Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Michigan Accident Lawyers Named ''The Best Lawyers in Metro Detroit''

Personal injury lawyers Lawrence Gursten and Steven Gursten of Michigan Auto Law have been named ''The Best Lawyers in Metro Detroit'' for 2009 by DBusiness Magazine. The accolade highlights the father-son duo's legal expertise amid a changing landscape of complicated No-fault and car accident law.

Southfield, MI (PRWEB) November 20, 2008 -- Car accident lawyer Lawrence Gursten and truck accident specialist Steven Gursten of Michigan Auto Law have been named "The Best Lawyers in Metro Detroit" for 2009 by DBusiness Magazine, a Detroit business journal.

The magazine honored Michigan lawyers who are well-versed in nearly every aspect of the law, including auto negligence, personal injury, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance. The attorneys were chosen based on peer reviews from the Best Lawyers in America list for metro Detroit, by the Best Lawyers in America peer review publication.

The Best Lawyers in Metro Detroit
Steve Gursten and Larry Gursten were named under the personal injury litigation specialty. Michigan Auto Law (Gursten, Koltonow, Gursten, Christensen and Raitt, PC) is a third-generation law firm with 16 lawyers specializing in helping people who have been seriously injured or killed in car accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents throughout Michigan. The firm has received the top reported jury verdict for automobile accident cases in Michigan for four of the past seven years.

"I'm happy to be named among the best of the best Michigan lawyers," said Steve Gursten, managing partner of the Southfield-based firm. "But what I really hope comes of the honor is more recognition that these are truly unique areas of law that require lawyers who are experts. Lawyers can't handle a truck accident case like they would a car accident case. It requires a lot of specialization. That's why we're able to help so many people whose lives have been devastated."

Added Larry Gursten, founder of the law firm, "We must remember that lawyers helping people remains the noblest aspect of our legal profession. I believe that because we have been consistently able to obtain great verdict and settlement results for our clients, the legal community is recognizing us."

Steve Gursten is available for comment on the subjects of automobile insurance no-fault litigation, commercial truck accidents, traumatic brain injury cases and automobile negligence in Michigan.

The 2009 award from DBusiness Magazine is the latest in a series of legal honors in 2008-09 for Steve Gursten and Larry Gursten, including:

  • AV-rated lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell,
  • Michigan Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers magazine,
  • Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers peer review publication,
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyer, American Trial Lawyers Association, and
  • 2005 Lawyer of the Year, Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

About Michigan Auto Law:
Michigan Auto Law is a third-generation law firm with 16 lawyers specializing in helping people who have been seriously injured or killed in car, truck and motorcycle accidents throughout Michigan. The firm has received the top reported jury verdict for automobile accident cases in Michigan for four of the past seven years. Michigan Auto Law is headquartered in Southfield at 26555 Evergreen Road, Suite 1530, (800)777-0028. The firm also has offices in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Sterling Heights. For more information, visit www.michiganautolaw.com.

About Lawrence Gursten:
Lawrence E. Gursten's triumphant legal career spanning more than 40 years got off to quite a start when he joined his father's firm in 1965 having achieved the highest score on the Michigan Bar Exam. From there, Larry developed a passion for helping seriously injured people throughout Michigan battle powerful insurance companies, and he continues to advocate for them today. With a strong belief that knowledge is power, Larry has lectured and moderated extensively at seminars and legal conventions across the state, especially on the subjects of helping clients with traumatic brain, neck and back injuries and strategies for litigating automobile and truck accident cases. Larry has been requested as an expert speaker to the Michigan Legislature on the Michigan automobile no-fault law. He has appeared on television and in print discussing auto insurance and the no-fault law. Larry has even taken gross anatomy classes at the Wayne State University School of Medicine to better understand his clients' injuries.

About Steven M. Gursten:
Steven M. Gursten is recognized as one of the nation's top experts in serious car and truck accident injury cases and automobile insurance no-fault litigation. In addition to achieving some of the highest car and truck accident settlements each year for injury victims in Michigan, Steve has received the largest jury verdict in car accident cases for three of the past six years. He serves on the executive board of the American Association for Justice Traumatic Brain Injury Group and is on the board of governors for the Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America. For more information about Steve, read his blog on Michigan auto accident law.

