As we march into 2006 – or, since this is a traffic column, I should say motor into 2006 – I suspect there are more than a few readers out there whose eyes, which a short time ago feasted on holiday buffets, now feast on new car models.
For those of you lucky, smart or rich enough to have made it through Christmas shopping with money left over for car shopping, you might want to check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site, http://www.safercar.gov. NHTSA recently completed its first round of front and side impact crash tests on new vehicles already in dealer showrooms and found five vehicles worthy of five-star ratings, with five stars being the highest rating in both crash and rollover testing.
New model year 2006 ratings are available for 14 passenger cars, four SUVs, two vans and one pickup truck, plus previous years’ test results on other models.
Their pamphlet, “Buying a Safer Car 2006,” helps buyers decide which vehicle to buy based on the vehicle’s safety in construction and features. You can also pick up some helpful tips on tire ratings, equipment/maintenance and defects/recalls.
A word about gas mileage: Don’t necessarily believe what the window sticker says. As gas prices soar and more sophisticated car electronics track the mileage accurately, drivers have become increasingly aware of the discrepancy between sticker statements and gas gauge reality.
The Environmental Protection Agency provides fuel economy data that is posted on the window stickers of new vehicles. On Jan. 10, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is proposing new test methods for calculating the fuel economy estimates. This is still in the discussion stage. The problem with the current system is that it doesn’t reflect actual driving conditions. During the EPA tests, certain things are controlled, like the stop-and-go time, the weight in the car, the air drag against the car, the temperature, which affects performance and other things.
For more on this topic, visit http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy.

Current construction projects
Interstate 75 southbound from the vicinity of State Road 56 to south of County Line Road is being widened to provide an additional lane on Interstate 275 southbound.
The project also includes resurfacing I-75 from County Line Road to the Cypress Creek Bridge and installing a median barrier guardrail system on I-275 from U.S. 41 to I-75/I-275 interchange.
The projected completion time is late 2006.
State Road 52 from Moon Lake Road to the Suncoast Parkway is being widened from two to six lanes.
The projected completion date is fall 2008.
S. R. 54 from Mitchell Bypass (Little Road area) to east of Gunn Highway is being widened from two to six lanes.
The projected completion date is spring 2006.
Hanna Avenue at Thatcher Avenue is having a sewer main replaced beginning Jan. 30 with anticipated completion Feb. 24.
Motorists will experience a detour to Olive, Idlewild and Hubert avenues.

Today’s bumper sticker
“Lead me not into temptation. I can find it myself.” Submitted by In the Loop reader Irwin Schuster, New Tampa.

Carole Dickey is a staff writer who lives in Pasco County.  Send your rants and raves about traffic and motorists in the Land O’ Lakes/Wesley Chapel/New Tampa areas to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).