In 200 Yards, Tell Your GPS to Shut Up Already

Cars, bikes, public transit can coexist: Justin Davidson

(NEWSER) - Driving has become a sin, "demoted to a form of depravity": Holier-than-thou car-haters remind motorists that they're destroying lives, wrecking the planet, and boosting our dependence on foreign oil. But there's a time and a place for driving, even in New York City, writes Justin Davidson in New York . "Cars are too useful, too profitable, and too enjoyable to vanish." More»

$200 Handpresso Auto likely headed to US soon

(NEWSER) - Busy caffeine-lovers, rejoice. You can now save time by brewing espresso while... cruising the highway. The Handpresso Auto, available only in France for the moment, plugs into a car's cigarette lighter and delivers up a steaming cup of espresso. All you have to do is add water and insert a pod of coffee grounds. The flashlight-sized device retails for $198, reports Bloomberg BusinessWeek . Brewing while driving is legal in France, but Handpresso helpfully encourages users to pull over before blending and drinking their espresso. More»

For starters, a Netflix model on ownership

(NEWSER) - Google's big idea to put self-driving cars on the road someday could be a game-changer. Three quick opinions:

• Netflix for autos? "Cars that don't need drivers also may not need private owners—since they could be summoned remotely and returned once their journey is complete," writes Doron Levin at Fortune . "Why take on a lease if you can purchase a subscription to a car instead? ... Car owners who never want to spend a Saturday under the hood or in the waiting room of a mechanic's shop again might quickly adapt to a car subscription model."

No age limit for bad behavior behind wheel

(NEWSER) - One-third of 16- and 17-year-olds say they have written text messages while behind the wheel. Despite that, young drivers are actually more responsible than many adults: 48% of respondents aged 12 to 17 say they’ve been in the car with a driver who was texting. One boy said his dad “drives like he's drunk. His phone is just like sitting right in front of his face, and he puts his knees on the bottom of the steering wheel and tries to text." More»

Environmentally-conscious motorists also drive more, study says

(NEWSER) - Owners of hybrid vehicles tend to drive more, have higher repair bills, and get more tickets than their gas-guzzling counterparts, the Car Connection reports. A study of the behavior of 360,000 motorists found insurers pay 17% more for comprehensive coverage of hybrid owners compared to owners of conventional models. Toyota Prius owners specifically committed 0.38 violations per 100,000 miles driven, compared to an average of 0.23. More»