Contact:
Natalie Marie Lombardo
Public Relations Director
Gursten, Koltonow, Gursten, Christensen & Raitt, PC
26555 Evergreen Road, Suite 1530
Southfield, MI
Phone: (248) 353-7575, Ext. 269
Fax: (248) 353-4504
www.michiganautolaw.com

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[Via Automotive]

Posted by prolink at 11:45 PM 0 comments

Action Donation Services to Process Car Donations for Orphaned Children's Foundation

Action Donation Services® announced today that they have partnered with the Orphaned Children's Foundation to be their exclusive agent nationwide for the receiving and processing of donated property including cars, boats, yachts, RV's, trucks, motorcycles, aircraft and miscellaneous heavy equipment.

We are pleased to be able to help the Orphaned Children's Foundation with our unique services. The Foundation works worldwide to raise public awareness and ease the financial burden of adoption. We especially like their Military Families Adoption Grant Program that is restricted to assisting military service members, their families and certain Veterans of the U.S. Armed Services

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) November 20, 2008 -- Action Donation Services® (ADS) announced today that they will be processing car, boat and other property donations to benefit the Orphaned Children's Foundation (OCF). OCF is a non-profit organization committed to providing grants to families who wish to adopt a child.

News Image

"We are pleased to be able to help the Orphaned Children's Foundation with our unique services. The Foundation works worldwide to raise public awareness and ease the financial burden of adoption. We especially like their Military Families Adoption Grant Program that is restricted to assisting military service members, their families and certain Veterans of the U.S. Armed Services," said ADS Client Charity Director, Ted Cox.

ADS is a leader in Internet promotion of car and boat donations and can usually be found on the first page of any search relating to "donate a car, boat, RV, truck, etc." According to Cox, "Approximately one million people per month go on-line each month and search for a charity to donate a car, boat or RV to... the Internet is the future when it comes to property donations."

"We are excited about our new partnership with Action Donation Services. Among its unique services that will be beneficial to OCF and our donors is a program that strives to maximize the selling price of property donations by "fixing up" or refurbishing donations whenever it will be beneficial to the foundation - and selling retail when feasible (rather than wholesale) in order to maximize the return, which will help our adoption grant making program," said Camile Luciano, Founder of OCF.

To donate your car, boat or other property to the Orphaned Children's Foundation or for more information visit the Action Donation Services® website: www.actiondonation.org, or call toll-free (866) 244-8464. ADS will pickup qualified donations throughout the U.S. free of charge to the donor.

Contact:
Ted Cox
Client Charity Director
619-993-7006
E-mail: ted.cox @ actiondonation.org
Web site: www.actiondonation.org

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[Via Automotive]

Posted by prolink at 11:45 PM 0 comments

Mautofied.com Announces a Banner Sales Year-to-Date of Custom Autos, Trucks, and Motorcycles

Despite declining sales of new vehicles in the U.S. and a nationwide economic slump, Mautofied.com has facilitated over 7,700 transactions as of October 31, 2008. Consistently surpassing expectations, Mautofied.com continues to see record numbers of unique visitors who use its proprietary classifieds to buy, sell, and trade their vehicles. It is now the largest site on the Web dedicated solely to custom cars, trucks and motorcycles.

We thought we'd see a drop off in visitors and sales with all the troubles in the economy, particularly the auto business

Orange, Calif. (PRWEB) November 20, 2008 -- Mautofied.com, the premier Web site for selling or trading custom cars and trucks, just announced that sales and trades of all types of custom vehicles continues to grow, reaching over 7,770 transactions as of October 31, with an aggregate value of over $55,000,000.

"We thought we'd see a drop off in visitors and sales with all the troubles in the economy, particularly the auto business," Mr. DeSimone, CEO of Mautofied said. "But that hasn't happened. We have a significant reach into the auto enthusiast market, which proves the durability of the Mautofied concept."

