Houston woman warns motorists of speed trap with sign, gets thrown in jail

 

This story is irritating on so many levels. It involves a dreaded police speed trap, a good samaritan warning motorists of the potential fine and a 12-hour stint in a Texas jail cell.

Houston-area resident Natalie Plummer, who was riding her bike on the way home from the grocery store, noticed that cops were pulling over speeders with what looked like a speed trap, so she decided to turn her bag into a make-shift warning sign. That sort of action seems to be covered by the Constitution, but Plummer was still arrested for allegedly standing in the street when there was a sidewalk present. For the record, Plummer tells KRTK that she never left the sidewalk, and she claims that the arresting offer threatened her with an arrest for obstructing justice, which is a felony offense.

KIA Motors Corporation : KIA NAMED BEST CAR MANUFACTURER BY WHICH?

 

KIA NAMED BEST CAR MANUFACTURER BY WHICH?

• Kia wins the title at its first attempt
• Which? Praise superb cars, value and market-leading seven year warranty
• Which? members rate Kia for satisfaction and reliability

Which? has named Kia as its Best car Manufacturer for 2012 in its annual awards, praising the company's "superb new range of cars" as well as the brand's excellent value for money and "industry-leading" seven year warranty.

Presenting the award, Which? Chief Executive, Peter Vicary-Smith said: "This is the first time Kia has made the short-list and to walk off with the title is a significant achievement."

He went on to praise Kia for being one of the top ranked brands in the 2012 Which? Car survey for both customer satisfaction and reliability. Kia beat off competition from BMW, Hyundai, Skoda and Toyota to take the prize.

Which? said in its commendation: "Kia's new Rio, Sorento and Picanto have all impressed in our Test Lab, while the new cee'd and Optima get the thumbs-up from our initial road tests. Compared to where it was just five years ago, we feel that Kia is the most improved car brand around."

Kia Motors (UK) Limited Managing Director Michael Cole said: "We are absolutely delighted to win this award - especially at the first attempt. It marks the culmination of several years of hard work by our designers, engineers and by our dealers who are as committed as we are to give our customers an outstanding buying and ownership experience. We see this as a great honour as Which? has a long history of championing the consumer and being remarkably thorough in its testing process."

Which? is the UK's biggest not-for-profit consumer organisation, now more than 50 years old, and has a strong record in recommending only thoroughly tested products to its more than one million subscriber base. It seeks to advise its subscribers and campaigns top improve safety and fairness.

2012 Kia Soul Ranked Highest in Initial Quality Study by J.D. Power and Associates

 

--Wildly Popular Urban Passenger Vehicle Earns Highest Honor in Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle Segment - Soul captures segment award in annual study of vehicle owners after receiving significant enhancements for the 2012 model year - Quality gains by the fastest-growing car company in the U.S.[1] outpace the industry

 

 

 

IRVINE, Calif., June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- From breakthrough advertising to runaway sales success, the Kia Soul has made quite a splash since entering the marketplace in 2009, and today the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Initial Quality Study (IQS) ranked the popular urban passenger vehicle highest in initial quality in the compact multi-purpose vehicle segment. The study captures feedback from owners after 90 days of purchase in two distinct categories: quality of design and quality of production. Refreshed for the 2012 model year, the Kia Soul was fine-tuned with a significant number of technological, powertrain and style enhancements, and consumers have responded with sales up more than 22 percent through the first five months of the year.

"Kia Motors is dedicated to building world-class, high quality vehicles, and the Soul's recognition in the automotive industry's authoritative study on quality is the latest example of Kia's maturity and momentum in the U.S. market," said B.M. Ahn, group president and CEO, Kia Motors America (KMA) and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). "The Soul signaled the beginning of Kia's design-led transformation when it launched in 2009, and it continues to be one of our most popular vehicles, attracting new consumers to the Kia brand with its eye-catching design and outstanding record of quality, dependability and reliability and playing a vital role in Kia becoming the fastest-growing automotive brand in the U.S."

In the study, the Kia Soul was honored as the highest-ranking model in the compact multi-purpose vehicle segment, while the Kia brand made significant advancements with gains that outpaced the industry average. The annual report includes 233 vehicle models and measures attributes across eight categories, including the driving experience, engine and transmission, and a broad range of quality problem symptoms reported by vehicle owners.

About the 2012 SoulRefreshed for the 2012 model year, the Kia Soul has been fine-tuned with a significant number of technological, powertrain and style enhancements. The 2012 Soul delivers class-leading horsepower[2] and significantly improved fuel efficiency of up to 35 miles per gallon (mpg)[3] on the highway. Kia Motors' hatchback remains a class-leading value[4] with the lowest starting price of its competitive set at $13,900 MSRP[5].

