Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Platoon: GPS-based road trains set to test on European roads?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/platoon-gps-based-road-trains-set-to-test-on-european-roads/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/platoon-gps-based-road-trains-set-to-test-on-european-roads/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/platoon-gps-based-road-trains-set-to-test-on-european-roads/#commentsFiled under: ,


GPS-based road train - Click above for gallery

It goes by the name "Sartre," but it has nothing to do with existentialism and just a little bit to do with exits. The Safe Road Trains for the Environment program is a three-year European study centering on the creation of 'platoons' of drivers behind a lead vehicle on the highway. It involves wiring cars to speak to each other, and to a lead vehicle - the platoon commander - behind which up to eight cars could follow in automated bliss.

One of the keys to the study is finding a way to make travel more efficient and lower gas usage without spending the treasury on putting sensors in roads, or creating an entirely new standard of equipment. Also, using a lead vehicle that could take control of the vehicles behind - cars, trucks or buses - makes Sartre much more flexible since it can travel on any highway.

So say you need to get to the Alhambra in a hurry. You see a Sartre platoon on the highway ahead, and if there's room, you signal your wish to join. The lead vehicle takes control of your car, and it is pulled into the formation, leaving you free to do whatever you want to do. When you want to get out, you signal your intention, a gap is made and you get control of your car again. The study will be conducted on test tracks in Spain, Sweden and the UK, with additional trials on public road in Spain. Gentlemen, mount up... Hat tip to Ben!


Gallery: "Sartre" GPS-based road trains


[Source: BBC]

Platoon: GPS-based road trains set to test on European roads? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automateddrivingeuroperoad trainroadsRoadTrainsartretechtechnologyFri, 13 Nov 2009 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Weekend Watching: Modern Marvels: Autobahn on Hulu]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/28/weekend-watching-modern-marvels-autobahn-on-hulu/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/28/weekend-watching-modern-marvels-autobahn-on-hulu/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/28/weekend-watching-modern-marvels-autobahn-on-hulu/#commentsFiled under: ,



There is a road that has taken on the awe of a holy relic, practically the Dead Sea Scrolls of tarmac, and it goes by one simple name: Die Autobahn. There are few, if any, other roads in the world that are as significant for gearheads as those remaining polished stretches of German highway that remain unhindered by speed limits. Even for us jaded hacks, the opportunity to open up the right car in the left lane is, if not rapture, at least an out-of-body experience.

So this is merely a public service announcement for gearheads: if you need something to do this weekend, Hulu has the History Channel's Modern Marvels episode on the story of the Autobahn. Even with Hulu's commercials it's only 46 minutes, which means you can pay your respects quickly. And if there's anything better than the Autobahn, it's the Autobahn with a pillow and popcorn. Thanks for the tip, Jay!

[Source: The History Channel via Hulu]

Weekend Watching: Modern Marvels: Autobahn on Hulu originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autobahndrivinggermanyhistory channelHistoryChannelhulumodern marvelsModernMarvelstelevisionvideoFri, 28 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Driving like a jerk reportedly helps to reduce traffic jams]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/01/driving-like-a-jerk-reportedly-helps-reduce-traffic-jams/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/01/driving-like-a-jerk-reportedly-helps-reduce-traffic-jams/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/01/driving-like-a-jerk-reportedly-helps-reduce-traffic-jams/#commentsFiled under: ,

Photo by bibliconeDrive like a sheep, and you get stuck. Break some rules here and there for the good of traffic flow, and everyone benefits. A new traffic study by physicists at Sweden's Umea University found that while we're all taught to obey the traffic rules no matter what, doing so just makes for bottlenecks. Mix in some maverick drivers, however, and suddenly, logjams begin to ease as the percentage of drivers willing to pass on the right or zip past a pack of trundling cars on a two-lane actually help to keep the traffic flowing smoothly.

While you might take the findings as an endorsement of behind-the-wheel jerkdom, chill out there for a second, Rat Fink. Tailgating, a behavior many impatient motorists exhibit, creates rolling platoons of cars without enough following distance to effectively brake if need be. In other words, while it's occasionally beneficial to sidestep the letter of the law, following too closely creates potential pile-ups. The ideal ratio seems to be 60-percent lemmings, 40-percent speed-addled free thinkers. That sounds like research we can put into practice pretty much immediately, though it's going to be a flimsy argument in traffic court.

