Halt! Who goes there?
In the case of a car recently pulled over by police in Mountain View, Calif., no one. The car, traveling 24 mph in a 35-mph zone, was causing a backlog of traffic, according to a police statement. But when the officers looked inside the vehicle, it became clear it was a self-driving car – one of Google’s autonomous vehicle projects, which reportedly has logged about 1.2 million miles. The officers reportedly stopped the car and made contact with the operators to learn more about how the car was choosing speeds along certain roadways and to educate the operators about impeding traffic. Under the California Vehicle Code, self-driving Google cars are permitted to operate on streets that have a speed limit of 35 mph or slower. Although the car technically had no driver, there were two operators, as is generally the case with Google self-driving cars. No ticket was issued, and the Google vehicle was permitted to continue with the understanding that if the operators noticed that traffic was stacking up, they would pull over. Google’s autonomous test cars are programmed to follow the law. But research has shown that one of the biggest challenges facing automated cars is blending them into a world in which human drivers don’t behave by the book. Since 2009, Google cars have been in 16 crashes –most of which were fender-benders – and each time, the company reported a human was at fault. Further, Google says its vehicles have never been issued a ticket.
Source: Wall Street Journal (November 13, 2015).
Drive safely
Verizon now offers hum, an aftermarket vehicle technology designed to enhance driving safety. The self-installed solution helps predict potential issues, prevents breakdowns and offers protection when problems arise. At the press of a button, drivers on any wireless network can receive diagnostic information, as well as pinpoint roadside assistance and live consultation with ASE-certified mechanics and the hum emergency response center.
Features include:
- Roadside assistance Drivers can locate roadside assistance for breakdowns, flat tires, overheating, dead batteries and more.
- Incident alert & emergency assistance. This feature notifies the hum emergency response center if the system detects an incident. Help is then dispatched to the vehicle’s GPS location if an accident is confirmed or if there is no response from the driver. Drivers can also initiate a call at the push of a button to speak with a trained, live agent.
- Auto health & diagnostics. Drivers can predict and prevent mechanical issues before they become bigger problems by giving subscribers’ insights into their car’s health via the hum web portal and smartphone app.
- Mechanic’s hotline. The hotline connects subscribers with ASE-certified mechanics, reportedly providing personalized, immediate and unbiased consultation related to their vehicle’s repair and maintenance issues.
- Parking & meter tools. Drivers can find their parked vehicles in parking lots at malls, airports, arenas and more using the hum smartphone app. At the same time, they can set reminders for the meter.
- Maintenance reminders. Alerts can be set for oil changes, tire rotations and more. Additionally, hum will automatically alert customers to vehicle troubles and general manufacturer recalls.
- Stolen vehicle location assistance. Available upon request, this feature permits hum to provide information to authorities to help locate stolen vehicles.
Through GPS-based technology, hum helps accurately dispatch advanced roadside assistance, alerts emergency personnel of a car’s location if a crash is detected, and assists authorities in locating a vehicle that has been reported stolen. Hum reportedly is compatible with over 150 million passenger vehicles on the road today.
10 best
Car and Driver magazine has named the 2016 Mazda3 and MX-5 Miata in its annual 10Best vehicle awards. Since being introduced in 2004, Mazda3 has earned six Car and Driver 10Best awards. The new 2016 MX-5 roadster returned to the 10Best list as well; it reportedly has been redesigned for greater efficiency and performance, more amenities and more technology and safety features. Since its introduction as a 1990 model, MX-5 has garnered a total of 14 Car and Driver 10Best honors. The 2016 Mazda3 has a base MSRP of $17,845 and features leather seating surfaces, a six-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission or SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual, 155-horsepower, 2.0-liter or 184-horsepower, 2.5-liter SKYACTIV-G engines and Mazda’s full suite of i-ACTIVSENSE safety features. The 2016 MX-5 has a starting MSRP of just under $25,000 and comes with a quick-revving 2.0-liter SKYACTIV-G engine, paired with either a standard SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission or an available six-speed automatic. For more information about this year’s Car and Driver 10Best, visit www.caranddriver.com.
Snowbelt drivers
Winter weather is here, but that doesn’t mean all drivers in Snowbelt states have installed winter tires. Yet, many people are troubled by freezing temperatures and treacherous driving conditions. Seventy-one percent of drivers admit they are nervous to drive when it’s icy, and many also are nervous to drive during heavy fog (52 percent), heavy rain (48 percent), sleet (47 percent) and snow (45 percent), according to a recent Harris Poll. In fact, when Americans were asked what they dislike in general about the winter season, driving issues topped the list – particularly icy roads (59 percent) and other drivers who drive dangerously (55 percent). Vehicle owners can prepare for winter by checking tire pressure, windshield wipers and fluid levels. And Bridgestone encourages drivers to check on their car battery, brakes and blades as well. For more information and to view the complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, contact withersrachel@bfusa.com.