Toyota Camry Pictures

Toyota's sudden-acceleration woes are far from over as the company will have to face three trials in federal court in Santa Ana, California.

The first case is the one concerning the death of two people in Utah, which was dismissed 10 days ago due to a lack of jurisdiction. US District Judge James V. Selna reinstated the lawsuit today after the victims’ families re-filled their claims against Toyota. The trial is set for February 19, 2013.

The second case, for claims of economic loss due to unintended acceleration, is scheduled for July 2013 and the third, a wrongful death incident, will take place in November 2013.

All three cases will test evidence and liability issues and are expected to set a precedent for both sides, since many more lawsuits against Toyota are sure to follow.

The Japanese automaker says that there is no ground for common treatment of economic loss class-action lawsuits. Toyota spokeswoman Celeste Migliore stated: “We are confident that no common class of litigants exists and that plaintiffs are not entitled to individual or class-wide relief.”

Migliore added that, “the plaintiffs still have not identified any supposed defect in Toyota’s electronic control system and they have advanced no reliable scientific theory or proof to support any such defect claim in any Toyota vehicle, much less in all of them. With no defect, there can be no class.”

Story References: Bloomberg News

First Sudden Acceleration Case Against Toyota Over Technicality PHOTO GALLERY

The sudden acceleration issue is still troubling Toyota, which has already paid $50 million in fines and recalled almost 8 million vehicles in the US alone in 2009 and 2010. The Japanese carmaker still has to face the lawsuits brought about by citizens and their families affected by the issue which, according to estimates, could cost the company as much as $10 billion.

However, the first sudden acceleration lawsuit lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge who ruled that it should have been filed in Utah instead of California. The case is about Paul Van Alfen and passenger Charlene Lloyd, who were killed in 2010 when a 2008 Camry driven by Van Alfen hit a wall in Utah.

The judge ruled that the warranty claim didn’t meet the required $50,000 USD threshold for damages as the plaintiffs couldn’t count potential personal injury or punitive damages in this case.

“Plaintiffs are unable to reach the jurisdictional threshold of $50,000 in damages,” said U.S. District Court Judge James V. Selna. “The case is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.”

“We are pleased this jurisdictional issue has been resolved and that the court agrees with Toyota that the proper forum for this case is the Utah state court”, said the company's spokeswoman Celeste Migliore.

The dismissal due to the lack of jurisdiction does not mean it's the end of the case. Mark Robinson, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said: “I am drafting a new complaint right now in which the dealer will not be named as a defendant and everything will be cured and the suit will go forward seeking punitive damages and everything else.”

Story References: Bloomberg

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Drifting Day in the Middle East

For those of you that think driving through the congested roads of Manhattan or Paris is bad, maybe you should take a look at the following video, which seems to have been shot somewhere in the Middle East (if you happen to know where, leave us a comment below).

In broad daylight and while normal drivers are using the road, numerous wannabe drifters, mostly in American and Australian rear-wheel drive saloons like the Ford Crown Victoria, Chrysler 300 and the Holden-based Chevrolet Caprice, are showing off their rides slideways.

And if the presence of drivers that just want to go their way isn't troublesome enough, you also have a crowd gathered on the road and worst of all, young men hanging out of the windows of the drifting cars – talk about a recipe for disaster…

VIDEO

Accidents, Ford, GM, Mazda, Reports, Toyota

Australian inventor and all-round genius Dr David Warren is widely considered to be the father of the “black box” Flight Data Recorder (FDR). His invention helped make flying safer by giving investigators valuable insights into the mechanical goings-on of a crashed aircraft. What may surprise you is that for the last twenty years similar devices have been installed in our cars.

Event Data Recorders (EDRs) are the automotive equivalent of an aircraft’s FDR. These devices record acceleration and deceleration forces, engine RPM, temperature, oil pressure and a host of other things. After a crash, the information can be recovered and studied, aiding investigators.

The U.S. Department of Transport (DoT) and subsidiary arm the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hope to standardise the data these devices collect and make them mandatory on all new cars and light trucks by 2013. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which includes GM, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota among others are all supportive of this move.

Some 64% of 2005 passenger vehicles had EDRs already and automakers GM, Ford, Toyota and Mazda all use them in some or all of their models. It is claimed that the information these devices collect can be an invaluable resource for automakers and investigators alike in making our cars and in turn roads safer.

