Corn, OK in Washita County. Photo taken by Greg Willis (CC BY-SA 2.0)
1. National Focus
2. Top Regional and Local Headlines
3. Motorist Corner
4. Best from Auto Press
5. Opinion
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National Focus
November 8th is Election Day! Please don’t forget to vote and consider voting as a motorist. Before the midterms, electric vehicles have become a voting lightning rod. Here are the headlines:
- Motorists Vote 2022: GOP seizes on voter hesitancy to attack EVs (Autoblog)
- EVs Become a Debate Topic Ahead of Midterm Elections (Transport Topics)
- GOP Seizes on Voter Hesitancy to Attack EVs as Costly to US (US News & World Report/AP News)
Gas Prices Go Higher and Much Finger Pointing is Ongoing:
- Gasoline Prices Are Rising Again as Big Oil Profits Soar (Transport Topics)
- Why the Price of Gas Has Such Power Over Us (New York Times)
- Biden calls on oil, gas companies to stop ‘war profiteering,’ threatens windfall tax (Reuters)
- Oil companies rake in huge profits amid consumer squeeze (The Hill)
- Republicans probe oil reserve release (The Hill)
- Energy Company Warns Diesel Situation ‘Rapidly Devolving’ (The Truth About Cars)
- Seriously low diesel supply threatens to worsen inflation (The Hill)
- East Coast Diesel Prices Are Soaring (Oil Price)
- Analyst says diesel supply shortage in southeastern states ‘could become more of a challenge’ (The Center Square)
- National Average for Diesel Falls 2.4¢ to $5.317 a Gallon (Transport Topics)
- The Gas Station’s Hidden Battle to Survive (Politico)
Auto and Traffic Safety Headlines Once Again Topped the Driving News:
- Senator proposes requiring front cameras on cars to stop ‘frontover’ deaths (Autoblog)
- Tesla under Criminal Investigation from US Department of Justice over Self-Driving Claims (Car and Driver)
- NHTSA Launches Move Over Campaign To Convince Drivers Of The Obvious (CarScoops)
- FHWA releases guidance to reduce traffic fatalities under National Roadway Safety Strategy (Transportation Today News)
- Federal Government Pushes Collaboration on Road Safety (Planetizen)
- Why Car Drivers Fail To Look For Motorcyclists (Digital Journal)
- Illegal moped fatalities shoot up 42 percent in one year (NY Post)
- E-scooter accidents surge as the micromobility devices’ popularity grows (Smart Cities Dive)
- Laser Attack Blinds Autonomous Vehicles (Manufacturing.net)
Autonomous Vehicles Received a Set-Back This Week:
- Ford disbands Pittsburgh-based Argo AI autonomous vehicle unit, posts loss (CBS News)
- Here’s Why Argo AI Is Shutting Down (AutoWeek)
- Ford CEO gives insight into Argo AI’s shutdown (The Robot Report)
- Argo.ai Shuts Down – What Will Happen To Its LiDAR Unit? (Forbes)
- Analysis: Ford, VW pop the automated-vehicle bubble with Argo AI exit (Reuters)
- Ford thinks driver assist is a safer bet than driverless cars, but it’s fooling itself (The Verge)
- US Transportation Secretary Realizes Autonomous Cars Aren’t Ready (The Truth About Cars)
In other Auto Industry News This Week:
- BP and Hertz to build EV fast charging stations across the US (Smart Cities Dive)
- Automakers Claim They Can’t Comply With Right-to-Repair Laws (The Truth About Cars)
- Jury orders Ford to pay software company $105 million in trade secrets case (Autoblog)
- Safety regulators are investigating ‘catastrophic engine failure’ on some Ford Broncos (Consumer Affairs)
In Auto Tech Watch News:
- It’s time to admit self-driving cars aren’t going to happen (TechCrunch)
- Recent AV Advancements Indicate an Evolving Industry (EE Times)
- Editorial: Autonomous vehicles have a long way to go despite billions in investments (Auto News)
- How Advancements In Vehicle Safety Technology Can Eliminate Traffic Fatalities (Forbes)
- As automakers adjust, why are we still waiting for driverless cars? (Boston Globe)
- Automakers like Audi claim this new technology (C-V2X) will keep bikers safe. It won’t (Fast Company)
- ‘Buy America’ takes a back seat in drive to build EV charging stations (Roll Call)
- EV’s Carbon Footprint Will Decrease over Time, Report Says (Autoweek)
- The Midwest’s push to become an EV battery manufacturing hub (Fast Company)
- Why Many Fire Departments Aren’t Ready for Electric Vehicles (Route-Fifty)
