Trains, Planes & Autos

(Newser) - A New York supporter of Barack Obama has vanity plates bearing his candidate’s name, but dares not use them, the Post reports. The man, who got the plates during the primaries, has caught thieves trying to pry them off his car. “Those plates will probably, at some point, become a collector's item—in someone else's house,” he said. He now carries them inside his vehicle. More »

(Newser) - Three bodies have been recovered after an Air New Zealand jet with seven aboard crashed into the Mediterranean today, AFP reports. The Airbus A320—which can carry about 150 passengers—was on a test flight when it went down off the coast of the French city of Perpignan. Five on board were New Zealanders, while the two pilots were German. More »

(Newser) - A House committee will hear struggling automakers out on their new ideas for federal aid Dec. 5, the Wall Street Journal reports today, with Detroit’s plan due to Congress’ Democratic leaders by Tuesday. Dems say approval of billions in federal funds hinges on making Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler “viable,” and a spokesman says the companies are “working tirelessly.” More »

(Newser) - The next time you honk your car’s horn, you might want to ask why you're doing it. Grabbing the horn by the bull for Slate, Dave Johns thinks you’re probably too close to do anything but tell your obstacle to get out of the way. That’s because drivers use their horns “as a tool for scolding rather than safety,” one expert says. More »

(Newser) - In the eyes of religious conservatives, this Saudi motorcycle gang may as well be the Hell’s Angels. But the Muslim professionals in the Riyadh Harley Owners Club do pull over to pray, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Despite the region's religious taboos, strict laws, and stereotypes, motorcycle riding is growing in popularity. The club now counts 300 members who ride together weekly. More »

(Newser) - The latest Ferraris burn up roads and handle like dreams, but their looks are fading, Gavin Green writes in Car Magazine . The California "has a fat arse," the 612 is "ill-proportioned," and the Enzo "is more bug than bird," grieves Green—who expressed his woes over dinner with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, "a man who oozes style." More »

(Newser) - If a pilot program sees good results, teen drivers may soon find themselves under surveillance, reports the Washington Post . Parents in southern Maryland find the new webcam system, which records possible unsafe driving practices, a useful tool. Their offspring, however, aren't thrilled at the prospect of losing one of their last refuges from the watchful eye of Mom and Dad. More »

(Newser) - Transit agencies nationwide are facing the prospect of unexpectedly having to repay billions in loans to large banks under financing deals made years ago, the Washington Post reports. Because AIG guaranteed many of the agreements, the insurance behemoth's woes could potentially affect millions of public transit riders as banks worldwide demand full payment for multimillion-dollar loans in coming weeks. More »

(Newser) - A team of British engineers is planning to build a car that could reach up to 1000mph and pulverize the team’s own land speed record of 763mph, reports the Independent . The toughest part of building Bloodhound, as the car is called, will be raising the needed $20 million—and figuring out how to stop the thing from going airborne. More »

(Newser) - A new software technology can automatically disable cell phones moving at car speeds, augmenting laws already in place forbidding their use while driving, RealTechNews reports. The developer, Canada's Aegis Mobility, is partnering with Nationwide insurance to offer discounts to adopters. Aegis still needs carrier support but expects the software to available next year. More »

(Newser) - It may seem incongruous, but in a region rife with anti-American sentiment, the all-American symbol has found a home: Harley-Davidsons are on the rise in the Middle East, even in conservative countries like Saudi Arabia. The hogs’ popularity was marked this month by Lebanon’s first-ever Harley-Davidson tour, which saw some 130 bikers from across the Mideast gather to cruise through the country—women and children included, the Los Angeles Times reports. More »

(Newser) - Used-car buyers, beware: Missing or ruined air bags are posing a threat to unsuspecting drivers’ lives, an NPR investigation finds. Some dealerships put greed over safety and sell cars that have been in accidents without replacing the protective pouches. Instead, they may stick faulty air bags back in the car, or jam paper or beer cans in the empty compartment. More »

(Newser) - When local son Chuck Yeager flew his jet under a Charleston bridge in 1948, there was no advance warning—and no official record of it afterward. The rebellious fighter pilot was scheduled to buzz a boat race, but no one expected him to do it from 6 feet above the water, and no one snapped a picture, reports the Charleston Gazette . More »

(Newser) - The oft-frustrating 3-ounces-in-a-baggie restriction on carrying liquids through airport security could be gone within a year, the Wall Street Journal reports. After testing out X-ray technology that detects bomb-making fluids, the Transportation Security Administration’s only remaining step is making sure the software works. “It’s not ready yet, but we are highly confident it will be effective,” the TSA head says. More »

(Newser) - The engineer steering the Metrolink train that crashed last month sent a text message 22 seconds before the fatal collision, the Los Angeles Times reports. Robert M. Sanchez sent 29 text messages Sept. 12, a federal investigation reveals. The commuter train ran through a red signal and hit a freight train, killing 25 and injuring 135 in California's worst modern train collision. More »