[Source: PhysicsBuzz | Photo:biblicone (CC 2.0)]

Driving like a jerk reportedly helps to reduce traffic jams originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggressive drivingAggressiveDrivingdrivingtraffic flowtraffic studiestraffic studyTrafficFlowTrafficStudiesTrafficStudySat, 01 Aug 2009 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Senators mulling a nationwide ban on texting while driving]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/senators-mulling-a-nationwide-ban-on-texting-while-driving/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/senators-mulling-a-nationwide-ban-on-texting-while-driving/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/senators-mulling-a-nationwide-ban-on-texting-while-driving/#commentsFiled under:



Last time we checked in with the issue of texting while driving, the NHTSA practically claimed it was gagged by Congress. Fast forward a week -- after the New York Times report and the results of a Virginia Tech study -- and now a group of Democratic senators is proposing a nationwide ban on texting behind the wheel.

In a study of truckers, VA Tech said the increased risk of an accident was 23-times higher when texting and six-times higher when simply dialing or reaching for "an electronic device." In response to those kinds of numbers, New York Senator Charles Schumer (D) said "The federal government ought to pass a law banning this dangerous and growing practice to protect the millions of Americans on our nation's roads. It is a matter of public safety."

Like the drunk driving or minimum drinking age laws enacted in years past, the proposed legislation would punish states that don't enact the restrictions by reducing federal highway funds by 25%. There's no timeline yet for the legislation to be passed, but if it does get approved, it would become law within six months, and states would be given two years to develop their own laws. Important to note: the law would only apply to texting in moving cars, not stopped cars.

[Source: Yahoo! | Image Source: Bruno Vincent/Getty]

Senators mulling a nationwide ban on texting while driving originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>congressdistractionsdrivinggovernmentlegalsenatetextingtexting while drivingTextingWhileDrivingWed, 29 Jul 2009 18:28:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: NHTSA withheld results of studies on cell phone use while driving because of Congress]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/24/report-nhtsa-withheld-results-of-studies-on-cell-phone-use-whil/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/24/report-nhtsa-withheld-results-of-studies-on-cell-phone-use-whil/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/24/report-nhtsa-withheld-results-of-studies-on-cell-phone-use-whil/#commentsFiled under: ,



As always, it ain't the crime, it's the cover-up. In what looks to be Congress protecting its turf, a planned study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on driver distraction - specifically, drivers using cell phones - was put on hold. The reason, according to The New York Times, was allegedly a fear of upsetting the Capitol body. The reason, according to an ex-head of NHTSA, was "to avoid antagonizing members of Congress who had warned the agency to stick to its mission of gathering safety data but not to lobby states."

In 2003, NHTSA already had "hundreds of pages" of research on the effects of multitasking while driving. And yes, as many Autoblog commenters have surmised, the research does indeed point to people using their cell phones being "as likely to cause an accident as someone with a .08 blood alcohol content." NHTSA officials also felt that hands-free systems weren't a safe enough solution - drivers were still too distracted.

But when the safety agency drafted a letter to then Transport Secretary Norman Mineta that included policy recommendations, the head of the agency began hearing complaints about NHTSA overstepping its bounds. Congress, it was said, "warned the agency not to use its research to lobby states." As the story goes, the threat to NHTSA was that if it upset Congress, it "could jeopardize billions of dollars of its financing."

So instead of going forward with a focused study of cell phone usage that would include 10,000 drivers, the agency shelved everything and stayed quiet. Due to Freedom of Information Act requests, the research gathered up to now is being revealed. But there is still the issue of Congress holding back information that, frankly, could save lives.

What do you think? Do you use your mobile phone while driving? Do you think doing so should be illegal? Drop your fellow reader a line in 'Comments.'

[Source: The New York Times | Image: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty]

REPORT: NHTSA withheld results of studies on cell phone use while driving because of Congress originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell phonecellphonedistracted drivingDistractedDrivingdistractiondrivingdriving distractionsDrivingDistractionsgovernmentlegalmobile phoneMobilePhonenational highway traffic safety administrationNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministrationnhtsaphone while drivingPhoneWhileDrivingsafetyFri, 24 Jul 2009 12:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Study: Where does your city rank among the road-rageous?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/16/study-where-does-your-city-rank-among-the-road-rageous/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/16/study-where-does-your-city-rank-among-the-road-rageous/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/16/study-where-does-your-city-rank-among-the-road-rageous/#commentsFiled under: ,


Listen up, all you people in New York, Dallas, Detroit and Atlanta. Settle down. You, too, Minneapolis. There's no excuse for the kinds of things you're doing out there on the road. That's right, we saw you. Well, not us, but your fellow drivers who tattled on a new AutoVantage survey about road rage. Those were the five worst cities for road rage incidents this year, with respondents citing hot-tempered drivers and aggressive speeding and horn honking.