As the financial markets tighten and unemployment sky rockets, many auto enthusiasts have had to let their special projects go due to financial difficulties. The incentive to trade for or purchase something more fuel efficient or just the desire for a new project continues to fuel Mautofied's growth. With over 70,000 registered users, close to 600,000 unique monthly visits, and 12,000 new listings, Mautofied.com continues to innovate and enrich its custom classified niche. The site can be viewed at Custom Auto Classifieds.

Mr. DeSimone went on to explain the genesis of the concept for Mautofied.com. "I was in my last year of college and I was trying to sell my lowered '64 Impala. At the time the only place on the Web to list cars was Auto Trader. My custom car just got lost. I was getting calls from soccer moms wanting to know what hydraulics were. I knew there had to be a better way to reach an audience that appreciated a custom vehicle."

In 1999 Google had no listings under "custom auto classifieds." So there was no place on the Web to list vehicles that could be searched by categories of customization work. "I created Mautofied.com for auto enthusiasts who don't want to waste time sifting through thousands of stockers to find the one custom car their looking for. With our unique search parameters, Mautofied.com has developed a loyal following in the custom marketplace. It's now the third largest listing of autos for sale on the Web," Mr. DeSimone said. For the complete list of proprietary search categories go to Custom Searches.

"I didn't expect that a nationwide community of car lovers would sprout up," Mr. DeSimone said.

Customizing cars, trucks and motorcycles has a long tradition in many parts of the country; but once a car is modified, either to the engine, frame, body or interior, this typically skews the trade in value. Dealers don't want cars that have been customized simply because they're difficult to sell or because customizing voids the warranty. Sellers can advertise in the newspaper, but that's often expensive and won't reach beyond the borders of their local area. Sales of custom autos usually take place in the communities of car clubs or shows. When Mautofied went online, it created a nationwide car lot exclusively for custom vehicles. Now once someone completes a project, needs to sell, or is looking to trade they can tap Mautofied's nationwide audience quickly to reach auto enthusiasts who appreciate and find value in custom vehicles.

In turn, buyers can find the type of custom car, truck or motorcycle quickly because of the site's unique search categories. Cars are shipped all over the country, and even to foreign markets like Australia and England. "We get a lot of soldiers logging in from Iraq wanting to sell their rides back home. I'm glad we can help," Mr. DeSimone said. Mautofied.com now has over 10,000 testimonials of satisfied users from all over the world. Those can be viewed at Modified Testimonies.

Contact:
Marshall Morris
Director of Business Development
Mautofied, Inc.
800-991-7087 Office
714-271-6572 Cell

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[Via Automotive]

Posted by prolink at 11:45 PM 0 comments

Fashionistas Take Heed! Al & Ed's Autosound 'Goes over the Top' and Breaks New Barriers in Style and Class with Its Vehicle Enhancements, to Be Showcased at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show : The First Ever All Limited Edition Ed Ha

Fashionistas Take Heed! Al & Ed’s Autosound ‘Goes over the Top’ and Breaks New Barriers in Style and Class with Its Vehicle Enhancements, to Be Showcased at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show

The First Ever All Limited Edition Ed Hardy Smart Cars, Numbered and Signed by French Designer Christian Audigier Promise Glitz!

LOS ANGELES (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) November 19, 2008 -- With a long history of innovation in new aftermarket vehicle enhancements for cars produced by auto manufacturers, Al & Ed’s Autosound will once again fire up the Los Angeles Auto Show attendees with an automotive experience a step beyond the vehicles on the traditional show floor. Exhibiting the latest in mobile electronics and unique style car customization, Al & Ed’s Autosound will present a fleet of vehicles that will astound, both in sound and fashion, car enthusiasts visiting the aftermarket “paradise,” located in the Los Angeles Convention Center’s Kentia Hall, Friday, November 21 – Sunday, November 30.

Every year we put together a vehicle line-up at the Los Angeles Auto Show that shows our singular commitment to unlimited vehicle modification, from the seemingly modest to the xtreme
“Every year we put together a vehicle line-up at the Los Angeles Auto Show that shows our singular commitment to unlimited vehicle modification, from the seemingly modest to the xtreme,” said Gabi Mashal, president of Al & Ed’s Autosound. “We know no boundaries when it comes to vehicle modifications and Los Angeles drivers will ‘get it,’ as they experience our specially designed Ed Hardy Smart Cars and are physically shaken to the core in our 15,000 Watt Escalade with an amp that is as big as the tailgate, among others.”

