Uber, Grab patrons already having difficult time booking rides

Had a hard time booking a Grab or Uber this rainy Wednesday morning?

Well, that may just be a prelude to what could actually happen on July 26 when thousands of unregistered app-based drivers are expected to be forced out of metro streets.

Transport network companies (TNCs) Grab and Uber are the usual go-to mode of transport of workers whenever it rains. But on Wednesday, netizens lamented that they could not get a ride through the apps.

Netizen @memyselfJAM said that she has been trying for “15 minutes” to book a ride to no avail.

The Inquirer also observed in Makati City that office workers who could not book a ride in the apps instead waited out in the rain to hail taxis.

Grab said that their drivers are not out on a strike today. But noted that the fewer number of drivers servicing commuters may be caused by their fear of being apprehended by authorities for operating without a valid franchise.


Historically, Grab said that drivers would usually go out when it rains to address the demand for ride-hailing services. It noted though that despite the surge pricing mechanism, drivers still have the last say on whether they want to go out or not.

Last week, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ordered Grab and Uber to seize the operations of their drivers who they included in their platforms even if these drivers do not have valid franchises.

Of the 56,000 drivers in both of their platforms, only 3,700 have valid franchises.

Because of their violation of the terms and conditions of their accreditation, the TNCs were made to pay a fine of P5 million. Uber has settled their fine Tuesday afternoon, while Grab is set to pay theirs Wednesday.

A technical working group meeting to iron out the issues of the TNC industry will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the LTFRB. IDL

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Subaru announces BRZ tuned by STI

Subaru of America, Inc. has announced two new performance models: the 2018 Subaru WRX STI Type RA and 2018 Subaru BRZ tS. Both are performance focused derivatives engineered by Subaru Tecnica International, Inc. specifically for driving enthusiasts. Each vehicle is limited to 500 units and vehicles will arrive at Subaru retailers in early 2018.
 

BRZ tS

The 2018 BRZ tS (tuned by STI) delivers the highest level of “fun to drive” and “pure handling delight” through greater flexibility, better control and stability.

BRZ is renowned for its ultra-low center of gravity and precision handling, and the new BRZ tS adds STI-tuned front and rear SACHS® dampers and coil springs as well as flexible V-braces in the engine compartment. New draw stiffeners are added to the chassis and sub-frame to improve steering response. The BRZ tS is also equipped with 18-in. lightweight STI wheels (the first time that a BRZ has been offered with 18-inch wheels) mounted with 215/40 R 18 Michelin Pilot® Sport 4 tires for superior grip and quicker turn-in. Brembo® brakes at all four corners round-out the package.

 

The exterior also adds a more aggressive look with an exclusive STI rear carbon fiber spoiler. The spoiler is manually adjustable to fine-tune rear downforce. The addition of STI front, rear and side underspoilers helps control airflow for better traction and stability.

The BRZ tS is also adorned with an exclusive Cherry Blossom Red accent around the front grille and unique rear bumper cover. The rear hatch displays the official BRZ tS badge. The exterior foldable mirrors, roof-mounted shark fin antenna, BRZ and SUBARU badging all have a black finish. Also, the fog lights have been removed and replaced with STI fog light covers.

The cabin features black leather and Alcantara® upholstery with contrasting red stitching and accents throughout the interior, including steering wheel, door and dash panels, knee pads, shifter and emergency brake boots. front seats have red leather bolsters and the seatbacks are embroidered with the tS logo. The visor over the gauge cluster is unique to this model, as is the interior door trim. The center console has been updated to a cast black finish. The BRZ tS also comes standard with red front seat belts and a frameless interior rear view mirror.

WRX STI Type RA

 

 

The RA designation stands for “Record Attempt” and has been applied to various Subaru performance models. The original venture took place in 1989 when a competition version Subaru Legacy broke the FIA World Speed Endurance Record by clocking over 62,000 miles in 18 days and set a top speed record of 138 mph. Furthering this spirit of endeavor, a special race model WRX STI Type RA NBR Special will attempt a Nürburgring speed record this summer.

