Used car prices are finally beginning to ebb after years of high demand and reduced inventories. According to USA Today, the average price of used cars is down in October from September, and reduced compared to the same time period last year. New car dealerships saw a month-over-month decline of 4.2 percent for used car prices, and 3.6 percent reductions from last year. Independent dealers have seen price drops among used models as well – 6 percent drop from September and a 7.4 percent difference from the same time one year ago.

As the economy continues to recover from the recession, more drivers are trading in their current vehicles for newer models. This is helping to grow the overall used car inventory, giving buyers more options to find used vehicles. Some models are presenting more of a value than others, and midsize sedans are at the top of the chain.The wholesale price of used midsize sedans has dropped a whopping 9.4 percent in the past 12 weeks, CBS News reports.

"This trend is going to produce some values for retail shoppers in the used car market," Black Book senior analyst Ricky Beggs told CBS.

As the cost of used models drops, those who may have been putting off getting their next vehicle might want to start shopping around for the perfect ride. New Jersey State Auto Auction has a wide selection of makes and models that changes regularly, making it an ideal place to begin the search. The dealer guarantees credit approval as well, thanks to partnerships with a number of lenders, so even individuals with less than perfect credit can get behind the wheel of a reliable and affordable car.

Teen drivers are not as experienced on the roads as older motorists, which puts them at higher risk of being involved in crashes. Most states have put laws in place to restrict certain elements of driving, such as curfews and passenger limits. New Jersey has one of the strictest graduated driver licensing (GDL) policies for teenage drivers. In 2010, lawmakers added another policy to the list, requiring all GDL drivers to have a red decal placed on their license plate.

New Jersey is the first state to adopt this practice, which is common in other countries, and researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) recently investigated the effect the new rule was having. The research team compared crash reports and driver citations from the two years preceding and the year following the decal law implementation, and they found the decals prevented an estimated 1,600 accidents involving probationary drivers.

"The fact that we saw significant crash reductions in New Jersey, a state that already has a strong GDL law and one of the lowest teen crash fatality rates, suggests that implementation of a decal law in states with higher teen crash fatality rates may lead to even more marked reductions," said Dr. Allison E. Curry, director of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP. "We hope that our study can help other states looking to reduce teen crash rates."

Staying safe on the roads involves more than laws to restrict younger drivers, and it is important for teen drivers to know the dangers as well as good practices. They should also be driving safe, reliable vehicles, which means getting regular maintenance to ensure their cars are running well to prevent mechanical issues from occurring while teens are behind the wheel. The experts at NJ Auto Auction's Total Car Care Center can help young NJ drivers take care of their rides.

Red Ribbon Week, a seven-day stretch dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, kicked off on October 20. State Farm is partnering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to teach teens about the risks of drinking and driving by distributing a booklet called "The 411 on Teen Drinking" to high schools across the nation.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen drivers are four times as likely to get into accidents as older motorists, and consuming alcoholic beverages before getting behind the wheel greatly increases that risk. The booklet discusses how alcohol affects teen brain development as well as the immediate effects that make driving under the influence so dangerous. It also covers peer pressure and making good choices to help keep teens safe on and off the road.

"When it comes to underage drinking, teens may feel like 'everyone is doing it,' but the truth is that only one out of five teens binge drinks – which means four out of five don't," said MADD National President Jan Withers. "MADD and State Farm have teamed up to empower teens to avoid avoid underage drinking during Red Ribbon Week and year-round with research-based tools like the 'Power of You(th)' teen booklet."

Red Ribbon Week also places emphasis on the importance of parents talking to their teens about the dangers of alcohol and drinking and driving. In addition to discussing safety with their kids, parents might also want to ensure their teens are driving safe, reliable vehicles. This can help protect them on the road, and New Jersey State Auto Auction has a wide selection of affordable models that are all CARFAX certified, making it an ideal destination for those looking to put their kids behind the wheel of a reliable ride.