News Image A recognized leader in the mobile electronics industry for more than half a century, Al & Ed’s has also made its mark in trendy fashion customizations that ‘go over the top’ and break new barriers in style and class. In that regard, they are also a frontrunner in fashion innovations. The company employs top flight designers for customizations such as the trunk in the 2006 Ford Mustang with full suede headliner, or the Ed Hardy Smart Cars that have koko kuture 17” wheels with the Ed Hardy “Tiger” center hub cap and custom seven layer Ed Hardy tattoo inspired satin paint scheme.

The line up of show cars on display in the Al & Ed’s Autosound booth in Kentia Hall include:

Limited Edition Ed Hardy Smart Cars

The SmartFortwo car is the hottest ride in the streets, today. But with the Limited Edition Ed Hardy Smart Cars, which are custom-built upgrades to a standard Smart Car and individually numbered by famous French fashion designer, Christian Audigier, it is simply ‘hotter than hot’. Available in Ed Hardy satin black or Ed Hardy satin white, each Ed Hardy Smart Car has been given a seven layer Ed Hardy tattoo inspired satin paint scheme, premium leather seats with Ed Hardy® tattoo embroidered suede inserts, suede upholstered upper dash, twelve piece interior accents finished in piano black gloss, chrome dual tip exhaust system by Doug Thorley, twelve piece interior accents finished in piano black gloss and headers providing a 6HP and 14ft Lbs. torque performance increase. It has integrated Bluetooth and navigation systems, iPod and iPod video interface and a specialized Ed Hardy® edition Kenwood® 6.1” touch screen AM/FM/CD/DVD player, just to name a few.

2005 Mercedes-Benz G500

This knock out G500 is nothing like you have seen around your local Starbucks, super market, or especially Gym. This high-profile client has obtained a prestigious honor in allowing us to build the proper Mercedes-Benz to give the Al & Ed’s Golden Touch to his G500. The interior includes a full complete custom look with a suede headliner as well as suede inserts, pillars, and visors. Located in the hatch, a custom Mercedes-Benz Cooler was stationed to help with that tailgate experience. The two 7" Alpine monitors allow his passengers to enjoy the full Alpine Media package including an IVAW-505 unit to control all Audio and Video functions throughout the vehicle. The fully fiber glassed Subwoofer enclosure holds two JL Audio 10" W3 subwoofers being pushed by two Solid Focal 1 along with a Focal Solid 4 amplifier powering two sets of Focal 165K2P three way components. In addition, an Alpine rear view camera was installed flush to allow parking assistance whenever needed. Finally the exterior gives a TKO putting a halt with Brembo Brakes and sets it off with three-piece 24" wheels.

2007 Black and “Lamborghini Green” Dodge Nitro

The ONLY NitroGhini is the first amongst all of Dodge Nitro's out on the streets and throughout the United States to have the first vertical door kit mocked and custom made specifically for the vehicle. The Nitro also includes a full Air Ride Suspension with nine switches allowing full function air-ride including: front, back, side to side, and pancake. The custom Air Ride Suspension allows the vehicle to rise up and drop down accordingly to better view the vehicle's 24" wheels. Besides the eye catching vertical doors and 24" wheels, color matched to the vehicle with black and Lamborghini Green paint as it tucks under the fender, the exterior of the vehicle has a custom three stage Lamborghini Green painted trimmings, grille, logos, roof, brakes, and calipers. The Audio System includes: a fully fiber-glassed enclosure holding three Power series T1500-1 1500 watt amplifiers, pushing six Power series 12" T112D2 subwoofers with two Power series T400-4 400 watt amplifiers, pushing Alpine SPS600C components in all door panels accumulating 8,800 watts of pounding power throughout the vehicle. The video package in the vehicle provides five 7" monitors: one molded in the front dash panel and four more in the head rest, two for the passengers and two more in rear for tail gate party. Speaking of hot, the uniqueness of this car cannot be overstated.

