Month: May 2017

If you own a bike, the warmer weather probably has you pining for the open road. If you don’t own a bike, it’s important to remember that it is that time of year when motorcycles will be out, enjoying the sunshine. Some may argue that motorcycle safety is the responsibility of the operator. While it is important that cyclists take responsibility for their own safety, road safety is the responsibility of everyone. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), when a motorcycle is involved in a traffic accident, it is not typically the motorcycle operator who is at fault. Organizations like the NHTSA, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) and a variety of state and local agencies work to increase motorcycle safety awareness each year. It’s likely you have seen or heard an ad or public service announcement (PSA) on your favorite local radio or television station. There are plenty of PSAs available online, many of them graphic. In my research, I came across this one and chose to include it because it depicts who motorcycle enthusiasts really are. As a car, truck or SUV operator sharing the road with motorcycle operators, please remember to: Avoid distractions while driving Double, even triple-check blind spots Be cognizant of the location of others driving around you, especially motorcyclists Listen Meanwhile, some … Read More

Did you present the Mother’s Day gift to top all Mother’s Day gifts last year? If the answer is yes, well, congratulations, you overachiever, you! You have nowhere to go but … well, I guess you’re in a bit of a pickle this year, aren’t you? Never fear! I bring you unique gift ideas galore! And, while it may not top last year’s trinket, the thought you put into presenting a true original will not go unnoticed. The best Mother’s Day gift is given the day before, in celebration of National Babysitting Day. Start Mother’s Day off right – get a sitter for Saturday! Let Mom head out for a day of whatever she enjoys most. Maybe it’s a day of shopping. If hours of pampering at the uptown spa is on her wish list, then a day of indulgence it is! Or go for a quiet drive together in the country, with no echoes of, “Billy’s touching me!” coming from the back seat. If Mom drives an older vehicle, without a lot of bells and whistles, consider a headrest DVD player. At first, you may wonder how this is a gift for mom. But take one road trip (long or short, it really doesn’t matter) with nothing but silence coming from the nether reaches of the vehicle and you’ll … Read More

Fast cars. Fast lifestyles. And now one of the fastest movies to reach $1 billion worldwide. The Fate of the Furious made an uncompromising box office debut, but I don’t think that came as a big surprise. Also, not a big surprise, Vin Diesel has partnered with Dodge to take on the starring (human) role in the latest series of Dodge commercials, The Brotherhood of Muscle. Seemingly natural partners, Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer, FCA-Global, pointed out that the association is one that goes beyond that of car and driver. “Both Dodge and Vin have large, extremely loyal fan bases that are passionate about high-performance vehicles, family and pride. It’s a natural fit that builds on the strengths of both of us.” Vin Diesel agrees. “Ever since The Fast and the Furious began, my favorite has been the 1970 Dodge Charger,” Diesel said. “As Dodge is a partner in making the Fast & Furious films, I’ve gotten to know what they stand for … as well as their passion for creating high-performance cars like the Hellcats and the Demon. They’re bringing muscle back the right way and these are my kind of cars.” The first three ads, Rally Cry, Shepherds and Monsters debuted this week. Keep an eye out during your favorite cable entertainment and sports programming or check them … Read More

What if you could get to work without the stress of rush hour? What if your kids could get to all of their activities, before and after school, without you having to clone yourself in order to be in two (sometimes more) places at once? What if there were a way …? Waymo, the self-driving technology division of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., is looking for metropolitan Phoenix volunteers who dream of doing all those things and more. You may recall last fall, when FCA US first partnered with Waymo, delivering 100 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans, modified specifically for self-driving technology. FCA US recently announced the addition of 500 more Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to the Waymo self-driving program. “The collaboration between FCA and Waymo has been advantageous for both companies as we continue to work together to fully understand the steps needed to bring self-driving vehicles to market,” said Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. “The addition of 500 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans is a further acknowledgement of the hard work put forth by both engineering teams.” The 500 new minivans will be outfitted with the self-driving technology and then quickly added to the fleet of Waymo’s early rider program vehicles in the Phoenix area. “The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan is a versatile vehicle for our … Read More