The cost of gas has been well above the $3 mark for over a year, but prices may drop rapidly in the next month or so. According to the Detroit Free Press, the national average may drop as much as 50 cents per gallon from $3.86, the peak average for the month. As of Monday, October 22, the national average price of gas is about $3.66 per gallon, as reported by the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report, and some states are already seeing averages in the $3.35 to $3.45 range.

"Most of the country is heading appreciably lower the next few weeks," Tom Kloza of the Oil Price Information Service told the Detroit Free Press. The cost of fuel has remained high due to domestic oil supply shortages, but the news publication indicates supplies are increasing once more, and oil refineries are encountering fewer procedural issues. As a result, the savings are being passed on to the consumer.

"Certainly, lower gas prices are helpful in terms of consumer spending by increasing disposable income," Brian Bethune, chief economist at Alpha Economic Foresights, told the news source.

Experts believe the national average could fall as low as $3.30, and some states may even see prices fall below $3. Not only will prices fall, but there is a good chance they could remain low into 2013. This could be an ideal time for drivers to consider purchasing used vehicles from New Jersey State Auto Auction. Not only does the dealership, which is open to the public, have a wide selection of affordable makes and models, but each one is CARFAX certified. A car that runs well gets the most of every drop of gasoline, which helps drivers save even more at the pump.

Car seat belts are designed with adults in mind, which is why there are laws in place that require children to be placed in booster seats that keep them safer in the event of a crash. However, there is not one overarching federal law that dictates how long children should use these safety devices. Some states mandate that children should continue to use booster seats until they reach a certain height, while others employ an age-related restriction, allowing children to forego booster seats as early as age 6 in some places.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently recommended that all states should adopt stricter rules concerning child safety in vehicles. The recommendations were based on research which found states with laws that keep kids in booster seats until at least age 8 tend to see fewer child injuries and fatalities around car accidents than states with lower minimum age restrictions.

"Many states have booster seat laws. However, there are different requirements for how long the child should remain in the booster seat," said senior study author Dr. Lois K. Lee of the AAP. "Our analysis supports the fact that booster seat laws should follow AAP standards to optimally protect children when they are riding in a motor vehicle."

Age is not the only factor that comes into play with regards to child car safety, as a youngster's size is the main determining factor in whether they no longer need a car seat. According to the AAP, kids should be using safety seats until they are at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

Car seats are just part of the puzzle when it comes to keeping kids safe on the road. Driving a reliable vehicle can help reduce the risk of a crash in the first place, and NJ State Auto Auction has a wide selection of CARFAX certified, pre-owned models to choose from for families looking to get their next cars.

James Bond is famous for his spy skills, ability to make women swoon and fancy cars. Over the years, Bond has driven a variety of vehicles in his movies, and Total Car Score recently set out to determine which of these supercars was the most popular among Bond fans. More than 900 Facebook users responded to the survey, and the results revealed the Aston Martin DB5 Bond drives in "Goldfinger" to be the favorite, with an impressive 55 percent of the vote. The DB5 stood against nine other Bond vehicles that span the movie series from the first film in 1964 to the recently released Quantum Solace.

"Based on the opinions of those we surveyed on Facebook, it seems the Aston Martin DB5 has everything that makes a Bon car a Bond car," said Karl Brauer, editor-in-chief of Total Car Score. "Early vehicles, like Dr. No's Sunbeam Alpine, didn't diminish 007's image, yet the Aston Martin DB5 that debuted in Goldfinger set a new standard that has yet to be eclipsed. The DB5's sleek profile can stand on its own, but throw in oil jets, machine guns and an ejector seat and you're left with a Bond icon so powerful they've brought it back for the modern movies."

Aston Martin has been a major player in the Bond franchise over the years, and luxury car lovers and Bond fans alike can expect to see yet another one of these British rides in the upcoming film Skyfall. Daniel Craig, the latest Bond actor, will be driving the new Aston Martin Vanquish.

Drivers looking to get behind the wheel of their own memorable ride can head over to New Jersey State Auto Auction. The dealer carries a wide variety of makes and models, including many luxurious vehicles.