Sources: Detnews & CNBC

President Obama’s Cadillac gets Trapped on a Ramp in Ireland

The heavily armored Cadillac that U.S. President Obama relies on for short-distance travel caused an embarrassing moment during his trip in Dublin, Ireland, today when it got jammed on a ramp after exiting the U.S. Embassy's complex. The first cars from the presidential motorcade passed without problems through the gates of the Embassy, but a BMW 7-Series preceding the Cadillac slightly touched the asphalt.

The Presidential Cadillac, nicknamed ‘The Beast’, came next and hit the ground much harder and was immobilized. "There was a loud kind of bang, metal-on-metal, grinding, crunching noise and the car was stuck," an RTE reporter told the AFP.

In a flash, a bus came into the scene and blocked the public’s view, so we can't say how the agents got the Cadillac moving. The reporter said that as the car drove out, it appeared to have a piece of metal sticking up.

The Irish state radio said Barack and Michelle Obama stayed in the car during the operation. We don't know what sanctions those responsible for the President's security will receive, but we can't help think it's somewhat ironic than an 8-ton (17,640 lbs) armoured vehicle that can withstand various types of attacks was defeated by a simple ramp.

Scroll down to see how the events unfolded in the Irish capital.

Mercedes-Benz the trip turned nasty B-Class F-Cell No3 could not complete the trip

On January 30th, 2011, three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell models set out from Germany to travel around the globe covering 30,000 kilometers (about 18,700 miles) in 125 days to demonstrate the technical maturity and reliability of the world’s first series production fuel cell vehicle.

The trip will take the fuel cell vehicles through 14 countries including France, Spain, Portugal, USA, Canada, Australia, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and back to Stuttgart, Germany in June.

For one of the B-Class F-Cell models, however, the trip turned nasty in Kazakhstan after it was involved in an accident on Wednesday. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the crash but Mercedes said that the B-Class F-Cell No3 could not complete the trip as is. The company added that it is currently examining the possibility of repairing the car at its next stop or replacing it altogether with a spare car.

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Robert Kubica Discharged from Hospital, Still a Long Way Before F1 Return

Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica has left the Santa Corona hospital in Italy where he had spent the last 11 weeks after a scary rally accident. According to a hospital statement, the Polish driver is in good condition and will soon begin rehab. “He will carry on being monitored by the Santa Corona doctors who had him in their care through scheduled appointments," the hospital said in a press statement.

Kubica suffered multiple fractures and had his right hand partially severed when the Skoda Fabia rally car he was driving was pierced by an armco barrier during an Italian rally in the beginning of February. Last week, the Renault F1 driver stated on his website that once out of hospital he would rest before starting rehabilitation.

“As soon as I leave hospital, I'll head to my home in Monaco for a short period of rest. Then I'll move to Dr. Ceccarelli's facilities in Italy where I will start a deep rehabilitation programme and a preliminary soft training programme," said Kubica. “The two programmes will gradually cross over based on the speed of my recovery,” the Pole added.

While he still can't make full use of his right hand, the Pole is optimistic about how things will evolve. “The mobility of my hand is limited but this is pretty normal in this kind of situation, because the connected arm muscles are still very weak due to the long period of immobility. Things are definitely improving day by day,” Kubica said.

As for the question on everyone's lips, his physician said that by August it will be clear if and when Kubica will be ready to return to Formula 1 with the Lotus Renault Grand Prix team. The driver's contract with Renault expires at the end of 2012.

Via Autosport

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Indian Daredevils and the Well of Death

Friday, April 15, 2011 | Categories | Accidents, India, Offbeat News, Video |

5 Comments

The ‘circle of death’ is neither new nor shocking, but it’s one thing to see a professional stuntman who follows the necessary safety precautions doing it and another a group of gifted but nevertheless amateur daredevils going at it in a shoddy well made out of wooden planks with the crowd only inches away….

According to the Youtube poster, the clip was shot in Jamshedpur, a planned industrial city of India, founded by the late Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata, who also happens to be the founder of the company we know today as the Tata Group. Scroll down to watch the video.

Source: Youtube via Vwvortex

VIDEO

Driverless Tractor on the Loose Wreaks Havoc at WalMart Parking Lot

In a scene that can only be described as surreal, a runaway John Deere tractor wreaked havoc at a Walmart superstore parking lot in Richmond Hill, a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada, on Wednesday. The incident was caught on film by a couple who uploaded the video on Youtube.