In keeping with this tradition, the 2018 WRX STI Type RA delivers increased performance through weight reduction, suspension and engine upgrades. The new, numbered limited edition model comes standard with a carbon fiber roof panel, the removal of the spare tire, a carbon fiber pedestal wing and lightweight BBS® 19-in. forged alloy wheels shod with 245/35R19 Yokohama Advan Sports tires.

Powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer engine, the limited edition WRX STI Type RA increases horsepower to an estimated 310hp with the help of an STI-specified new cold air intake and high flow performance exhaust. A retuned ECU and stronger pistons also contribute to the increased engine performance. The six-speed transmission features a revised 3rd gear ratio paired with a short throw shifter. The weight reduction, additional horsepower and revised gearing all contribute to faster acceleration.

Handling has been upgraded with inverted front struts and rear double wishbone suspension all with Bilstein® dampers. A modified multi-mode VDC gives the car better stability control to keep it on its intended path. The Brembo® brake system, with monoblock 6-piston front calipers and dual-piston rear calipers, features an exclusive silver finish and is paired with cross-drilled rotors for better heat dissipation.

The WRX STI Type RA is immediately identified by an exclusive Cherry Blossom Red accent around both the front mesh grille and new rear bumper cover. An STI front underspoiler has also been added for better stability at high speeds. The exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals, a roof-mounted shark fin antenna and STI fender badges now come in a black finish. The rear deck lid displays the WRX STI Type RA badge.

In addition to the eye-catching exterior, the WRX STI Type RA cabin features Recaro® performance design front seats with red bolsters and stitching as well as an embossed STI logo on the head restraints. The signature red stitching and accent trim is visible throughout the cabin. The steering wheel is wrapped in Ultrasuede® for better grip and has a black gloss-finish center spoke insert with STI logo. Push-button start with Keyless Access is also standard equipment. Each of the 500 WRX STI Type RA produced for retail sale has been individually numbered with a plaque mounted on the center console.

Both the 2018 WRX STI Type RA and BRZ tS will be available in WR Blue Pearl, Crystal Black Silica and Crystal White Pearl.

source: motioncars.inquirer.net

Getting Your Auto Insurance Quote

If you felt like the car insurance business number was on the rise recently, you would be absolutely right. baseball games and football are simply overwhelmed during commercial breaks with messages from sponsors that happen to hold drivers in Texas and all other states of the Union. If you believe the claims of different companies large discounts are waiting on the other end phone? What’s the solution? As a smart consumer, you have to look at all of Texas self insurance quote to find out.

to start, you should be a little worried when a company says there is a great opportunity on the waiting premiums down at the end of your way. How can they offer the same coverage at a price that is noticeably inferior? Probably, they can not. What they can do is provide a certain level of coverage for the lowest price. It can lead to you paying a little more if you have to resort to your insurance company and make a claim, but you have to calculate this risk. If you are confident that you will never need them (which may already be?), It does not matter one bit.

Anyway, there are many resources on the internet when you want to compare the rates. You may have to deliver a lot of information or you may be able to get in and out of a website, depending on the company involved. Of course, it would not be in the best interest of a company to offer everyone a quote without allowing a representative to sweeten the deal in person or by phone with you. This is something that you have to remember throughout the process of finding an insurance provider. They are not called insurance ‘sellers’ for nothing. If there is an agreement that will make money, they will push you.

There will be a series of standard requirements that must meet, no matter what situation you are driving in Texas. You have to have a minimum amount of liability coverage for at least two people behind the wheel when an accident occurs. Also, you need to cover the damage if it is involved. Your driving record will be closely examined during this process as well. If you have a number of accidents you caused on your record, it is unlikely that you will find waiting for discounts. Drivers with an impeccable record, on the other hand, should expect good things.

Source by James Hyder

source: autoinsurancequotes2.info

Starting School Later Can Help Reduce St. Louis Teen Car Accidents

Car accidents are a leading cause of death among teenagers – 20 percent are caused by drowsy driving.

In 2014, the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project launched the Awake at the Wheel campaign to educate young drivers about the risks associated with drowsy driving. It is a campaign that may have made a difference for someone like Ronnie Lynn Thompson, who died at age 16 after being killed in an accident when his friend fell asleep while driving.

