Archive for the ‘Driving Matters’ Category

Creating New Cars For When You Want To Buy One

Friday, November 21st, 2008

The first thing people will want to do when this recession is over is buy a new car, says the man in charge of Nissan and Renault, so he and his colleagues at other car companies are busy making sure there'll be something new and trendy for you when the ...

Americans Wrong To Overlook US Cars, SUVs, Trucks

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

A young writer who is too familiar with the misconceptions her fellow Americans have about Detroit-based cars writes to set the record straight.

Voice-Operated, Hands-Free, In-Car Web Surfing

Friday, November 14th, 2008

This isn't as self-indulgent a service as you might think, since it might be able to get you somewhere important (a roadside cafe with a clean restroom and a broad coffee selection) without you having to drive around looking for one, or pulling over to search the web the old-fashioned ...

Men Drive More Dangerously, Break More Laws: Study

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

When it comes to the big traffic tickets -- reckless driving, DUI, seatbelt violations, failure to yield and speeding -- men are much worse than women. On top of that, women are more likely to be found innocent of blame in a crash. 

Elderly Driving Deaths Reduced By New Law, But Why?

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

A Florida law requiring vision tests of people over 80 has reduced the highway fatality rate for that age group, but no one seems to understand why or if it will work in other jurisdictions.

Your IQ Should Determine How Fast You Can Drive

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008

The whacko auto writer from TV's Top Gear and the Times of London is back with yet another completely ridiculous idea that's redeemed by being funny.

Do Women Really Give Up On Sex In Cars At Age 19?

Saturday, November 8th, 2008

Joel Stein of the LA Times makes it absolutely clear that he knows very little about cars except that claim about women and sex and then goes on to prove it, but in a funny way. His observation about how newspapers are run alone makes the time spent reading it ...

On-Road Safety Needs Cars That Take More Control

Friday, November 7th, 2008

By Susan Winlaw No matter how many airbags they put in cars from now on, there'll be no gigantic advance in auto safety until the car companies figure out a way to build cars that are smart enough to not run into each other.

Police Getting Tougher With First-Time Offenders

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

Partly because it's the right thing to do and partly because it's a good way of increasing revenues for the local coffers, police forces across America are taking a harder line with first-time speeders and the like, with penalties (try $1,000 plus jail time) that can really hurt. And apparently ...

Man Charged In Car Crash Drowning Of His Young Sister

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

This is one of those stories that should remind us that you're often in greater danger when you're with your family and friends than you are when you're with strangers.

Woman Jailed For Killing Royal Couple In Car Crash

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

Two years after killing a prince and princess of the royal family of Tonga in a car crash, a 20-year-old woman from Redwood, California, will serve two years in jail.

Cross-Country Trip Shows Minivan’s Great Fuel Economy

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

A reporter for the LA Times goes from New York to The Coast in a 10-year-old Chevrolet Venture and gets a lot better fuel economy than the official statistics say he should. Plus he gets to take his wife, dog and a bunch of stuff along with him, which small ...

Women Most Excited About Green Cars Like Chevy Volt

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

This story reiterates the major things you've heard before about women and the car business -- they prefer green vehicles, safety's important, dealers treat them with disdain, etc. -- but it's worth repeating, and it's good to know they're particularly excited about the coming of the Volt plug-in hybrid.

U.S. Working On Systems To Let Cars Communicate

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Only two things will bring about significant decreases in highway fatalities -- cars that don't run unless the seatbelts are engaged, and cars that talk to each other. Naturally, there's no one giving any serious thought to the easiest, cheapest and fastest answer (seatbelts), but lots of people are ready ...

Natalie Neff: Passion For Cars At An All-Time High

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Unbeknownst to most women, there's a vast army of people creating an endless array of aftermarket products for cars of all types. Every fall they gather in Las Vegas to display their new wares, and this year's show features a bunch of helpful stuff that would appeal to both sexes.

Cars Not A Top Choice For Vengeful Women In Films

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Notwithstanding Kathy Bates' famous use of a car to exact a little payback in Fried Green Tomatoes, women looking for some serious revenge generally favor other weapons. This list (with accompanying YouTube highlights) lists some of the more satisfying girls-get-even movies of all time.

