Residents of Flint, Michigan, are certainly used to being near the center of the U.S. auto industry, but even the most longtime citizens may not have been prepared for what they saw last week. Steve Braithwaite drove into town with his customized pick-up truck, which was made to look exactly like a gigantic banana.

According to The Flint Journal, Braithwaite has no agenda for driving the fruit-like ride, it just seemed like the right thing to do. His quest started two years ago when he purchased a Ford F-150 from a Michigan junkyard and had to return to show off the finished product.

"He told me about his pipe dream and I thought that I'd never see it," the junkyard owner Robert Cole told the news source. "And now I'm 74 years old and I did see it and I'm thrilled half to death."

Though he has no affiliation with any company or politician, the news provider reports that Braithwaite does hope to raise awareness for deep vein thrombosis, and has its own website to further the cause. 

The Fourth of July is often one of the most travel-heavy holidays of the year, and it looks like gas prices are dropping just in time. USA Today reports that price of a gallon of gas continues its steady drop from early May, when it hovered around four dollars.

According to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report, the current average price of a gallon of regular gas is around $3.54, and while it is still significantly more than the average $2.75 fuel was about a year ago, it marks a drastic improvement over recent months.

The drop comes just in the nick of time as well, as many families gear up to hit the road for the upcoming holiday weekend. The news source reports that about 3 in 10 Americans plan on taking a road trip for Independence Day, and that about 70 percent plan on taking a road trip at some point this summer.

Motorists who are planning on taking a lengthy road trip this summer should take several things into consideration, but perhaps most importantly they should fill up on all necessary fluids, windshield wiper fluid and fresh oil especially. 

Though certain industries have struggled in the wake of the recession, one that is faring pretty well is the auto repair and parts business. Newsday reports that as the age of the average car on the road continues to grow, many motorists are finding that fixing their ride is long overdue.

The change comes in people looking to save money any way possible. In years past, individuals may have purchased a new vehicle, but now they are holding onto their cars longer and performing their own maintenance.

"For a lot of the routine maintenance that makes up the bulk of the products and services in the aftermarket, you've seen deferred maintenance taking place," industry analyst Stephen Spivey told the news source. "Now, people are circling back around, having made the decision to keep their cars a few more years."

Rising gas prices has also made car owners more interested in regular maintenance, experts say. Motorists who want to save money by purchasing an affordable used car will want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers numerous makes and models.

A group of students from Virginia Tech recently took home the top prize at the EcoCar Challenge, manufacturing a vehicle that enjoys an impressive 82 miles per gallon. USA Today reports the team beat out students from 15 other universities for the honor.

The quest began with team was given the engine of a 2009 Chevrolet HHR and began making several crucial changes. Among the features they included were a battery and electric engine and a tweak that eliminated engine idling.

The competition was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors, and Energy Secretary Steven Chu had high praise for the winning students, saying it bodes well for the future of energy-efficiency in the country.

"With the experience and skills these innovative students have gained through the EcoCAR competition, they will help reduce our nation's reliance on oil imports and keep U.S. industries competitive in the global marketplace," he said in a statement.

The announcement of Virginia Tech as the winner brings a three-year-long competition to an end, and highlights the desire for fuel-efficient cars. Those looking for such vehicles such as the Toyota Prius or other hybrids will want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction.

For parents of teenagers, being concerned about their safety while out on the road is among their greatest concerns. However, while it can be near impossible to be sure whether or not they are using their cell phone or paying attention to the road, taking several things into consideration when selecting a car can be paramount in keeping kids safe.

According to The Item, experts say that the safest vehicles for young drivers are mid-sized sedans. While many think that SUVs may be best, sedans are actually better since they are large enough to withstand collision, but small enough so that drivers cannot easily lose control.

However, safety is not the only issue that parents need to consider when shopping around for a vehicle for their kids. Affordability of is crucial as well, and finding the right mix of both cost and safety is easy to do with used cars.

"You want to look for models that are inexpensive," industry insider David Waldkirch told the news source. "Not cheap, but inexpensive with all the safety features."

Parents looking for a good first car for their kids will want to consider models such as the Volkswagen Jetta, Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata.

A number of things stood out a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conference in Washington, D.C., but there was one type of safety device that earned the most attention. The Detroit Free Press reports automakers debuted so-called "intelligent vehicle" technology which will help reduce crashes.

