Category Archives: safety

GM Pension Buyout Financial Engineering or Coup?

Posted on 4 June 2012 by Ken Zino

General Motors announced that it would offer lump-sum buyouts to 42,000 retired salaried employees while 76,000 others would have their pensions transferred to The Prudential Insurance Company of America, which would take over the GM white-collar plan. Continue reading →

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U.S. DOT Closes 26 Bus Operations in Its Largest Crackdown

Posted on 31 May 2012 by Ken Zino

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced today that it has shut down 26 bus operations, declaring them “imminent hazards” to public safety, the largest single safety crackdown in DOT’s history. Continue reading →

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Ford, State Farm Offer Auto Insurance Based on Miles Driven

Posted on 30 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company and State Farm Insurance have announced that drivers who allow their Sync equipped vehicle to report actual in use mileage could have their auto insurance premiums reduced by as much as 40%. Continue reading →

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Republican NLRB Member Terence Flynn Resigns Over Ethical Violations. Romney Adviser under Criticism for Links

Posted on 29 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Flynn’s resignation as a temporary Board member is effective 24 July 2012, a laughably long time given the seriousness of the findings by the Inspector General of many instances of misconduct. In the view of many critics, Flynn should resign immediately and the Department of Justice should pursue criminal charges. For the moment, Flynn has recused himself from all agency business and has asked that the President withdraw his pending permanent nomination for Board Member of the NLRB. Continue reading →

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Mid-America Pipeline and Enterprise Products Fined for Spills

Posted on 29 May 2012 by Ken Zino

As part of a consent decree recorded today in the U.S. District Court in Omaha, Nebraska, in addition to paying a $1,042,000 civil penalty, the companies have agreed to undertake various measures aimed at reducing external threats to their pipeline, enhance their reporting of spills, and spend at least $200,000 to identify and prevent external threats to the pipeline involved in the spills. Continue reading →

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GM, Toyota Computer Problems Cause Latest Safety Recalls

Posted on 29 May 2012 by Ken Zino

The ongoing computerization of vehicle systems has caused safety recalls at GM and Toyota. In the latest round of software malfunctions, brand new 2013 model Chevrolet Malibu cars can blow up the roof rail airbag for no reason or prevent the air bags from going off in a severe accident. Toyota’s Lexus luxury division is recalling its 2013 model GS performance sedans because a sensor can cause the steering wheel to be wildly out of place to where the front wheels are actually pointed. Continue reading →

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Owner of Hawaii Car Dealerships Pleads Guilty to Tax Crimes

Posted on 29 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Alan Pflueger, the owner of multiple car dealerships and one of Hawaii’s wealthiest people, was at the head of a tax crimes fraud that paid his personal expenses, which were deducted as business expenses by Pflueger Inc, the Justice Department said. Continue reading →

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Judge Rules Against Dealers on Disclosure of Car Loan Terms

Posted on 24 May 2012 by Ken Zino

A federal judge in Washington has ruled that automobile dealers who engage in so-called three-party financing transactions must disclose information to consumers who take out car loans if they are offered less favorable terms, such as a higher interest rate, than the most favorable terms available to the majority of consumers. Continue reading →

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BP Fined $8 Million for Clean Air Act Violation in Indiana

Posted on 23 May 2012 by Ken Zino

BP North America  will pay  an $8 million penalty and invest more than $400 million to install pollution controls and cut emissions from BP’s petroleum refinery in Whiting, Indiana because of air pollution violations under the Clean Air Act. The … Continue reading →

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Annual ‘Click it or Ticket’ Safety Belt Enforcement Underway

Posted on 21 May 2012 by Ken Zino

This year’s police enforcement action coincides with new advertisements by DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that spoofs unsafe attempts by drivers to fake seat belt use. NHTSA data show nationwide more than three million seat belt citations have been issued during the annual crackdowns over the past five years. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Jeep Fire Probe Prompts Wrangler Recall

Posted on 21 May 2012 by Ken Zino

A preliminary national Highway Traffic Safety Administration evaluation of Jeep Wrangler fires opened in March has resulted in the recall of 70,000 2010 Wrangler trucks that were sold with automatic transmissions. The skid plate directly under the catalytic converter traps debris, which the hot converter then ignites. Continue reading →

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Press Vehicle Engine Seizure Spurs Ferrari Recalls of California and Italia

Posted on 21 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Ferrari customers will have the choice of letting the dealer install a new crankshaft and bearings; sending their engines back to Ferrari North America, or have Ferrari supply a replacement engine. Continue reading →

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Natural Gas Company QEPFS Fined for Air Pollution

Posted on 17 May 2012 by Ken Zino

The Department of Justice said QEPFS, formerly Questar Gas Management, would reduce its emissions by removing outdated equipment at its compressor stations, installing additional pollution controls, and replacing the natural gas powered instrument control systems with compressed air control systems. Continue reading →

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Acura Recalls TL Sedans for a Bad Power Steering Hose

Posted on 17 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Acura will recall 52,615 model-year 2007-2008 TL sedans in the United States to replace the power steering hose. The power steering hose form an unidentified supplier may deteriorate and develop a fluid leak. Leaking power steering fluid could lead to loss of power steering assistance or, if it leaks onto a catalytic converter, it can result in smoke, or in the worst case, a fire. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Wants Stability Control on Large Trucks and Buses

Posted on 17 May 2012 by Ken Zino

NHTSA estimates that a standard requiring ESC on the nation’s large trucks and large buses would prevent up to 2,329 crashes, eliminate an estimated 649 to 858 injuries, and prevent between 49 and 60 fatalities annually. Many of these vehicles are now offered with ESC, a computerized system that uses automatic application of individual or multiple wheel brakes to correct for oversteer or understeer. Continue reading →

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