Here’s how they described the incident: “My girlfriend and I was going to get my car wash, however both car was stations were closed. We took a shortcut route to home which pass by our local Walmat parking lot and to our surprise, we noticed a group of spectators all looking at the far end of the parking lot and the video will explain the next 5 minutes of what happened.....”

And what happened next could scare Stephen King. The driver-less tractor was going around in circles destroying everything in its path including two parked vehicles, a fire hydrant and a lamppost. Perhaps even scarier is the fact that most people simply sat and enjoyed the sight with only one man attempting (albeit unsuccessfully) to jump on the tractor to stop it. Two police cars also came to the scene and….chased the tractor, which finally came to a stop when it rammed the lamppost

According to media reports from Richmond Hill, the York Regional Police are still trying to figure out who put the tractor in gear and let it loose.

Scroll down for the video.

Source: York Region & Youtube via Autoblog.com

VIDEO

Teen Girl Rams Stolen Jeep Wrangler into a Church During Police Pursuit [with Video]

A police video camera has captured the pursuit of a speeding Jeep Wrangler that ended with the 4x4 plowing a Church in Socastee, South Carolina on Friday. The driver turned out to be a 15-year-old girl who had stolen the red-colored Wrangler. Despite the severity of the crash, the teenage girl managed to escape with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

As you can see in the police clip after the break, the young girl told officers that she “was trying to kill herself” because she “hates her life”. A sad story indeed, but then again, it could have easily ended much, much worse that it did….

Source: Youtube & Wmbf

VIDEO

Oops Moment: Vitantonio Liuzzi Runs over F1 Marshal [Video]

The Formula 1 Grand Prix held in Malaysia last weekend gave spectators a pretty eventful race, with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel winning again, but one of the most memorable moments took place on Friday, during the final practice session. Hispania Racing Team driver Vitantonio Liuzzi had to stop the car outside the track because of technical problems, so he exited the single seater and went to the pits. The race marshals took over from there and started pushing the car to a safe location.

It wasn't a very safe move though, at least for one of the them that miscalculated his steps and ended up being run over by the car's left front wheel. Interestingly, the other marshals didn't stop pushing the car; on the contrary, they pushed even harder to overcome the unexpected human obstacle.

From what we can see, the F1 marshal got back on his feet straight away, so we're guessing he wasn't injured - at least not physically....

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO

Driverless Tractor on the Loose Wreaks Havoc at WalMart Parking Lot

In a scene that can only be described as surreal, a runaway John Deere tractor wreaked havoc at a Walmart superstore parking lot in Richmond Hill, a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada, on Wednesday. The incident was caught on film by a couple who uploaded the video on Youtube.

Here’s how they described the incident: “My girlfriend and I was going to get my car wash, however both car was stations were closed. We took a shortcut route to home which pass by our local Walmat parking lot and to our surprise, we noticed a group of spectators all looking at the far end of the parking lot and the video will explain the next 5 minutes of what happened.....”

And what happened next could scare Stephen King. The driver-less tractor was going around in circles destroying everything in its path including two parked vehicles, a fire hydrant and a lamppost. Perhaps even scarier is the fact that most people simply sat and enjoyed the sight with only one man attempting (albeit unsuccessfully) to jump on the tractor to stop it. Two police cars also came to the scene and….chased the tractor, which finally came to a stop when it rammed the lamppost

According to media reports from Richmond Hill, the York Regional Police are still trying to figure out who put the tractor in gear and let it loose.

Scroll down for the video.

Source: York Region & Youtube via Autoblog.com

Drunk Driver Finds Ideal Parking Space for his Range Rover Sport

A security camera in Russia caught a drunk driver in a Ranger Rover Sport climbing the doorsteps and parking the luxury SUV right in front of the entrance of an apartment building in Chelyabinsk, a city located to the east of the Ural Mountains, on Miass River. The intoxicated driver is seen in the security video stumbling out of the British SUV with a bottle in his hand.

The next day, the residents of the apartment were surprised to find the doorway blocked by the Range Rover model. Luckily, the building had an emergency exit located on the other side. As you’d expect, the residents called the police but to their dismay, all they did was to contact the owner of the SUV who came shortly after and drove away as if nothing happened. According to media reports from Russia, the man simply received a parking ticket for 2,000RUB (about US$71)….

Hat tip to Alex from Carlifeblog!

2011 Dodge Durango puts on a Fiery Show at Cherry Blossom Parade

There's an old saying that any advertising is good advertising, but something tells us that the media attention received by the 2011 Dodge Durango Citadel at this past weekend’s National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington D.C. isn't exactly what the Chrysler Group had in mind for publicity.