Kia's Unprecedented GrowthKia Motors is one of the world's fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality[6] and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking[7]. Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia - KMMG - is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds two of the company's best-selling vehicles in the U.S. - the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan*. Kia's value and technology-laden lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

About Kia Motors AmericaKia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA. In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website - www.kia.com . For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com .

* Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only) and GDI Turbo are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

[1] Based on 5-year cumulative growth between 12-month retail sales for periods ending February 2007 and February 2012 of all U.S. automotive brands.

* Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only) and GDI Turbo are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

[2] Class-leading 164 horsepower claim for available 2.0L MPI engine based on comparison of 2012 (and available 2013 compact wagons) as of May 2012.

[3] 2012 EPA fuel economy estimates are 27 mpg/city and 35 mpg/hwy with standard 1.6L GDI engine. Actual mileage will vary.

[4] Based on comparisons to 2012 competitors as May 2012.

[5] Starting price is manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for lowest trim level. MSRP excludes $750 destination and handling fee, title, taxes, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary.

[6] Source: Automotive Lease Guide Spring 2011 Perceived Quality Study.

[7] Source: Experian Automotive Q2 2011 market analysis.

SOURCE Kia Motors America

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

People getting paid not to speed?

 

Parents know that sometimes the chance for reward is a more powerful child obedience method than the threat of penalty. "Clean your room or your grounded" can be less effective than, "Clean your room and we'll go get ice cream."

A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study shows that when the stick is combined with the carrot, drivers behave much better. The study placed GPS trackers to measure speed in eight cars loaned to 50 different drivers for a week each. The drivers were told that, at the end of their week, if they kept their speed within the posted limits, they would be paid $25 each. Every time a driver went over the speed limit by five to eight mph, he would lose three cents. If the driver's speed exceeded nine or more ticks above the posted limit, he lost six cents.

If the drivers were caught speeding by the cops they got speeding tickets as usual.

Each time the car's ignition was switched off, drivers got a report showing how much their lead feet had reduced their rewards.

The results were promising, with one driver saying he had made a game out of trying to keep his $25. NHTSA officials involved in the study say insurance companies might be very interested in implementing the program for their customers.

"We found that the incentive system was incredibly effective in getting drivers to reduce their speeding," Ian Reagan, a traffic safety researcher at NHTSA tells NPR. "Egregious speed limit violations were almost eliminated – that's driving nine or more [miles per hour] over the speed limit."

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Kia K9 (Black) Photo Reel

The 2014 Kia Sorento Unveiled

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Major improvements for upgraded Kia Sorento

- Fresh, new look exterior with LED lights and 19-inch alloy wheels
- Extensive range of new convenience and safety technologies

Frankfurt, 18 June, 2012 – Kia's hugely successful Sorento SUV will receive a host of significant improvements when the new upgraded model goes on sale later this year in most markets. Significant changes include a re-engineered bodyshell, enhanced powertrains for best-in-class fuel economy with lower emissions, improved ride, handling and refinement, additional convenience and safety features, plus a fresh, new look for the exterior.

"Since its introduction in 2009, the second-generation Kia Sorento has achieved more than 620,000 sales around the world. Today, it is manufactured in Korea and the US, attracting over 130,000 US customers last year to rank as the best-selling Kia model in the States for the second year in a row," commented Thomas Oh, Kia's Executive Vice President & COO of the International Busines Division. "We have given very careful attention to owners' feedback, and the upgraded Sorento is not just a comstic exercise but a major step forward for our popular SUV."

Kia's designers have created new headlamps with LED positioning lights, a new tailgate with LED rear combination lamps, new bumpers (front and rear) with vertical-axis fog lights and a larger area of body-color surface, and an expanded choice of wheels to include larger diameter (19-inch) alloys.

Inside the five or seven-seater cabin, there are more soft-touch surfaces plus a new LCD instrument cluster, new centre stack with 7-inch display screen, and a new console featuring a straight-gate selector with a leather-booted lever on automatic transmission models – reinforcing the vehicle's more luxurious character. Offered in black or beige cloth or leather, the interior can be bathed in natural light through a larger optional panoramic sunroof with no centre cross beam and a powered blind.

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The Optima sets a world record

Guinness World Record Title for Tightest Parallel Parking

 

For the fifth time in the past two years, the Guinness World Record title for the tightest parallel parking job has changed hands.

Previous titleholders include Ronny Wechselberger from Germany, who parked a VW Polo in a space measuring 26cm (10.24-inches) longer than that of his car, Zheng Da Zong from China, who did the same but with a gap of 24cm (9.45-inches) and Patrik Folco from Italy who broke the record at 22cm (8.66 in).

The latest record was achieved by Han Yue from China, who was able to neatly drift a MINI Cooper S into a space of just 15cm (5.91 in) longer than his vehicle during an attempt at the Beijing launch of a new special edition