No Drowsy Driving (NOD.D.)

Ronnie’s mother founded No Drowsy Driving (NOD.D.) to bring more awareness to the growing number of car accidents caused by young teenagers not getting enough sleep. This has been a huge problem for teenagers as studies have shown that teenagers who do not get proper sleep are at a higher risk of being involved in car accidents; possibly because of the increased drowsiness combined with the inexperience they have behind the steering wheel.

Car accidents are a leading cause of death among teenagers and about 20 percent of those deaths can be linked to someone not getting a good night’s rest. More than half of all accidents involving someone being tired behind the wheel involve young drivers aged 25 and younger.

 Sleep Recommendations For Teenagers

According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, only about 31 percent of children in high school are getting the recommended nine hours of sleep per night that is required for good health and alertness. The reason for this lack of good sleep is what some sleep experts call the adolescent phase delay – a natural shift in a teen’s circadian rhythm. Researchers have found that an optimal sleep schedule for a teenager is from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Changing School Schedules 

Considering this sleep schedule, there is a push for schools to change the starting time for school. Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler, the President of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, reports that about 50 percent of the communities that have later school start times have seen teenage car accident rates decrease between 65 and 75 percent.

The proposal to change school start times has also been recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics because of reasons beyond the car accidents. In a statement that was published in September 2014, parents and physicians were reminded that children who do not get enough sleep at night also develop mental problems (i.e. problems performing in the classroom) and physical problems in addition to the increased chances of being involved in a car accident.

Talk with a St. Louis Car Wreck Lawyer

If you have been injured by a negligent driver, consult a St. Louis car wreck lawyer to understand your legal rights. Call The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.LC. at (314) 361-4242 for a free consultation.

source:  hoffmannpersonalinjury.com

Auto Insurance Quote Considerations

Learn more about the car insurance is the best way to make sure you have adequate coverage and that you are also getting the best deal possible . Continue reading to understand how various factors can impact your auto insurance quote.

Buying a used car is a good way to save money on your insurance premiums, since the older models are not as valuable. If you want to keep this car for years, you should get an insurance policy that will cover most of the damage. Because insurance on a used car is cheap, you should get a comprehensive policy. However, if you do not plan to keep your car for a long time or want to save money on your premiums, you should consider dropping some items on your policy, as aesthetic repairs.

A new car is not likely to break, which means you probably do not need your policy to cover towing and similar expenses trucks. If the new car is fully paid, you should protect your investment with an accident coverage policy that might happen. And if you are still making payments on your new car, the financial institution that you are using will probably have a set of guidelines on the type of insurance policy you need to start. Otherwise, select such a comprehensive policy as you can afford to make sure that you can continue to make the payments.

If you have a good driving record and does not present any complaints, you can benefit from interesting discounts. Each insurance company has different discounts. You need to contact your insurance agent and ask about good driver discounts. You may really want to think twice before submitting a request for very minor damage that you could pay for yourself, since you will not benefit from the discount more good driver.

Other drivers can use their car if they have insurance on their behalf or if you add them to your policy. It is usually cheaper to add someone to your policy to pay for individual coverage. Contact your insurance agent to find out how to add someone to your policy will cost you. You should know that if you add your children to your policy, you can usually qualify for a good student discount if they have good grades.

Protecting more than one vehicle with the same policy is a good way to save money. This is called package insurance, and insurance agents will encourage you to take additional policies in his other car, your motorcycle or even your home. Before getting a package plan, compare coverage and price you get the other options. package plans come with good discounts but do not get the coverage that you do not really need just because you can get it at a discounted price.

Learn as much as possible about the car insurance is the best way to make informed decisions. You should take the time to compare your options to request an auto insurance quote and go about your policy carefully to make sure you are getting the best coverage you can afford.

source: autoinsurancequotes2.info

Defective Car Parts and California’s “Lemon Law”

Automobiles that include defective parts can be dangerous and can cause serious accidents, injuring passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians. Such accidents can result in expensive personal injury suits, but it can cost a lot of money to replace a defective car part. Fortunately, California has a lemon law that allows car owners to receive compensation for defective parts.

