Obama Talks Connected Vehicles, Highway Funding
Amid touring the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Va. and having a go at a driving simulator based upon a Saturn SL, President Barack Obama talked about connected vehicles and increasing highway funding before reporters in attendance Tuesday.
Autoblog and Bloomberg report the President spoke for 14 minutes on both subjects, though the majority of his speech focused upon the U.S. Highway Trust Fund. Obama warned that if Congress fails to come to a decision as to how the trust will be funded, 700,000 jobs and 100,000 active projects could be shuttered when the well runs dry next month. He offered some praise regarding bipartisan bills in both houses offering a solution, though Obama urged Congress to focus on the long term instead of “kicking the can down the road for a few months.”
On the connected vehicle front, he proclaimed his support for any new technology that could improve driver safety, referencing his 16-year-old daughter Malia alongside results of a study where 5.5 billion hours and $120 billion in time and fuel are lost annually due to traffic congestion. Obama also joked about his brief ride in the aforementioned simulator, finding the experience disorienting in relation to his diminishing driving experience.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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Once the "connected vehicle" initiative is in full swing I can see another cash for clunkers program to get all the "unsafe" cars off the road.
I would go for another cash for clunkers if they would include any vehicle that is 10 or more years old. I would trade my older truck without side airbags for a more efficient vehicle with all the safety features.
Moses we are in trouble, do something. OK, let me part the Red Sea. Thank you, you saved us. Oh wait, more trouble. We should never have listened to you. No problem, relax Moses is here never fear. Thank you, you saved us again. And the beat goes on....
Meantime the buzz in California is that the California Air Resources Board will hike gasoline taxes 15 cents per gallon. Not for road and bridge repair but to fund the Bullet Train. The CARB is composed of appointed party hacks with the power of raising gasoline taxes when they see the need. See how 15 cents goes down with We the Fools that elected the legislators that gave CARB the power to tax.