You risk your life on a daily basis, you’re constantly putting your well-being in front of those you don’t know, and at days end you don’t make a helluva lotta’ money. This is the life of a Firefighter and for the men and women who choose this profession well, let’s just say I take my hat off to them. I doubt however that most people understand that being a Firefighter incorporates around ten jobs in one. For instance in some cases you’re an EMT, in others you’re rescue swimmer and yet in others, you’re a u-boat commander. Don’t believe me, well that’s exactly what happened to these Firefighters as they crossed a section of flooded roadway down in Melbourne, Australia in their trusty Isuzu rig. Now while most people would have been stopped dead in their tracks, these guys simply rumble through without any hesitation at all. Hell, they’ve even got the windshield wipers going!

Source: Youtube.com

For all-wheel drive cars with high-horsepower engines launch control is a thing of beauty. Simply put one foot on the brake, rev the engine to about 5,000 rpm, let go of the brake and let the computers and traction-control do the rest. It actually works quite flawlessly and for streetcars like the Nissan GT-R and Porsche 911 Turbo, launch control is what enables them to shoot out of the hole like shot through a gun. Street cars aren’t the only vehicles to employ this technology. Race and rally cars use it as well, however when they engage the system it’s far more exciting then your everyday driver. Click through to see what I’m talking about.

Source: Youtube.com

Drinking, eating and partying. Three things that make an appearance during the holiday season. In moderation they’re all well and good, but over indulge in anyone of them and you could be in for a rough time. This video was done by the Transport and Accident Commission of Victoria, Australia, and even though it may be a buzz kill for some of you, we posted it because it’s the best one of it’s kind. In fact we posted it last year, and the year before that because some people out there simply need to see it. It’s not fun and it’s not exciting, but it is something you will remember after watching it, which is why it has over 13-million hits on Youtube. We also wanted to post this on random day and not right before the festivities begin because let’s face it, by that time, you probably wouldn’t care anyway. So, from all of us here at Ridelust.com, have a happy, healthy and safe holiday season.

Source: Youtube.com

VW's 2010 TDI Cup Street Edition Jetta. Image: Volkswagen

Volkswagen and Audi are recalling certain models equipped with the 2.0-liter TDI turbodiesel engine to repair a potentially leaking high pressure fuel line. Affected by the recall are some 168,275 models, including:

- 2009-12 VW Jetta TDI sedans, built between May 2008 and September 2011
- 2009-12 VW Jetta TDI SportWagens, built between May 2008 and September 2011
- 2010-12 VW Golf TDI hatchbacks, built between May 2009 and September 2011
- 2010-12 Audi A3 TDI wagons, built between September 2009 and September 2011

Vibration in a high pressure fuel line leading to the number two fuel injector can cause cracking, leading to a potential fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire can result, although Volkswagen reports that no fires, accidents or injuries have occurred as a result of this defect.

The recall is expected to begin in November, once dealers build up stock of replacement parts. VW and Audi dealers will install an improved fuel injector line to the number two injector and will add vibration dampers on all injector lines. Owners with questions or concerns can contact Volkswagen’s customer service hotline at (800) 822-8987, or the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Source: NHTSA

Image: Flickr user Alan Cleaver

Today, the fastest speed you can legally travel on a highway in the United Kingdom is 70 miles per our. Like our own 55 mile per hour speed limit (or our current 70 mph speed limits), the number is considered by most drivers to be a suggestion, not an absolute. Reflecting this, Britain’s Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond, has announced his intention to raise the UK’s maximum speed limit to 80 miles per hour, beginning in 2013.

Applying common sense isn’t something you necessarily expect from a government official, but Hammond is clear about his reasons. “I want to make sure that our motorway speed limit reflects the reality of modern vehicles and driving conditions, not those of 50 years ago,” Hammond was on record as saying.

The secretary also cited the economic benefits that shortening journeys could create, which is more logic that we’d buy into. Still, don’t expect common sense to take hold in the United States, not with the “speed kills” mentality of government officials. I’d be willing to bet that Britain’s roads are in better shape than our own crumbling infrastructure, and I’ll bet that Brits are less likely to be texting, reading, eating, applying makeup or shaving behind the wheel than their American counterparts.

Source: Carscoop

TruTouch's current fingertip BAC detector.

Imagine having to scan your fingerprint before you can start your car, to determine if your blood-alcohol content (BAC) is within legal limits. Automotive suppliers Takata and TruTouch have just received a $2.25 million grant from the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) to further development of a system that would do just that. In the not-too-distant future, the technology could be voluntarily implemented on new cars, or mandated for use by those previously convicted of drunk driving.

