra Club and the National Council of La Raza released a fact sheet highlighting the economic benefits of bicycling. New data analysis by the League found that, every year, bicyclists collectively save more than $4.6 billion by riding a bike instead of driving a car. The release also spotlights the tremendous gas savings that could be achieved with even small shifts in travel habits and the need to make bicycling a safe and accessible option for all U.S. residents. Click http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/05/u-s-bicyclists-save-4-6-billion-per-year-by-riding-instead-of-driving/ to read the full release and fact sheet.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Acura Recalls over 56,000 Sedans--Power Steering Leak May Lead to Fire
Acura recalls over 56,000 sedans in North America
Honda's Acura brand is recalling 56,881 TL sedans from model years 2007 and 2008 in North America to replace a power steering hose that could leak over time and potentially cause a fire.
The recall affects 52,615 TL sedans in the U.S. and another 4,266 in Canada, the Japanese automaker said.
Acura said the hose may deteriorate and leak over time. Leaking fluid could lead to a loss of power steering assistance or could cause smoke and fire, the Japanese automaker said.
Acura said no crashes, injuries or fires have been reported related to the issue.
The company said owners will be notified of the recall by mail, beginning in mid-June. Customers also can see whether their car is affected by the recall at http://www.recalls.acura.com/ or www.acura.ca/recalls.
Honda's Acura brand is recalling 56,881 TL sedans from model years 2007 and 2008 in North America to replace a power steering hose that could leak over time and potentially cause a fire.
The recall affects 52,615 TL sedans in the U.S. and another 4,266 in Canada, the Japanese automaker said.
Acura said the hose may deteriorate and leak over time. Leaking fluid could lead to a loss of power steering assistance or could cause smoke and fire, the Japanese automaker said.
Acura said no crashes, injuries or fires have been reported related to the issue.
The company said owners will be notified of the recall by mail, beginning in mid-June. Customers also can see whether their car is affected by the recall at http://www.recalls.acura.com/ or www.acura.ca/recalls.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Ford Recalls the 2012 F150 for Airbag Safety Problem
Ford has had to recall the 2012 F150 because the Occupant Classification System fails to properly classify the occupant. Past history with recalls which improperly limited the application of a recall for these types of systems strongly suggests that the defect is far more wide spread than the 2012 F150.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=12V198&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=email
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=12V198&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=email
Friday, May 11, 2012
Some Recalled Rental Cars Not Repaired
Study: 2.7M used cars for sale on Web in '11 weren't repaired
Pressure is mounting on rental car companies to repair recalled vehicles before they are rented, while a new study shows that millions of used cars aren't repaired before being sold.
A study released this week by Carfax says that last year more than 2.7 million used cars were offered for sale online with safety recalls that weren't repaired.
Under federal law, only new-car dealers are required to complete recall repairs before vehicles are sold.
Used cars and rental cars can be sold or rented without being fixed. Often, buyers or renters don't know there's a problem.
This week, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., sent letters to the four leading rental car companies and asked them to commit to protecting consumers. She noted Hertz has already adopted the policy.
Boxer's letters urged the other companies — Enterprise, Avis and Dollar/Thrifty — to follow suit, setting a 30-day deadline. If they don't agree, she said, "I will announce at that time which companies have agreed to make this pledge and which companies have instead chosen to continue putting their customers' lives at risk."
National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland told Congress in March that he wants the power to require used car dealers or rental companies to fix recalled vehicles before they are sold or rented.
In July, Boxer and Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y, introduced legislation to prohibit car rental companies from renting or selling vehicles to consumers that are under recall.
The legislation was introduced after two sisters from Santa Cruz, Calif., ages 24 and 20, were killed when a recalled car they had rented from Enterprise caught fire and crashed into a truck. A jury awarded $15 million in the crash.
Enterprise has one-third of all airport business in the United States and Canada through its three major brands: Enterprise, Alamo and National.
The company has said "when manufacturers recommend that vehicle owners park or ground their vehicles, Enterprise promptly does so."
