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16 votes
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The reincarnation of totaled Teslas—in Ukraine
13 votes -
Two people in vehicle that exploded at NY/Canada border crossing declared dead at scene
21 votes -
US National Transportation Safety Board calls on automakers to install speed-limiting tech in new vehicles
32 votes -
My friend was hit by a car
Recently a close friend of mine was riding a bicycle along a city street. They had the right of way. A careless driver making a fast turn either did not see my friend (somehow... it's not like...
Recently a close friend of mine was riding a bicycle along a city street. They had the right of way. A careless driver making a fast turn either did not see my friend (somehow... it's not like there were obstructions) or did not even bother to look. The driver and their 2000-pound steel machine slammed into my friend, throwing them off the bike.
The bike was completely destroyed/unusable. My friend was scraped up, and shaken, but by a miracle did not hit their head or have to be hospitalized. They were lucky: the car was traveling fast enough to kill. The driver was apologetic and paid for my friend's bicycle and medical bills. But this should not have happened. My friend could have died or been permanently paralyzed.
I don't know all the details. But I do know that intersection. This was so ridiculously avoidable.
- Had the bike lane been fully protected with a clearly visible (but not sight-line-blocking) concrete curb or at least a bollard at the intersection, the driver probably would not have taken the turn so fast, or would maybe have been more generally aware of cyclists. They may have had time enough to stop before crashing into my friend, or the impact may have been small enough not to hurt them.
- Had there been a raised crosswalk or had the entire intersection been raised (as a speed table), requiring cars to slow down, the driver would definitely not have taken the turn so fast. The driver may also have been more aware of pedestrians/cyclists and more likely to yield.
- Had there been a curb extension shortening the crosswalk (in this case a pedestrian crossing island past the bike lane, I guess), the driver would probably have subconsciously taken the turn more slowly, as they would probably have felt more enclosed within the intersection.
- Had signal priority been given to cyclists/pedestrians, the driver probably also would not have made the turn at that point in the light cycle, and would probably not have hit my friend. (I'm pretty sure my friend was going straight on green, but if they were making a right turn, then had no right turn on red also been enforced for cars, the driver would probably not have made the turn at that point in the light cycle, and would probably not have hit my friend.)
(This wasn't a parking-protected bike lane: the city had just removed parking from that side of the street and left it fully unprotected. If it were parking-protected, I would also suggest that two parking spaces be removed approaching the intersection to ensure that the driver could see cyclists in their peripheral vision. As it stands, I have no idea how this person did not see my friend. Gross negligence. They should not be allowed to operate a motor vehicle.)
Driving shouldn't be considered such a mundane thing. When someone steps into a car they should be aware that, at any point, they could kill someone. But really infrastructure is an easier, more repeatable, and less exhausting solution than trying to change attitudes directly. Probably had any one of these infrastructure changes been implemented, my friend would not have been hit by a car. Had more than one or two been implemented, there would realistically never be a cyclist collision here.
It irritates me that my friend's life was put in danger because a driver was being careless. But also that they were able to make a careless mistake. And incidents like this remind me that traffic safety is not a theoretical problem. At any time, without warning, the life of someone you care about could be immediately taken away because we have a culture that normalizes driving a dangerous vehicle with basically zero oversight; and because our roads are designed for car throughput and not to be safe for vulnerable people.
Someone called me "militant [about traffic safety]" once. This is why.
54 votes -
Starting Friday, dockworkers in all Swedish ports will refuse to offload Teslas, cleaning crews will no longer clean showrooms, and mechanics won't fix charging points
44 votes -
There's a big problem with your car's tires
28 votes -
[Books explaining] why the heyday of the automobile is over
8 votes -
Massachusetts passed a law requiring cars make data accessible to independent shops to allow repairs. Automakers sued.
31 votes -
US court rules automakers can record and intercept owner text messages (potentially misleading, see comments)
64 votes -
GM's Cruise recalling 950 driverless cars after pedestrian dragged in US crash
28 votes -
Public health experts say narrow lanes should be the default on city streets
18 votes -
Why Norway, the poster child for electric cars, is having second thoughts – we can't let them crowd out car-free transit options
43 votes -
Swedish ports threaten to block Teslas from entering the country – strike that started with mechanics is beginning to spread
28 votes -
Honda says making cheap electric vehicles is too hard, ends deal with GM
31 votes -
Study: Yes, SUVs are deadlier than sedans — but on fast arterials, pedestrians die no matter what
38 votes -
State of EVs in Fall 2023?
My RSS reader has turned up a lot of pessimistic articles about the state of EVs in the last few days, for example:...
My RSS reader has turned up a lot of pessimistic articles about the state of EVs in the last few days, for example:
https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-is-stalling-ev-production-because-demand-is-falling-off
https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-delays-expanded-silverado-ev-production-orion-assembly-by-year
https://techcrunch.com/2023/10/17/gm-delays-4b-ev-truck-factory-plan-by-another-year/
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-10-vietnam-vinfast-struggles-electric-cars.html
Caught this YouTube video also:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZlsZwcIgpc
Because of the car industry's obsession with XXL vehicles, Australia is thinking about increasing the size of the standard parking space
meanwhile, given a choice, consumers are snapping up the reasonably sized and highly efficient (40mpg!) Ford Maverick
maybe those American consumers might desire a bigger truck but they can afford that one.
