Gilbert A. Chavez's Page

There is a downward trend in the number of traffic fatalities nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that part of the reason for the decrease is the increase in unemployment. Fewer jobs means fewer commuters means fewer accidents during rush hour.

While final figures for 2009 have not yet been released, figures for the first nine months indicated the trend in fewer fatalities was continuing downward. But, even befo… Continue

If you don’t have a hybrid on your shopping list, there are still many cheap and easy ways to Green Your Car:

1. If you have a roof rack you never use, remove it. One consumer compared the gas mileage of his car at 54.7 mph (88 kph) with 1) no roof racks, 2) an empty roof rack, and 3) a mountain bike on the roof rack.

He found that compared to the baseline of no roof rack, the empty rack reduced his MPG by -12.… Continue

Feelings run high when it comes to the issue of cell phone use and texting while driving. Everyone has an opinion, but we may be light years away from any consensus!

Even the celebrities can’t agree. Oprah Winfrey asked her employees to sign a pledge against cell phone usage in cars. While, Maria Shriver was busted over her cell phone usage --caught not once, not twice, but THREE times talking on her cell phone while driving. Maria’s husband – Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of Cali… Continue

Who doesn’t have fond memories of family road trips - those landmarks of childhood fun and adventure? It’s a fine American tradition, and parents today are continuing it -- fueled, in part by the current economy.

(Yes, cost-effective family driving trips are experiencing a strong revival. It’s generally cheaper for a family of 4 to drive to a relatively close vacation destination, than buy 4 plane tickets to a more distant mecca. Plus, there are lots of sites to be seen along the way.)… Continue

Millions of people travel in their cars with unrestrained dogs, cats and other pets every day. As long as the trip is uneventful, all is well. However, what if there’s an emergency or an accident?

According to Bark Buckle Up, a leading organization

… Continue