Apparently receiving a thumbs-down on their idea for roadhead simulation devices, Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to introduce new technology designed to keep drivers awake and attentive behind the wheel. After conducting internal research, Mercedes Benz revealed that about 25% of serious traffic accidents are caused by exhausted drivers and that drowsy driving causes more accidents than drunk driving. Aiming to reduce those numbers, in March 2009, the new Mercedes E-Class will offer “Attention Assist”, a driver monitoring system that follows in the footsteps of Volvo’s Driver Alert Control system [which, we would like to note, Volvo has been offering since 2005]. Merc’s technology will take cues from Volvo’s, which currently uses advanced Delphi camera systems and MobilEye image recognition software to monitor minor steering errors followed by larger corrections, lack of response to other vehicles, and changes in eye movement.
Last summer, I visited Mexico with a few friends. One of those friends was the internationally famous musical sensation Joshua Schulman from the band “Thunderbang!“. Josh was the driver and I was primarily the passenger. I sat back, drank Pernod, and took in the beautiful scenery and heavy aromas. I was also in charge of the radio, and bribing officials when we encountered trouble. Bring lots of extra cash to Mexico.
Now, driving in Mexico City is insane. We rented a car, a Nissan Tsuru (although we were given a Chrysler Town & Country), to visit the Toltec ruins in Tula, and on the way back had the misfortune of getting lost north of Mexico City’s historic district, where, among other mistakes, we drove through a market and almost killed a number of extended families.
Josh was nice enough to highlight some of the choice bits of driving wisdom he learned from this harrowing experience in Mexico City:
There’s a fantastic 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T on eBay just begging to be painted alpine white and driven from Denver to San Francisco at an insane rate of speed while evading police and getting into adventures. If you don’t understand what I’m talking about, then you need to get on your Netflix queue and put the 1971 classic Vanishing Point on top.
Vanishing Point is, by far, the greatest road movie of all time. It’s the story of a man named Kowalski driving a brand new alpine white 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T across the western United States, and I’ll just leave it at that. The movie has to been seen to be appreciated. It’s a masterpiece, just like the ‘70 Challenger R/T.
All week long and all weekend long the sounds of hot rods and cruisers will fill Woodward Ave outside of Detroit, Michigan with the site of chrome and the unmistakable rumble of V8 engines. However on Saturday the entire road will become alive with the festivities that come with the Woodward Dream Cruise. Everything from car show, manufacturer’s displays, demonstrations, concept cars and cruisers along with a multitude of on-lookers will line the length of Woodward Ave. Despite the crowds it truly is a Cruisers paradise.
If you are in the surrounding area of South-East Detroit and you are not sure whether you want to attend this years Woodward Cruise follow the link below to checkout the schedule of events for each of the townships that Woodward Ave passes through.
Transportation and adventure seems to be the topic of the day and makes for an opportune time to talk about something new I just discovered. The Hatfield-McCoy’s Trails in West Virginia is a state tourism attraction designed to provide more of what the state has to offer in a semi-controlled environment. Maybe this is another way to off-set the winter ski season with the multi-season even of driving ATV’s along skill rated trails.
The trails also go by another name, Trails Heaven, based of the West Virginia theme of “Almost Heaven.” The state managed trails provide a safe adventure through marked trails that will take the rider beyond what is seen along the normal highway or rural road. Between each trail is a town that is finally enjoying a revival of sorts after losing much of the coal revenues of old.
The trails have brought an economic return into the state and counties that it crosses. In 2006 it was reported that the Trails Heaven has carried into the state $7.7million dollars in tourism revenues. Between the fees riders pay for the permits to drive the trails and the food and lodging provided many of the small communities around the trails have benefited.
There are currently 500-miles in the trails system and plans for more trails are in the works. And the attraction of the trails must be working as over 25,000 paid to cross the rugged terrain just last year. So if you are seeking a new off-road adventure from which you can enjoy the sights that nature has to offer take a look at the Hatfield-McCoy’s Trails.