The Lemon Law

When a defective car part substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of a new car purchased or leased in California, the owner or lessee is often able to receive compensation under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, more commonly known as the lemon law.

This statute gives automobile manufacturers 18 months or 18,000 miles to attempt repairs on any newly released vehicles. If a vehicle still has at least one of two covered defects within the warranty period, then it can be legally considered a “lemon,” and the owner can receive compensation. California’s lemon law covers:

• A serious defect that the manufacturer was unable to repair in at least four attempts; or
• Defects that have caused the vehicle to be out of service for at least 30 cumulative days since it was purchased.
•  

Compensation

If the car qualifies as a lemon, then the owner of the vehicle has two choices. First, he or she can request that the manufacturer either replace or repair it. If the owner chooses this option, then the manufacturer must also reimburse the owner for sales tax, registration, and incidental damages, such as finance charges or any costs associated with repair, towing, or renting a replacement car.

Alternatively, the owner can request a refund for the original price paid for the car. To be eligible for these options, the person seeking compensation must have purchased or leased the car from someone engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling, leasing, or distributing new vehicles at retail in California. In the case of a lease, the term agreed upon must exceed four months to satisfy the requirements of the lemon law. Finally, the car must be intended for personal, business, or family use.

Owner’s Responsibilities

In order to receive compensation for the defective vehicle, the owner is required to have followed the warranty terms for maintenance and proper use of the car. It is also the responsibility of the owner to bring a suit based on a violation of the lemon law within the four-year statute of limitations. Furthermore, items installed by anyone other than the manufacturer cannot be included in the amount refunded. It is also helpful to maintain good records of any repairs made to the vehicle. Each repair order should show the defect and the dates that the car was in the shop.

Purchasing a vehicle with a defective part can be expensive, time-consuming, and stressful, especially if the defect causes an accident and harms you or others. If you have purchased a vehicle with a defective part and feel that manufacturer may be at fault, please contact the passionate San Jose personal injury attorneys at Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard, L.L.P. for a free consultation.

source: cmalaw.net

Driverless Vehicles and Personal Injury

Recently, Google’s prototype driverless cars have been navigating the roads around Mountain View, California. They have been involved in two recent accidents, though the accidents were non-serious in nature, and were caused by other drivers. In one incident, the Google car was rear-ended at five miles per hour, while stopped at a red light. Both cars suffered minor scrapes to their bumpers. The other accident also involved a Google car being rear-ended at a red light, but at less than one mile per hour, and neither vehicle was damaged. No injuries were reported in either crash.

A Google car and another self-driving car, from Delphi, were reported to have nearly had an accident during a lane change in Palo Alto, when one car cut off the other. Fortunately, the second car was able to change back into its original lane, avoiding the collision.

California’s Driverless Car Law

Only five states, including California, allow driverless cars on public roads. In 2012, the California state legislature passed a law permitting driverless vehicles to operate, for testing purposes, on the roads. There are, however, strict limitations to their operation:

• A licensed driver must be in the car at all times;
• The driver must be ready and able to take over control should the automatic controls fail;
• The driver must have been licensed for at least three years, must not have caused any accidents resulting in personal injury or death, must not have been convicted of driving under the influence in the past 10 years, and must take special driving classes; and
• The car manufacturer must maintain $5 million in liability insurance.
•  

California’s law also requires driverless cars to have a mechanism that captures sensor data from the autonomous technology for at least 30 seconds prior to a crash, while the car is operating in automatic mode. This technology will help to determine how crashes occur.

Personal Injury Concerns

Driverless cars may be safer than regular cars. Google and other manufacturers claim that they are because they eliminate the element of human error, which is the cause of a majority of accidents. But others, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are not so sure. No car is perfect, and some accidents not caused by humans are bound to happen.

But what happens when a driverless car inevitably does cause an accident? One major issue is determining who is liable for the harm, the owner or the manufacturer. It is likely that accidents caused by self-driving cars will become a product liability issue. This would mean that liability would shift away from the owner or individual, and to the manufacturer, designer, or vendor.

