Ban on using cell phones while driving vehicles

Driving and using a cell phone concurrently results in driving performance similar to that of drunk driving, according to a driving simulator study.

A study released by the IU Public Policy Institute found that simply prohibiting cell phone usage is not valuable in increasing traffic safety. The study says better law enforcement combined with media campaigns will effectively cut down on distracted driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that nearly 11 percent of all drivers are using a cell phone at any given time during the day. Another study conducted by The National Occupant Protection Use Survey found that this phone use was highest among drivers 16 to 24 years old.

The Indiana legislature passed a law in July 2009 effectively prohibiting cell phone usage while driving for individuals under 18. The law aims to help cut down on distracted driving, thereby helping to better traffic safety. The problem with the law is that it is difficult to put into effect. The law, which targets younger drivers, is only effective against individuals under the age of 18 that received their licenses before July 1, 2009.

For more information: http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=74001

Firefighters battle traffic

FORT MYERS, Fla. - When you call 911, you want emergency responders to get to you as soon as possible. But some drivers can make getting there a real challenge.

It's a daily frustration from Law Enforcement to emergency responders. While most drivers know what to do when they hear sirens wailing, others test fate.

"I try to pull over as soon as I can and just try to get out of the way," Courtney Tincher.

"A lot of people just try to beat the sirens," said Johnny Ordonez.

For Iona-McGregor firefighters, every call is an emergency. But often, getting there is a challenge in itself. "People stop suddenly, or they'll move suddenly as we are about to pass them and that can be very dangerous for them and for us," said Lt. Martin Palijan.

Fore more information: http://www.winknews.com/news/local/84827667.html

Best and Worst Cities for Travelers

In these areas, urban sprawl and solo drivers are the difference between a hassle-free and a harrowing trek to work.

Last week a wave of bad weather buried Washington, D.C., and several Northeastern U.S. cities in snow, shutting down scores of schools, businesses and city agencies. Those unlucky enough to be summoned to work had to excavate their cars from several feet of powder or contend with stalled buses and slow trains.

While the weather was extreme, many Americans have miserable commutes year-round. In some cities, though, workers have it easy.

If you live in Salt Lake City, Utah, Buffalo, N.Y., or Rochester, N.Y., your ride to work is probably the smoothest of any big city in the country. Residents of Tampa, Fla., Detroit, Mich. and Atlanta, Ga., on the other hand, endure the most grueling slog to work.

For more information: http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/12/best-worst-commutes-lifestyle-mass-transit.html?boxes=lifestylechannellighttop

Solar Car Images

In 1997, UniSA, Seaton High School, Fremont-Elizabeth City High and Annesley College formed the South Australian Solar Car Consortium. The aim of the Consortium was to help students design, build and race solar cars in the World Solar Challenge.

It started out as a Taiwanese entry in the Australian World Solar Challenge and was scaled up.

This solar car came from an idea for a Mechanical Engineering senior project, to build a small remote-control solar-powered car. This mushroomed into the largest undergraduate engineering project ever undertaken at Auburn University.