Program Rids Roads of Dangerous Clunkers
August 7th, 2009 by flanewsThe Cash for Clunkers program is stimulating the economy and improving the environment, but it�s also ridding the roads of dangerous vehicles. As Whitney Ray tells us, some of the trade-ins aren�t fit for the freeway.
These SUVs, mini-vans, and trucks are all headed the gas guzzler graveyard. The Cash for Clunker program is getting fuel sucking vehicles off the road. Many not a moment too soon, says car salesman Mickey Atkinson. The sliding side door on this Mazda mini-van doesn�t open.
�There would be no exit from this side if the car were upside down or leaning on the other side,� said Atkinson.
Cracked windshields, broken door handles, rust, and flat tires were just a few of the problems we found with the trade-ins.
�There are a lot that I don�t believe would have ever been still on the highway, if the inspection stations were still around. There are some very unsafe cars,� said Atkinson.
State inspections were eliminated in 1983. Bill Cloud inspected cars before the law was changed. Bill found dozen of problems with the clunkers.
�I�ve seen a lot of cars that were so unsafe that if people knew that car was headed at them down the highway they would have probably had a heart attack if they knew what kind of condition the car was in,� said Cloud.
But not all the trade-ins are in bad shape. This 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee is in good running order and the tires are nearly new, but it doesn�t matter. Whether junk or jewel all the cars are headed to the salvage yard. Making the air a little cleaner, and the roads a little safer. So far the Cash for Clunkers program has taken more than 220,000 gas guzzlers off the country�s roadways.
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