Are you a begrudged minivan-driving mama who’s trying to scheme your way out of that old mom-mobile? A trip to Yosemite National Park in California might be in order. The park’s black bears have learned that minivans typically contain all sorts of yummy snacks and tear into the vehicles with greater frequency. Animal crackers and gummy bears, anyone?

From 2001-07, 27 percent of the vehicles broken into by bears at the park were minivans. These minivans made up only 7 percent of the cars entering the park, according to a study published in the Journal of Mammalogy’s October issue.

I wonder if my insurance company would buy the old “the-bears-ate-my-car” excuse?

Many people know that texting while driving is dangerous, but there are plenty of drivers who perform this task while behind the wheel. It may be easy to justify texting while driving, but it’s hard to deny that a driver’s reaction time is slower when reading or writing a text. If you’re not convinced, you should play this distracted driving game from the New York Times’ website.

This game is simplistic, but it gets the point across. You have to navigate a series of virtual tollbooths while reading and writing texts on your virtual smartphone.  What I like about this game is it tells you how well you did — or didn’t — do. The average user is .24 seconds slower in their reaction time when texting and missed 8 percent of the virtual toll gates. I was .22 seconds slower and missed 5 percent of the toll gates. This game reminded me why I don’t use my cell phone at all when I’m driving.

This game is Hot. It provides another great opportunity for parents to talk to their teen drivers about distracted driving. Will you play this game with your teen? Tell us in the comment section below.

Chrysler has issued a recall for 12,674 vehicles, including the 2009-2010 Chrysler 300, 2009-2010 Dodge Challenger, 2009-2010 Dodge Charger, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These vehicles may have been built without a front-wheel spindle nut.

The spindle nut is a rather large and obviously important part of the wheel assembly that keeps the wheel attached to the axle. Without one, it’s possible that the tire and wheel could separate while driving, endangering the vehicle and others on the road. Chrysler made the determination after a new supplier, SMW Automotive, began supplying the front corner modules for the 2010 model year, according to the automaker. The previous supplier went bankrupt. Less than a hundred 2009 models are included in the recall. Affected models were built between Aug. 4 and Sept. 28, 2009.

Dealers will inspect the tire; if there is no spindle nut, they will make the repair free of charge. Owners may contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

Halloween is no longer just one night; it now goes on for days — if not a week. There are neighborhood costume parties, school celebrations and other fun to be had in the days leading up to Halloween. Their costumes will be in tatters by the time they’ve finished trick-or-treating, but my boys will have lots of happy memories and lots of candy. What could be better?

Along Came a Spider, My Mommy’s Place
When her oldest daughter declared that she wanted to be a spider for Halloween, blogger Leslie began her quest for the perfect costume. She soon realized that she’d have to make the costume. “It is made from one of my old sweatshirts, a snow hat, some stuffing and felt,” she writes. “I’m rather proud of it, if I’m being honest.”

I’m contrary by nature. If someone tells me I can’t do something I want to do it just to prove them wrong. When the good people at Acura told me their new crossover, the 2010 ZDX, wasn’t designed for families, my response was, “Oh, yeah?! Watch me put kids in there!” I mean, the ZDX is a pretty-looking, sporty crossover, and there’s no way I’m going to be excluded from the party. So there (I never said I was mature).

The ZDX sports a 3.7-liter V-6 engine and standard all-wheel drive. Add in the 7.9 inches of ground clearance and you have a vehicle that can deal with nearly any situation.
During my brief test drive, the ZDX was comfortable, quiet and oh-so fun on curvy roads. A dual-setting suspension package lets you to select a sportier or more relaxed ride.

If you use a Mia Moda Viva or Viva Supreme infant-safety seat, check it immediately.

Child-safety seat manufacturer Lerado is recalling 5,540 Mia Moda Viva and Viva Supreme infant-safety seats and bases because of a problem with the harness splitter plate, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall affects model Nos. 5000 (seat), 5001 (base), 5050 (seat), 5051 (base), 5070 (seat), 5071 (base), 5080 (seat) and 5081 (base). If you have one of these models, stop using it immediately.

Lincoln has designed a car specifically for us and they’ve done a bang-up job. The 2010 Lincoln MKT was designed with “Susan,” an accomplished, professional female Gen Xer in mind, according to Carl Widmann, Ford’s vehicle dynamics manager. Just like today’s modern moms, the MKT is no wall flower.

With its flowing design and toothy chrome grille, the MKT certainly makes a statement. It looks like a speedy, aggressive wagon.

I recently wrote an article about an influx of moms driving under the influence, and the trend has caught talk-show host Oprah Winfrey’s attention, too.

Today, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” looks at moms who drive while drunk or high and focuses on Diane Schuler’s story. This summer, Schuler drove the wrong way down the Taconic State Parkway in New York and crashed into an oncoming SUV, killing the three adults inside it. Schuler, her 3-year-old daughter and her three nieces were also killed. Toxicology tests found that Schuler had both alcohol and marijuana in her system.