Among the most impressive ideas on display was created by manufactures at Ford, who have designed a technology that allows communication between vehicles that is able to warn drivers of impending dangerous situations they may not have otherwise been aware of.

The technology is still in the early stages, and the NHTSA is going to be launching a pilot program in the near future to see if such car-to-car communication is a viable option in a real world setting. Still, others think that the warning technology alone may not be all it takes.

"You would need to have another method I think, a radar, a sensor, to have a threat validated first to be absolutely sure it's really there," director of engineering at Continental Alfred Eckert told the news source. "Until that is perfected, you can't have vehicles taking control."

According to the NHTSA, there were more than 30,000 fatal crashes in the United States in 2009.

As a new batch of high school graduates enter either college or the real world, many parents across the country are outfitting them with the best gift of all – a car to call their own. Despite the generosity, there are a number of things that parents should keep in mind when picking out just the right vehicle.

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, while most young adults will want something flashy and youthful, safety should always be the main concern, although it is not the only one. Perhaps almost as important is fuel economy, especially given the unpredictable nature of gas prices.

There are a plethora of cars out there that claim to offer the best gas mileage, but the news source reports there are a few small, compact models that provide the best mix of style, safety and efficiency.

Models such as the Chevrolet Cruze, Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte are all compact rides that offer high EPAs.

Whether one is looking for a Chevrolet, Ford or Hyundai for their recent grad, New Jersey Auto Auction offers used cars at affordable prices.

A Massachusetts bill aiming to help motorists may actually cause them to be less safe. According to Automotive Body Repair News, the Massachusetts Auto Coalition believes the so-called Right to Repair bill may make it easier for counterfeiters to supply unsuspecting drivers with faulty parts.

The fears are caused by the fact that the bill loosens protective measures put in place to secure automakers' intellectual property. As a result, many mechanics believe that this could hasten the spread of low quality parts that are not constructed with the right materials or in the correct way, something that could have serious implications.

"We constantly are monitoring product quality and rejecting counterfeit parts." industry insider Jamie Godfrey told the news source. "My fear is that this bill could unintentionally lead to even more substandard and inferior parts flooding the market."

To ensure that their vehicles are of the best quality, motorists will want to visit only reputable sellers such as New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers used vehicles at an affordable price.

In an effort to provide owners of pre-owned vehicles better services, General Motors recently announced the launch of its Owner Care program. According to the automaker, the plan provides free maintenance to drivers of used GM cars for the first two years or 30,000 miles.

Among the services covered under the new plan are regular upkeep such as oil changes and tire rotations, as well as other general inspections done whenever a car comes in to get serviced. The change in policy also includes a more rigorous certification process for used vehicles, upping the inspection to a more rigorous 172-point check. Along with the free maintenance, GM also offers free trials of OnStar and XM satellite radio.

"We believe our enhanced program offers our customers an outstanding experience from the moment they drive their Chevrolet, Buick or GMC Certified Pre-Owned vehicle off of the lot," said Jennifer Constabile, general director of marketing and sales support.

Drivers looking to purchase a used Chevrolet or GMC at an affordable price may want to turn to New Jersey State Auto Auction. Regardless of the make or model, there are plenty of cars for sale at an affordable price.  

Monday marked the beginning of National Tire Safety Week, which seeks to raise driver awareness of an important issue that may sometimes go overlooked. According to USA Today, underinflated tires can be a serious problem, one that has led to around 660 deaths and more than 33,000 injuries on the road each year.

Despite the danger, there are a number of ways for motorists to be sure that their tires are inflated the proper amount. Since many cars automatically monitor tire pressure, all drivers need to do is pay attention to what their vehicle is telling them. Along with inflation, drivers also should keep track of the tread life on their tires, which will help grip the road and also improve safety.

"Too many drivers fail to do one simple task every month that will reduce their safety risk and help our nation conserve valuable natural resources. Checking tire pressure takes just five minutes and it's worth every second," Rubber Manufacturers Association President Charles Cannon told the news source.

According to the Association, there are a number of other ways to maintain one's tires to ensure they are safe. For example, having a dealer check the alignment on a regular basis will ensure that the tires are in the right spots.