2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV – 15,000-Watt Experience

With an unprecedented 15,000-Watt Rockford Fosgate T15kW amplifier, one of only six in the world, twenty-four Rockford 6-1/2-inch component speakers and eight 15-inch subwoofers packed in to this 2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV, audiophile auto-show-goers will finally be able to “feel” the music.

2008 Limited Edition Dodge Challenger Hemi

This car’s look has that eye-catching Dodge Hemi orange. Together with its custom satin black painted wheels and custom performance headers by Doug Thorley Headers and Eibach lowering springs, it is an absolute must see car. In the dash, show attendees will find Kenwood’s DNX7120 am/fm/cd/dvd/ipod/ipod video/Sirius satellite radio/navigation/bluetooth touch screen and custom installed in the front doors, are Kenwood KFC-X1720 6.5" component speakers, while in the rear deck of the car, is a custom installed Kenwood KFC-X1710. There are three Kenwood amplifiers totaling over 4,600 watts of power and two Kenwood KFC-X1022D 10" subwoofer in a custom fiberglass enclosure.

2009 Scion XB

A brand new demo car has a custom paint job that is like none other and will never be duplicated. This car also includes custom two-tone leather interior. The sound system is comprised of an Alpine radio IVA-W505, eight Rockford Fosgate 15" (woofers), two Rockford Fosgate T1500bd, one 3Sixty.2, two Rockford Fosgate T6004, one 10 Farod Capacitor, five Kinetik Power cells, one pair of 8" Marine for the rear, one pair of 6.5 Marine for the rear door and one pair of components. And behold, it has a 32" LCD hooked up to a Nintendo Wii. This is one of those vehicles that show attendees will just have to experience the ‘ride.’

2008 Spyker C8 Spyder

This is a truly fascinating car. Fascinating in details and technology (400HP). You can see (and feel) the craftsmanship in every single detail, from the gull-winged doors to the leather seams. The Spyker C8 Spyder has the absolute latest in customized electronics. In the dash is a custom installed unit, a Kenwood KVT819DVD am/fm/cd/dvd/ipod/ipod video/Sirius satellite radio/navigation/bluetooth touch screen. This Spyker also has a Focal 165VRS 6.5” component “slim” speakers installed with a custom stainless steel speaker grille. Add to that a Pioneer TSSW1241D 12” slim woofer in a custom enclosure also with a custom stainless steel speaker grille and an Alpine PDX4150 digital amplifier totaling 600 watts of power custom installed behind the driver's seat and the ‘dream’ sound surrounds the driver and passenger.

About Al & Ed’s Autosound

Founded in 1954, Al & Ed’s Autosound has grown to become the largest mobile electronics specialist with more than 20 Southern California stores. As a recognized leader in the mobile electronics industry, Al & Ed’s Autosound has been an instrumental partner in the pioneering of innovations such as FM radio for cars, cassette players for cars and the first car alarms, and is viewed within the mobile electronics industry as a barometer for the industry in Southern California. For more information, visit http://www.al-eds.com.

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[Via Automotive]

Posted by prolink at 7:45 AM 0 comments

Tire Pressure and Fuel Economy

With the rising gas prices and the anxiety about rapidly diminishing fuel reserves, it is a good idea to go ahead and do something about your car. The best thing to do is to get hold of some mileage saving means which will enable you to save some money. Saving gas has become a great challenge nowadays and you have to work out a way to ensure that you do your bit by using an environment friendly way to run your car.

One of the easiest ways to save fuel is to have tires with correct tire pressures. Although most of us are under the impression that our tires have the correct amount of pressure, the truth is quite the contrary. There are factors like wear and tear; seasonal temperature changes and weather which make the car lose about one to two pounds per square inch each month. Although this seems to be quite an insignificant number, you will be alarmed to know that 1 psi loss in four tires means that your miles per gallon will decrease by almost 0.04%.

This means that you need to be very careful about your tire pressure in order to ensure that you get a great mileage out of your car. Tire pressure variations can affect your mileage and the sooner you understand it the better for you.

Given below are some tips which you can look at in order to see if your tires have the right amount of pressure:

1. There should be a sign on the inside of the driver’s door of your car or in the glove box indicating the correct tire pressure for your car. In case you cannot find it, call your car company and get the accurate number from them immediately.

