02-06 Dodge Caravan Durango Pt Radio Cd Face Plate P05064354aj 61574 on 2040-parts.com

Call for reform over road repair funding

FUNDING patterns mean most road maintenance is being carried out in "less-efficient, cold and wet" times, a report from a Government spending watchdog has said. The current pattern of funding, combined with the need to spend money within the financial year, means that most maintenance work goes on between September and March, said the report from the National Audit Office (NAO). It went on: "Although this is less disruptive for road users, it is less efficient than carrying out the work at other times of year because materials can be more difficult to handle in cold and wet conditions, and daylight hours are shorter." The report went on: "As a result of the additional funding for emergency repairs, which is made available at the end of the financial year, almost all highways authorities need extra capacity from the market at the same time, which makes it less likely that they will get value for money." The NAO report said there was a "lack of predictability" over road spending adding that historically, local highway authorities spent more revenue on maintenance, but were now carrying out fewer routine activities such as clearing gullies which are essential to preventing water seeping into roads' sub-structure.

Faulty airbags cause recall of 3.4 million cars

Toyota, Honda and Nissan are recalling more than 3 million vehicles made between November 2000 and March 2004 for faulty airbags from parts supplier Takata, Automotive News reported on Thursday. So far, 1.73 million Toyotas, 1.14 million Hondas, and 480,000 Nissans are involved in the recall. But the report from Automotive News suggests Takata also supplied other manufacturers with the same airbags.

Flower Power: Ford considers using dandelions to grow its green efforts

When most people see dandelions, they go for the weed killer. Ford goes for the fertilizer. The dandelion is a sustainable material being looked at for its use in cars--specifically, the rubberlike substance that the Russian breed of the plant secretes.