Articles by andrewtraub/page/21

A day after Toyota Motor Corp. announced an indefinite suspension of U.S. sales on an unprecedented scale to fix faulty gas pedals, the automaker said late Wednesday that it will recall an additional 1.1 million vehicles in the United States over floor mat problems. Toyota said Thursday’s recall would affect five models: 2008-10 Highlander, 2009-10…

The problem of a stuck accelerator occasionally besets vehicles of nearly every make and model. Here is what consumer experts advise drivers to do if they find that the gas pedal is stuck: What’s the best defensive course of action for drivers who find themselves in a sudden-acceleration incident? Test-track drivers have found the most…

Federal consumer safety regulators announced the recall of “The Princess and The Frog” pendants sold at Wal-Mart stores because of high levels of the toxic metal cadmium. The items, crown pendant and a frog pendant, had been sold at Wal-Mart stores since November. Consumers can return the two recalled items to any Wal-Mart store for…

A new insurance industry study has found that state laws banning the use of handheld devices to make calls or send text messages while driving haven’t resulted in fewer vehicle crashes. The study, released Friday by the Highway Loss Data Institute, examined insurance claims from crashes before and after such bans took effect in California,…

People riding in the back seat of a vehicle are less likely to use a seat belt than front-seat passengers. Ford is hoping to change that with its new inflatable seat belt. Their inflatables will first be offered on the next generation of the Ford Explorer. Sue Cischke, group vice president of sustainability, environmental and…

Harvard’s varsity hockey team has signed up to wear the new, $120 M11 hockey helmet. Equipment maker Cascade Sports designed the helmet with one purpose in mind: saving brains. A study of former National Football League players, reported by Business Week, shows that players suffer dementia at a rate as much as 19 times higher…

For studying 2010 models, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety added a new roof-strength test to the already-rigorous test it used before. Increasingly, the tests address specific circumstances under which drivers and passengers are injured and killed in collisions. Aimed at protecting passengers in roll-over collisions, the new requirement reduced the number of top-rated vehicles…

Big 5 insurers’ profits up 56% in 2009 As the nation struggled last, year with rising healthcare costs and a recession, the five largest health insurance companies had combined profits of $12.2 billion — up 56 percent over 2008, according to a new report by liberal healthcare activists. Based on company financial reports for 2009…

Here’s an excellent article I came across today about buying auto insurance: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/10-things-your-auto-insurer-wont-tell-you.aspx?Gt1=33004 Check it out and let me know what you think. Andrew

GlaxoSmithKline said Thursday it Will remove zinc from its denture cream after reports that excessive use over many years can cause neurological damage and blood problems in consumers. The British manufacturer will stop making and marketing Super Poligrip Original, Ultra Fresh and Extra Care products in the U.S. The company plans to reformulate the creams…