But wait - there are two sides to the road named rage. Something must have set off those finger-waving commuters. And that would have been all the other drivers out there who are talking on their phones, tailgating, eating, emailing and checking Autoblog on their netbooks and iPhones. Those people, the survey says, are the ones getting on the nerves of the short-fused.

So where can a mild-mannered driver go and cruise the roads in peace? AutoVantage's survey lists Portland, Oregon as the most courteous city with Cleveland, Baltimore, Sacramento and Pittsburgh following. While we're at it, we'd like to spotlight Baltimore as a shining example of how a city can make a road-rage u-turn. That city moved up from No. 4 on last year's least courteous list. Now why can't the rest of you behave as well?

Here's a few more interesting numbers the survey offers. St. Louis drivers, 92% of them, reported seeing someone talking on a mobile phone every day. It's also a city where you're more likely to see drivers eating in their cars. A majority of Minneapolis drivers surveyed said they witness tailgating every day, and that city's drivers also reported more incidences of red light running. In Miami, you're less likely to see drivers signaling lane changes but much more likely to get a text message from a fellow driver. Maybe they're just texting their intent to come into your lane. "Can U belev I jst got cutof??? Had 2 run light 2 catch up 2 him at 90mph!!!"

Ironically, 7% of the drivers surveyed said they reacted to displays of bad driving by calling the cops... on their mobile phones, we assume.

Check out the press release after the jump. But you might want to wait until you finish your drive home. It's kinda long.

Continue reading Study: Where does your city rank among the road-rageous?

Study: Where does your city rank among the road-rageous? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autovantagebad drivingBadDrivingcell phone driverscell phonesCellPhoneDriversCellPhonesdrivingdriving while textingdrivingwhiletextingmobile phonesmobile phones drivingMobilePhonesMobilePhonesDrivingroad rageroad rage surveyRoadRageRoadRageSurveytexting championshiptexting drivingtexting lawstexting while drivingTextingChampionshipTextingDrivingTextingLawsTextingWhileDrivingtraffictraffic accidentstraffic jamTrafficAccidentsTrafficJamTue, 16 Jun 2009 18:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Example #4,239 why sat-nav isn't always to be trusted]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/25/example-4-239-why-sat-nav-isnt-always-to-be-trusted/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/25/example-4-239-why-sat-nav-isnt-always-to-be-trusted/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/25/example-4-239-why-sat-nav-isnt-always-to-be-trusted/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Anyone who uses a satnav regularly knows the feeling of looking at the directions being given - or actually trying to follow them - and wondering "WTF?" Try an experiment and plug one of your regular destinations into your satnav and see what it spit out; seven times out of ten you'll wonder "Why would it tell me to go that way?"

A driver in England has once again followed the instructions from his car's GPS system as if he were Abraham heeding instructions from The Almighty. Headed to a friend's house, the driver was told by his GPS to go up a steep walking path, and he did so. Luckily the path was lined by a fence, because when the driver crested a hill, he slid down the path and into the fence, which stopped him from going over a 100-foot cliff.

Fortunately, he was unhurt, although charged with careless driving. Never forget: trust your good sense before you trust your satnav...

[Source: The MIrror]

Example #4,239 why sat-nav isn't always to be trusted originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drivingenglandetceuroeuropegpsnavigationsatnavukWed, 25 Mar 2009 19:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan working on wrong-way warning system]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/nissan-working-on-wrong-way-warning-system/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/nissan-working-on-wrong-way-warning-system/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/nissan-working-on-wrong-way-warning-system/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Earlier this week, a 21-year-old driver got on the wrong entrance ramp to the 10 freeway in Los Angeles and ended up going westbound in the eastbound lanes. Doing up to 70 mph in the fast lane, he collided head-on with a police car and he and the officer were killed instantly. Nissan and West Nippon Expressway are working on technology that, using GPS and Telematics, will work to keep such things from happening.

