Latest news with #AAANortheast
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
AAA warns parents about counterfeit and unsafe car seats
WESTWOOD, Mass. (WWLP) – In the search for savings, parents are being warned not to gamble with their child's safety. AAA Northeast is urging families to steer clear of counterfeit and secondhand car seats, which have become increasingly common online and could fail to protect children in the event of a crash. While raising kids can be costly, experts stress that cutting corners on car seats may come with serious risks. Fake car seats and harnesses—often sold on popular websites at deep discounts—may look like trusted brands, but lack critical safety features and federal approval. Amherst-Pelham Regional School District receives electric school bus grant funding To help families avoid counterfeit products, AAA Northeast offered tips to identify legitimate car seats. Approved models should include a detailed instruction manual and registration card. They are required to display safety certification labels with the manufacturer's name, date of manufacture, and, in many cases, an expiration date. Labels should also state: 'This child restraint system conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.' Newer seats often feature QR codes linking directly to the manufacturer's website, and every approved car seat must include a three-point harness. Consumers are also advised to check for misspellings, poor grammar, or off-center text on any labeling, which can indicate a fake. Parents who are still unsure about a seat's authenticity can contact the manufacturer directly with the serial number for verification. To avoid falling victim to counterfeit sales in the first place, AAA Northeast recommends purchasing directly from manufacturers or through verified retailers. For online purchases, shoppers should ensure the car seat is sold and shipped by a first-party seller, such as Amazon or Walmart, and not from an unverified third party. Listings from third-party sellers should include a U.S.-based customer service number, ideally with an 800 area code. Consumers are also encouraged to shop in person at reputable stores when possible. AAA strongly advises against buying car seats from online marketplaces like eBay, Temu, Wish, or Alibaba, or from social media advertisements that do not clearly identify the manufacturer or authorized seller. Used car seats, even those appearing in good condition, pose another risk. AAA urges families to avoid buying from garage sales, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist, as there's no way to confirm whether the seat was involved in a crash or if it meets current safety standards. With child passenger safety on the line, experts say the safest seat is one that's new, verified, and meets all federal requirements. When in doubt, AAA recommends contacting the car seat's manufacturer or speaking with a certified child passenger safety technician. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Neighbor: Lincoln DUI crash more concerning than most on busy road
LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI) — Living on Jenckes Hill Road for more than 20 years, Michelle Belanger has seen her fair share of car accidents. But she says Monday night's was uniquely disturbing. Police say 22-year-old Shirley Catalan Pineda of Central Falls had six passengers in her car, at least four of whom were under 18, and was driving at a high rate of speed when she lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree. Two passengers ran away as soon as police arrived, and Catalan Pineda and three juveniles were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Catalan Pineda was arrested and now faces four counts of child endangerment, along with a DUI. Police said she and the four juvenile passengers were uncooperative with their investigation, and they still haven't found the two passengers who ran off. BACKGROUND: Woman charged with DUI after Lincoln crash Belanger believes she might have spotted them. 'I saw the car go down the embankment,' she told 12 News. 'And there were a bunch of young girls outside of the cars crying.' '[A few young teenagers] were running right toward me,' she continued. 'I said, 'You're covered in blood!' And they didn't answer me. They just kept running.' AAA Northeast's Jillian Young told 12 News that Rhode Island has one of the highest percentages of alcohol-involved crashes in the country — more than 30%. 'It's so important that people take these statistics seriously and remember that they have a responsibility, every single time they get behind the wheel, to the passengers and other drivers on the road,' she said. In addition to the child endangerment and DUI charges, Catalan Pineda has been charged with failure to submit to a chemical test, driving with a suspended license, and leaving the lane of travel. She's expected to be arraigned on all those charges in the coming weeks. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Holiday doesn't move gas prices much
