Want to be the next Ancira star?? Find out how you can be featured in Ancira TV commercials!! http://bit.ly/b5SGjm

Ancira Enterprises Named Largest Minority-Owned Business in San Antonio

Teamwork, like this, is an everyday occurrence at Ancira

The San Antonio Business Journal has named Ancira Enterprises, Inc., the largest San Antonio Minority-Owned Business, as ranked by 2009 local gross revenues.

Ancira Enterprises operates 11 automobile dealerships in San Antonio, Eagle Pass, Alvarado, Floresville and Boerne, Texas. It employs over 500 people. Its gross local revenues for 2009 were $375 million.

Listed in second, third, fourth and fifth places respectively are: The Alamo Travel Group, LP; Thos. S. Byrne Ltd. General Contractor/Construction; M2Technology, an IT solution provider; and Journeyman Construction.

April Ancira, Vice President of Ancira Auto Group, says the secret to the company’s success lies in top management’s ability to pick great employees and foster teamwork. It lies in the enthusiasm and hard work that everyone at Ancira puts into their jobs.

“We’ve been in business since 1972 and my Dad, Ernesto Ancira, Jr., has worked hard, set an example and surrounded himself with really good people. He has hired the right person to do each job.”

“People servicing other people -- that’s what business is all about,” says April. “He recruited the best to take care of our customers.”

“Finding good people is really tough,” she adds. “You need to find the ones that mirror your level of integrity and the way you want to take care of other folks. It’s probably the toughest job that any manager has and our entire management team at all 11 sites has done a really good job of it.”

Besides Ernesto and April, Ernesto’s brother Gilbert Ancira, Internet Director in Ancira’s Internet Department, is also a family member in the business.

The trio treat their staff like family. “We’ve stayed really family-oriented in that if there’s an issue, there’s not a lot of red tape you have to go through to resolve it. Management has an open door policy.”

“Our orientation at Ancira Auto is: Let’s take care of our customers, our employees and our community. It’s just the way we handle things from a family-owned business perspective. It’s a philosophy like that that has made my Dad so successful and the company successful.”

Record-Breaking Decline in U.S. Traffic Fatalities

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland says “Today’s numbers reflect the tangible benefits of record seat belt use and strong anti-drunk driving enforcement campaigns.”

Photo Courtesy of NHTSA

U.S. highway deaths fell to 33,808 for 2009 -- the lowest number since 1950.

The record-breaking decline in traffic fatalities occurred even while estimated vehicle miles traveled in 2009 increased by 0.2 percent over 2008 levels.

In Texas, total fatalities were 3071 in 2009, compared with 3476 in 2008. Alcohol-related fatalities were 1235 in 2009, compared with 1310 in 2008.

To see a chart on a state by state basis, visit:

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811363.pdf


and scroll down to Table #8.


U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood released the updated 2009 fatality and injury data in a press release September 9.

According to the press release:

2009 saw the lowest fatality and injury rates ever recorded: 1.13 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2009, compared to 1.26 deaths for 2008.

Fatalities declined in all categories of vehicles including motorcycles, which saw fatalities fall by 850 from 2008, breaking an 11-year cycle of annual increases.

“At the Department of Transportation, we are laser-focused on our top priority: safety,” said Secretary LaHood. “Today’s announcement shows that America’s roads are the safest they’ve ever been. But they must be safer. And we will not rest until they are.”

As part of the Department’s campaign to reduce traffic fatalities, Secretary LaHood is holding a National Distracted Driving Summit this week in Washington, D.C. The Secretary is bringing together leading transportation officials, safety advocates, law enforcement, industry representatives, researchers and victims affected by distraction-related crashes to address challenges and identify opportunities for national anti-distracted driving efforts. This follows the first summit Secretary LaHood held in the Fall of 2009 that sparked a national conversation about texting and talking on cell phones while driving.

According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study based on 2006 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for those between the ages of 3 and 34.

In addition to the record-breaking drop in fatalities, the number of people injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2009 declined for a 10th straight year in a row, falling an estimated 5.5 percent from 2008, according to NHTSA data released.

Alcohol impaired driving fatalities declined by 7.4 percent in 2009 – 10,839 compared to 11,711 reported in 2008. Overall, 33 states and Puerto Rico experienced a decline in the number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2009 compared to 2008.

“Today’s numbers reflect the tangible benefits of record seat belt use and strong anti-drunk driving enforcement campaigns,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “But we are still losing more than 30,000 lives a year on our highways, and about a third of these involve drunk driving. We will continue to work with our state partners to strictly enforce both seat belt use and anti-drunk driving laws across this nation, every day and every night.”

Forty-one states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico all had reductions in fatalities, led by Florida (with 422 fewer fatalities) and Texas (with 405 fewer fatalities).

For more information about this and other national highway news, visit:

www.nhtsa.gov

and

http://www.nhtsa.gov/PR/DOT-165-10

Proper Use of Seatbelts and Air Bags Protect Pregnant Drivers and their Unborn Children

Wearing a seat-belt properly is extremely important for pregnant drivers

One of the leading causes of death to unborn children is the death of pregnant women in automobile crashes, according to Edmunds.com.

Researchers estimate the number of deaths in the U.S. is approximately 400 each year.

That said, there isn’t definitive data, and the number of deaths could be even higher. Federal car crash databases don't regularly mention whether drivers or occupants involved in crashes were pregnant, and death certificates of fetuses don't always cite whether the mother-to-be was in a car crash.

Some studies show that seatbelts and airbags can pose risks to a fetus, but only if the seatbelt is worn incorrectly or the pregnant driver is positioned too close to the steering wheel when the airbag deploys.