The R&D is for an "IT-assisted road information system." As is becoming de rigeur these days, it uses your cell phone to detect situations in which a warning might be needed before a dangerous situation. The GPS component would come into play in a wrong-ramp situation, while telematics could be used to warn drivers of long downhill stretches. The efforts join Nissan's bumblebee-and-crash-avoidance research aimed at halving incidents in Nissan vehicles. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Nissan working on wrong-way warning system

Nissan working on wrong-way warning system originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drivinggpshighwaysjapannissansafetytechtechnologytelematicswarningsFri, 30 Jan 2009 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Governator vetos ban on lap-dogs while driving]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/29/governator-vetos-ban-on-lap-dogs-while-driving/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/29/governator-vetos-ban-on-lap-dogs-while-driving/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/29/governator-vetos-ban-on-lap-dogs-while-driving/#commentsFiled under: , ,



California recently banned talking on cellphones, and then followed up by making texting illegal, while driving. For a moment there, it was looking like all you were going to be able to do behind the wheel in California was, you know, drive. But thanks to the dedication of Governor Schwarzenegger, individual freedoms have not been extinguished. Promising to only sign bills that are "the highest priority for California," Arnie vetoed a bill that would ban driving with dogs in your lap.

While we understand the spirit of the veto -- California does have much bigger issues to deal with than lapdogs -- we do sometimes wonder why a 40-pound kid has to be in a child seat, but a 40-pound, unpredictable animal can take a nap between you and the steering wheel.

[Source: AP, | Photo CC | Credit: Katrinkles]

Governator vetos ban on lap-dogs while driving originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arnold schwarzeneggerArnoldSchwarzeneggercacaliforniacalifornia lawscalifornia legislation on nutritious foodsCaliforniaLawsCaliforniaLegislationOnNutritiousFoodsdrivinggovernmentgovernor schwarzeneggerGovernorSchwarzeneggerlap dogslapdog lawLapdogLawLapDogslegalMon, 29 Sep 2008 19:28:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Truck driver does 70 MPH, in reverse, kind of...]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/27/video-truck-driver-does-70-mph-in-reverse-kind-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/27/video-truck-driver-does-70-mph-in-reverse-kind-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/27/video-truck-driver-does-70-mph-in-reverse-kind-of/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click the image above to view the video

A very short clip that says so much, there's really only one thing to add: be very, very careful out there. You never know who you're driving next to... Follow the jump to see the vid.

[Source: Break via Geekologie]

Continue reading VIDEO: Truck driver does 70 MPH, in reverse, kind of...

VIDEO: Truck driver does 70 MPH, in reverse, kind of... originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>driverdriversdrivingetchumorvideovideosSat, 27 Sep 2008 14:05:00 EST<![CDATA[First Ride: Burning rubber in the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/11/autoblog-exclusive-burning-rubber-in-the-2009-cadillac-cts-v-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/11/autoblog-exclusive-burning-rubber-in-the-2009-cadillac-cts-v-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/11/autoblog-exclusive-burning-rubber-in-the-2009-cadillac-cts-v-w/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



click above for a new high-res gallery of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V

This week the Cadillac communications crew invited a group of media out to General Motors' Milford Proving Ground for a special preview of the new second-generation Cadillac CTS-V. We first saw the CTS-V last January at the Detroit Auto Show and more information has been dribbling in the intervening time period. A few weeks back, GM's resident speed demon engineer John Heinricy took a production spec CTS-V to an all-time lap record of 7:59.32 for a production sedan at the Nürburgring, and this week Cadillac revealed the official SAE certified power numbers for the super-Caddie at 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of torque.

When we got to Milford our handlers took us out to a tent by the Lutz-ring test track where we found three CTS-Vs and various displays of the hardware contained within. Heinricy was on hand as well to tell the tale of the "fast lap" last month. For those who may not have been paying sufficient attention over the past 6 months, the CTS-V is GM's answer to all those German uber-sedans like the Mercedes E63 AMG, Audi RS4 and RS6 and, of course, the one that started the madness, the BMW M5. Read on after the jump to learn more about what makes this Caddie so special and what it was like to go for a ride.

BONUS: Four videos after the jump, including burn-out runs from both inside and outside the new 2009 Cadillac CTS-V.