Neil Young Wants To Help You Convert Your SUV

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

The ageless rock star has a business that helps people convert gas guzzlers (like his own 1959 Lincoln Continental) to run on alternative fuels.

Pregnant Woman Centre Of Shoving-Shouting Match

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

One of them was pregnant, which makes it all a bunch more unpleasant, and there were stomach punches and videotaping and arrests were made. And it was all over a parking space. 

Ford Loves MyKey System Because Most Teens Hate It

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

A top speed of 80 mph still seems too high, but Ford's MyKey system could help teen safety by muting the sound system until their seatbelts are done up.

How Politics On Cell Phones Put Lives In Danger

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

A long, detailed and depressing overview of how political interference kept the feds from taking action on banning cell phone use in cars, from Mother Jones.

Female Zamboni Driver Ticketed For Driving Drunk

Saturday, November 1st, 2008

Now this is the kind of thing hockey fans want to see on YouTube. For non-hockey fans, a Zamboni is the garage-sized machine that rolls around the ice between the periods of a hockey game resurfacing the ice. So when the machine at a rink near the Detroit-Windsor border starting ...

Gen Y Women Prefer Safety Over Performance

Friday, October 31st, 2008

Like their mothers and grandmothers before them, today's cohort of young female car buyers is much more enthusiastic about owning a car that helps ensure their safety and security than they are in buying a car which promises them a sporty ride. So why doesn't more automotive advertising reflect this ...

Signs Make Clear Why Travel In Europe Can Be Hard

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

These European highway traffic signs are gibberish in any language, but still amusing.

In-Car Margarita Maker Is Actually A Real Accessory

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

An interest in this item could be the universe's way of telling you have too much disposal income.

Nine iPhone Apps For Your Car Have Various Uses

Monday, October 27th, 2008

It's hard to imagine that anyone with a car and an iPhone couldn't use at least one of these software systems.

Less Is More When It Comes To Car Care

Monday, October 27th, 2008

The important thing about servicing your car is that you strike a balance between doing too little and doing too much. The former could end in disaster, but the latter can cost you more money than required.

Car Racing Made Petra Ecclestone Britain’s Paris Hilton

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

What life is like if you're a tall, thin beauty of 19 years living in London when your father makes about $30,000 an hour as the boss of F1 racing and you're trying to start a (what else?) clothing empire.

No Car Means A Bus Ride To A Nightmare Wedding

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

In which we learn way more than we ever expected to about what life can be like in Korea when you don't have your own car. 

Why The Bus Is More Romantic Than The Car

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

A discussion about how people should give up driving somewhere for dating purposes and look for love locally, all in the name of the environment.

Daimler Car-Sharing Plan Allows One-Way Trips

Saturday, October 25th, 2008

Various upgrades to a car-sharing plan operated by Daimler in Ulm, Germany, with super-tiny Smart models could increase the concept's acceptability with the public. The biggest change lets the consumer leave the car wherever they happen to end up.

Saudi Vice Cops Told To Stop Chasing Cars

Saturday, October 25th, 2008

In pursuit of cars whose "inmates" are involved in "foul play," the field workers of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue And Prevention of Vice in Saudi Arabia have caused various crashes and much consternation. This is especially interesting when you see their definition of those moral violations.

Car Advice For Women Book “Tells It Like It Is”

Friday, October 24th, 2008

A leading North American auto journalist praises Car Advice For Women (and Smart Men), which naturally enough pleases those of us who wrote the book. it's the kind of third-party endorsement authors can usually only dream about.

Two Men Hope To Set Land Speed Record of 1,000 MPH

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

Before you have a look at this story, try to guess what the current record for a land-bound vehicle is. That will be easier to figure out than why these two guys want to go that fast.

Clean Car Plans Of The Major Presidential Candidates

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

There's no guarantee that either plan will actually come into effect, but at least it might be helpful to see how John McCain and Barack Obama feel about the subject of low-emissions vehicles.

Spend Less Time In Your Car And Maybe Avoid Suicide

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

A study on the suicide rate in the U.S. got one columnist thinking about why some women decide to kill themselves, and it seems that spending too much time alone in a car might be one of the main reasons.