TruTouch's current fingertip BAC detector.

Imagine having to scan your fingerprint before you can start your car, to determine if your blood-alcohol content (BAC) is within legal limits. Automotive suppliers Takata and TruTouch have just received a $2.25 million grant from the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) to further development of a system that would do just that. In the not-too-distant future, the technology could be voluntarily implemented on new cars, or mandated for use by those previously convicted of drunk driving.

The technology behind the system exists today, but it’s neither portable nor robust enough for use in a vehicle. Current systems are shoebox sized, and can operate only within a narrow window of temperature and humidity. Although the infrared scanners used are more accurate than a traditional Breathalyzer test, the current systems take several seconds to collect and analyze data, which is perceived as too long for a vehicle ignition interface.

The NHTSA backs the efforts of the ACTS, and it views the technology as a way of reducing the number of Americans killed in drunk driving related accidents each year. In 2009, nearly 11,000 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, which made up 32 percent of all traffic fatalities.

Assuming the engineering obstacles can be overcome, the systems could hit the market in 8 to 10 years. Whether that’s a good thing or an invasion of your privacy is entirely up to you.

Source: Detroit Free Press

That's a cop car? Damn... Image: Ford Motor Company

With the recent death of the Crown Victoria, Ford is looking to remind police agencies from coast to coast that it still builds police cars. Coincidentally, the Michigan State Police have just certified both the Sedan and Utility versions of the Ford Police Interceptor as “pursuit certified.” We don’t know exactly what that means, other than both vehicles have passed tests for acceleration, handling and braking, but we’re sure of this: we’re not going to try and outrun either version.

Ford’s taking a novel approach to building police cars since the demise of the Crown Vic; to minimize departmental expenses, both the Utility (based on the new Ford Explorer) and Sedan (based on the new Ford Taurus) versions share a significant number of common parts. Both come in AWD as their standard configuration, and both are powered by V-6, not V-8 engines. The Utility gets a 3.7-liter V-6, good for 300 horsepower, while the Sedan gets either a normally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 (good for 280 horsepower) or the EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6 (good for 365 horsepower).

As you’d expect, components like brakes are beefed up, and Ford’s police interceptors get speed rated, performance-oriented tires. Both are designed to withstand a 75 mile per hour rear impact, and both can be ordered with bullet-resistant Kevlar sheeting in the doors. Most important of all, both look downright sinister.

I’ve never had the cop-car jones before, since most are lumbering beasts that could only be considered fast in a straight line, and only when compared to average family sedans. I know the Interceptor Sedan pictured above is Ford’s rendering of what one could look like, if a department was willing to purchase aftermarket wheels and drop the ride height, but I’d still like to see this hit production for us civilians. If the Taurus SHO looked this good, Ford would sell every one they built.

Image: Leo-setä

Good news, squeegee operators: the squeegee man, once the symbols of a collapsed economy and moral decay in New York City, is back. It’s time to break out those filthy jeans and your best lice-covered hoodie and hit the streets, because the good old days (and by that I mean bad old days) are here again. Talking Points Memo reports that the once endangered species is back with a vengeance, here to spread grime on your windshield and key your car if you don’t tip generously enough.

Forget about avoiding them, since squeegee men know to work the areas of the city where traffic bottlenecks, like Times Square and approaches to the Lincoln Tunnel. Forget about avoiding eye contact, since a good squeegee man will feel free to knock on your window (or kick in your door, should you be bold enough to piss them off). Your choices are pretty simple – you can either pay them, or suffer the consequences. Unlike a ticket for toll avoidance, the wrath of the homeless squeegee man is instantaneous.

Back in the days when Rudy Giuliani and Ray Kelly cleaned up New York, squeegee men were hunted to the point of extinction. Now, thanks to record poverty and unemployment (coupled with shrinking police budgets), the time is right for the return of the squeegee men.

In fact, I’m guessing the return of Times Square to it’s once pristine condition, complete with porno theaters, peep show and fake ID joints, isn’t far behind. It’s about time the city got rid of that family riff-raff that’s been spending money and perpetually watching performances of The Lion King on Broadway.

Source: Talking Points Memo

Image: Yuri Long

If, for some unknown reason, you really want to get into a car accident, the best place in the country to live is Washington, DC. In DC, your chance of having an accident goes up by 107 percent compared to the national average, which probably explains why so many law firms call DC home.

Looking at the top 10 cities for bad drivers, 8 of 10 are in the Northeast. New York City doesn’t make the list, coming in 22nd in the country for accident rate. Surprisingly, Boston doesn’t make the cut, either, but that has more to do with Allstate not selling auto insurance in Massachusetts than it does with the ability of Boston drivers to avoid accidents.

