In July 2016, a test driver for the Tesla Model S died in a car crash while using the Autopilot driver-assistance system. Since that fateful day, fierce debate about the efficacy and safety of the technology has arisen.
The crash is being thoroughly investigated in order to determine whether the human driver, the Autopilot driver-assistance system, or a combination of the two was the cause of the accident.
NASA has now stepped in to the investigation. They have extensive experience in this subject, having studied vehicle automation and the psychological consequences for drivers for decades.
Here's a unique retro find that some of you might remember!:
It's Blinky the Police Car! Since the 1950's onward, Blinky the talking police car has educated children about road safety. Blinky was originally a yellow Plymouth Fury, a.k.a. a standard issue Toronto Police vehicle back in the day. Today's version of Blinky is a 1987 Plymouth Caravelle with facial features such as eyes that move and blink, and a long, pink nose. Whether or not the car still exists intact is unconfirmed, however the car used to make occasional appearances in parades. Since the car was immobile, it had to be towed behind more modern, functioning vehicles. Do you remember, or know about, Blinky? Or do you just think he looks really creepy? Let us know below!
Did you know that there are 1 billion cars in use on Earth? And that 92% of all the cars sold in Brazil run on ethanol?
Ethanol is an alcohol that is produced from sugar cane. It is a renewable resource, and reduces green house gas emissions and oil dependence.
With all the vehicles in operation across the planet, more and more consumers are looking for environmentally friendly car options.
If this is the case for you, do your research and plan accordingly. When buying a new car, make sure that the vehicle you're looking at meets your needs for the short term and for the long term.
Think about mileage, cargo capacity and safety. Look at customer reviews and industry information.
Have you heard about the car that runs off of salt water?
It's called the QUANT E-Sports Limousine. It's an all-electric vehicle that runs off of... you guessed it... salt water!
It debuted at the 2014 Geneva Auto Show, and it is NOT a prototype! In fact, the car has been approved for on-road testing in Germany!
It works with a technology developed by nanoFLOWCELL. Each vehicle has 4 electric motors, and 2 tanks that contain up to 400 liters of salt water. Electricity is generated from the salt water and is then stored in capacitors until it is used up.
Essentially, the vehicle is self-reliant and can produce it's own energy! Can you believe it?
And with all this talk about autonomous vehicles, have you ever thought about what having that kind of technology would lead to in terms of insurance and user safety?
Well, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has, and here's what they say:
1. Drivers would need to obtain a license in order to operate self-driving vehicles.
2. There would need to be new regulations regarding testing for self-driving vehicle licenses.
3. New principles for operating these vehicles.
4. Operating the self-driving vehicles for things other than testing.
Fun Fact Friday is back! And today we're asking...
Where's the weirdest place you've ever seen a car accident? Well, we think we can top that...
A showroom car crashed through the window of a Chinese dealership several stories up! What happened is that the customer wanted to test out the engine, but didn't realize the car was in gear!
Luckily, he didn't go all the way through the window, and was able to walk away from the incident unscathed. All that can be seen at the site of the accident is the demolished window of the showroom and half a car hanging out. How weird is that?
Hopefully none of you will ever get yourselves into such a position, but if you do, False Creek Collision will be right there to lend you a helping hand.
Apparently Vancouver has the WORST grid lock in Canada. CTV News reports that the city has 35% congestion, meaning that it takes 35% longer to arrive at your destination than other parts of Canada.
Being stuck in traffic is no fun at all. Let's all do our part to walk, cycle or take public transport whenever we're able!Being stuck in traffic is no fun at all. Let's all do our part to make sure our vehicles adhere to air care regulations and are tuned up regularly!
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