- Here come the crop robots (Farm Progress)
In the Market for a New Vehicle? Check out these Headlines:
- Auto prices finally begin to creep down from inflated highs (AP News)
- Survey finds average US car buyer willing to pay 37 percent over MSRP (Autoblog)
- How to Buy a Car in a Recession (Jalopnik)
- Your New Car Might Not Come With a Spare Tire—and Why That’s Ridiculous (Popular Science)
The Trucking Industry made the News Once Again:
- Lower speed limits for trucks don’t decrease crash risk in construction zones: report (Smart Cities Dive)
- FMCSA plans proposal on automated driving systems for 2023 (Landline)
- Driver Shortage Decreases Slightly to 78,000, ATA Says (Transport Topics)
- California moves toward mandating zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles (Smart Cities Dive)
- Going electric: Opponents clash as California aims to force diesel trucks off the road (CalMatters)
In National Driving News This Week:
- Federal Judge Urges Congress And The Supreme Court To Abolish Qualified Immunity (Forbes)
- New speed camera implementation aims to save lives, but also causing road rage (NBC News)
- Vision Zero Cities Conference: How Electronic ‘Eyes’ Will Patrol the Curb of the Future (Streetsblog NYC)
- Gunshot Detection Technology Spurs Debate Over Policing and Surveillance (Bloomberg CityLab)
- States Rolling Out Digital Identity Cards Promise User Privacy (Bloomberg Law)
- Second rail union rejects deal, raising strike threat anew (Politico)
- Can kids wear puffy coats in car seats? No, safety experts say (USA Today)
In International Driving News This Week:
- EU takes another step toward banning new combustion-engine cars from 2035 (Autoblog)
- EU, US set up task force to resolve electric vehicle feud (WBBM 780)
- Uber Squeezed Europe’s Taxi Drivers. Now It Wants to Hire Them (Wired)
- The Most Loved And Hated Car Brands Around The World, Mapped (Digg)
- Austria launches digital driving licenses, its first digital ID, as US states align (Biometric Update)
- Germany puts off transport emissions decision until 2023 (The Hill)
- Police arrest nine over Indian bridge collapse, toll reaches 134 (Reuters)
- Kosovo backs off from Serb car plate rule after West warnings (Autoblog)
- New Zealand Police Charged In Speed Camera Fatality (TheNewspaper)
For a daily dose of motorist rights news, check out the NMA Driving News Feed today!
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Top Regional and Local Headlines
California
- The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announces $130M 2nd round for Volkswagen Mitigation zero-emission transit, school, and shuttle bus funding (Green Car Congress)
- Did California Just Kill Shared Micromobility? (Streetsblog California)
- California moves toward mandating zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles (Smart Cities Dive)
- California’s gas-car phaseout brings turmoil to mom-and-pop gas stations (Los Angeles Times)
- California sheriff’s office stops Black drivers five times more often than white people, data shows (The Guardian)
- Oil giants sell thousands of California wells, raising worries about future liability (Los Angeles Times/ProPublica)
- Frustrated Californians trashing electric scooters: report (Fox News)
- Sonoma County, CA spends $500,000 for bike lanes in Sonoma Valley (Sonoma News)
- Traffic Disruption California: New protected bike lanes to span from San Bruno to Burlingame (The Daily Journal)
- More toll lanes on the way to Inland Empire freeways (San Bernardino County) (Daily Bulletin)
- San Francisco Area: Express lanes on Highway 101 starting to open (The Daily Journal)
- Culver City Abolishes Parking Requirements Citywide (Streetsblog Los Angeles)
- Los Angeles: Lawsuit–Metro Violated Brown Act During Approval of Controversial North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Route (Pasadina Now)
- Bay Area city, Novato, looks likely to ban construction of new gas stations (San Francisco Gate)
District of Columbia
- DC Vision Zero program has ‘fallen short’ of ending traffic deaths, city says (Washington Post)
- Is DC going the wrong way in their drive for road safety? (WTOP)