2. Though some stickers will not specify ‘cold tire pressure’, you need to ensure that the tires are cold, which means that they haven’t been used for the past few hours.

3. The psi number marked on the tires stand for the maximum pressure that the tires can undertake. You need not consider it to be the ideal pressure for your car tires.

4. In order to know the tire pressure, always use a digital gauge. It is the best way in which you can get the exact pressure and settle the pressure of the tires accordingly.

Always keep checking the inflation of your tires as well. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that as many as 30% of cars and trucks do not have the correct amount of inflation. Do not ever judge the inflation and tire pressure of your cars on the basis of their visual appearance because it can be extremely deceptive, to say the least. Go for regular checks which will enable you to understand the correct amount of pressure and air required for your car. In this manner, you will be able to save quite a substantial amount of fuel by getting better mileage out of your car.

About the Author

These days the market is buzzing wirh several products that claims to save gas and improve fuel economy. To get a first hand review of few selected gas saving products visit http://www.gasmileagesavefuel.com

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Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

Frequently Asked Questions About Driving a Minibus

Minibuses are large, passenger carrying vehicles. Because of this extra responsibility the driving regulations regarding licensing, servicing and minibus insurance are a lot stricter than a normal car.

This article is a guide to the frequently asked questions about driving a minibus.

What is a minibus?

The classification for a minibus is a vehicle that has between 9 to 16 passenger seats. With more than16 passenger seats the vehicle is classed as a coach.

What is a Section 19 Minibus Permit?

If a minibus is being driven for hire or reward then a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) licence is required. Certain organisations such as volunteer groups, whose activities are beneficial to a community, can apply for a Section 19 Permit. This allows a small charge to be made to cover the vehicles operating costs without the need of a PCV licence.

A driver of a Section 19 permit minibus can either be a volunteer or be paid. If the minibus is being used as a non-profit bus service a Section 22 permit can be applied for. However with this permit the driver must be a unpaid volunteer.

Minibuses used by schools and educational establishment that do not charge their pupils do not normally require a Section 19 permit.

Section 19 permits are only valid within the UK.

Do minibus passengers have to wear seatbelts?

Seatbelts requirements for minibuses vary according to the age of the vehicle, passenger carrying capacity, type of passengers (i.e children or wheelchair users) and type of seat fitted. A general rule is that if a minibus is fitted with seatbelts then they must be worn.

It is compulsory for a minibus driver to wear a seatbelt.

What are the Driving Licence requirements for a minibus?

Driving licences issued after the 1st January 1997 require a category D1 classification, which can be obtained by applying to the DVLA and passing a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) test.

There are exemptions to this regulation that will allow a minibus to be driven with a full category B (car) licence, but the following conditions need to be met:

1. The minibus is used for a social purpose but not for hire and reward.

2. You must be over 21 and have held your Category B license for more than 2 years. If you are over 70 then you are required to meet the health standards for driving a D1 vehicle.

3. No payment can be accepted for driving the minibus.

4. The minibus cannot weigh more than 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes with special equipment for carrying disabled passengers.

5. Towing a trailer of any size is prohibited.

6. The minibus can only be driven in the UK. Driving in Europe will require a D1 licence.

What are the speed limits for driving a minibus?

Speed limits for a minibus on UK roads are:

30 mph in urban and residential areas50 mph on A class (single-carriageway) roads60 mph on dual-carriageway roads70 mph on motorways

If the minibus is towing a trailer the speed limit on motorways is reduced to 60 mph and the fast lane cannot be used for overtaking.

Minibuses registered after 1st January 2005 must now be fitted for with a speed limiter, restricting their maximum speed to 62 mph.

What are the regulations for driving a minibus in Europe?

A 'waybill' or an 'own account certificate' must be carried regardless of whether the minibus is being used for hire or reward. The MinibusClub.co.uk has more information about these documents.

Other documents that need to accompany the vehicle include a minibus insurance certificate, European accident form and Vehicle Registration document. A specialist minibus insurance provider will be able to advise whether a Green Card is also needed.