The technology behind the system exists today, but it’s neither portable nor robust enough for use in a vehicle. Current systems are shoebox sized, and can operate only within a narrow window of temperature and humidity. Although the infrared scanners used are more accurate than a traditional Breathalyzer test, the current systems take several seconds to collect and analyze data, which is perceived as too long for a vehicle ignition interface.

The NHTSA backs the efforts of the ACTS, and it views the technology as a way of reducing the number of Americans killed in drunk driving related accidents each year. In 2009, nearly 11,000 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, which made up 32 percent of all traffic fatalities.

Assuming the engineering obstacles can be overcome, the systems could hit the market in 8 to 10 years. Whether that’s a good thing or an invasion of your privacy is entirely up to you.

Source: Detroit Free Press

Driving around in a classic car has its privileges. First there are the stares and comments and two, there is a feeling of great satisfaction when rolling around in a piece of history. When it comes to safety though, you simply can’t compare something that was build in the 1950′s or 1960′s to a modern day automobile. You see technology is a wonderful thing and over the last 50 years the safety innovations that have gone into cars is mind blowing. Advanced computers have the ability to monitor every aspect of a cars operating system and can actually tailor them to the owners driving style. On the safety front engineers have devised ways of making the inner cabin a venerable safety cage that protects occupants from harm in the event of a crash by using technology that was unthinkable only 20 years ago.

I recently came across these pictures of a wrecked 1969 Dodge Charger. Apparently the owner was t-boned by a large truck and then slammed against a guard rail. Amazingly the owner survived with only a few injuries and was thankfully not carrying passengers at the time of the incident.

*The 1969 Dodge Charger pre-accident.

Take a long look at these photos and at how the entire interior structure of the car was destroyed. Look at how the Charger’s uni-body construction just crumpled under impact as if it were made of plastic. It’s not only frightening, but truly makes one think about using these cars for anything more than the occasional Sunday morning cruise. It’s sad to think that there is now one less Charger on the streets, but great to know that the owner will be around to build another classic if they so choose.

The 2011 Honda Pilot Touring. Image: Honda Motors

Honda is recalling nearly 311,000 Pilot SUVs built between March 13, 2008 and August 30, 2011, as the stitching on the seat belt anchor webbing may be missing or incomplete. In the event of a crash, the seatbelt may detach from the anchor webbing, leading to an increased risk of injury. Two accidents resulting in seat belt failures have been reported to date, but it’s not known if there were any resulting injuries.

Honda will inspect and replace front seat belt assemblies on affected vehicles as required when the recall begins in early October. Owners will be contacted via mail with complete details on the recall, but those with questions or concerns may reach Honda’s customer service hotline at (800) 999-1009. The NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline can also provide updates on the status of this recall, and they can be reached at (888) 327-4236.

Source: NHTSA

Image: Yuri Long

If, for some unknown reason, you really want to get into a car accident, the best place in the country to live is Washington, DC. In DC, your chance of having an accident goes up by 107 percent compared to the national average, which probably explains why so many law firms call DC home.

Looking at the top 10 cities for bad drivers, 8 of 10 are in the Northeast. New York City doesn’t make the list, coming in 22nd in the country for accident rate. Surprisingly, Boston doesn’t make the cut, either, but that has more to do with Allstate not selling auto insurance in Massachusetts than it does with the ability of Boston drivers to avoid accidents.

Here’s the complete list of the top-10 worst driver cities, along with your increased likelihood of getting waffled while driving through:

1 Washington, DC, 107%
2 Baltimore, MD, 89%
3 Glendale, CA, 81%
4 Newark, NJ, 71%
5 Providence, RI, 67%
6 Philadelphia, PA, 60%
7 Hartford, CT, 60%
8 Jersey City, NJ, 58%
9 San Francisco, CA, 57%
10 Alexandria, VA 56%

Source: Autoweek

An E46 3 Series. Image Rudolf Strickler

If you own a BMW 3 Series model built between 2002 and 2005, heads up: the automaker is recalling some 241,000 325i, 325Xi, 330i and 330Xi models manufactured between September 1, 2001 and March 1, 2005. At issue is the electrical contact between the wiring harness and the tail lights. Over time, resistance can build up at the connection and cause the failure of the brake lights, tail lights or directional signals.

While no accidents or injuries have been reported, the condition could increase the chances of being in an accident. BMW dealers will inspect the connections and repair as necessary, when the recall begins in October. Owners with questions or concerns can reach BMW’s customer service at (800) 525-7417, or they can contact the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236 for additional details on this recall.

Source: NHTSA