Interesting tidbits
Have you seen the new Ford F150 SVT Raptor? Well, autoblog.com was able to test drive one and they cannot say enough about how wonderful it is. “Perhaps the single most impressive production vehicle ever,” according to them. That’s pretty impressive. What’s even more impressive is that the Customs and Border Protection division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security want the Raptor…at least 10 of them. The government wants these pickup trucks but just the bare bone work interiors, which according to autoblog.com, that would make these trucks even ”more functional and/or intimidating.” There is a choice of engine - either the 5.4-liter Triton V8 or the very powerful all new 6.2-liter V8. Either way, don’t try to run at the border, unless you want the Ford Raptor after you and that would be scary!
So, the Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, there will be a summit next month in Washington D.C. to discuss what to do about people talking and texting while driving. All the studies are showing that there are more accidents due to texting and talking on the cell phone. So, some Congress members, law enforcement officers, transportation officials, safety advocates, and professors who study distracted driving will meet to try to figure out a plan. The thing is they just can’t pass a law saying no talking or texting while driving. This doesn’t work. People will still do it. They need to try to educate and enforce these laws to make it effective. There was a study that was released last week by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institutestating that drivers of heavy trucks were 23 times more likely to get in an accident if there were texting and 6 times were likely if they were talking on the phone. Another report by Car and Driver magazinesays that texting and driving is more dangerous than drunk driving. Wow!