Both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommend that pregnant women wear a three-point safety belt and not disconnect the air bag.

If the seatbelt is worn incorrectly, the steering wheel or dashboard may injure a pregnant woman. If the pregnant woman sits too close to the airbag, it will hit with too much force, when it deploys in an accident.

To reduce these risks, pregnant women should do the following:

For pregnant passengers sitting in the front seat:

• Move the front seat as far back as possible.
• On a three-point safety belt, always position the lap belt portion as low on the abdomen as possible. The shoulder belt should be routed over the sternum.
• Leave the air bag operational.

For pregnant drivers:

• On a three-point safety belt, always position the lap belt portion as low on the abdomen as possible. The shoulder belt should be routed over the sternum.
• Leave the air bag operational.
• Drive a vehicle that allows the most clearance between the steering wheel and abdomen.
• Remove or adjust coats to make sure they do not interfere with low placement of the lap belt.
• Minimize driving in hazardous conditions, such as in bad weather or on icy roads.
• Position the steering wheel to maximize abdomen-to-wheel clearance, while aiming it more toward the chest than the head.
• When possible, ride as a passenger rather than drive to avoid potential contact with the steering wheel.

Car manufacturers have been making it easier for everyone to wear belts properly. Since the 1998 model year, cars with upper seatbelts that come out of the B-pillar (on the side of the car) are also required to have adjustable anchors. This helps everyone, from the tallest to the shortest — to the most pregnant — driver and passenger to keep belts from cutting into their necks or riding across their chests.

Current car designs facilitate comfortable positioning of the steering wheel, enabling even pregnant women to adjust the steering wheel in a way that keeps them from sitting too close to the air bag.

Adjustable steering wheels, particularly ones that telescope in and out, can be especially helpful for drivers of varying sizes — and stages of pregnancy. Even lower-end models often have manual devices that can help point the center of the steering wheel away from the abdomen and toward the chest.

Adjustable pedals, now available in many models, can help shorter pregnant women drive more easily without sitting too close to the airbag.

For more information on this subject, visit:

http://www.familycar.com/articles/laurenfix/drivingwhilepregnent.htm

http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1589_1711_4587-49794--,00....

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/womenfamilies/articles/122967/article...

http://pregnantdriver.lboro.ac.uk/

To see if Texas uses primary or secondary enforcement to enforce its seat belt laws, visit:

http://www.iihs.org/laws/SafetyBeltUse.aspx

Do YOU have what it takes to be the next Ancira star??? visit http://bit.ly/b5SGjl to find out how you can be featured in Ancira TV commercials!

National Child Passenger Safety Week - Sept. 19 to 25

By Maureen Condon

Buckle Up for Safety!
Photo Courtesy of the National Centers for Disease Control

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has declared Sept. 19 to 25 National Child Passenger Safety Week.

NHTSA estimates that nearly 3 out of 4 parents do not properly use child automotive safety restraints.

The NHTSA has a web site with a locator that lets you enter your state or your zip code to find the child safety seat inspection stations nearest you.

At these stations, certified technicians will inspect your child safety seat and show you how to correctly install and use it. At some stations, an appointment is necessary. At others, you can walk right in and ask for help.

Some stations have Spanish-speaking technicians to assist you, and you can specify this when searching for an inspection station near you.


For Texas residents, visit: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/Index.cfm



Enter Texas or your zip code, and you will get a listing of the designated child safety seat inspection stations near you.



For more information, visit: http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS

For the link to find the inspection stations, visit:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/Index.cfm

You Can't Miss This Sign!

This 50-foot-tall sign for Wilkin's Oklahoma Truck Supply, along Interstate 35, south of Tonkawa, OK is eye-catching to say the least.

It gives a whole new meaning to rigging your truck!

And, itís just impossible to pass on the highway... without a friendly salute with your horn!

Finding the Best Car to Fit Your Lifestyle in the San Antonio Area

By Maureen Condon

Is Your lifestyle family-oriented? sports-oriented?

It’s always helpful to consult the experts, online or in person, before buying a new car.

Typically, you check what the experts have to say about safety ratings, price, maintenance costs, and warranties -- all the standard measurements.

But how about checking in with the experts to see what’s the best car for your lifestyle?

• Do you use your car mostly for family travel and errands in your San Antonio area?

• Do you use your car mostly for sports and fun outdoors? Are you an off roader, a weekend athlete, a sun lover or just a person who wants to have fun driving?

• Are you mostly concerned with commuting issues – like safety features, gas mileage, reliability and driving comfort -- because you spend so many of your non-working hours commuting?

• Are you a construction worker, electrician, plumber or other on-the-go type of worker who needs reliable transportation that can double as a staging area for your job?

• Are you the boss in the corner office who needs to look the part, especially when pulling into the company parking lot?

• Are you more concerned about the environment and your impact on it, than anything else?

Whatever your lifestyle and concerns, now there’s an easy way to consult the experts on this topic. Visit: http://www.cars.com/go/criteriaSearch/lifestyles.jsp

Click on the lifestyle that best matches your own, and you’ll get a complete rundown on makes and models that are best suited to you.

Anicra Be A Star Event

Find more videos like this on .

We're looking for the Next Ancira Star!

Do you think you have what it takes to be the Next Ancira Star? Submit a short 30-60 second home made commercial of you, your pet, the in-laws or your kiddos in a fun and creative way! Show us why YOU should be a star!!

The winner will be chosen by Ancira Auto Group and will be featured on Ancira TV commercials. The Runner up will receive a Flip Video Camera.

The contest will run through October 31, 2010, and the winner will be announced online on November 15, 2010.

For more information, visit www.anciracommunity.com