Jacquie and Raechel Houck died instantly when their rental car from Enterprise caught fire and struck a semi on Highway 101. The incident occurred in Northern California, and had major repercussions for the automotive industry. People started to pay more attention to information about recalled automobiles, and rental companies were concerned that many of their vehicles were unsafe.

If the Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2012 were to pass, rental companies would be required to ground all vehicles they have that were recalled. These vehicles would have to be either repaired or replaced to mitigate any safety problems. Cally Houck began stressing the need for legislation almost immediately after the fatal incident. She is the mother of the two girls who perished in 2004.

They had rented a PT Cruiser by Chrysler, and it was found to be leaking steering fluid. It suddenly caught fire, and ended up striking an oncoming vehicle. Enterprise was required to pay $15 million in damages after a lengthy legal battle, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started to investigate how long it took for companies to repair vehicles that were recalled. Interestingly enough, Enterprise now supports the new legislation. This may be due to an online petition that received over 100,000 signatures.

However, it doesn’t seem that anyone but Hertz has really agreed to the pledge individually. Houck claims that the law is necessary because drivers can’t rely on the industry to do the right thing. However, Dollar Thrifty, Avis and Enterprise have all commented on the issue by saying that they respond to safety problems in a timely fashion.

A spokesman for Avis stated that the company does not rent vehicles that are under recall. Dollar Thrifty has stated that it has an outstanding safety record, and this record extends to the repair of safety recalls as soon as they’re notified about them. Rental companies also feel that similar safety judgments need to be made about other aspects of the automotive industry.

For instance, cab and limousine company safety records need to be inspected. Regardless of whether new legislation is passed or not, drivers are certainly going to be paying closer attention to what they rent. The general public wants to be sure that their vehicles are safe.

Everyone expects their vehicle to be safe and efficient, but many people are unaware that there are ways to aid in this mission. Whether you’ve purchased your vehicle brand new or pre-owned, there are a number of steps you can take to get the most out of your vehicle to keep it safe and functioning.

Windshield Cleaner – There are many companies which produce windshield cleaner to help stop rain or water build up on the windshield. These products typically work with your own windshield’s design in that they infiltrate the pores in most glass and plastic windshields and cause water to bead up on the surface. This makes it much easier for your windshield wipers to push away water and other liquid substances without impeding your vision. Using these windshield products on a regular basis can help you to see during difficult conditions, thus improving your chances at safe driving.

Check Your Tires – Tires are not just a safety component when it comes to driving, but they are also incredibly important when it comes to stopping. Worn tires, as in tires which are bald or are showing signs of uneven wear, can be detrimental in stopping in the event of an emergency. Furthermore, different climates require different tires. If you drive your vehicle in the middle of winter in a snowy or icy climate, you will need tires which grip the road better then tires which function in warmer, drier climates.

Check Your Fluids – Most everyone knows that their vehicle’s oil needs to be changed once every 3,000 miles, but many people don’t know that they should also have their brake fluid, transmission fluid and gas lines cleansed every 50,000 miles. The fact is, each component of a vehicle is important in safe and efficient operation, and running a vehicle while unclean may result in component breakage and shutdown.

Clean Your Battery – A vehicle’s battery is another component which needs regular maintenance. Vehicle batteries often develop high levels of corrosion, leading to the inability to operate; of course, without the ability of a battery to operate, a vehicle cannot function. Many batteries which build up corrosion can be cleaned with a wire brush, but others will need to be replaced. In order to find out the strength of you vehicle’s battery, it’s best to either test it or take it to a professional.

Regardless of what type of vehicle you drive, it’s always important to ensure that it is running smoothly, lest you find yourself stranded on the side of the road. In order to be sure you’ll keep moving it’s always a good idea to inspect or have a professional inspect your vehicle on a regular basis.

While this blog mainly focuses on cars, trucks, SUVs and more, it’s important to mention another vehicle that is often found on many roadways: the motorcycle. While it may be easy to pass motorcycle operators off as less important, the fact is, motorcycle operators are entitled to the same rights and subject to many of the same traffic laws as everyone else. In fact, some states have even enacted certain laws to protect motorcyclists from accidents and injury.

One of the most important times to watch out for motorcyclists is during inclement weather. If you operate a traditional automobile, you’ll typically be able to drive in these conditions with the benefit of a windshield, heat and four wheels of traction and control. Unfortunately, motorcyclists don’t have these luxuries, and many of them are subject to the elements. As a result, motorcyclists may not have the visibility you do while on the road, meaning automobile drivers need to always be watching out for quick lane switches, slower speeds and more.

Another reason to watch out for motorcyclists is speed. A motorcycle will typically be able to gain higher acceleration speeds when compared to a traditional vehicle, but braking speeds may differ. A four-wheeled vehicle has the added benefit of more tires, all of which assist it in stopping. A motorcycle, on the other hand, usually only employs brakes on one wheel. Because of the balance of a motorcycle, this can make it harder to bring to a safe and complete stop, meaning vehicle operators need to be aware of motorcycles in front of them, behind them and at intersections.

Due to their smaller size, motorcycles may also be harder to see. While passing vehicles on a busy highway, you may miss a motorcycle in the non-passing lane, potentially causing an accident. The best advice to avoid such an accident is to always pay attention to your surroundings when driving, and drive at the speed limit or slower. Because most motorcycles only employ one headlight, drivers need to also watch out for motorcycle safety at night. If a motorcycle only has one headlight, it may appear as a four-wheel vehicle with one headlight in the dark of night, causing other drivers to misjudge their distance.

Legally, motorcycle operators may have different rules and laws to follow, depending upon the state in which they are operating. If you are a motorcycle operator, or if you’re concerned about motorcycle safety, please take some time to research the laws in your area to ensure safe and efficient roadways.

Traditional car seats are made to accommodate children that fall into a healthy weight range. If your child is larger than an average child his age, what can you do to keep him safe in the car? As bigger kids become the rule rather than the exception, there are car seats being made that can keep your larger child safe on the road.

A 2006 study published in the medical journal Pediatrics highlighted the need for car seats with higher weight limits. The study showed that nearly 300,000 children between the ages of one and six were too heavy for traditional car seats, which required their parents to use a seat not approved for their height or body type. Using a car seat that is not designed for your child’s body weight is unsafe and cannot protect him during an accident, so car seat manufacturers have started to offer car seats that will keep this growing demographic safe.

Listed below are car seats available for larger children:

• Britax Frontier 85 Combination Booster Car Seat

This car seat is convertible to accommodate a child weighing up to 85 pounds in the car seat mode, and up to 120 pounds in booster seat mode. Features include a 5-point harness system that keeps children secure and safe. The seat has been shown to be effective in side impact type accidents.

• Orbit Baby G2 Infant Car Seat

For infants, this car seat has a higher weight range than other comparable seats, accommodating infants up to 30 pounds. The prior version of this car seat only held infants up to 22 pounds, but Orbit changed the design to keep even larger infants safe.

• Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 Convertible Car Seat

Like the Britax car seat, this seat can be used as both a car seat and a booster seat. Used as a car seat, the Maxi-Cosi seat can accommodate a child weighing up to 70 pounds. Once converted to a booster seat, the weight limit is 100 pounds.

Just because your child is larger than average doesn’t mean that you have to settle for an unsafe car seat that isn’t designed for him.