Gasoline prices in the Northeast are declining after a busy runup to the Memorial Day holiday that pushed gasoline demand to the highest level of the year so far, according to AAA Northeast. The surge in demand for gas during the week ending May 23 reached 9.45 million barrels a day, an increase of more than 800,000 barrels a day, or 9%, over the prior week, according to the Energy Information Administration. That's the highest demand reading for the week leading into Memorial Day since 2018 and contributed to a sizable drop in gasoline inventories across the nation, including a decline of nearly 3 million barrels in the Northeast. Supplies of gasoline now sit at a 2025 low and are down 5.8 million barrels from the comparable week of last year, the release stated. Normally, strong demand and tightening inventories would spur price increases at the pump, but oil prices remain suppressed on market expectations for more crude production around the world, especially from OPEC+ member nations. The group last week agreed to increase production in July by about 400,000 barrels a day — the third straight month of production increases. Uncertainty about global demand and trade also are quelling market activity that could push prices higher. The average gas price in New York is down a penny from last week ($3.12), averaging $3.11 per gallon. Monday's price was a penny higher than a month ago ($3.10) and 54 cents lower than a year ago ($3.65). New York's average gas price is 3 cents lower than the national average. 'Based on gasoline demand, the lead up to the Memorial Day holiday kicked off the summer driving season with gusto,' said Patti Artessa, director of public affairs outreach for AAA Northeast. 'But one strong week isn't enough to significantly move retail gasoline prices, especially with domestic production continuing near record levels.' AAA Northeast's June 2 survey of fuel prices found the current national average down 3 cents from last week ($3.17), averaging $3.14 per gallon. Monday's national average price is 4 cents lower than a month ago ($3.18) and 39 cents lower than the same day last year ($3.53). Mississippi and Texas have the lowest prices in the nation this week, at $2.64 and $2.70, respectively. California and Hawaii hold the highest prices in the nation this week at $4.77 and $4.47, respectively. New York holds the 15th place on the list of highest gas prices in the nation.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Community Focus: AAA hosts safety summit for older drivers
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — As the population of older drivers grows in Rhode Island, AAA Northeast is hoping to support vibrant, healthy aging at its free 'Older and Wiser Driver Summit,' which will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick next week. Spokesperson Jillian Young joined 12 News at 4 to share more about the event. Anyone who's interested can register through Eventbrite at . See more interviews Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
AAA warns of increased motorcycle fatalities amidst upcoming warmer weather
It's safe to say that colder weather is finally behind Englanders, and with that in mind, everyone is getting out and embracing the warmth. However, this brings a large uptick in fatal crashes involving motorcycles. Data from the last decade, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has been analyzed by AAA Northeast and revealed that nearly 60% of motorcycle fatalities happen between the months of May and September. NHTSA data also showed that those fatalities began to spike by 32% from April to May as the warmer weather ramps up, and accidents only continue to go up. In 2023, 6,335 motorcyclists were killed, resulting in 15% of all traffic fatalities, according to NHTSA. The highest number of motorcyclists killed since 1975, the earliest year for which that data was tracked. 'The continued increase in motorcyclist fatalities is especially troubling given that most categories of traffic fatalities decreased from 2022 to 2023, while motorcyclist deaths continued their dangerous climb,' said Mark Schieldrop, senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast. 'As we all take to the roads more frequently during warmer weather, drivers must keep in mind that staying alert and aware is critical to improving safety, especially as motorcycles can be more difficult to see because of their size.' According to the Massachusetts IMPACT data portal, last year, there were a reported 65 fatal crashes that involved motorcycles in Massachusetts. To ensure the safety of motorcyclists, AAA is offering these tips to drivers: Increase following distance and take extra care when driving behind a motor, especially when stopping or accelerating. Carefully check mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles, which are less visible than other vehicles on the road. If a motorcyclist has their turn signal on, wait to make sure they actually turn before passing them. The turn signals on many motorcycles do not turn off automatically, so there's a chance they could be activated from an earlier turn. Never drive distracted. At 55 mph, taking your eyes off the road for just 5 seconds is equivalent to driving the length of an entire football field blindfolded. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
