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By Anonymous — Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
 The Auto Club New laws taking effect on or after Jan. 1 will require DUI offenders in selected counties to use an ignition interlock device, increase vehicle and driver license fees to trim the budget shortfall and require vehicle storage lots to accept bank credit or debit cards and cash to pay for storage fees, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. During 2009, the California state legislature approved a number of new laws of interest to Auto Club members and motorists. AB 91 authorizes the DMV to create a pilot project requiring all convicted DUI offenders in Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Tulare counties to install an ignition interlock device (IID) on every vehicle they own or operate as a condition of getting their driver’s licenses back. The amount of time the IID needs to remain installed is based upon the number of DUI convictions. An evaluation will be conducted to determine if the IID pilots are effective at reducing DUIs. The Auto Club supported this measure. It will become effective on July 1, 2010. “The Auto Club supported this law because we believe use of ignition interlock devices have the potential to help reduce DUI offenses and the data from this pilot program should provide sufficient data to either prove or disprove that potential,” said Alice Bisno, senior vice president for public affairs. Assembly Bill (AB) 62 permits a person to drive a motor vehicle with a video CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
The Auto Club More Southern Californians are expected to travel over this Christmas-New Year’s holiday than last year, but the number of travelers will still be 27 percent fewer than the last December holiday period before the recession, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. The Auto Club is projecting that seven million Southern Californians will take overnight trips of 50 miles or more over the upcoming holidays – an increase of 11 percent over last year. That follows a lackluster two years of holiday travel and is about 2.7 million fewer travelers than the 9.7 million Southern Californians who traveled over Christmas and New Year’s holidays during 2006. About 87 percent of Southern California travelers, or 6.16 million people, will travel by car to their holiday destinations, while almost six percent, or 400,000 local travelers, will go by air. Statewide, 11.3 million people are expected to take trips during this holiday – also an 11 percent increase over last year. Of those, 9.9 million are expected to drive and 640,000 are expected to fly. Nationally, 87.7 million travelers are expected, which is a 3.8 percent increase over last year. “This is the healthiest holiday travel increase we’ve seen in CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
LOS ANGELES, CA – If the 2008 shopping season is an indicator, December will bring the highest volume of requests for help by people who have locked themselves out of their vehicle, according to Auto Club member roadside assistance statistics compiled by the Automobile Club of Southern California. In December 2008, the Auto Club answered 73,790 calls for help from members at shopping malls, retail centers, grocery stores and other locations, or about 9 percent of all 814,454 lockout calls. When comparing different months, the December 2008 lockout call volume is nearly 20 percent higher than September 2008. Overall, lockout calls made up about 17 percent of all roadside assistance calls for last year. The top four busiest days for lockout services all fell in December during 2008: Dec. 19 (the last Friday before Christmas)…..3,010 calls "More than 50 percent of Southern California households have an CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
The Auto Club LOS ANGELES, CA. - Thanksgiving motorists will probably experience few surprises this weekend at the gas pump as prices continue to hover within 10 to 20 cents of $3 a gallon throughout the Southland, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.953 per gallon, which is 1.5 cents less than last week, 6.7 cents less than last month, and 81 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.942, which is one cent lower than last week’s price, five cents below last month, and 85 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.981, down 3.7 cents from last week, 11 cents lower than a month ago, and 80 cents above last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $2.938, which is 1.6 cents less than last week, 6.3 cents less than last month, and 84 cents more than last year. “Gas prices have become very predictable this year, unlike any other year in this decade,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “Motorists are paying about 80 cents more per gallon than at this time last year, 45 cents less than during the Thanksgiving weekend of 2007 and 45 cents more than during the Thanksgiving holiday of 2006.” The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 3 p.m. on Nov. 25, averages are: Area Regular One-week Los Angeles – Long Beach $2.953 -1.5 cents $4.626 (6/21/08) Orange County $2.938 -1.7 cents $4.598 (6/19/08) San Diego $2.942 -1.0 cent $4.630 (6/19/08) Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc $2.981 -3.7 cents $4.709 (6/21/08) Riverside – San Bernardino $2.938 -1.6 cents $4.614 (6/22/08) Bakersfield $3.004 -0.1 cent $4.591 (6/24/08) Ventura $2.949 -1.3 cents $4.625 (6/18/08) |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
The Auto Club Los Angeles/Long Beach and Ventura gas price averages dropped below $3 a gallon this week for the first time since August as prices continued to drop slowly throughout the Southland, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.99 per gallon, which is 2.3 cents less than last week, 3.5 cents less than last month, and 44 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.972, which is two cents lower than last week’s price, also two cents below last month, and 46 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.057, down 4.3 cents from last week, a nickel lower than a month ago, and 45 cents above last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $2.974, which is 2.2 cents less than last week, 3.1 cents less than last month, and 47 cents more than last year. “This is the first time since August that the state’s average price for gasoline has dipped below $3, along with that of Los Angeles/Long Beach and Ventura,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “This is also the second week in a row that gas prices we’re paying now are more expensive than those we were paying this time last year, and the gap keeps growing larger each week. Last week, it was 25 cents and this week it’s 40 to 45 cents.” The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 11 a.m. on Nov. 12, averages are: Area Regular One-week Los Angeles – Long Beach $2.990 -2.3 cents $4.626 (6/21/08) Orange County $2.975 -2.4 cents $4.598 (6/19/08) San Diego $2.972 -2.0 cents $4.630 (6/19/08) Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc $3.057 -4.3 cents $4.709 (6/21/08) Riverside – San Bernardino $2.974 -2.2 cents $4.614 (6/22/08) Bakersfield $3.035 -1.6 cents $4.591 (6/24/08) Ventura $2.987 -2.8 cents $4.625 (6/18/08) |
