Most 20-year-olds would have their licenses stripped if they were caught driving a used Ford F-150 in New York at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour, or worse.

But Colin Braun drives specially-designed versions of the truck on racetracks that host the Nascar Truck Series, and he wants to bring his experience and youth to the Ford Driving Skills for Life program.

The initiative is designed to reduce the number of traffic fatalities caused by teen drivers, which is currently about three times the rate of other motorists by instruction in handling, recognizing hazards and space management.

“I think teenagers are more likely to listen to a message coming from someone closer to their own age, so I hope my involvement will make a difference teaching young drivers how to be safer on the road,” said Braun. “Having grown up racing all my life, I learned early on there is a time and place for driving fast, but public roads are not it.”

DSFL is a private expansion of state-based driver education for teens who may be considering used cars in New York as more affordable alternatives to newer cars.

Figuring out which kinds of used cars in New York and other states to buy could come down to one factor, according to a new Kelly Blue Book survey: the price of gas.

Nearly 9 out of every 10 shoppers who responded said they thought that the price of gas would continue to increase, a belief that is causing them to consider more fuel efficient cars.

“As summer approaches with household budgets still pinched by the weak economy, car buyers are once again becoming very conscious of rising gas prices,” said Jack Nerad, Kelley Blue Book executive editorial director and executive market analyst. “Current economic conditions compounded by the pain at the pump may make $3-per-gallon gas a new threshold for car buyers” in terms of what mileage they prefer in their purchase.

That attitude change was reported by about 60 percent of potential buyers who say they are now considering cars with smaller engines, or even smaller vehicles because of the rising cost of gas.

The economic downturn may be kicking up more than just concerns about finances these days, as some counties are increasingly likely to save money in paving costs by transforming local streets into gravel roadways.

For those looking at used cars in New York and other states, a new paint job or recently remodeled car could bear the brunt of the cost-saving measures which are one option for governments looking to save money.

In Michigan, CBS affiliate WWMT says that some rural roads are now going unpaved, a trend that has begun to extend from the state where it is most popular.

“Our survey results indicate the accuracy of this predication,” said John Niemela, County Road Association of Michigan director in a report on roads in the state. “We are literally reverting to the stone age,” as state funding has dropped and maintenance work is either reduced or avoided entirely.

Road conditions like those should be avoided by those who may have gotten new paint jobs for used cars in New York, several paint companies say, because the gravel can kick up and erode the clearcoat finish.

The next two months may be a good time for consumers looking to buy a used car in New York who were waiting to get a bargain.

Sometimes an end-of-the-month car purchase may yield some extra savings for the customer if the dealership they are buying from is running below their targeted quotas, the LeafChronicle.com reports. And it just so happens that July and August is a typically slow time in the market in terms of car sales.

However, there still may be more of a reason to wait, especially if a buyer wants more of a selection. Kathleen Calligan from the Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee told the news provider that September often has many used cars on the market since that’s when many consumers buy new or trade in.

Earlier this year, AOL Autos published a list of some of the best used cars under $20,000 a person could currently buy.

People looking into a decent sports car may be interested to know that the 2006 Pontiac GTO made the list, calling it “one of the best sports car deals available” with a V8 engine and 400 hp.

For those who are looking for a used car in New York as their first vehicle purchase, they may want to heed the advice from a national magazine with a list of debunked summertime myths.

Before vacationers hit the open road, Popular Mechanics has answered some common questions about car maintenance in the summer, especially for used cars.

While a new vehicle may be able to function on thinner engine oil, such as 5W-5, it’s important for used car buyers that their vehicles will be different.

Most used cars require thicker oil in the summer with many car manufacturers listing 10W-30 as good for driving in higher temperatures.

There are some older used cars that may require 10W-40, though the magazine suggested people consult the vehicle’s user manual before using that kind of oil.

In terms of coolant, the mixture is the same whether or not a person has a new or used car: it’s 50 percent coolant and 50 percent water.

Finally, and this may be of importance to first-time drivers, Popular Mechanics reminds summer vacationers that if they find their engine overheating, it’s time to turn off the air conditioner and turn on the heat.