Gallery: First Ride: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Ride: Burning rubber in the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V [w/VIDEO]

First Ride: Burning rubber in the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 cadillac cts-v2009 cts-v2009CadillacCts-v2009Cts-vcadillac cts-vCadillacCts-vcts-v burnoutcts-v burnoutsCts-vBurnoutCts-vBurnoutsdrivingdriving cadillac cts-vDrivingCadillacCts-vfeaturedWed, 11 Jun 2008 11:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Forget Gran Turismo, Bus Driver is greatest next-gen driving sim]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/11/forget-gran-turismo-bus-driver-is-greatest-next-gen-driving-sim/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/11/forget-gran-turismo-bus-driver-is-greatest-next-gen-driving-sim/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/11/forget-gran-turismo-bus-driver-is-greatest-next-gen-driving-sim/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for more screen shots of Bus Driver

When I was in Kindergarten, I rode Bus 11. It was an oil-burning 32-passenger GMC that was ready for retirement by 1982. It was driven by Sarge. I'm not sure why she was called Sarge, but her demeanor definitely lived up to the moniker. Frequent exhortations to"SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP" kept us all in line. Nobody ever laughed when she ground the 2-3 upshift. Think you'd enjoy ruling passengers with an iron fist? You could go get the endorsement on your license and then hit the job market, or if that takes too much effort, just buy Bus Driver, the video game.

Hey, at least it's still a driving game, but it's the staid, responsible version of gaming. Rather than speed around a track or create mayhem, your mission is to follow routes in your school bus, city bus or tour bus while picking up and dropping off fares. What fun, the replays must be enthralling. It could be worse, though - it's still a wheeled conveyance you're controlling rather than some Wiimote-powered silliness. We do wish that Meridian4, the game's publisher, had included the DeLorean bus that never got off the ground.

Gallery: Bus Driver: The Video Game


[Source: Winding Road]

Forget Gran Turismo, Bus Driver is greatest next-gen driving sim originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>busbus driverBusDriverdriverdrivinggadgetgamegamingmeridian4toyvideo gameVideoGameTue, 11 Mar 2008 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Tour the USA in under 4 minutes with a little help from Lacquer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/01/tour-the-usa-in-under-4-minutes-with-a-little-help-from-lacquer/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/01/tour-the-usa-in-under-4-minutes-with-a-little-help-from-lacquer/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/01/tour-the-usa-in-under-4-minutes-with-a-little-help-from-lacquer/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Check out this music video for Lacquer's Behind. Maybe some of you will scoff at it being featured here on Autoblog, but it speaks to motorists, adventurers and travelers who like voyages on America's highways and byways. It starts with an old convertible parked at the Pacific Ocean, and turns into a journey across our continent. Coast to coast the driver covers the whole of the USA in under four minutes with the use of some snappy time-lapse photography, as directed by filmmaking brothers Michel (Be Kind Rewind, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and Olivier Gondry. Beautiful scenery and gorgeous skylines abound, as well as some good music. Thanks for the tip Mark!

Tour the USA in under 4 minutes with a little help from Lacquer originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BehinddrivingLacquermusic videoMusicVideoSat, 01 Mar 2008 16:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Transport Canada to implement speed limiting device]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/09/transport-canada-to-implement-speed-limiting-device/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/09/transport-canada-to-implement-speed-limiting-device/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/09/transport-canada-to-implement-speed-limiting-device/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In an effort to thwart habitual speeding, Transport Canada has developed a new system that can make exceeding posted limits difficult or impossible. The device utilizes GPS and a speed limit map coupled with technology that caps a vehicle's top speed based on the legal speed of the road being traveled. Once the vehicle arrives at the predetermined speed limit, the device makes it very difficult to go any faster. For now, Canada is looking to slap this stingy speed governor on the vehicles of perpetual speeders and reckless drivers, but the technology could one day be used for all drivers. Lovely.

Luckily for drivers here in the States, a strict speed limit governor is just un-American, and legislators know it would be very unpopular politically suicidal to implement. Still, we're sure there'd still be some people willing to embrace technology like this. Heck, a lot of parents of 16 to 18 year-olds probably wouldn't mind purchasing this device to keep their teenagers in check.

