vehicles News

Updated FAA Rules May Expand Insurer Use of Drones to Survey Damage

New Federal Aviation Administration rules are expected to clear the way for expanded commercial use of drones, which are increasingly being used by insurers to assess property damage. The updated Operations Over People rules, which took effect on April 21, …

Justices Say Accident Victims Can Sue Ford in State Courts

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Ford Motor Co. can be sued in the state courts of people who were killed or seriously injured in accidents involving Ford vehicles. The justices unanimously rejected the Michigan-based company’s …

Fire Has Industry Rethinking Guidance to Dump Burning Trash

It was a hot, windy day in Southern California when a trash truck caught fire and the driver dumped the burning garbage on the side of the road. Minutes later, powerful winds blew the flames across a hillside and into …

Auto Thief Who Boasts 1,000 Heists Gets Probation

A California auto thief who boasts 1,000 heists in less than a year has been placed on probation rather than serve jail time for the crime spree. The Fresno judge blames the California prison’s realignment program for his decision to …

Upstate New York Man Charged With Multiple Arson Counts

A 43-year-old man has been charged with setting a string of fires that caused more than $500,000 in damage to several structures and vehicles in a northern New York village. State police say Joseph King of Port Henry was charged …

Ohio Arboretum Fire Ruled Accidental

Investigators have determined that a fire started by accident ripped through a maintenance building and destroyed several vehicles at a northeast Ohio arboretum. Authorities have not commented further on what caused Monday night’s fire at the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, …

17 Fires Set Over 4 Hours in Minnesota Neighborhood

Minneapolis police say arsonists set 17 small fires in a 13-block area, damaging two garages and three vehicles. No injuries were reported. The fires were set over a four-hour period beginning Friday at 8:30 p.m. In addition to torching the …

Toyota Recalls 550,000 Vehicles on Steering Issue

Toyota Motor Co is recalling 550,000 vehicles worldwide, including more than 420,000 in the United States, to replace an engine component that could hamper steering, the Japanese automaker said Wednesday. Models involved include the Toyota-branded Camry sedan, Solara coupe, Highlander …

Kentucky Begins Self-Insuring Vehicles

Kentucky has started self-insuring state-owned vehicles and expects to save $750,000 a year by doing so. The program took effect Saturday for 12,500 vehicles and pieces of equipment. The vehicles were previously insured through private insurers. Gov. Steve Beshear’s office …

Over 800,000 Vehicles Recalled in U.S. Last Week

Automakers, including Hyundai Motor Co and Subaru recalled more than 800,000 cars and trucks last week for defects including faulty airbags, according to federal regulators. Separately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary defect investigation into 205,661 Ford …