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By Anonymous — Thursday, October 29th, 2009
When many motorists think of vehicle maintenance, the first thing that comes to mind is oil changes and other engine upkeep. However, the steps to maintaining a vehicle, and its resale value, extend beyond what is under the hood, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. “Motorists can extend the life of their vehicle’s interior and exterior the same way they take care of its mechanical parts—through proper maintenance,” said Steve Mazor, manager of the Auto Club’s Automotive Research Center in Diamond Bar. “Forms of vehicle upkeep that are frequently thought of as cosmetic care can reduce wear and tear and help maintain a higher resale value.” The Auto Club recommends motorists perform the following maintenance tasks: Vehicle Interior Use floor mats to protect carpet. Carpeted floor mats will collect dust and dirt and are best for dry climates, while protective vinyl floor mats are recommended in wet and snowy areas. Wipe down dusty or soiled surfaces with a damp CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
The Auto Club VENTURA, CA. – Public television personality Huell Howser will be on hand to meet fellow travel enthusiasts at the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Travel Show on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ventura Beach Marriott, 2055 East Harbor Blvd. Ventura. Admission and parking are $3 for those without reservations and free for those who RSVP by calling (800) 281-5161 and pressing option 4, or by visiting a local Auto Club office. The show is open to both Auto Club members and non-members. The AAA Travel Show will feature nearly two dozen tour, cruise and other travel providers, as well as experienced and knowledgeable AAA Travel agents. Consumers who book their trips at the show will receive special showtime offers providing discounts, upgrades or credits on their travel. Auto Club members qualify for additional member benefits on select travel packages. Travelers can prepare for their journeys by visiting the show to obtain passport photos and applications, watch luggage packing demonstrations, and enjoy live presentations from travel providers. Howser, who hosts the “Road Trip With Huell Howser” and “California’s Gold” series featured on PBS television stations, will meet and greet fans. Westways Magazine Travel Editor and AAA Travelviews blogger Elizabeth Harryman will host the show and offer travel tips and experiences with her husband and travel partner, Paul Lasley. While attending the Auto Club show, travelers can enter a drawing (no purchase necessary) to win travel-related prizes. “Travelers are seeking value now, and travel providers are coming out with some exciting new offerings,” said Grant Sigmund, the Auto Club’s Ventura branch manager. “The travel show will provide a rare opportunity for vacation-seekers to get detailed information about a wide variety of travel companies and take advantage of special deals.” More information about the show is available at Auto Club offices and on the Auto Club’s Web site, www.AAA.com. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
The Auto Club Southern California gas price averages are still above $3 a gallon for the third month in a row, but have dropped by nearly a dime from their 2009 record levels in September, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report. The Southern California October average price for regular self-serve gasoline is $3.025, eight cents lower than the September average of $3.104. This month’s average price is 42 cents lower than last year’s October price average of $3.449. The statewide average price of $3.02 is nine cents lower than the September average of $3.11. Marysville in Northern California has the state’s lowest average price at $2.787, while Tahoe City has the highest gas price average for the fourth month in a row at $3.279. In central and Southern California, the cheapest gas is in Porterville, with an average price of $2.884, and Laguna Beach has the most expensive gas at an average price of $3.197. Nationally, the average price of $2.478 is a dime lower than the September average of $2.578. Alaska continues to have the most expensive gas with an average price of $3.372 statewide. Alaska, Hawaii and California are the only three U.S. states with price averages above $3. South Carolina has the lowest state average price at $2.249. “This is the time of year when gas prices typically drop off,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “Locally, prices are coming down very slowly. Oil industry analysts say the weak dollar is playing a role in keeping prices from dropping more quickly.” |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
The Auto Club Can you imagine driving your vehicle more than 328,219 miles? The Automobile Club of Southern California’s Steve Moxley can, because he’s followed a regular vehicle maintenance schedule for his 1985 Nissan truck -- which he has driven 1,000+ miles a month since the early 1990s. Moxley is the second owner of his vehicle, inheriting the blue truck from his father when the vehicle had 60,000 miles. That means that the younger Moxley still put 268,000 miles on the truck. How does he do it? “It’s simply perfect fluid maintenance,” said Moxley, of the Auto Club’s AAA Approved Auto Repair Program. “I’m religious about changing the oil regularly and also keeping the brake and transmission fluids clean. Proper maintenance on a regular schedule is also critical to safe operation of a vehicle as well as the safety of the driver and passengers,” Moxley added. You can, too, if you start caring for your car beginning in CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
The Auto Club LOS ANGELES, CA. – Car crashes are the number one cause of death for teens nationwide, and California is no exception. In fact, there are 15,000 teens, ages 16-19, killed or injured in vehicle crashes annually. After successfully spearheading legislation to place additional restrictions on California’s novice drivers, the Automobile Club of Southern California is now launching Dare to Prepare, a free workshop designed to help parents and teens through their most dangerous years on the road. Dare to Prepare provides critical information parents and teens, ages 14 and 15, need to know before teens take the wheel. The interactive workshop provides tools and guidelines to help parents and teens go through the learning-to-drive process. “Teen drivers are inexperienced and often engage in risky behaviors behind the wheel due to a lack of reasoning skills,” said Anita Lorz, the Auto Club’s team lead for traffic safety. “Dare to Prepare aims to jump-start the dialogue about safe driving between parents and teens,” said Lorz. The Dare to Prepare workshop will take place CONTINUED » |