[Source: Winding Road]

Transport Canada to implement speed limiting device originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drivingspeed governorspeed limitsSpeedGovernorSpeedLimitsTransport CanadaTransportCanadaSat, 09 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[fortwo billed as birth control for teenagers?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/28/fortwo-billed-as-birth-control-for-teenagers/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/28/fortwo-billed-as-birth-control-for-teenagers/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/28/fortwo-billed-as-birth-control-for-teenagers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Click above to see how "teen-friendly" the smart fortwo is.

We all know what teenagers do in the back seats of cars, don't we? Since the smart fortwo only comes with two seats, it's something that any parent will never have to worry about. And Dave Schembri, SmartUSA president, wanted to put everyone's fears to rest when he said, "After all, what better car to have for your teenager than one without a backseat."

But Schembri was actually talking about the far more dangerous backseat activity for teens: distracting the drivers in the front seats. (I don't know what else you might have been thinking). Since more than one accident has been caused by a rowdy -- or just plain distracting -- group of kids on the rear bench, it's another thing fortwo drivers won't have to worry about on the commute.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Gallery: smart fortwo

fortwo billed as birth control for teenagers? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentsbackseat driversBackseatDriversdistractionsdrivingfortwosmartsmart fortwoSmartFortwoteenagersMon, 28 Jan 2008 16:28:00 EST<![CDATA[More common sense - Cellphones make you a bad driver]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/03/more-common-sense-cellphones-make-you-a-bad-driver/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/03/more-common-sense-cellphones-make-you-a-bad-driver/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/03/more-common-sense-cellphones-make-you-a-bad-driver/#commentsFiled under: , ,



In light of the "backwards-travelling wave" that researchers recently discovered as a cause of congestion, another study has pinpointed a possible major contributor. The University of Utah's Traffic Lab uncovered that drivers paying more attention to yapping on their phone - hands free or not - add to the suffering of us all. Talking while driving leads to drivers who take considerably longer to change lanes when following slow-moving vehicles, drive slower overall, and take longer to arrive at their destination.

Any benefits from slower speeds and more deliberate movements are mitigated by the distraction of a conversation. Thinking along the lines of chaos theory, even the small slowdowns created by poky drivers can grow into exponentially larger traffic problems quickly. Then, when we're all stuck in the stop and go, we call someone else and bitch about how bad the traffic is. Sounds like what they've really discovered in Utah is the fuel for a perpetual motion machine. Car stops, jaw continually flaps.

[Source: Reuters, Photo: hotrodscustomstuff.com]

More common sense - Cellphones make you a bad driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonecongestiondriverdrivingjamphonesafetystudytalkingtraffictraffic jamTrafficJamuniversityutahThu, 03 Jan 2008 19:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Aussie's anti-speeding campaign causes road rage instead]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/02/aussies-anti-speeding-campaign-causes-road-rage-instead/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/02/aussies-anti-speeding-campaign-causes-road-rage-instead/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/02/aussies-anti-speeding-campaign-causes-road-rage-instead/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



So, this guy in Australia is all offended because he was mocked in a manner promoted by an anti-hoonage advertising campaign. He was so offended, in fact, that he hurled a water bottle at a woman's car and promptly got himself charged with malicious damage. Since nothing can ever be anyone's fault, the Sydney man is blaming his behavior on the Roads and Traffic Authority's anti-speeding campaign in Australia that diminishes any macho cachet surrounding risky traffic moves by showing wagging pinky fingers, implying the behavior is compensation for, well, you know.

Simon Jardak received an AUS$400 fine, but contends that the wiggling pinky gesture his victim made was akin to sexual assault, and enraged him far more than her flashing her headlights and using other common rude gestures. Whatever, dude. Are you that insecure? If you're having a gestural fight with another driver while rolling down the highway, you deserve whatever rudeness you get. What amounts to a schoolyard taunt certainly doesn't deserve having things hurled at your car. Perhaps Mr. Jardak needs to cool his temper a bit - we can certainly imagine that anyone reckless enough to engage in an argument on the road and throw things at other cars might not be the most responsible driver.

