Satellite navigation devices, or the popular GPS interfaces that many motorists have in their vehicles, are, partly responsible for a large share of accidents and driving practices that are risky.

With about half of the motorists on the roads having access to devices such as these in their vehicles, it appears that this technology has penetrated the market.  Drivers who have satellite navigation devices are much more likely to be involved in a minor accident or risky behaviors.  In fact, 1.5 million say that they have engaged in sudden maneuvers, and approximately 5 million admit to going against the flow of traffic.

GPS systems fall into the same category as other car distractions, such as cell phones, kids, the radio, or passengers.  This might be one of the reasons that road safety campaigns say that ‘Good Drivers Just Drive’.

Drivers should pre-plan their trips in order to avoid distractions by GPSs.  In addition, drivers should protect themselves by purchasing used car warranties, and avoiding other in car distractions.

Consumers can experience sensory overload when walking down the car care isle at their local store.  It can be confusing to know what products to purchase, or even if you need to purchase them.  Some people assume that if you have a factory auto warranty that includes the finish, you don’t need to bother washing and waxing, but this isn’t true.

A factory auto warranty will protect you by ensuring that the paint job was sound, that they used quality paint, and that it was cured correctly.  However, new car warranties won’t protect you from oxidation that occurs over time.  This happens naturally if you don’t care for your finish.  Car wax serves the purpose of being a sacrificial layer between Mother Nature and your paint.

If new car owners want to keep their finishes looking great, they don’t have to spend a lot of time or money.  Preventative maintenance is the key for your finish, just like it’s under the hood.  All you have to do is wash your vehicle frequently with car care products.  Even just a basic car wash will do a lot to help protect your investment.  After washing, you can spray-on a wax that will boost the shine and extend the intervals between regular wax jobs.

Recently, a CEO of Gulf Oil said that a barrel of oil could cost as low as $20, and gas prices could bottom out at $1 per gallon by early 2009.  Currently, gas is at $1.77 per gallon nationwide, according to AAA.

This information, coming from an insider in oil, is mind-boggling when you consider that just six months ago gas was at an all-time high of $4.11 per gallon and people were calling for roadside assistance because they avoided filling up their tanks and ran out of gas.

While many people in the media claim that low gas prices are the silver lining in what one could call an economy that is dismal, it’s in reality the canary in the coalmine, which foretells deflation and a severe recession.

However, in the real world, this may mean simply that the fuel bill won’t be a pressing matter over the next several months, while many people are concerned about housing and jobs.  For now, people are trying not to spend a lot of money.  In fact, most consumers are holding onto their current cars and protecting themselves with used car warranties.

As part of its “new day” celebration last February, Chrysler introduced a very unique promotion for its minivans: Purchase a minivan, and receive a free DVD player for the rear seat.  Since the promotion, it’s difficult to argue that Chrysler has experienced something that resembles the optimism that a new day brings, yet that hasn’t stopped the carmaker from bringing back the same DVD offer this month.

When consumers buy a Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Jeep Grand Cherokee, or Jeep Commander they will get a free DVD entertainment package for the rear seat.  In minivans, screens are included for the second row, as well as the third row.  This deal applies nationwide and are in addition to other great deals, such as financing incentives, great new car warranties, and cash-back incentives.

Chrysler is hoping to spark consumer interest by putting forth red-hot deals.  Unfortunately, many motorists are currently opting to hang onto their current cars and purchase used car warranties to protect their wallets.

According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, out of the 20,700 U.S. new car dealerships, around 600 will have been forced to shut down this year, compared to 430 last year.

At least 80% of the dealerships closing will be domestics because of the large amount of sales that they have lost.  And once a dealership has to close, it’s hard to reopen.

According to Grant Thornton LLP, it is estimated that at least 3,800 other dealers need to close also.

The fact is that there has been a surplus of dealers for many years.  But the large cost of financing and the present credit crunch has created quite a storm.  Dealers are having trouble getting the funds to finance the vehicles and don’t make the money, so they have to close their shop.

Many consumers have decided to hang onto their current cars and buy an auto warranty instead of purchasing new vehicles.  Motorists are hesitant to buy because of the poor economy and instead opt to just purchase used car warranties to help them maintain their vehicles.

Luckily, at the moment, not all of the economic news is tragic.

According to economists from Comerica Bank, vehicles have currently become more affordable than has been seen in 28 years.  So, the last time vehicle shoppers’ purchases made up this small of a piece of his or her income, fuel prices were higher than ever and comedians were telling jokes about how old presidential candidates were.

