Train Spears a Car in Kent!

(Kent, WA) January 30

Around 1:15 pm this afternoon a train hit a semi truck carrying cars in downtown Kent. Two of the vehicles on the truck were struck, this one was dragged a few blocks. Luckily the driver of the semi escaped the collision and no injuries reported.

Any idea what kind of car that is the photo?

It looks like a KIA.

Photo courtesy the City of Kent

Seattle Test Drive Review for the 2009 Toyota Venza

After reading and hearing so much about the 2009 Toyota Venza, I wasn’t sure what to expect. When driving most cross-over type vehicles it’s either one or the other. Either it feels like a truck but looks like a sedan, or handles like a sedan and looks like a SUV. It’s rare to get a true combination of both. But after driving the 2009 Venza, I know why Toyota waited a while to get into the crossover market, they wanted to get it right. Read more

Obama’s Emissions Plan Fits Seattle Drivers

President Barack Obama made his message clear when he set new emission standards for new cars starting in 2011. Cars will be cleaner and more fuel efficient than ever before. The president will direct the Enviornmental Protection Agency to review whether California, Washington along with other states can impose stricter emission standards to battle green house gases. Read more

The 2010 Toyota Prius is in Hybrid Heaven in Seattle

It’s rare when a vehicle actually lives up to the hype. But by all accounts, the 2010 Toyota Prius will do just that and maybe more. Unveiled at the Detroit auto show, Toyota made a big splash, and maybe even sent a message to other hybrid automakers. Read more

Tire Chains and Snow Tires 101

After December’s record snowfall that left Seattle drivers stranded for days and even weeks, there is still a continued surge at auto and tire stores for snow traction devices. With so many choices, from chains to studded tires to snow tires, SeattleAuto.net will help guide you through the pros and cons of each device. Read more

Car Winterization Guide – Part 2

Now that Seattle residents have survived the first (and hopefully last) snow storm of the region, it’s a good idea go back and review tips on how to winterize your vehicle. Read more

Zip Code Determines Auto Insurance Rates

When it comes to auto insurance, your zip code is your identity. Just because you live in an expensive downtown loft with with a secure garage doesn’t guarantee lower auto insurance rates.  Read more

Still Flooded, but Seattle Area Roads are Opening Up

The rain may have stopped on Friday, but there’s plenty of water still on the roads. However, WSDOT has been working feverishly to open the I-90 passes and parts of I-5 .
Read more

Bye Bye Snow, Hello Flooding!

Apparently, Seattle residents aren’t safe yet from the weather patterns that have left three separate snow storms in the past month and now a torrent of rain. In fact, email alerts from the Department of Transportation have been flooding our inbox today with various road closures. Read more

Driving in Flood Waters, Dont Do it!

If you’ve ever lived in the Midwest or part of Texas, you know that many fatalities happen when people try and drive through high waters in a car. It takes just ankle to knee-high water to stall your vehicle. Avoid high waters at all costs.

Here are some sobering facts when it comes to driving in floods.

• Over 50% of flood related drownings are vehicle-related
• In Texas, the nations leader in flood related fatalities, 65% of those fatalities happen when a vehicle is in the water.

Check out this excerpt from Floodsafety.com

Ironically, many drivers rescued from flood waters report that they were in a hurry to get home– to safety — as a reason for tempting the danger of driving into water. However it looks, and despite what car commercials depict, driving into flood waters may be the most dangerous things one might ever try considering the following:

Just because the truck/car in front of you can drive through the water, doesn’t mean you can. If you can’t see theyellow  line in the middle of the road, you shouldn’t be driving on it. Another thing to remember is that even with your high beams on, it is nearly impossible to see the road when there’s a lot of water on it.

Floodsafety.com also suggests that in 18-24 inches of moving water, most cars and trucks will be swept away. Trucks and SUVs have only about 6-12 more inches of clearance. If in doubt, don’t drive thru water that’s over 6 inches deep.

Hold onto your Hats! High Winds coming to Seattle and 520 Bridge

Just received this email from the WSDOT mailing list:

SEATTLE – High winds have forced the cancelation of tonight’s planned closure of the SR 520 Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. A large tugboat and barge were scheduled to go through at 9 p.m., but the high winds raise potential safety concerns. The drawspan opening will be rescheduled at a later date. Read more

The Big Automakers Take a Hit, Subaru Shines!

Reminiscent of an Oklahoma City Thunder game, the numbers were just plain brutal and ugly. 2008 auto sales were at their lowest in over a decade. Even old reliables like Toyota and Honda couldn’t escape the bad economy and lack of consumer confidence.

All of the major US and Japanese auto makers finished the year with a thud, a very quite thud. The only company to offer a little sunshine was Subaru. The Japanese based company was the only one to see a positive increase in December sales.

According to an Associated Press article Chrysler sold 30 percent fewer cars in 2008. Ford sales numbers were down 21 percent than the previous year. While Toyota dropped 16 percent and Honda was also down at 8 percent in overall 2008 sales. The only major automaker who saw positive gains in 2008 was Japanese company Subaru.  Subaru sales went up 0.3 percent, not a lot of gain, but an improvement non the less. Buyers flocked to top selling models like the Forester and Impreza.

What’s all those sales numbers mean for Seattle drivers? Maybe more deals to be had, and maybe more Foresters and Imprezas on the road. Subaru could end up being the unofficial car of Seattle – just don’t forget the canopy.

No Surprise: Cell Phone Ban Not Working

In news that’s probably unsurprising to most Seattle motorists, the cell phone ban passed 6 months ago has not been effective. According to Sgt. Freddy Williams of the State Patrol, who spoke with the Seattle Times, nearly 1 in 3 drivers on the road are using their cell phone. Read more