In October 2016, beer maker Anheuser-Busch made the nation’s first commercial shipment by self-driving truck, completing a journey of 120 miles through Colorado with a driver on board but not behind the wheel. US Not First with Autonomous Trucks Six months earlier, a “platoon” of six convoys of two or three semi-automated “smart” trucks, linked…
Forget drinking and driving. The government has a new type of impairment to think about plaguing the entire country. It’s called Pokémon. Well, Pokémon Go to be more exact. The strange creatures are now a hit mobile game that has people of all ages stumbling around like zombies trying to “hunt” the virtual cartoons, which make appearances…
It seems asinine that a drug less toxic and less responsible for deaths than alcohol ever made it to the drug category deemed most dangerous by the federal government. While marijuana reform is gaining ground across the U.S., the federal government still classifies it as a Schedule I controlled substance, on par with dangerous substances like heroin…
While automakers rush to get totally driverless vehicles on the road, many believe that full autonomy may not be the best approach. For over a decade car manufacturers have been trying to develop driverless cars, claiming that fully autonomous cars would be safer than regular cars and might make traffic flow smoother. They cite the…
Just how bad are Portland drivers again? If you’ve been following along you probably know that PDX was ranked poorly in a recent traffic report released by Allstate last year. Despite efforts to improve transportation, we keep outdoing ourselves. Just two years ago, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) felt the need to remind local drivers just…
Living in Oregon, we’re used to rain in all its forms, from mist to drizzle and downpour. Drivers here need to be aware of the hazards each rainy weather condition presents and be prepared. Driving Hazards of First Rain While a refreshing change, a summer or fall light mist is one of the most dangerous…
The City of Portland is well known for its awareness of all things environmental. While most cities in the U.S. have trash bins with just one hole in them, Portland’s boast three — one for trash, one for recyclables, and even one for composting. It’s even #2 on Grist’s 15 Green Cities, a list that ranks…
In an effort to reduce the 1,115 yearly fatal crashes involving heavy trucks, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) seeks to forcibly limit how fast trucks, buses and other large vehicles can travel on the nation’s highways. The nationwide limit would electronically cap speeds at 60, 65, or 68 mph with a device on newer U.S….
The Portland Police Bureau added enhanced DUII patrols this past Labor Day Weekend, preventing fatalities during one of the year’s most dangerous weekends on the roadways. A stronger economy with lower unemployment plus lower gas prices put 70 percent more Oregonians on the road in 2015 than in the previous year, with an increase in traffic…
What is the one thing Portlanders have in common with Californians? Unsightly traffic congestion. Recently, Rose City ranked near the top for America’s worst commute in two traffic studies: the TomTom 2015 Traffic Index and the INRIX traffic report. The city is tied with Washington DC and Chicago for congestion level, or added travel time, in the…