Comerica claims that the average cost of a light vehicle currently is $27,704, including new car warranties, and the average amount of money that people spent on a vehicle fell $700 this quarter, to approximately $23,900.  Motorists have been keeping their payments down by stretching out how much time they will take to pay it off, which is currently more than 62 months.

Incentives have spurred the trend, which continue to get better as dealers try to get rid of inventory (they especially look appealing if you want to purchase an SUV or truck), but for the most part, motorists have just begun to want less-expensive models.

One trick that people use to sell a used car is to detail it until it looks brand new.  However, beware, a motor that is steam-cleaned won’t fix a gasket that is blown.  This is why it is important to purchase an auto warranty.

Having said that, dealers that are reputable typically won’t try to sell vehicles with big issues, for fear that they’ll have to fix them down the road.  If you test drive a vehicle that doesn’t make awful noises and feels pretty good, chances are it is fine.  Dealers don’t like to sell junky cars.

In any case, it is still a smart idea to have a trained professional take a look at your vehicle.  If the dealer claims the vehicle was inspected by it’s mechanic, request to view the paperwork.  If the dealer can’t produce them, make sure an outside technician sees the vehicle.

Also important, is to check that the car has a clear title and that it hasn’t ever been in a big accident.  You can tell the dealer to go on Carfax or AutoCheck to confirm this.  Both of these sites have a fee to trace the car identification number for odometer and service registrations, and accidents.  However, often dealerships will check the vehicles on their lot free of charge.

Typically, it is safe to buy a used car from a dealership; however, it never hurts to take these quick steps to ensure you don’t get a lemon.  In addition, used car warranties will give you peace of mind in case you need repairs.

Yesterday, President Obama instructed the EPA to do a re-evaluation of California’s request, as well as 13 other states, to determine and regulate their own vehicle emissions standards.  Unfortunately, motorists haven’t been very concerned with emissions.  In fact, many people would rather hold onto their current cars with used car warranties, instead of buying a new car with cleaner emissions.

One problem that we face In the United States is that we have a federal guideline for gas efficiency, which is called CAFÉ.  President Obama recently claimed he would agree to strengthen this, which would mean stricter requirements coming next year.  Also, the EPA issues mileage ratings, which are placed on the stickers of new cars.  These numbers aren’t the same as the CAFÉ numbers, however the EPA utilizes a sizeable budget to determine these important numbers that consumers use every day.

New standards set for emissions set on a state-by-state basis would add on one more regulation.  So instead of having three or four various standards, it would be much easier to have one national one.  That way, for the states with big budget problems, such as California, they wouldn’t have the expense of regulating something so unwieldy like emissions.  Also, it would be a great help if the formula were a bit cleaner than the current CAFÉ ratings.

It’s apparent that the auto industry in America is becoming “greener” than ever.  Everywhere you look there are ads for fuel-cell technology, hybrids, Bio-diesel fuel, clean-diesel engines, and E-85 fuel.  These technologies have gained popularity with America’s Big Three automakers.

Why?  Automakers are feeling pressure from all directions, including the White House, Congress, and also consumers.

Ford Motor Co., Chrysler LLC and General Motors have been trying to catch up with foreign cars, such as the Toyota Prius.  The Prius has gained popularity because of the hybrid technology it offers, its environmental benefits, its cool styling, and all with the addition of an auto warranty.

The Big Three carmakers are closing the gap.  General Motors already offers 14 Flex Fuel car models, which run on E85, and 2 million of them are on roads already.  In addition, GM is going to bring 12 hybrid cars to the auto market within the next four years.  Also, Ford has the Escape Hybrid and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid.  Perhaps the biggest buzz though, is about the Chevrolet Volt, which will allow drivers to travel 40 miles on an electric motor.

U.S. carmakers are on the mission to catch up with foreign automakers, putting out effective green technologies complete with style, safety, and new car warranties.  Their goal is to have several different technologies to meet the needs of all consumers.

The average price around the nation for a gallon of fuel has risen for the third week in a row, and is now at $1.85 per gallon.  This price is higher than it has been since late November and it’s a 6.3-cent-per gallon leap since last week.

However, if you compare gas prices to a year ago, it’s about $1.17 less per gallon. And, prices are still way down from the summer, in which gas was over $4.  On the West Coast, prices are the highest at $2.02 a gallon, and in the Rocky Mountain states, prices are the lowest at $1.61 a gallon.

While this increase is slight, it’s definitely something to watch out for, especially in the months to come.  After all, as weather gets warmer Americans tend to drive more miles.

Motorists are starting to gain more confidence since gas prices have been down for a while.  People are even buying new cars with new car warranties.  However, gas prices could go back up and squash everyone’s confidence.