Here’s the complete list of the top-10 worst driver cities, along with your increased likelihood of getting waffled while driving through:

1 Washington, DC, 107%
2 Baltimore, MD, 89%
3 Glendale, CA, 81%
4 Newark, NJ, 71%
5 Providence, RI, 67%
6 Philadelphia, PA, 60%
7 Hartford, CT, 60%
8 Jersey City, NJ, 58%
9 San Francisco, CA, 57%
10 Alexandria, VA 56%

Source: Autoweek

Chevy Impala’s, Dodge Charger’s, and of course the iconic Ford Crown Victoria, all cars that have been known to strike fear into those who have seen them in their rear view mirrors. These three giants are the main rides for law enforcement fleets here in the United States and are key components when it comes to crime prevention. The Ford Crown Victoria for example, is probably one of the toughest vehicles on the planet Earth. It’s big and reliable and at days end has the ability to dish out some serious pain when called upon to do so. But what about when their service lives are over, what then? Some of course are sold at auctions to taxi fleets around the country, while a few others manage to find their way into private hands. I had an acquaintance who used to own an ex-state police Chevrolet Impala back in the early 90′s. It was turd brown with poverty caps over steel wheels and a spotlight on the drivers door. Was it pretty? Um… no. But I’d be lying if I said that we didn’t feel like rock stars when we cruised around in that thing.

Yes, the automotive seas would part upon our arrival to any open road, but the problem was that this guy would act like a police officer, something that was a big no-no in my book. He would ride the bumpers of unsuspecting motorists which would at times frighten them into making abrupt, sometimes unsafe lane changes. He would also park in handicapped spaces and fire zones as the local constabulary would think his car was one of their own. After a while the cops got wise to his antics and began to ticket him so relentlessly that he ended up selling the car. The point of this story was not so much that this guy turned out to be somewhat of a tool, but that it soured me on the fact that I now look at all ex-police cars and more importantly their drivers this way. How about you guys… would you, or do own an ex-cop car, and if so, what are your experiences with it?

The National Insurance Crime Bureau keeps tab on things like car theft by state without regard to a vehicles insured status. That’s significant, because it looks at ALL car thefts, not just those that were reported to an insurance company. Each year, the NICB publishes a list of the most stolen vehicles in the United States, and the top 10 may come as a surprise.

There aren’t any exotics or luxury cars on the list, and the most valuable car in the top 10 probably doesn’t crack the $10,000 barrier. These aren’t cars stolen to order by gangs who specialize in shipping containers of hot cars to South America; instead, they’re cars that get snatched because they’re easy to steal, or have parts common to a wide range of other vehicles.

There are some benchmarks for the 2011 list. For the first time since 2002, car thieves preferred domestic cars to imports, and Ford had more vehicles in the top ten than any other domestic maker. The top three positions, however, are still held by Japanese automakers, a trend that has remained unchanged since 2000. If there’s good new, it’s this: pending the latest FBI preliminary crime stats, car theft is at its lowest point since 1967.

Which vehicles made this year’s “Hot Wheels” list?

1. 1994 Honda Accord
2. 1995 Honda Civic
3. 1991 Toyota Camry
4. 1999 Chevrolet Pickup (full-size)
5. 1997 Ford F150 Pickup
6. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
7. 2000 Dodge Caravan
8. 1994 Acura Integra
9. 2002 Ford Explorer
10. 1999 Ford Taurus

To keep any car safe from theft, the NICB recommends a layered approach to security. A car alarm and steering wheel lock (like The Club) won’t deter a serious thief, but if his choice comes down to someone else’s car with a blinking red light and a bar locked to the steering wheel, versus yours that has neither, which car do you think he’ll choose?

Want complete detail, including state-specific theft listings? Visit the NICB’s website.

I’ve always said that motorcycle cops are some of the best riders on the planet. Their training course, in virtually any department, is among the most challenging things you can do in law enforcement. These guys throw around 700 pound Harleys like they were scooters, and their low-speed bike handling skills are second to none.

This video comes from a recent “rodeo” event in Grand Prairie, TX. I’ve been riding for a lot of years, and I’ll say this flat out: I doubt I could run the course without hitting a cone on a 250cc bike, let alone a full size Harley. I know for certain that I couldn’t match this guy’s time, no matter what I was riding. Despite the comments at the end of the video, a single training course won’t have you riding like this: what you see here takes years of practice, and a lot of low speed crashing.

Source: You Tube

Image: Lotus

Police departments in Italy have used some impressive rides throughout the years. The Italian State Police (Polizia di Stato) had a pair of Lamborghini Gallardos until one was totaled in a wreck with a Seat Ibiza. Now comes word from Lotus that the Italian Military Police, the Arma dei Carabinieri, have taken delivery of two specially equipped Lotus Evora S police cars.