It is that time of year again when the Ponies gather by the oceans side to frolic and play in wild herds the size of which few have ever witnessed. The 2007 Mustang Week in Myrtle Beach, SC begins festivities this Tuesday, July 24th at Planet Hollywood across from Broadway at the Beach. Events scheduled for the week are as follows:
Tuesday - Meet and Greet at Planet Hollywood - 4:30pm to 8:30pm Wednesday - Fun Runs and Burn Out Contest at the Myrtle Beach Speedway - 4pm to 9pm Thursday - Drag Night at Darlington Dragway, preceded by a cruise to the strip from the North Myrtle beach Hooters Friday - 4th Annual Car Show at Colonial Mall 2pm to 4pm with Dyno onsite. Saturday - Mustang and SVT Cruise-in at Colonial Mall in North Myrtle Beach - 3pm to 9pm
For a taste of the pony festivities take a look at this video complied from the 2005 Mustang Week.
For those of you in the South East looking to attend the official itenirary for Mustang Week is just a click away. For everyone else you can follow along on the MustangWeek webpage as both the Forums and Gallery for the event should be pretty busy this week.
A growing trend now days is for owners of specific cars to have a day, weekend or even longer, run by the car maker where they can get to grips with their new vehicle.
The latest is the Trail rides for the VW Touareg; these will take place in Moab, the state of Utah. This is a great opportunity to get those cars off road and see exactly what they can do and to see what the cars look like when they get a little bit dirty and possibly even get mud on the car.
The off road adventures will last for three days, a typical day would start with cocktails and gourmet food served at the Sorrel River Ranch, this would then be followed by some eight hours of trail driving, the courses have been designed to push the car and driver beyond the normal driving conditions that they are used to.
There is a guide for every two drivers, which is a pretty good ratio, so there is no excuse for missing something or hiding at the back of the pack, if you go here you can expect to get dirty along with your beloved car.
The cost of the experience is $2,000 per person, for the three days, but other members of the family can attend too for an extra $500 per person. Quite an expense, but also an experience to remember for all.
The National Motorist Associations (NMA), have announced the top ten speed trap locations for this weekend holiday period.
The list has been compiled by the pro safe speeding group Speed Trap, which has gathered the in data provided by its members, who send in details of tickets etc, that they have had or know someone else who has been ticketed for speeding.
Speeding is not condoned, but the issuing of tickets at such high rates is, so I believe that the theory of informing drivers that there are speed traps at certain locations, is not to help them avoid being caught, the idea is that if driver know that they are entering an area where they are likely to get a speeding ticket, even if they carelessly go just a couple of miles over the limit, they will drive more carefully and thus make the roads safer, without the issuing of tickets etc.
All motorists would be well advised to keep these locations in mind while driving this holiday.
1. Detroit, Michigan suburbs
2. Colorado Springs, Colorado
3. Houston, Texas
4. Orlando, Florida
5. Nashville, Tennessee
6. Ann Arbor, Michigan
7. Albuquerque, New Mexico
8. Washington, D.C.
9. Denver, Colorado
10. Virginia Beach, Virginia
This weekend is one of the busiest for people to take the road, therefore there will be more traffic on the roads and so it follows that there will be more traffic police looking for bad and speeding drivers, don’t spoil your weekend by getting a speeding ticket, you have been warned!
You may recall David Allen’s earlier coverage of Same Lane, the company that allows you to make live phone calls from one car to the another vehicle in front of you. A recent article by VroomVroomVroom introduces a related technology called PL8SCAN which allows you to text-message registered users by calling their license plate number as they drive past. I’m not exactly sure of the logistics of the technology, as I imagine that texting while driving isn’t the safest way to go. (Even where justified, when someone who just cut you off and “needs a lesson” in manners). But if you have passsengers, they could be the ones to text message. (Also check out the website Platewire, which lets you report the license plates of bad/rude drivers.)
In addition to PL8SCAN, the geek’s driving logistics article covers another 25 resources and applications, some web 2.0, all of which contribute to planning a great road trip. Vroom’s article will provide those of you with a lust for the road with a lot of new planning tools to help you shave time off your trip and enjoy yourself to the fullest.
Transportation and adventure seems to be the topic of the day and makes for an opportune time to talk about something new I just discovered. The Hatfield-McCoy’s Trails in West Virginia is a state tourism attraction designed to provide more of what the state has to offer in a semi-controlled environment. Maybe this is another way to off-set the winter ski season with the multi-season even of driving ATV’s along skill rated trails.
