A few interesting traffic-related things that caught my eye over the holiday break…

“Between 1960 and 2002, the average weight of Americans increased an astonishing 24 pounds. The scientists only looked at passenger vehicle travel, and used 2003 statistics to determine how many people travelled and for what distances. They calculated that it took no less than 938 million gallons of gasoline to carry around the extra weight, compared to what it would have taken if people weighed what they did in 1960.” (Spacing Toronto).

Thai traffic cops forced to wear smile masks, reports the New York Times. “The new cloth masks, which hook behind the ears and cover the mouth and nose, will help “reduce the stress from drivers when they see the police,” said Mr. Somyos, the highway police commander.

Relatedly, a new study finds, perhaps not surprisingly, a link between the obesity of nations and their rates of cycling and walking. “Based on transportation data from 2000, Europeans walked an average of 382 kilometers per person a year compared to Americans at 140 kilometers a year. They also bicycled more, 188 kilometers a year to 40 kilometers a year for Americans… Health data in 2002 showed that the U.S., at 23.9 percent, had the highest rate of obesity of any country in the study. Switzerland had the lowest at 8 percent while the Netherlands had 8.1 percent and Sweden had 9.4 percent. These statistics are based on health interview surveys that rely on self-report of height and weight.”

The New York Times calls for a higher fuel tax, while David Levinson considers what to do as the revenue from a gas tax dries up.

No Wonder They Call It “No Park Slope”: “In the survey, the average length of residents’ searches for parking was 27 minutes, though a lucky 40 percent said they found parking in 10 minutes or less.” Via the New York Times.

One in Three Drivers Given Wrong Directions by GPS (One-Quarter Have Chucked Their Road Atlases).

Ford goes for the Prius Effect: “”The main question hybrid drivers had was, ‘How do I know I’m getting the most out of my hybrid,'” said Jeff Greenberg, Ford senior technical leader. “We needed to create a system that better communicates with drivers and gives them the tools to maximize fuel efficiency. That’s what SmartGauge with EcoGuide does.” Via the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Los Angeles Times parses the finer points of the state’s new ban on texting-while-driving. Indiana, meanwhile, mulls a ban, but bizarrely only for drivers younger than 18 (you’d arguably save more lives by simply banning drivers under 18)

Are appletinis making the road less safe?

Even as traffic fatalities overall decline, a new record is set for law enforcement officials killed on the road.

The “How’s My Driving” sticker idea spreads (via Road King).

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 1st, 2009 at 4:01 pm and is filed under Etc., Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.