Rental car companies generally have better repair rates than consumers, who often fail to get recalled vehicles fixed.
In June, the Government Accountability Office said NHTSA should take action to prevent millions of used-car buyers from unknowingly buying vehicles that have been recalled, but not repaired.
"With over 35 million used cars sold by used and franchised dealerships in the United States in 2009 alone, this could pose a significant risk to the safety of millions of vehicle drivers and may have a negative impact on recall completion rates," GAO said in its report.
The GAO said NHTSA should "categorize the nature of a defect (including the potential for harm) and whether the vehicle can continue to be operated would be helpful," the report said.
NHTSA opposes that idea, telling the GAO that "suggesting that some defects are more risky may have dangerous consequences — namely, that many safety defects, all of which involve an unreasonable risk, will be ignored."
NHTSA has been studying to see how quickly vehicles sold to rental car companies to see how quickly they are repaired.
General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC told NHTSA that 30 days after a recall, 10 percent to 30 percent of vehicles sold to rental car companies had been repaired.
By 90 days, it had improved to about 30 percent and within a year, the number had improved to 50 percent or higher.
Pressure is mounting on rental car companies to repair recalled vehicles before they are rented, while a new study shows that millions of used cars aren't repaired before being sold.
A study released this week by Carfax says that last year more than 2.7 million used cars were offered for sale online with safety recalls that weren't repaired.
Under federal law, only new-car dealers are required to complete recall repairs before vehicles are sold.
Used cars and rental cars can be sold or rented without being fixed. Often, buyers or renters don't know there's a problem.
This week, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., sent letters to the four leading rental car companies and asked them to commit to protecting consumers. She noted Hertz has already adopted the policy.
Boxer's letters urged the other companies — Enterprise, Avis and Dollar/Thrifty — to follow suit, setting a 30-day deadline. If they don't agree, she said, "I will announce at that time which companies have agreed to make this pledge and which companies have instead chosen to continue putting their customers' lives at risk."
National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland told Congress in March that he wants the power to require used car dealers or rental companies to fix recalled vehicles before they are sold or rented.
In July, Boxer and Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y, introduced legislation to prohibit car rental companies from renting or selling vehicles to consumers that are under recall.
The legislation was introduced after two sisters from Santa Cruz, Calif., ages 24 and 20, were killed when a recalled car they had rented from Enterprise caught fire and crashed into a truck. A jury awarded $15 million in the crash.
Enterprise has one-third of all airport business in the United States and Canada through its three major brands: Enterprise, Alamo and National.
The company has said "when manufacturers recommend that vehicle owners park or ground their vehicles, Enterprise promptly does so."
Rental car companies generally have better repair rates than consumers, who often fail to get recalled vehicles fixed.
In June, the Government Accountability Office said NHTSA should take action to prevent millions of used-car buyers from unknowingly buying vehicles that have been recalled, but not repaired.
"With over 35 million used cars sold by used and franchised dealerships in the United States in 2009 alone, this could pose a significant risk to the safety of millions of vehicle drivers and may have a negative impact on recall completion rates," GAO said in its report.
The GAO said NHTSA should "categorize the nature of a defect (including the potential for harm) and whether the vehicle can continue to be operated would be helpful," the report said.
NHTSA opposes that idea, telling the GAO that "suggesting that some defects are more risky may have dangerous consequences — namely, that many safety defects, all of which involve an unreasonable risk, will be ignored."
NHTSA has been studying to see how quickly vehicles sold to rental car companies to see how quickly they are repaired.
General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC told NHTSA that 30 days after a recall, 10 percent to 30 percent of vehicles sold to rental car companies had been repaired.
By 90 days, it had improved to about 30 percent and within a year, the number had improved to 50 percent or higher.
Important Facts about Patient Safety
Important Facts About Medical Malpractice
98,000 die annually
1) According to the Institute of Medicine, medical errors kill 98,000 people every year in the United States, more than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and drunk driving combined.
It’s preventable
2) Medical malpractice is entirely preventable. Human error is behind almost 80% of adverse events in complex healthcare systems, making it the sixth leading cause of preventable death in America.