The requirement for a data capture mechanism may also help to determine how crashes occur and how to assign liability. It may be able to help insurers and courts figure out whether a car malfunctioned, an injured person was contributorily negligent, or something else caused the crash.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, whether from a driver’s negligence or a vehicle malfunction, an attorney can help you recover compensation for your harm. Please contact the experienced San Jose personal injury attorneys at Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard, L.L.P. for a free consultation.

source: cmalaw.net

Car Insurance Minimums

Car insurance is not something that anyone should try to get out of once they own and plan on driving a vehicle. But the sad fact is that many people do! There are drivers who opt out of paying insurance for several reasons, including the perception that they are a safe or low-risk driver. Not only is this dangerous for them and other drivers on the road, but it is also illegal. Car insurance is required by law and this stipulation has been in place for many years throughout the United States. A little known, or understood, amending fact is that car insurance is actually regulated by each state at an independent level. Every state across the US passes and implements laws on the acceptable level or amount of car insurance that is needed for each driving citizen to possess. As we’ve said before, there are many factors that influence the type and amount of insurance that each person is required to have, creating a minimum amount at the individual level. This process is handled at the state administrative level, and then set out as a non-negotiable minimum requirement that insurance agents can then offer to existing and potential clients. Insurance rates, specifically cheap insurance rates, should always be in adherence of the state minimum.



The Brass Tacks – Are people really paying the state minimum?



How well this is enforced is really variable on a state-to-state basis. Some of the most popular insurance providers do not provide the minimum coverage that is passed by the state. It isn’t in their bottom-line’s best interest, so they make amendments. By offering a higher rate of coverage for an increased price, the policy makes more sense (cents) to them. There are many people who seek high and low, and often find providers who will offer the state’s minimum, but this can end up being very costly in the long run for the policy holder. Literally, the state minimum is basic. It merely gives you legal allowance to drive on the nation’s road. But in the event of an accident or mishap, the state minimum provides you with next to nothing in terms of redeemable coverage. If you decide that higher coverage is in your best interest (as well you should), it will make much more sense to invest in a plan that offers you higher coverage. The higher the rate for a reputable insurance provider, the larger amount available to you, should you get in an accident. This means you will pay much less out of pocket in the unfortunate event that an accident happens.



Cheap insurance rates are a viable option and a good alternative to inflated policy offerings from an insurance provider. You can absolutely find an online car insurance provider who will offer you a reasonable rate that incorporates your state minimum. If your monthly cash flow is something of a touchy subject, research insurance rates that are affordable, but are still able to provide you with the safety net you need as a driver in today’s modern driving world.



source: insurancequotesfast.com

9 Effective Tips to Save on Car Insurance for Teenagers

Car insurance for teenagers can cost as much as five times more than the rates for adults. This is because of the greater driving risk involved in teenagers evidenced by greater number of accidents and higher number of serious injuries and fatalities compared to adult drivers.


In order to lower actual rates and maximize your teen’s auto insurance coverage, you can give your teen a simpler or older car; let your teen keep a good driving record; let him keep a clean insurance record; enroll him to a driver safety education; get your teen a safer car; let him maintain good academic grades; keep the mileage low; keep the car safe; and apply for multiple policies with your insurance company. To help you save on auto insurance costs for your teenager, here are proven tips you can consider:

Give your teen a simpler or older car

A brand new sports car would make a very nice birthday gift for your beloved teen, but if you want to save to insurance costs, this would not be a smart move. Remember that one of the factors that make up an expensive car insurance would be a brand new car because of its high book value. A sports car would also be expensive to insure with its higher horsepower compared to a four-door sedan. With a stronger car, your teen would tend to drive faster, making it more prone to accidents and damages. If you are giving your teen an older car model, you can also save by dropping collision coverage.

Let your teen keep a good driving record

If this is not your first year in getting your teen a car insurance and he or she had a good driving record, you can ask for a discount from your insurance provider. Most auto insurance companies give discounts to drivers who have not been issued a ticket or those who have not been involved in any accident since they have been driving. Remind your teen that it always pays to be a good driver.

Let him keep a clean insurance record

Aside from having a good driving record, insurance costs may also be lowered if your teen keeps a clean insurance record. It is advisable for him to keep from claiming for very minor car damages from insurance companies in order to avail of discounts.

