Lemon Law Blog

We are seeing an increase in the number of Ford F Trucks cases recently, especially with coolant and oil problems. If you have brought your truck in for these problems, you are not alone. Check your VIN#. Many of those vehicles affected have a P as the 8th letter of their VIN#. If you find yourself going back and forth to the dealer with this problem, please contact us either by e-mail or call us at 1-800-LEMON-LAW (1-800-536-6652). We can help.

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Another great post from CarConnection.Com–This is a growing trend.

Driving While Texting: The New DUI? BlackBerrys, Treos latest driving distraction.
by Marty Padgett

We’ve warned of the dangers of driving on Ambien, Rozerem, and other sleep aids. Now, as the Wall Street Journal reports, law enforcement is beginning to pay attention to the growing threat of driving while texting. Text messaging, that is.

The Journal reports that the Washington state legislature has proposed a bill that would make it illegal to drive while “reading, writing, or sending electronic messages” – texting. The legislator sponsoring the bill, Joyce McDonald, hiply refers to “CrackBerry” usage as an emerging cause in vehicle accidents.

Washington isn’t the only jurisdiction working on texting bans. Oregon would establish a $720 fine for texting or holding a cellphone to the ear, while Arizona would make driving and texting an infraction that could be ticketed.

Cellphone use is the hallmark of so-called “distracted driving” infractions, the Journal says. Four states and the District of Columbia disallow the use of cell phones while driving, and 38 states are considering legislation to limit cellphone use.

But texting may already have claimed lives, the paper notes. A 2005 accident in Tennessee claimed the life of a pickup driver who was texting when he lost control of the truck. Nationwide, the insurance company, estimates 19 percent of all drivers text behind the wheel, while 37 percent of drivers from 18 to 27 have done so.

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From Car Connection:

Volkswagen will recall some 790,000 vehicles for faulty brake lights.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in a recall notice last week, cited the company’s Jetta, Golf, GTI, R32, and New Beetle models in the recall, stating that brake lights in these vehicle may have brake lights and switches that do not function properly, which could lead to an accident.

The specific models and years included in the recall are the 1998-2007 New Beetle; the 1999-2005 Jetta sedan; the 1999-2006 Golf and GTI; the 2001-05 Jetta wagon; the 2003-07 New Beetle Convertible; and the 2004 R32.

Last year VW recalled Jettas and New Beetles for the same problem, CNNMoney.com reports.

Repairs will begin on or after April 27, 2007, and will be made for free.

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