- Taken and ticketed: A stolen car racked up fines. DC wants the owner to pay up (WUSA)
Florida
- Gas prices set to jump as Florida’s gas tax holiday expires (CBS12)
- Motorists Vote 2022 Florida: Uncertainty for Hillsborough County’s transportation tax vote (Landline)
- Red-light camera program ends in Manatee County, FL (WTSP)
Georgia
- Motorists Vote 2022: Eight Georgia counties to decide this fall on transportation tax (Landline)
- Bibb County (Macon), GA School speed camera questions answered (41NBC)
- Albany Police Department Unveils New Mobile App (GovTech)
- Speed enforcement cameras set to go live in Adairsville, GA school zone (Northwest GA News)
- ‘It’s a speed trap’: Complaints come in over hidden signage for speed cameras in Macon, GA (WGXA)
Illinois
- Illinois ranked 3rd in nation for catalytic converter theft (News Channel 20)
- Illinois catalytic converter thefts are up over 500 percent since 2019, insurance company says (CWB Chicago)
- Chicago Traffic Disruption: Concrete-Protected Bike Lanes Come To Milwaukee Avenue On Northwest Side, But Some Are Already Damaged (Block Club Chicago)
- Chicago Metra warns railway merger would exacerbate unsafe conditions for commuters (Daily Herald)
- Homer Glen puts hold on license plate cameras after delays and privacy concerns (Chicago Tribune)
Massachusetts
- Boston’s New Design Guidelines Aim for Safer, Greener Streets (Streetsblog Massachusetts)
- Former US Transportation Secretary Urges Overhaul To Ensure MBTA Safety (NBC Boston)
- Traffic Disruption Boston: Bike lanes to become permanent on Massachusetts Avenue Bridge (WCVB)
- Traffic Disruption: Boston wants to use curb bump-outs to manage flooding, boost resilience (Smart Cities Dive)
Michigan
- Warrantless Drone Surveillance Lawsuit Appealed to Michigan Supreme Court (Institute for Justice)
- Parked cars, trucks block new downtown Ann Arbor, MI bike lanes (Michigan Live)
- Next phase of rebuilding US-127 begins just south of Mason, MI in Ingham County (WILX)
North Carolina
- North Carolina Governor Paves Way for Electric Trucks, Buses (Governing)
- NC DOT plan spends $109M on charging stations (Wilkes Journal-Patriot)
- NC State researchers use simulations to improve driverless car safety (WUNC)
- Orange County Sets Public Hearing for Updates to Transit Plan (Chapelboro.com)
- Rock Hill City Council votes to reduce speed limits in residential neighborhoods (WBTV)
New York
- Governor Kathy Hochul’s SUVs are cloaked from traffic cameras (NY Post)
- Real Estate Interests Drive Congestion Pricing in Manhattan to the Finish Line (Commercial Observer)
- NYC Mayor Eric Adams says NYC beat safety goal with 1,200 ‘fixed’ intersections (NY Post)
- DOT boss touts ‘car-free future’ despite New Yorkers’ subway crime fears (NY Post)
- What Closing Streets to Cars Meant for Restaurants in New York City (Route-Fifty)
- MTA Wants Proof of Demand to Turn Bridge Lanes into Bike Paths (Streetsblog NYC)
Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia: West end of Washington Avenue will get some traffic calming measures after all, city says (Philadelphia Inquirer)
- Pittsburgh’s tech and business scene reacts to shuttering of Argo AI, ‘a short-term setback’ (Pittsburgh Business Journal)
- Why Some Pittsburghers Want To Scrap Their Famous MaaS Pilot (Streetsblog USA)
- Radnor approves plan to add license plate readers at 11 intersections (Main Line Media News)
Other Regional and Local Driving News Headlines
- Woman Can Sue Brookside, AL Cops for Towing Car as Part of Town’s Profiteering Scheme (Reason)
- Denver Asks Residents to Vote on Which Infrastructure Projects to Fund (Route-Fifty)
- Ticket Cam Alert Honolulu: 126 drivers caught by red-light cameras, warnings issued (KHON)
- ‘It gets my blood boiling’: Hawai’i Kai residents sound off on speeding in the area (KITV)
- Windsor Heights, IA is shedding its old identity (Speed Cameras) (Axios)
- 55 new license plate readers to be installed in Johnson County, KS (Fox Kansas City)
- Video: Two Blasts Take Down 91-Year-Old Kentucky Bridge (Equipment World)
- Ticket Cam Alert Maryland: New speed cameras generate 1,000 citations in 5 days in New Market (Yahoo News)