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Aussie's anti-speeding campaign causes road rage instead originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-speedingassaultaustraliadrivinggesturehoonlawsuitlittle pinkylittle pinky adLittlePinkyLittlePinkyAdmalicious destructionMaliciousDestructionoffendedpinkyroads and traffic authorityRoadsAndTrafficAuthorityRTAwater bottleWaterBottleFri, 02 Nov 2007 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Drivers lose a week of their lives waiting in traffic each year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/19/drivers-lose-a-week-of-their-lives-waiting-in-traffic-each-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/19/drivers-lose-a-week-of-their-lives-waiting-in-traffic-each-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/19/drivers-lose-a-week-of-their-lives-waiting-in-traffic-each-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Here's a news flash: traffic is a huge waste of time for commuters mired in rush hour gridlock. A recent study by the Texas Travel Institute unearthed some startling statistics concerning traffic, and everybody, including state and local governments, is paying huge.

On average, drivers spend 38 hours per year in traffic, which translates into 2.9 billion gallons of wasted fuel. If you live in L.A., 72 hours per year are thrown out the window as a result of congestion. Due to the strain that 2.9 billion additional gallons of gasoline puts on the volatile refinery market and all the lost revenue caused by the delays, about $78 billion goes down the drain each year.

The study puts much of the blame on an infrastructure that hasn't grown much over 50 years, even as the amount of drivers on the road has exploded. Commuters are also putting more distance between themselves and their typical destination. It'd be a welcome sight for our government to spend as much energy increasing the bandwidth of our roads as it does imposing challenging fuel economy standards on automakers. The economy could use the extra jobs created by the needed construction work, and our environment could use a break from all the carbon coming from drivers with their foot on their brake.

[Source: CNN Money]

Drivers lose a week of their lives waiting in traffic each year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commutersCongestionDrivingtexas travel instituteTexasTravelInstituteTrafficWed, 19 Sep 2007 11:34:00 EST<![CDATA[One legged armless man goes to jail for driving violations]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/06/one-legged-armless-man-goes-to-jail-for-driving-violations/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/06/one-legged-armless-man-goes-to-jail-for-driving-violations/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/06/one-legged-armless-man-goes-to-jail-for-driving-violations/#commentsFiled under:

Michael Wiley lost his arms and most of his left leg in an electrical accident when he was 13. He didn't let the lack of limbs stop him from getting his driver's license or driving. His toes handle starting, his knee is on shifting duty, and his stumps do the steering. He turns on the lights with his teeth. He also didn't let it stop him from the kind of spirited piloting that includes leading police on high speed car chases, having his license suspended numerous times, and racking up enough felonious driving charges to spend three years in jail. He's even kicked a state trooper.

His latest trick: speeding off in an Explorer, leading police on a high speed chase -- and eluding them. Finally caught and taken to court, he was sentenced to five years in jail for felony driving and drug charges. Now Wiley says his driving days are over: "I'm beat. The white flag is up." For a man with one limb, it's a pretty incredible record.

Thanks for the tip, Ben!

[Source: MSNBC]

One legged armless man goes to jail for driving violations originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drivinglegalmichael wileyMichaelWileyMon, 06 Aug 2007 10:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Steer clear of the youngins on the road and get behind the old guy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/23/steer-clear-of-the-youngins-on-the-road-and-get-behind-the-old-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/23/steer-clear-of-the-youngins-on-the-road-and-get-behind-the-old-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/23/steer-clear-of-the-youngins-on-the-road-and-get-behind-the-old-g/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For drivers between the ages of 16 and 24, the price of insurance can seem more than a little unfair. While $125 per month could insure a luxury vehicle for someone in their 30s, a 16 year-old couldn't get such a rate for a Pinto. There's a very simple reason for this disparity; young motorists are by far the most dangerous drivers on the road. A study by the Rand Corporations shows that while 13-percent of all drivers are between the ages of 16 and 24, 43-percent of all accidents come from that age group. It's a good thing everybody seems to be on the phone while driving, it may not hurt as much when you don't see that pimped out Neon coming.

While young drivers are an accident waiting to happen, those over the age of 65 are much safer than their unearned reputation may suggest. Senior citizens make up 15-percent of all drivers, but only cause 7-percent of the total accidents. Maybe it's because people are a little more careful when they see a Crown Victoria on the road, but that AARP discount appears to be well-deserved anyway. Next time you're on the freeway and you see a Buick Roadmaster in the right lane, get behind it, it's probably one of the safest places on the road.

[Source: Reuters]

Steer clear of the youngins on the road and get behind the old guy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>65accidentsDrivingElderlyinsuranceTeensMon, 23 Jul 2007 11:34:00 EST