Autoblog

Tel Aviv woman's car painted into handicap spot and then towed

Zach Bowman — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Videos, Humor, Middle East

As a general rule, we try to follow a few simple principles throughout the day, and one of the most important is, "don't anger the road workers." Why? The guys and girls responsible for taking care of our nation's roadways wield the seldom-seen power to seriously put a kink your day. If you need proof, look no further than the clip in the video below. In it, workers in Tel Aviv, Israel carefully paint a handicap space around an otherwise legally parked vehicle. After they finish, it doesn't take long for a tow truck to come along and haul off the "offending" sedan.

The owner was then fined around $270 for being illegally parked, and took to Facebook to vent about her situation. Local authorities got wind of the situation and quickly apologized, saying, "This was a severe mistake and a case of incompetence that the city of Tel Aviv does not accept." The city is reportedly also working to make sure something similar does not happen again. Check out the scene in the video below.

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Tel Aviv woman's car painted into handicap spot and then towed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota developing Asimo rival for the disabled

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Japan, Technology, Toyota

Robots are here to stay, and all signs point to there being more "everyday" mechanized friends that will specialize in doing different things for different people. In addition to its work on the Partner Robot, Toyota is developing a Human Support Robot (HSR) to assist the elderly at home. The cylindrical, 70-pound HSR can be controlled by voice, just like children and grandchildren, and will perform the tasks that children and grandchildren are most handy for, such as picking things up, retrieving items from shelves and opening curtains. The HSR can also be guided by tablet computer. It's not meant for heavy lifting on the double-quick, though, and we mean that literally - maximum speed is 3 km/h - 1.86 mph - and burdens can't exceed 2.6 pounds.

Created in cooperation with the Japan Service Dog Association, the HSC underwent home trials last year and will be introduced to the public in prototype form at the Forefront of the Development of Home Care and Rehabilitation Equipment show in Tokyo this week. More testing is planned in order to enhance its safety and practicality for at-home duties before it joins the mechanized robotic regiments headed our way. A press release below will help you get ready for your domestic ~~laser-eyed killers~~ helpers.

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Toyota developing Asimo rival for the disabled originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Busting able-bodied drivers in handicap spaces

Chris Tutor — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 16:04:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Videos

While no one on the Autoblog staff requires handicapped parking, we have friends and family who do. Seeing perfectly able-bodied people stroll from their illegally-parked cars into a building is infuriating.

But, fearing road rage reprisal, we don't dare confront these folks. Two reporters for the Detroit Free Press, however, took a video camera into the field and hunted down several offenders. Some illegally parked drivers claimed ignorance until the blue sign and blue paint were pointed out. Some acted offended, others offered lame excuses, and with the help of a parking enforcement officer, at least one was ticketed.

And before you comment, yes, we know some people aren't visibly handicapped yet still need to reduce their walk from car to store. One of the people confronted in the video turned out to be driving her blind husband around. Others, though, admitted their hang-tag belonged to someone else. In Detroit, that'll get you a $500 ticket for fraud instead of just a $100 ticket for parking in a handicapped spot without permission.

The image above is from the video and shows a man illegally using his boss's handicapped parking tag. Turns out, his boss, and owner of the car, is Eugene Applebaum, who is disabled and who has served on the board of a multiple sclerosis group.

Check out the video below for the full story.

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Busting able-bodied drivers in handicap spaces originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear team apologizes for row over handicap space

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

Top Gear got in a spot of trouble recently when presenters James May and Jeremy Clarkson were shown parking their Nissan Leaf in a handicapped space. Getting into a spot of trouble is nothing new for Top Gear, and in fact it seems that the show enjoys jumping in and out of hot water while various groups stand up to voice just how offended they feel.

Rather than thumb their noses in the air, however, this latest bout of controversy has forced producer Andy Wilman to step up and steer blame away from the hosts of his show. According to Perth Now, Wilman claims his production team secured special permission to use the handicapped spots, choosing the spaces in question because they were quiet. Also, Wilman notes that three other handicapped spots remained open and available for use during the shoot. Should the spots have filled up, Wilman maintains that production would've cleared the area to allow for others to use the spots.

Both May and Clarkson reportedly expressed concern over the use of the spots before the shoot. Wilman assured the men that the handicapped logos would not be seen in the footage, but they still made it onto the screen. That's both his and the production team's fault, and Wilman wishes to apologize to anyone who was offended. He also wants to make sure that everyone concerned understands it was not a decision made by Captain Slow or Jezza.

Top Gear team apologizes for row over handicap space originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeremy Clarkson in trouble for parking in handicapped space, joking about cancer

Zach Bowman — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

There's just no telling what sort of trouble the zany hosts of Top Gear will get into next. Recent months have seen Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond garner the ire of at least two world religions and an entire nation among other offenses. As you'd expect, the antics of the BBC trio don't look to be slowing anytime soon.

Clarkson has recently caused two stirs on separate occasions, first by parking in a handicap spot on TV and second by joking that he had a cancer scare at one point during his life. May also parked in a disabled space while the two were discussing the merits and drawbacks of two electric cars - a Nissan Leaf and a Peugeot iOn in the episode of Top Gear that aired in Blighty over the weekend.

The shot drew sharp criticism from awareness groups.

Clarkson's cancer comments came from his newspaper column, and the controversial comment arrived on the heels of BBC DJ Chris Evans recently announcing that he'd had a few growths removed from his bowel after a routine checkup. Clarkson joked that his doctors had found cancer in his bowels, too, but he hadn't had time to have the growths removed. Evans' father died from bowel cancer.

So, do these latest acts upset you, or are they much ado about nothing? Have your say in Comments.

Jeremy Clarkson in trouble for parking in handicapped space, joking about cancer originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota prices redesigned Avalon, Sienna minivan w/Auto Access Seat [w/video]

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Minivan/Van, Sedan, Toyota, Specialty, Luxury

2011 Toyota Avalon - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota has officially announced pricing for the updated 2011 Avalon which made its public debut at this year's Chicago Auto Show. Additionally, pricing has been released for the Sienna with Auto Access Seat, which is the first factory-installed power access seat available in a minivan.

The Avalon, which goes on sale later this month, starts at $32,245, which is the same starting MSRP as the outgoing 2010 model. Higher-grade Limited models start at $35,485, which represents an increase of $200 over the 2010 model. All Avalons use Toyota's 3.5-liter V6 with VVT-i dual variable valve timing, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Aside from the slightly revised styling (look very closely), 2011 Avalons feature plusher interior amenities, as well as more up-to-date technological features.

Toyota's 2011 Sienna is just now starting to hit dealerships, but customers with special passenger needs can now option for the Auto Access Seat model, which incorporates a power second-row captain's chair making it easier for folks with mobility issues to enter and exit the van. The seat rotates 90 degrees and can be lowered up to 19 inches to make ingress and egress substantially easier for passengers, and the seat's operation is controlled by either seat-mounted controls or a wireless remote. The Auto Access Seat is available on LE and XLE V6 Siennas for $35,135 and $39,445, respectively. Hit the jump to see a video of the Auto Access Seat in action.

Pricing for both models does not include destination charges - $750 for the Avalon and $800 for the Sienna. Follow the jump to read the full information in Toyota's press release.

Gallery: 2011 Toyota Avalon

Gallery: 2011 Toyota Sienna Auto Access Seat

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota prices redesigned Avalon, Sienna minivan w/Auto Access Seat [w/video]

Toyota prices redesigned Avalon, Sienna minivan w/Auto Access Seat [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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