Lessons From a Cuban Roadtrip

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»

America has fallen behind Brazil, China, India

(NEWSER) - If the United States wants to get its infrastructure up to date, it’s going to need to throw $2 trillion at it. The US is falling behind much of the world when it comes to improving and expanding its transportation network, and now lags behind Brazil, China, and India, a new study by the Urban Land Institute finds. One stark example: In the US, the FAA’s funding bill expired in 2007 and has been extended 18 times, while in China, $1 trillion will be spent on high-speed rail, highways, and more infrastructure projects in five years. More»

(NEWSER) - Two-thirds of the country lives in big cities, but less than half of the federal stimulus’ transportation money is going to fix their often crumbling roads, the New York Times reports. States were allowed to decide for themselves how stimulus money was spent, and state lawmakers have a long history of spending disproportionately on less-populous areas, to please as many lawmakers as possible. More»

Drivers left crossing their legs as states close pit stops to save cash

(NEWSER) - The pit stops along American highways are starting to go the way of the Pony Express as states slash their budgets, the Wall Street Journal reports. Some states argue that the mushrooming of gas stations and motels at interstate exits make the rest stops obsolete, but American Automobile Association officials warn the trend means drivers will need "a strong rear end and a strong bladder" to hit the highways. More»

(NEWSER) - What's Italian for "leadfoot"? A Milanese man going 168mph was busted on four separate highway cameras in less than hour, ANSA reports. He was driving for his employer, whose lawyers argue that he should be responsible for just one infraction. They said they also plan to cite a court ruling that says signs identifying cameras must be a certain distance from a speed trap, adding: “Naturally, we do not condone such driving at all.” More»