Ford Windstar continues to hold its spot atop the minivan safety ratings based on recent government tests. In frontal collision tests of 1998 vans, the Windstar earned a five-star rating for both driver and front passenger protection.

The latest tests used a Windstar with lower-power air bags, which deploy less forcefully than the previous version. The new air bags were just as effective as the ones they replaced. This is the third consecutive design of the Ford minivan to earn the top rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Also tested in the latest 35-mph crashes were the Dodge Caravan and its slightly larger sibling, the Grand Caravan. Both received threwstar ratings for driver and passenger.

Windstar also excels in offset frontal collision tests run by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an industry research group. Windstar earned the institute’s only "good" rating and received its Best Pick selection out of nine passenger vans.

For many people, fueling up the mower and cutting the grass each week are as routine as fueling the car and driving to work. But in most cases, mowing the lawn creates a lot more pollution. In fact, you’d have to drive a new car about 340 miles to emit the same amount of air pollution most mowers emit in an hour. To reduce your mower’s harmful effects on the environment, start with a tune-up. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, replace the oil, air filter, and spark plug. Then, adjust the carburetor and sharpen the blades. If you’re not handy with small engines, many repair shops will perform such routine maintenance for about $30. The annual engine maintenance will keep your mower running smoothly, and the sharp blades will slice through the grass with minimum effort from the engine.

Next, try to reduce the amount of time you spend with the mower running. Find the pattern that lets you mow your yard the fastest. And if you bag your clippings, turn the mower off while you’re loading and unloading the bag. Most clippings decompose naturally, so unless your grass is extremely thick, there’s no need to bag. Finally, take extra care when you fill your mower’s gas tank, and don’t fill it all the way to the top. According to a press release from the Environmental Protection Agency, garden-equipment users across the nation inadvertently spill about 17 million gallons of fuel each year while filling their outdoor power equipment.

If you’re in the market for a new mower, check into gas-free alternatives, such as reel-type push mowers and battery-powered electric models.