Enroll him to a driver safety education

Some states require teenagers to get driving lessons first before he gets a driver’s license. Aside from this condition, the cost of getting a car insurance quote for teenagers may also be reduced if your teen had been enrolled to a driving course before driving his own car, most especially if he had good grades. The insurance company would most likely give discounts to responsible student drivers who have had lessons to safe driving than to those who have not.

Get your teen a safer car

Just like in applying auto insurance for adult-driven cars, discounts also apply to teenager-driven cars with safety features. Airbags, anti-lock brake systems, and alarm systems can help lower the insurance cost of your teen’s auto insurance as they reduce risk for injuries as well as theft and damages.

Let him maintain good academic grades

Yes, indeed. If your teen proves to have good grades in school, most especially if he is in the honor roll, you can avail of the good student discount. Most insurance companies offer this incentive to responsible students who are most likely more sensible and responsible too when it comes to driving.

Keep the mileage low

When you ask for auto insurance quotations, companies do ask for estimated mileage your teen has to travel from residence to destination, as well as estimated annual mileage. As much as possible, advice your teen to keep his mileage low and use the car only when needed. Do not encourage weekend road trips and the like. Higher mileage leads to higher risk of meeting accidents, thus resulting to higher insurance cost.

Keep the car safe

Another very important determining factor for insurance premium is the place where your teen brings and parks his car. Insurance companies will be asking where the car will usually be brought and parked. Is the school parking safe? Are the places he goes safe enough, too or are there many reported cases of car thefts and damages? If at home, does he park his car in a covered garage or just outside the apartment? Of course, the more risky the situation, the higher the insurance cost.

Apply for multiple policies with your insurance company

If your teen’s insurance provider with other concerns, such as life or home insurance, also covers car insurance and you get a policy from them, you may be given a discount on your auto insurance for your devotion to their company. Alternately, you can also apply for the whole family’s car insurance policies in one insurance company and be granted of discounts for each of your plan. Do not hesitate to ask your insurer about these discounts to save bucks.

Other discounts you may avail of with your teen’s car insurance include loyalty discount, if you have been with your insurance company for a certain number of years, as well as multiple car discount, when you enroll more than one car for your teen.

source: bripblap.com

Drivers ending car loan deals early

More than a half of all cars purchased under motor finance agreements had their registered keeper changed before the full term was up last year, according to new research.

Global information services company Experian found that 54 per cent of motorists swapped their cars before the conclusion of their finance deal, compared to 35 per cent in 2009 and 28 per cent in 2007.

Experian said drivers are changing their vehicles early because they are seeking to adjust their motoring finances, are tempted to buy a better car, or need to make a change because of their personal circumstances, such as starting a family and needing a bigger vehicle.



Most ownership changes happened just over a year before the end of finance deals last year, the study of 87,000 hire purchase (HP) and personal contract plan (PCP) arrangements in Britain revealed.

The research involved both new and used cars and the data shows those buying used cars are more likely to swap earlier than the overall average, around a year and a half before the scheduled end of finance deal terms, while those with new cars typically switched with seven months still to go.

The 2009 averages showed new cars remained in the possession of the original owners until five months after the term ended, and used car buyers changed just a month before. In 2007 buyers of both new and used cars typically swapped vehicles 13 months and seven months after the end of agreements respectively.

The study shows more than four in five drivers arranged car loans of 26 months or more on average in 2012, mostly hire purchase agreements, but an increasing number of the deals were personal contract plans (PCP), up from 6.12 per cent in 2007 to 13.69 per cent.

It all adds up to a big change in how car buyers are choosing to manage paying for vehicles, according to Andrew Ballard, principle consultant at Experian's automotive business. He said more PCP deals and longer terms indicate drivers want to keep initial payments and instalments as low as possible.

Mr Ballard said the fact motorists are choosing to make changes earlier than ever could be because they can no longer afford the finance or have been tempted by subsidised deals or incentives.

He said dealers would be wise to keep in close contact with their customers to find out their needs to be able to offer them deals more suited to their circumstances.

source: confused.com