Image: Lotus

Evora S models sport a 3.5-liter, supercharged Toyota V-6 good for some 345 horsepower. That’s good enough for a zero to sixty time of 4.3 seconds, and a top speed of 172 miles per hour. That may not be fast enough to run with a Ferrari 458 Italia, but that’s plenty fast to hunt down your average Fiat or Alfa Romeo. Besides, that’s not the purpose of these particular police cars.

The Evoras will be based in Rome and Milan, and will be reserved for special duty and driven by officers who’ve been through Lotus’ Performance Driving Academy. Both cars come equipped with a portable refrigeration unit, so one likely duty will be transporting organs for transplant. The cars are also equipped with the latest in voice-recognition technology, which should allow safe operation of vehicle systems, even at high speeds.

Source: Lotus

Image: Fábio Pozzebom, Agência Brasil

Mike and I are just back from One Lap of America. In case you’re not familiar with the event, it involves driving ten or so events at about eight different tracks over an eight day period. Race tracks in the United States are not conveniently located next to one another, and part of the One Lap Challenge is the transit legs. One leg in this year’s event involved driving nearly 700 miles after racing two events; in other words, you don’t even start the drive until mid-afternoon. Technically, you can go from event to event driving the posted speed limit (as some teams do), but you forgo a significant amount of sleep. It comes down to this: you need to push hard enough to get as much rest as possible, without jeopardizing your license or becoming a temporary resident of some backwater county jail.

There are plenty of lists on the internet showing which states to avoid speeding in. New Jersey tops most lists, but having lived there for 16 years I’m not sure I agree. Yes, you will get popped for speeding if you drive like an asshat, but your chances of getting pulled over while keeping up with traffic aren’t high. Traffic generally flows at about 15 MPH over the posted limit, and rush-hour traffic stops are virtually non-existent. I’d still advise caution while driving in the Garden State, but it certainly doesn’t make my top five list.

Based on our experiences on this year’s One Lap of America, I offer up the following five states as the worst for speed enforcement. Your mileage may vary, so to say, so if you have a differing opinion just let us know.

Virginia

How bad is the state of Virginia for speeders? Even a truck from the New Jersey State Police Urban Search and Rescue Team, bound for the devastation in Alabama, was driving at the posted speed limit. Virginia bans radar detectors, so you’re driving blind on their highways. PBA cards won’t help you here, since Virginia cops will even ticket cops from other states.

Ohio

Another perennial favorite on the list of states not to speed in, Ohio generally ranks just below New Jersey. You’ll see it all here, including unmarked cars pacing traffic, laser and multiple radar bands. If you keep your speed within a reasonable approximation of the speed limit, and keep your head on a swivel, chances are you’ll be alright.

Louisiana

Mike and I saw more cops in Louisiana than in any other state on the trip. Maybe that’s why the state has such a high crime rate: focusing on speed enforcement must be more lucrative than actually creating a police presence in high-crime areas. If you’re driving through Louisiana, keep your speed in check.

Alabama

Surprisingly, Alabama had the second highest number of cops shooting radar. The area around Birmingham was heavily patrolled and enforced, which struck me as odd. With all the tornado damage in the area, I don’t think my primary focus would be ensuring compliance with traffic laws.

Indiana

Nowhere near as bad as the other four states, Indiana still had more traffic enforcement than the remaining states we drove through. Watch your speed through bigger cities like Indianapolis and you should be fine.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t remind you that speeding is illegal and comes with inherent risk. Always drive with respect to conditions, your own capabilities and your mental state. Watch out for trucks, since high-speed fly-bys tend to irritate them, and truckers use CB radios. Some even like to enforce the speed limit by pulling alongside another truck and blocking your ability to pass. No matter how irritating this may be, keep your head and pass only when safe.

I’ll warn you in advance: turn the sound off on this video. The commentator sounds as if he were dropped on his head repeatedly as a child, or perhaps oxygen-starved during his developmental years. The beauty of the video has nothing to do with the commentary, but instead it’s all about the actions of the New Jersey State Trooper. I spent a lot of years driving in the Garden State, and I don’t think I ever saw a driver stopped for less than 15 MPH over the limit on an interstate highway, the NJ Turnpike or the Parkway. Still, some drivers get paralyzed by fear when they see a state trooper in their rearview mirror, and yielding the lane never occurs to them. In fact, their reptilian hind-brain takes over, commanding their right foot to maintain a speed of no more than 54 miles per hour.

It’s equally likely that the Honda driver had a cell phone glued to his or her ear and was completely unaware that a state trooper was about to begin bump drafting. I’m actually surprised they yielded the lane, even after the cop lit them up; you’d be surprised how many drivers no longer pay attention to approaching lights and sirens. I’ll give a big thumbs up to the trooper in the video, and go on record as encouraging similar behavior from police agencies everywhere. Want to cut down on road rage and improve traffic flow? Getting left lane clots out of the way is a good place to start.

Source: AutoGuide