Organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD )have worked with several groups and policy makers to stop drunk driving, prevent underage drinking and to support those affected by drunk driving. For many years, MADD campaigned for lowering the legal limit for measuring blood alcohol content from a BAC of.10 to a BAC of.08. In 2005, every state in the U.S. had a new illegal BAC of.08 limits. Most recently, MADD has proposed that breath alcohol ignition devices be installed in all new cars. An amendment to the 2010 Motor Vehicle Safety Act, calls for $40 million over the next five years to develop alcohol detection sensors. This research could lead to sensors becoming standard equipment in all new vehicles in as few as 5 to 10 years.

MADD studies show that alcohol ignition interlocks are effective in reducing drunk driving by an average of 65%. Largely, the current use of this technology is targeted for DUI offenders. Most states require this device to be installed for drivers with multiple DUI offenses prior to receiving a Restricted Driving Permit. The driver must provide a breath sample into the device, before the ignition will start.

Although proven effective in preventing drunk driving, this technology is still being researched before it will be more common in new vehicles.

Drivers need to consider the many other deterrents to not drink and drive or alternatives.

* There is the fact you could seriously injure or kill another person.
* You could hurt yourself, and total your car.
* And let’s not forget you could lose your driver’s license, go to jail, and spend lots of money on lawyers, court costs, assessments, education classes and miss work and time with your family and friends.

To prevent drinking and driving the main recommendation is to not drink at all, but if you do have an alcoholic drink, please have a designated driver.

A designated driver is someone who will abstain from drinking alcohol in order to drive their companions (who have been drinking) to the destination. This concept is a great idea, but at times the responsible driver does not follow through. In that instance, have Plan B or even Plan C ready if you need it!

Plan B may be to call a cab. Most cab companies run late into the night and can be easily coordinated through many of the bars or restaurants.

As with having a designated driver, calling a cab is not always an easy solution for some people. Sure you can get home safely but, what about your car? How will you retrieve your vehicle the next day? So even though calling a cab is a safe thing to do, many do not want the headache of leaving their car and having to go get it the next day.

That may be your Plan C. In recent years there has emerged another option that combines both a designated driver and taxi service. This new option is called Professional Designated Drivers. These companies work a bit like a cab company. A person can call and request a pick up if they have had too much to drink or do not feel in top shape to drive. A professional driver will meet the client and drive both client and their car home. For some companies the driver has a small moped that can fold up and fit in the trunk of the client’s car, while other companies have a chase car that will pick up the professional driver after they have driven the client home. Many of these Professional Designated Driver companies offer discounted rates for people who buy a membership. These companies also offer designated drivers for events and can be reserved for a night out on the town.

Driving under the influence is avoidable. Remember your options and have a plan to make the right decision to prevent drunk driving.

The National Safety Commission works to increase awareness of important safety issues, particularly those that deal with highway and traffic safety information. Our mission is to make consumers more vigilant and understand that “safety is no accident,” through education, quality traffic school online courses and outreach programs. Through our traffic safety blogs we promote defensive driving techniques, driver training and safety.

Learn more about how to prevent drunk driving and designated driving services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Denise_M_McClelland

After all, how many times have you seen a saying and thought: “Well, it is okay, but not quite what I’m looking for? Well, now you can get that sticker for yourself, and get it made just the way you want with custom bumper stickers.

So, step one, go onto the Internet and use a standard search engine to find some companies that will print them. Be sure to compare prices. After all, you want to get the best deal possible. Some websites offer discounts if you order in bulk; or if you have more than one design in mind.

Also, some firms offer more than one size, and will print them on different materials. Maybe you do not want a standard three inch by ten inch bumper sticker; you would like a four inch by twenty inch one.

Or, if you do not mind spending just a bit more, you can get one That kind of sticker has the virtue of being able to be easily removed from your car’s bumper, and reused. Because, let us face it, how many of us keep a car for years and years? With a regular one, you sell your car, and it is gone. On the other hand, if you have that great custom style you design online printed on magnetic paper, you can transfer it to your new car.

Then there is yet another nice feature of a magnetic bumper sticker – it will stick to anything metal. So, if you are particularly proud of that design, you can slap a copy of it onto your refrigerator, your washer and/or dryer, and just about any other metal surface in your home.

Who knows, maybe people will take such a shine to it, they will ask where you bought it. That is when you can tell them it is a custom design. If they really like it, maybe you will get some orders for more. Once your creativity starts flowing you’ll think of many wonderful, humorous designs and sayings that you can make your own.+

Got Something to Say?Say it with a low price, high quality custom bumper sticker you design online. Visit http://www.humperbumper.com for magnetic and regular bumper stickers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Wells

The recruited car designers from Taiwan will be allowed to design new car models for its Sweden designer center. Volvo has made this plan specifically for the Great China Car Market. New car designs will be made by these Taiwanese designers for the distinctive and oriental taste of the targeted consumers.

