Windshieldtime
Cash for commuting
It might not be cool for field sales reps, but it’s not a bad idea for your kids who are driving to work this summer. Los Angeles-based Altavert Alternative Advertising will pay commuters up to $300 a month to allow the company to place advertisements on your car. The program, called Cash for Commuting, works like this: The driver (right now it’s limited to those in Southern California and Nevada) inputs information on their vehicle and their daily commuting route into an online form. If the locations match what a particular advertiser is looking for, Altavert installs the ad and starts paying. According to the company, the vinyl adhesives used on the ads actually protect cars from rocks, bugs and dirt. Also, ads placed on the rear windows are perforated and do not impair the driver’s vision, according to the company. Check it out at www.cashforcommuting.com.
The straight skinny on car repairs
AutoMD (www.automd.com) believes it can help drivers who have a hard time trusting car repair shops, or who want to attempt a repair themselves. The site allows owners to diagnose car problems, know how much repairs should cost, understand the steps needed and the time it should take to make repairs, and find the right local shop at the right price for their issue. The company says its database contains prices for more than 10 million repairs, based on geography and vehicle type, including local labor rates and parts pricing. The database also contains more than 400,000 local shops matched for geography, specific job type and affordability. “How to Repair” videos are also on the site. AutoMD is a wholly owned subsidiary of US Auto Parts, an Internet-based supplier of automotive parts and accessories.
Texting is as dangerous as driving drunk
More than 88 percent of drivers surveyed admitted engaging in distracted driving caused by texting, e-mailing, surfing the Web or talking on their cell phones, according to obdEdge LLC. When asked “If given the technology to block the use of cellular phones while operating a vehicle, on which of the following would you use the technology?” 27 percent said themselves, 23 percent said their spouse or significant other, 28 percent said employees, and 65 percent said children. Seventy-three percent said they consider driving while texting to be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Baton Rouge, La.-based obdEdge makes the cellcontrol device, which uses the automobile’s onboard diagnostic computer and phone/device software to stop texting, e-mailing, Web browsing and phone use while operating a vehicle.
Find your ideal car
CarLocate.com says it has added enhancements to its service, making it easier for buyers to find the car they want. Founded in October 2009, CarLocate.com now offers buyers 1) a green search capability for new and used vehicles to help buyers shop for eco-friendly cars, 2) CarMatch alerts, which enable registered users to automatically receive e-mail messages when cars that meet their search criteria are added to the site, and 3) a “share” button, allowing shoppers to share their favorite vehicle listings with social Web sites. CarLocate.com is part of The Reynolds and Reynolds Company, Dayton, Ohio, a provider of software and other services to automotive dealerships.
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