When driving in Europe a GB sticker or EU style GB sticker must be prominently displayed on the minibus at all times.

More information about minibus driving regulations can be obtained from the Directgov website or the Minibus Club.

About the Author

The Minibus Club is a specialist minibus insurance provider and has offered UK minibus insurance quotes since 1997. Visit their website to get a free quote or call their hotline on 0845 609 0323. See how much you could save on your minibus insurance!

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Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

More Lorry Driver Urban Legends

I’ve written about lorry driver urban legends before, but they just keep cropping up all over the internet. I’m not sure quite why lorry drivers and their vehicles often seem to be at the centre of these kinds of stories – my theory is that it’s the lorry drivers themselves who spread them while running haulage jobs and return loads all over the world! Perhaps it is just that many urban legends take place on the road, and lorry drivers make for convenient and plausible participants. However they spread, these stories are here to stay, and they get wilder and more outlandish with every retelling. Here are five of the best (and one of them is even true!)

Don’t Mess With The Lorry Driver

According to this legend, three bikers arrive in a café and see a lorry driver sitting on his own. For some reason they decide it will be fun to pick on him. They drink his coffee, pour pepper over him, and eat most of his food. The lorry driver does nothing, simply eats what is left, pays the bill and leaves. Afterwards, one of the bikers says to the waiter, “He wasn’t much of a fighter, was he?” The waiter, who is looking outside, replies “He wasn’t much of a driver either; he just backed his lorry straight over three motorcycles parked outside!”

True or False? It wouldn’t surprise me if this was true, since lorry drivers are renowned for their non-nonsense nature, but there are no recorded instances of this actually happening. A scene similar to this has appeared several times on film (for example, in Smokey and the Bandit and Every Which Way But Loose) indicating that it probably belongs in the realms of fiction.

Loose Load = Decapitation

Here’s a story about a gruesome kind of “return load”! As a motorcyclist is driving behind a lorry, a loose sheet of metal slips from the back of the lorry and decapitates him. The now headless driver, propelled by the momentum of the bike, travels past the lorry driver, who sees the motorcyclist, has a heart attack, and crashes his lorry.

True or False? It was false, but it recently became true! The original story is an urban legend that has been around for decades and has dozens of variations, but gruesomely enough, similar events occurred in 2001. 43 year old Linda Riojas was decapitated by a sheet of metal that apparently fell from a lorry in front and went through her windshield before landing next a Bible in the back seat. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!

“Wait, is that a-”

A biker is on the road at night (what is it about lorry drivers and bikers in urban legends?) sees two bikers coming down the other side of the road. He decides to show off by riding in between them and turns into the oncoming lane. But at the very last moment, he sees that it isn’t two bikes on the road ahead of him, but the headlights of a lorry.

True or False? Definitely false – this one has been kicking around for a long time, told as either a joke or a spooky campfire story. A variation of it even appears in the 1921 film Hard Luck, where Buster Keaton attempts to commit suicide by standing in front of a car (seen only by its headlights) and is instead passed by two bemused motorcyclists.

The Al-Qaida Return Load

Shortly after September 11th, an email did the rounds warning that over thirty rental trucks and lorries had gone missing “taken by Arabic looking men”, presumably for a follow up attack.

True or False? Completely false. The three companies mentioned in the original email (Ryder, U-Haul and Verizon) said that none of their lorries had gone missing, and it seems to have been just another email hoax.

Deadly Shipment

A lorry filled with ten tonnes of cyanide is hijacked in Mexico for reasons unknown; terrorism is strongly suspected. The lorry is found days later, but is missing its lethal cargo.

True or False? True! Although it had nothing to do with terrorism (and it is likely that the hijackers weren’t even aware of what the lorry was carrying) in February 2002 a lorry was stopped and hijacked by three armed gunmen in Mexico. A few days later, the lorry was found, but with some of the cyanide missing. What happened to it, no one knows…

About the Author

Lyall Cresswell is the Managing Director for the Transport Exchange Group. Haulage Exchange, their freight exchange for the 7.5 tonne and above market, offers an independent environment for its members to exchange loads and manage their groupage.

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Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM 0 comments

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