Next Recession Victim: Highway Rest Stops

Under rules, effective immediately, fines run as high as $2,750

(NEWSER) - Drivers of trucks and buses who text behind the wheel will be subject to thousands of dollars in fines, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today. The federal prohibition, which takes effect immediately, applies only to commercial vehicles. But distracted driving is one of LaHood's top issues, CNN reports. "This is an important safety step, and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving," he said. More»

Limit of 70 is stifling economy, government argues

(NEWSER) - Britain's government—citing major advances in vehicle safety and the fact that half the country's drivers are ignoring the current limit of 70 miles per hour—is planning to raise the speed limit to 80 on the nation's highways. "Britain's roads should be the arteries of a healthy economy and cars are a vital lifeline for many," the country's transport secretary said, slamming the previous administration's "shortsighted and misguided war on the motorist." More»

Baby boomers will outlive their driving ability

(NEWSER) - As the baby boomer generation enters old age, the graying of America may be felt dramatically on the road. In 15 years, 1 in 5 drivers will be 65 or older, reports AP . The NTSB is already trying to gauge the impact that might have—though smart cars and smart roads could make up for slower reflexes and keep people on the road longer. More»

Study says 30% can't help being lousy on the roads

(NEWSER) - Certain people—perhaps up to 30% of the population—may be fated by their genetic makeup to be bad drivers, a new study suggests. Researchers tested a small group of people on a driving simulator and found that subjects with a particular gene variant weren't so hot at keeping up with the course’s twists and turns. More»

(NEWSER) - NPR reporter Jason Beaubien didn’t plan to drive across Cuba, but it did provide an apt look at the many problems the island faces. The “Spanish phrase ‘No hay,’ meaning ‘there's no fill-in-the-blank,’ was a constant refrain on this trip,” he reports. The country’s transportation crisis means that cars are rarely available, and the only rental car he could find was a $100-a-day Samsung heap. More»