Safety

Bad Drivers: Auto Pilot is the Answer

By Stephan Wilkinson
March 4, 2008 -

I live in a hilly area of high-crowned, barely two-lane back roads. There are no center lines, lots of blind corners, hills and crests; and not much traffic. You could say it’s an enthusiast's paradise. But then… stupid drivers. It happened to me last week, for the third time in a year. A driver without the slightest situational awareness put me into a ditch, leaving me yelping moronically and bleating my horn while they sped off. This has got to stop.

Bad Drivers: Auto Pilot is the Answer editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Safety | 67 comments

The Truth About Europe’s Pedestrian Safety Legislation

By Martin Schwoerer
December 13, 2007 -

Each year, automobiles kill more people than malnutrition, war and stomach cancer. That’s not including drivers and passengers. Obviously, the automobile - pedestrian toll is greatest in developing nations, where road safety is a strictly Darwinian affair. But the industrial world’s pedestrian “ksi” (killed or seriously injured) statistics are also pretty grim. Legislators in Europe, Japan and Korea have decided to take action. They’ve all developed legislative initiatives to force car makers to introduce new technology for reducing pedestrian deaths and injuries. America has no plans to get with the program. Should it?

The Truth About Europe’s Pedestrian Safety Legislation editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Safety | 74 comments

The Truth About Automotive Electronics Pt 2: The Bad

By Eric Stepans
December 12, 2007 -

Retired Israeli Air Force ace Giora Epstein flew Mirage, Nesher and F-16 fighter aircraft during his career. When asked by the History Channel which aircraft he preferred, he replied “In the Mirage and the Nesher, the pilot flies the aircraft. In the F-16, the computer flies the aircraft and the pilot is just another input to the computer.” Modern automotive electronics have transferred Epstein’s complaint to millions of cars. We may purchase and maintain our vehicles, but we no longer truly drive them. Increasingly, we’re mere inputs for the computers that do.

The Truth About Automotive Electronics Pt 2: The Bad editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Industry | Safety | Technology | 58 comments

UK Speed Cameras RIP?

By Robert Farago
June 28, 2007 -

As a “victim” of the UK’s anti-speeding jihad, I’ve been watching their “safety camera” campaign with morbid fascination. Here you have a reasonably democratic government unleashing a mega-tsunami of electronic surveillance to curb a behavior practiced by the vast majority of its populace. The results have been staggering: millions of licenses imperiled or revoked, tens of millions in pounds in fines collected, no appreciable diminution of violations and no increase in road safety. And yet, the jihadists remain determined to carry on. So when speed camera opponents launched a “scrapcam” petition, I expected a groundswell of support. Silly me.

UK Speed Cameras RIP? editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Safety | 58 comments

The Truth About The International Used Car Trade

By Robert Farago
June 14, 2007 -

It’s easy to get caught up in Inside Baseball speculation about the future of international automotive imports. Will a Chinese-made subcompact take the Western world by storm, or will Renault’s Integrated Manufacturing System (RIMS) venture in India eventually sate the industrialized world’s insatiable appetite for small, cheap, frugal cars? Meanwhile, we hear little or nothing about traffic flowing the other way: the millions of used cars flooding into the third world from developed nations. The dirty truth about this trade is just that: the vast majority of these cars are pollution-spewing death traps. 

The Truth About The International Used Car Trade editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Safety | 67 comments

IIHS and NHTSA Agree: SUV’s Safer Than Cars

By Robert Farago
April 23, 2007 -

So here we are, trying to convince American motorists to abandon their SUV’s for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, to do their bit to reduce global warming and eliminate the need for messy military entanglements. And along comes a scientific study from a reputable independent organization that concludes that you’re safer in an SUV than a passenger car. Nuts.

IIHS and NHTSA Agree: SUV’s Safer Than Cars editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Safety | 93 comments

Memo to Volvo: Who R You?

By Robert Farago
April 11, 2007 -

Time and time again, automakers flush with cash decide to grow their business by expanding their model lineup. Which is a bit like trying to improve a gourmet meal by adding more menu choices. That’s not to say brand extensions can’t be done, and done well. Volvo’s XC SUV’s were a logical and successful addition to the company’s safety-themed vehicles. But a performance tuned Volvo station wagon or sedan? Uh, no. At long last, the company has reached the same conclusion— for all the wrong reasons.

Memo to Volvo: Who R You? editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Safety | Sales and Marketing | 70 comments

Freedom for Sale In the Red Light District

By Glenn Swanson
February 22, 2007 -

If patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel, then death is the only refuge of a camera-craving road safety campaigner. As far as these well-meaning advocates are concerned, if a single roadside surveillance device saves a single life, then it’s fully justified. Never mind scientific distinctions between “speeding” and “inappropriate speed.” Never mind government studies that place red light running near the very bottom of the list of accident causation. Never mind concerns about the erosion of personal privacy. One life trumps all.

Freedom for Sale In the Red Light District editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Safety | 94 comments

The Accidental Motorist: No Fault, No Harm?

By Robert Farago
January 14, 2007 -

Allstate is currently blanketing the videosphere with ads touting “accident forgiveness.” Watching Allstate's viscious vérité, my mind drifted to our prodigal curmudgeon and part-time EMT. I wondered how Stephan Wilkinson would categorize the causation of the twisted metal carnage he's encountered: “accidental,” “avoidable” or “brain dead stupid?” Allstate's willingness to forgive accidents sounds all warm and fuzzy, but given the potential advantages of apportioning blame, is it really such a good idea?

The Accidental Motorist: No Fault, No Harm? editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Safety | 85 comments

German Speed Limits: I Can’t Drive 155

By Robert Farago
December 30, 2006 -

There I was, flying down a German autobahn in a VW Phaeton, bumping up against the car’s electronic limiter. I glanced at the rear view mirror and moved over. A modified M5 streaked by at over 180mph. I say modified because BMW is part of a “gentleman’s agreement” hammered out in the 70’s, when Germany’s Green Party wanted to impose speed limits on de-restricted autobahns. Mercedes, BMW and Audi all agreed to limit their products’ top speed to 155mph. The idea that other countries could build automobiles capable of cresting 250kph somehow escaped everyone’s attention. As, eventually, did the entire issue.

German Speed Limits: I Can’t Drive 155 editorial continued »

Posted in Editorials | Green | Safety | 94 comments