Trains, Planes & Autos

(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 »