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'Podestrians' pose new threat to road safety
A UK insurance firm has expressed concern over the rising number of 'Podestrians', or people who wander around wearing noise-cancelling headphones and MP3 players without paying attention to oncoming vehicles. Apparently these people account for 9% of minor accidents, with 62% of them being identified as kids or teenagers.
The image above comes from an Australian road safety campaign aimed at bringing awareness to music-loving pedestrians.
I certainly agree that not being able to hear oncoming traffic increases the chances of an accident, though I don't think listening to MP3 players is neccesarily dangerous - just if the volume's too loud or headphones block out all noise. All if it's a particularly engrossing album. A UK insurance firm has expressed concern over the rising number of 'Podestrians', or people who wander around wearing noise... more -
Small electric cars in Vancouver
Vancouver is recommending traffic laws be changed to require such cars to stay on the right-hand side of the street except when turning left or passing. The province had previously restricted the cars - which legally can't drive faster than 40 km/h - to streets with speed limits less than this limit, but municipalities are allowed to alter this rule. Vancouver is recommending traffic laws be changed to require such cars to stay on the right-hand side of the street except when turnin... more
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Salt Shortage, High Prices May Mean Slippery Roads This Winter
A shortage of road salt and skyrocketing salt prices could mean slippery roads this winter in communities across the United States as officials struggle to keep pavement clear of snow and ice without breaking their budgets.
Heavy snow last year heightened demand for salt, and now many towns can't find enough of it. The shortage could force many cities to salt fewer roads, increasing the risk of accidents. Other communities are abandoning road salt for less expensive but also less effective sand or sand-salt blends. A shortage of road salt and skyrocketing salt prices could mean slippery roads this winter in communities across the United States as ... more -
Will new technologies make old people safer on the road?
It will soon be safe to drive again (assuming we can afford to!)...
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Americans Cutting Back on Driving
As summer vacation season kicked in, Americans got out of their cars, driving 12.2 billion fewer miles in June than the same month a year earlier. As summer vacation season kicked in, Americans got out of their cars, driving 12.2 billion fewer miles in June than the same month a y... more
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Asphalt Could Go Green
A new national research program called the Asphalt Research Consortium (ARC) aims to make asphalt cheaper and more environmentally friendly to produce. That means it might, for example, last longer, or use recycled material, or be manufactured using less energy.
There's good reason for the effort: America has more than 4 million miles of roads. The only place you can be 22 miles away from a road in the contiguous states is a spot in the southeast corner of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. A new national research program called the Asphalt Research Consortium (ARC) aims to make asphalt cheaper and more environmentally fri... more -
Making blacktop greener and quieter...
There's more than 4 million miles of paved road in the United States. The current method of laying the asphalt for all that road is to heat it to at least 300 degrees, keeping it soft enough to apply to the road. This requires a lot of power and the Asphalt Research Consortium wants to cut that down, all while using less CO2 and other emissions that could hurt our environment. The good news is there's already a method for making this whole process greener... and other countries have been using it for a while. There's more than 4 million miles of paved road in the United States. The current method of laying the asphalt for all that road ... more
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Russian roads
If you've ever been frustrated at the state of the roads in any country then you need to compare them to the roads in Russia. They seem to be a good barometer for how bad a road can get, a sort of Russian Road Richter scale. If your car is ever knee deep in mud with no sign of letting up, then like this unlucky chap, you're in a 6.6.
If you're planning a road trip across Russia anytime soon just bear this in mind... If you've ever been frustrated at the state of the roads in any country then you need to compare them to the roads in Russia. The... more -
Slow Driver Banned For A Week
A British woman banned from driving for seven days after travelling at speeds of less than 10 miles per hour on the motorway said: "that road is my nemesis." A British woman banned from driving for seven days after travelling at speeds of less than 10 miles per hour on the motorway said: �... more
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Japan's Musical Miles
Oh Japan, you've brought us so many interesting things. And now "melody roads:" road surfaces that make our cars sing. Thank you. However, in order to get the best effect, you force us to drive 28mph. Sigh...
WTF? Oh Japan, you've brought us so many interesting things. And now "melody roads:" road surfaces that make our cars sing. ... more -
Time Lapse Photography of Dead Roadside Towns
Troy Paiva is a photographer from the Bay Area that discribes himself as "an abandonment explorer and back-roads wanderer". In this series he combines these settings with his skill in night photography and light painting. Using really cheap methods Troy was able to create some great shots. Post some light painting shots that you've taken.... Troy Paiva is a photographer from the Bay Area that discribes himself as "an abandonment explorer and back-roads wanderer". ... more
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