- Department of Transportation makes record-breaking investment for Maryland’s highways (DC News Now)
- Maine begins its removal of obscene vanity license plates (Autoblog)
- Autonomous On-Demand Transit Comes to Rural Minnesota (GovTech)
- Mississippi DOT provides tips to increase pedestrian safety (WDAM)
- City of Bozeman, MT announces 4-point plan for safer streets (KBZK)
- North Platte, NE police to install automated license plate reading cameras (North Platte Telegraph)
- Heartland Expressway adds 14 miles of Divided Highway through Nebraska Panhandle (Norfolk Daily News)
- Opinion: Why some New Jersey Highways should Raise Speed Limits Beyond 65 MPH (NJ1015)
- Las Vegas Sheriff-elect plans to use drones to monitor violent crimes (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
- Vision Zero seeks to eliminate Toledo, OH traffic deaths by 2031 (Toledo Blade)
- Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) Board approves budget, $44 million for electronic tolling system maintenance (Fox Oklahoma City)
- Gresham, OR’s latest strategy to counter crime: roving cameras (Oregon Live)
- Opinion: Oregonians will broadly oppose ODOT’s tolling scheme (Pamplin Media)
- Rock Hill, SC Council Votes to Lower Speed in Residential Areas (CN2)
- Vision Zero Watch Nashville: As Car Accidents Increases, Metro Struggles to Keep Up (Nashville Scene)
- Advocates calling on lower speed limits in residential areas across Tennessee (Fox Nashville)
- City of Austin, TX aims to get out of its own way with ‘fast-track’ permitting for Project Connect rail lines (Austin Monitor)
- In Texas, facial recognition is becoming a way of life (Fast Company)
- HOV lane activated in Weber, Davis counties, UT (Fox Utah)
- Speed Limits To Be Reduced On Some Alexandria, VA Streets (Patch VA)
- New I-95 electronic speed limit signs may be helping with safety, Virginia officials say (WJLA)
- Why do Washington State drivers speed? NHTSA wants to know (Landline)
- This Seattle Highway Is Facing a $29 Million Financial Crisis (Strong Towns)
Motorist-Related Legislative News
- Illinois considers Digital Driver’s Licenses and License Plates (1440 WROK)
- Louisiana statehouse meeting discussion focuses on road use fees (Landline)
- NJ lawmakers float ban on car subscriptions after BMW ‘heated seats’ outrage (NY Post)
- Pennsylvania legislature passes bill HB2398 allowing driverless vehicles on public streets (Philadelphia Business Journal)
- Pa. Senate approves bill HB987 changing driver’s license suspensions (ABC 27)
- Police, PennDOT promote School Bus Stopping Law (Times Observer)
Check out the NMA State Pages today!
Motorist Corner
On the Driving in America Blog, we present two driver advice posts:
- Preventing Rodent Damage: 5 Tips Every Driver Should Know
- How to Make Your Teen’s Driving Lesson More Engaging
NMA Blogger Eric Peters gives his take on the 2022 Dodge Durango.
One of the NMA Pennsylvania advocates presented a letter to the editor this week:
An open letter to the Tredyffrin and Easttown Supervisors on Vision Zero (Patch PA)
If you have written and had posted a motorist rights advocacy letter-to-the-editor or find a news story where the NMA is mentioned, please send us the link via email nma@motorists.org. Here are some links of interest: the NMA website, NMA Issues Pages, and the NMA Blog. Check them out today!
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Best from Auto Press
- President Biden burns more rubber on ‘Jay Leno’s Garage,’ hits 118 mph (Autoblog)
- Don’t expect your car’s safety technology to save you (The Verge)
- Can They Outlaw Hot Rods? (MotorTrend)
- Ford Abandons the Self-Driving Road to Nowhere (Wired)
- How a 2022 Nissan Pathfinder Held My Family Captive in Our Driveway (Consumer Reports)
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Opinion
Funding for Road Infrastructure–Never Seems to be Enough
Out of the many transportation problems America currently faces, funding infrastructure remains at the top of the pile.
Currently, we pay at the pump both a national and state gas tax and in many local counties and cities around the country, we also pay special sales taxes and wheel taxes for infrastructure.
It never seems to be enough. . .
(click on title for full op-ed)