500,000 to 700,000 Volvo cars are expected to be sold out internationally this year. This includes around 50,000 units for the Asian market which includes Taiwan, Japan, mainland China and other Southeast Asian nations. Since the demand for luxury cars are rapidly rising, car makers from the Volvo Car Corporation are aiming to sell 50,000 to 80,000 units of Volvo cars in Asia in 2007.

Apart from that, Volvo is continuously deploying its manufacturing, product design and parts procurements including its Volvo C70 auto parts in Asia. Also, as a component of Ford’s global part procurement system, they have the responsibility of lowering the production cost.

According to Volvo Car Taiwan officials, Volvo is number three among the country’s imported car brands. Still, Mercedes–Benz and BMW tops the chart. However, they are adding more efforts to meet the consumer’s taste in Great China. This is one of the reasons why Volvo is employing talented car designers from Taiwan to develop new car models for the specific market.

Steve Harper has been visiting Taiwan several times. According to the officials, Harper was extremely impressed with the designing performances of Taiwan’s local designers. These designers are from Ford Lio Ho of Motor Co.’s design center. Volvo have appropriated NT$10 million or US$305,810, to continuously hold a series of car designing seminars with the Taiwan Design Center. This is a proof that Asian talents are becoming more globally competitive in terms of car designing.

Soon, these designs will be made available in the market. Finally, Volvo car designs will be more preferable for Asians.

Volvo auto parts

Kenneth McKinley is a 35-year old marketing specialist of voparts.com, a leading Volvo parts dealer in the country today. Working in the car parts industry for a long time now and being a car enthusiast himself gives him a wealth of knowledge on anything automotive.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenneth_McKinley

Car design teams such as the one in Mercedes-Benz often look for new designs for next-generation appeal. This time around, it is all about fuel efficiency- and new sci-fi looks. Mercedes-Benz took its inspiration from something a little odd this time around- the tropical box fish.

The car is rather small, and has the sci-fi feel to it. The four cylinder gas-saving machine will return an amazing 84 miles per gallon at the constant speed of 54 miles per hour. This could be revolutionary as far as gas efficiency goes in new cars- a milestone in the industry. It can achieve the speed of 62 miles per hour in around 8 seconds- not bad at all.

The code-named ‘Bionic’ won’t be coming to a dealership near you, but it will heavily influence the design of future cars to come. The concept car was mainly for show, and to demonstrate new complicated fuel cell designs that save you money at the gas station.

No on is for sure when we will see changes such as this, but coming from Mercedes-Benz, it isn’t going to be cheap. Even at four cylinders- this car itself would cost much more than the average car. Expect 5 years at the latest to enjoy the gas-saving technology.

Let’s see if other manufacturers will follow suit.

Eric Hartwell oversees “The World’s Best Homepage” intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on weight loss and obesity and visit his associated site articles for free.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Mark_Clayson

The release of the HQ Holden became a determining point in establishing the GM-H brand in Australia as a dominant force in motor vehicle manufacturing, not just locally, but globally with 41,181 HQ’s exported overseas during 1973.

The huge model range included the Belmont Sedan, Belmont Station Wagon, Belmont Panel Van, Belmont Utility, Kingswood Sedan, Kingswood Station Wagon, Kingswood Ute, SS Sedan, Premier Sedan, Premier Station Wagon, Holden Chassis and Cab, Monaro Coupe, Monaro GTS Coupe, Monaro GTS 350 Coupe, Monaro LS Coupe, Monaro GTS Sedan, Statesman Sedan,and Statesman DeVille Sedan.

In fact, the full HQ range supplied Australia’s new car buyers with a choice like they never had before. This was the standard set for future generations of new Holden models to follow.

1973 was the 25th anniversary of GM-H in Australia and it was befitting that Holden should celebrate with it’s most popular motor vehicle ever produced in Australia with special “silver anniversary” badged models released during 1973.

In total this amazing HQ model vehicle sold 485,650 units to make it one of the first permanent Classic Holden Cars, because of its’ reliability, functionality and the various body style configurations and engine combinations. No other model Holden has attained the volume sales that the HQ reached during it’s 3 years of production.

The HQ Holden remains supreme as the number 1 best selling Holden of all time, followed by the VT Holden Commodore model of 1998, with total production figures of 303,895. Competitive car manufacturers in Australia consider this amazing HQ sales volume, for a single model Australian car, as the benchmark of successful car design and engineering in Australia.

The HQ Holden model car became an iconic Holden vehicle because of it’s sales based on a “bigger” choice in the HQ range and the new design and engineering concepts newly introduced to Australian car manufacturing, laying the foundation for other Holden models to be based on in the future.

The public excitement over the release of the HQ Holden was compared to the same pride and joy that was celebrated when Australia’s first built car the 1948 FX was launched. The media were hungry for “news” on this model Holden, as national media played a major role in it’s release and popularity.

Want to know more about Holden cars in Australia? I would like to invite you to get your Free Instant Access to more detailed and specific information when you visit http://www.classicholdencars.com

From Ray Playle – The Classic Holden Cars guy!

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