As you can see after the jump in a small sample of the videos that made their way onto the web, a brand new Dodge Durango that was towing a parade float carrying a band, suddenly started blowing smoke from under the hood.

The driver was forced to come to a halt and open the bonnet to see what was going on. The situation only got worse as flames started spilling out and eventually something blew up. At the same time, the parade came to a stop and the crowd went video-crazy.

Luckily, with the exception of the Dodge model, no one was hurt and the SUV was towed away in safety after the fire was put out. Scroll down to watch the video clips.

Source: Youtube & WTOP

Pagani Zonda F Driver Survives 199mph - 320 km/h Crash After Spinning Out of Control

There are very few (if any) people that can lose control of their car at 199mph or 320km/h and live another day to tell the tale. But that's exactly what happened to a 28-year-old German driver of a black Pagani Zonda F and his 21-year-old [sic...] Lithuanian passenger, after the young man lost control of the $1.5 million supercar earlier this week on Italy's A10 autostrada.

According to reports from Italy, the driver was going around 320 km/h (198.8 mph) when the car spun out of control hitting a guardrail on the right, losing a wheel, overturning and then colliding with a Mercedes, with which the driver was allegedly racing on the highway. Both the driver and the passenger of the supercar, as well as the driver of the Mercedes, came out unscathed.

Italian daily Corriere Della Sera also reported that the owner of the Pagani Zonda F had been fined last April on the same highway after he was clocked traveling in a Lamborghini at triple digit speed.

Via: Jalopnik , Sources: Corriere & ilsecoloxix

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Icy Road Causes Multiple Car Crashes in Pittsburgh

Icy conditions caused havoc on a road in Squirrel Hill, a residential neighborhood in the east end of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This video caught half a dozen or so cars sliding and crashing into parked vehicles as well as into each other, the most impressive being what looks like a previous generation Hyundai Sonata (we could be wrong though) that went flying down the hill. Watch the clip after the break.

Via: Jalopnik & Wtaetv

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U.S. Government Looking Into Cell Phone Blocking Tech in Cars to Save Lives

In response to the ever growing number of deaths and injuries attributable to distracted driving, the U.S. Department of Transportation is investigating technology that would effectively disable driver’s cell phones in their cars.

On MSNBC’s Morning Joe breakfast show, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated: "There's a lot of technology out there now that can disable phones and we're looking at that. That's one way. But you have to have good laws, you have to have good enforcement, and you have to have people take personal responsibility. That's the bottom line."

The semi-official announcement comes as the DoT launches a new online video campaign called, “Faces of Distracted Driving”, where victims speak about how it has changed their lives. Mr. LaHood went on to state that the deadly phenomenon has claimed 5,500 lives in the last year, with 500,000 more injured.

Paul Atchley, a scientist as the University of Kansas, thinks the true numbers could be much higher, and that things will only get worse:

"When we ask young drivers about drunk driving, they say that judges should throw the book at drunk drivers, but not the person texting while driving. The bottom line is that people want to use these devices. And things are going to get worse before they get better."

There are no federal laws in the U.S. that limit the use of a cell phone while driving, though many states do prohibit texting. Others have made it illegal to use a cell phone without a headset / voice dialing.

It is unlikely that cell phone jammers will be built into cars, as the Federal Communications Commission has made these illegal (for obvious reasons). The DoT is therefore seeking a software solution that could use cell phone towers to estimate a car’s speed.

Mr. Atchley, however, is convinced this won’t work, as these methods are voluntary and the software is not difficult for tech savvy users to work around. Instead, Atchley believes we must change people’s attitudes.

Though given the failings of similar campaigns against speeding and drunk driving, this may not be as easy as it first seems.

By Tristan Hankins

Via: MSNBC

Family of Four Receive Free Paint Job after Crashing their Paint-Filled Car

It may look a scene from a slapstick comedy with an in-your face humor made for teenagers, but what you see here is the real deal. According to the reports, a family of four were carrying some 7 gallons (about 27 liters) of white paint in their Fiat Palio hatchback when they were involved in a mild fender-bender somewhere in South Africa.

While no one was hurt as a result of the accident, unfortunately, the laws of physics that state an object that is in motion will not change its velocity, were not suspended and the family of four received a well deserved lesson in safety procedures.

Via: Wreckedexotics

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