Insurance reform works
3) Medical malpractice claims and insurance premiums have almost no impact on healthcare costs. Medical malpractice premiums are less than one-half of 1 percent of overall healthcare costs.
Learn More →
http://www.medmalfacts.com/
98,000 die annually
1) According to the Institute of Medicine, medical errors kill 98,000 people every year in the United States, more than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and drunk driving combined.
It’s preventable
2) Medical malpractice is entirely preventable. Human error is behind almost 80% of adverse events in complex healthcare systems, making it the sixth leading cause of preventable death in America.
Insurance reform works
3) Medical malpractice claims and insurance premiums have almost no impact on healthcare costs. Medical malpractice premiums are less than one-half of 1 percent of overall healthcare costs.
Learn More →
http://www.medmalfacts.com/
Healthcare errors rise, medmal filings level off
Healthcare errors rise, medmal filings level off
Sources: PA Courts & PA Healthcare Providers
Pennsylvania healthcare saw a 7.1% increase in "serious events" causing patient harm in 2011. Medmal filings leveled off. See PA Patient Safety Authority report for healthcare errors. Read PA Courts release on medmal filings
http://patientsafetyauthority.org/PatientSafetyAuthority/Documents/FINAL%202011%20Annual%20Report.pdf
Sources: PA Courts & PA Healthcare Providers
Pennsylvania healthcare saw a 7.1% increase in "serious events" causing patient harm in 2011. Medmal filings leveled off. See PA Patient Safety Authority report for healthcare errors. Read PA Courts release on medmal filings
http://patientsafetyauthority.org/PatientSafetyAuthority/Documents/FINAL%202011%20Annual%20Report.pdf
Monday, May 7, 2012
Chrysler Recalls Chrysler 300s and Dodge Chargers
Nearly 120,000 Chrysler 300s and Dodge Chargers recalled.
The Wall Street Journal (5/7, Welsh) reports that Chrysler announced that it is recalling some 2011 and 2012 Chrysler 300s and Dodge Chargers. The recall is due to an electrical issue that could cause antilock-brake and stability-control system malfunctions. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration document, Chrysler says the problem can be traced to the overheating of the power distribution center. The recall, which effects up to 119,072 vehicles, is expected to begin this month.
The AP (5/6) reported that to correct the problem, Chrysler will relocate and exchange a fuse on the recalled vehicles. The company said it "is not aware of any crashes, injuries or fires related to the overheating."
The Detroit News (5/6, Shepardson) added Chrysler "initially thought the problem was unique to the heavy use of police vehicles after the problem first surfaced in a Michigan State Police training vehicle, and 34 other complaints were reported. Chrysler initially recalled about 10,000 Dodge Chargers used by police -- though it also fixed another problem on the police vehicles -- replacing the headlamp jumper wire harnesses. After a review of field reports, Chrysler found 43 reports that may relate to same issue in civilian vehicles."
The Wall Street Journal (5/7, Welsh) reports that Chrysler announced that it is recalling some 2011 and 2012 Chrysler 300s and Dodge Chargers. The recall is due to an electrical issue that could cause antilock-brake and stability-control system malfunctions. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration document, Chrysler says the problem can be traced to the overheating of the power distribution center. The recall, which effects up to 119,072 vehicles, is expected to begin this month.
The AP (5/6) reported that to correct the problem, Chrysler will relocate and exchange a fuse on the recalled vehicles. The company said it "is not aware of any crashes, injuries or fires related to the overheating."
The Detroit News (5/6, Shepardson) added Chrysler "initially thought the problem was unique to the heavy use of police vehicles after the problem first surfaced in a Michigan State Police training vehicle, and 34 other complaints were reported. Chrysler initially recalled about 10,000 Dodge Chargers used by police -- though it also fixed another problem on the police vehicles -- replacing the headlamp jumper wire harnesses. After a review of field reports, Chrysler found 43 reports that may relate to same issue in civilian vehicles."
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