When I read between the lines I'm inclined to think that there isn't any shortage of interest in EVs, but there is a shortage of interest in $80,000 EVs because very few people can afford them. What are you seeing in your neck of the woods? What intervention can you imagine that would help get the industry come to its senses?
31 votes -
California DMV immediately suspends Cruise’s robotaxi permit
26 votes -
Anyone have recommendations for a CD player I can charge via USB and play via BT (or USB) in my car?
A recent post here made me realize how much I really wish I just could pop in a CD while driving (you can skip those, and I can make mix CDs, so no need for cassettes haha). I commute a decent...
A recent post here made me realize how much I really wish I just could pop in a CD while driving (you can skip those, and I can make mix CDs, so no need for cassettes haha). I commute a decent amount and I'm using a Pixel with GrapheneOS. Adding a streaming service would just be one more piece of Google I'd have to add to my "work" profile. I'm listening to some great podcasts, but I'd rather go full nostalgia without ripping all my CDs.
That being said, I'd like any recommendations. USB would be nice for the constant power option, but blutooth is doable as well. TIA!
9 votes -
How China’s EV boom caught Western car companies asleep at the wheel
43 votes -
How best to drive a plug-in hybrid? Seeking advice.
I’ve gone from a 20 year old 4Runner to a 3 year old Pacifica plug-in hybrid and it has changed many of my driving habits. For my job I have a lot of deliveries in the neighborhoods of hilly San...
I’ve gone from a 20 year old 4Runner to a 3 year old Pacifica plug-in hybrid and it has changed many of my driving habits.
For my job I have a lot of deliveries in the neighborhoods of hilly San Francisco and I am curious about strategies I should use to increase the efficiency of battery driving and regenerative braking.
After a month of driving I can’t tell yet if I do better staying on flats or using the energy of the hills. And this thing is so damn heavy! 5000 lbs! (2200kg)
I’m finding that I touch the gas pedal far less and lean on the brake pedal far more, especially after realizing using the brakes won’t necessarily wear them down. But what techniques can I use to make sure I am regenerating instead of using the friction brakes?
Any other general advice about making this switch would also be appreciated. Thanks!
13 votes -
So I suspect my rideshare driver might have been earning extra for viral marketing
So I rarely take rideshare, but sometimes it's important. Today, my driver was friendly, chatty, personable, driving a brand new Ford electric vehicle. He mentioned that he had spent more than a...
So I rarely take rideshare, but sometimes it's important. Today, my driver was friendly, chatty, personable, driving a brand new Ford electric vehicle. He mentioned that he had spent more than a decade selling for an auto dealership before starting to drive. He bragged about the car, the price, the fact that it's built like a tank and safe in a crash. He talked down Tesla and Elon Musk for faults and failings I'm sure most of us can imagine without effort. He had an answer for every anecdote I told about my car experiences that brought the conversation back around to the advantages of this make and model of car, including the fact that cars are significantly cheaper than a couple of years ago.
It wasn't a terrible experience but I feel bemused, puzzled, a little annoyed, a little bit impressed. It's creative if this is in fact a strategy not a coincidence.
Can anyone relate to this experience? What are your thoughts?
28 votes -
The world’s first true female car crash dummy has been developed in Sweden — and it’s a big deal
46 votes -
Stockholm has announced plans to ban petrol and diesel cars from its centre, in an effort to slash pollution and reduce noise
10 votes -
The surprising history of cars in the US offers hope for a shift toward more climate-friendly transportation options
4 votes -
Pricey Toyota Century SUV and its sliding doors are for young folks, Akio Toyoda says
15 votes -
Hyundai and Kia recall nearly 3.4 million vehicles due to fire risk and urge owners to park outdoors
46 votes -
How twin-scroll turbochargers work
16 votes -
Well There's Your Problem episode 141: Schoharie limousine crash
8 votes -
Road hazard: Evidence mounts on toxic pollution from tires
30 votes -
Google sued for negligence after man drove off collapsed bridge while following map directions
67 votes -
US cities have a staggering problem of Kia and Hyundai thefts. This data shows it.
32 votes -
Norway's Fyllingsdalen tunnel is a showstopping piece of urban cycling infrastructure – for a city where car-centric development still dominates
11 votes -
I drive the Microlino for the first time. A reimagined electric Isetta.
7 votes -
This is the first crash test dummy modelled on the female body. Will it make cars safer for women?
42 votes -
'We are really struggling with space': Amsterdam pushes more cars off its streets but is it enough?
31 votes -
How US car culture funnels drivers into debt, jail, and danger
19 votes -
Tesla reinvents carmaking with quiet breakthrough
25 votes -
Big Bill Hell’s Cars
15 votes -
Big SUVs become most sold new vehicles in Europe. "Customers feel more safe, they feel more powerful" says car industry executive.
22 votes -
China set to overtake Japan as world’s biggest car exporter
13 votes -
Germany will force 80% of gas stations to install EV charging
53 votes -
More than 150 car models too big for regular UK parking spaces
51 votes -
Toyota takes its biggest US port off the grid with hydrogen system
35 votes -
It’s official: Cars are the worst product category we have ever reviewed for privacy
130 votes -
Meta-analysis: Effective strategies in reducing car dependency
14 votes -
Injured person reportedly dies after Cruise cars block first responders, according to reports from the San Francisco Fire Department
52 votes -
The Rhythm of the Road – Ogmios School of Zen Motoring (2020)
6 votes -
Driverless cars may already be safer than human drivers
33 votes -
Machines can't always take the heat: How heat waves threaten everything from cars to computers
15 votes