According to The Oil Drum:
Have you ever stood at the bus stop watching hundreds of cars go by and wondered just how many of those cars are headed to the same place you want to go? Wouldn’t it be great if you could just stick out your thumb and get a quick ride rather than waiting 10 minutes for the old bus?
Imagine if, instead of congested lanes of large cars with one person on board, we had a stream of traffic picking up and setting down passengers to help them get to their destination - a truly ‘rapid transit’ service in action on every street.
Can you picture this future where every car is instead a mini-bus? Or are you turned off instantly by the modern day stigma associated with ‘hitchhiking’?
Hitching a ride used to be quite socially acceptable. Nowadays (at least in the ‘civilised’ west) somebody sticking out their thumb on the side of the road is seen as a much less than desirable passenger. Equally, were you to decide to try your hand for ride, you might not be all that comfortable with the first person who stops for you - after all, what sort of creep would pick up a stranger off the side of the road?!
[…]
For those of us standing on the side of the road waiting for a ride, what we lack is a means of connecting us to a driver who doesn’t know we need them. But the technological solution to this problem is already close at hand - it is simply a matter of integrating three common functions:
- A mobile (cell) phone to inform the world of our current location and where we want to go.
- GPS units to work out where we are standing and which drivers are coming our way.
- A means of paying the driver a small fee for the ride.
Introducing the ‘iHitch’: Let’s call this new device the ‘iHitch’ - a phone, GPS and payment system all in one - a simple challenge for the likes of Nokia, Apple or Garmin. The next step is equipping a critical mass of passengers and vehicles for it to be a practical option. And finally we will need some software which, when told where the drivers are going and where the passengers want to be, can make the optimum connections between the two. Seems simple really!
It’s summer, and you know what that means: ROAD TRIP!!! If you’ve got time to kill and a love of the road, here are some great road trip itineraries, as compiled by Outside Online. First stop: breweries!
DEARBORN, Mich., May 15 /PRNewswire/ — An estimated 1.3 million Michiganians will travel during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, launching the start of the 2008 summer travel season, says AAA Michigan. According to a national survey conducted for AAA by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), record fuel prices and challenging economic times will alter travel plans for some Americans.
“Many residents will travel more economically — looking for the best travel bargain for their dollars this upcoming holiday weekend,” said Claire Lockley, vice president of Travel for The Auto Club Group (ACG), including AAA Michigan. To cope with rising gas prices, this summer many families will drive shorter distances, spend fewer nights away from home, and spend less on hotels, restaurants, souvenirs and shopping.
As of May 14, the statewide average for self-serve, regular gasoline was $3.891 — 60.7 cents more per gallon than a year ago.
According to the 2008 edition of AAA’s Annual Vacation Costs Survey, the recommended travel budget for two adults traveling together in Michigan is $211.19 per day for lodging and meals — $33 less than the national average of $244 per day.
Travelers will find air fares up slightly this year: AAA’s Leisure Travel Index shows flights over the holiday weekend averaging 8 percent higher this year than last year. Car rental rates are expected to increase more dramatically — up 45 percent from last year, with renters paying an average of $44.70, almost $14 more than last year. Hotel rates for Three-Diamond properties will be down about 7 percent nationwide, with travelers spending an average of $161.85 per night.
For Michigan residents planning a summer vacation, the 10 most popular driving destinations, based on requests to AAA Auto Travel counselors, are:
1) Niagara Falls ON
2) Myrtle Beach SC
3) Chicago IL
4) Branson MO
5) Williamsburg VA
6) Washington DC
7) Cedar Point OH
Orlando FL
9) Hilton Head Island SC
10) Virginia Beach VA
AAA’s national survey contacted 2,000 U.S. residents, supplemented by an additional 6,500 Americans surveyed from the top 10 states — including Michigan — of travel origin in the U.S. Respondents provided these insights into Memorial Day travel:
— The greatest number of Memorial Day auto travelers will originate in
the West with 7.6 million travelers, followed by the Southeast with 6.8
million; Midwest, 6.7 million; Northeast, 5.8 million; and Great Lakes,
4.8 million.
— The West is expected to produce the largest number of air travelers
with 1.37 million, followed by the Midwest with 1.18 million;
Southeast, 870,000; Northeast, 545,000; and Great Lakes, 384,000.
The 78-hour Memorial Day weekend officially begins: 6 p.m., Friday, May 23 and ends 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 26. During Memorial Day weekend in 2007, 12 people were killed in 10 fatal crashes in Michigan, a decrease from the 18 killed in 17 fatal crashes in 2006. Four of last year’s victims were belted. Alcohol was a factor in four of the fatal crashes.
This year, Michigan law enforcement agencies will focus extra attention on unbuckled motorists to make this the safest Memorial Day on record. The Auto Club advises motorists to plan ahead and allow extra time to navigate construction areas on the state’s highways.
For traffic and detour information, motorists can call 1-800-411-4823. Or, before leaving, check the AAA Michigan Web site, www.aaatraffic.com , for updated traffic information.
ATLANTA and ST. LOUIS, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ — This holiday season, Road Safe America and GMAC Insurance urge people to help Save Five Lives on Drive Safer Sunday, a national observance falling on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel days of the year. As millions of drivers make their way home or back to school from holiday gatherings, both organizations encourage drivers to send a caring reminder to friends and loved ones to take extra precautions during this hectic time: Buckle up, slow down and stay alert.
Drive Safer Sunday was created in honor of Cullum Owings, a 22-year-old college student who tragically lost his life when a speeding tractor-trailer hit the back of his stopped car. On the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2002, Cullum and his brother Pierce were returning to Washington and Lee University after a visit home for the holidays. A few miles from campus, the boys were struck from behind by a tractor-trailer speeding on cruise control. Pierce survived; Cullum died before rescuers could free him from the wreckage.
In the midst of their heart-wrenching loss, Steve and Susan Owings co- founded Road Safe America, a non-profit organization that focuses its efforts on making the highways safer by reducing the number of collisions between large trucks and passenger vehicles. Currently, it is working in conjunction with many of the major trucking companies to achieve a national rule requiring operational speed governors in large trucks, limiting them to 68 miles an hour, with serious consequences for violators.
Spread the Word, Help Save Five Lives
On the fifth anniversary of the Owings’ tragedy, Road Safe America and GMAC Insurance encourage people to visit www.drivesafersunday.org and help Save Five Lives. There, they can enter the email addresses of five or more loved ones to pass along safe-driving tips with a personalized note. The site also offers resources for more information about Drive Safer Sunday, the latest roadway facts and figures and ways to help save lives this holiday season and throughout the year. What’s more, it calls attention to some of the most dangerous driving behaviors: fatigue, distraction, failure to fasten seatbelts, speeding and tailgating.
“To keep travels safe, fun and full of great memories, Drive Safer Sunday encourages people to be particularly cognizant of driving safely on an extremely congested day,” said Road Safe America Co-founder Steve Owings. “By sending simple safety tips to our friends and loved ones, we can save lives this holiday season and throughout the year.”
To spread this message, Road Safe America and GMAC Insurance are launching a national public safety ad campaign expected to reach upwards of 100 million Americans. The campaign features radio, print and theater ad spots, which will run in the days leading up to — and on — Drive Safer Sunday, reaching people in their homes, work places and, most importantly, while they’re traveling on the roads.
“We all need to do our part to make our roads safer,” said Gary Kusumi, president and CEO, GMAC Insurance. “While following safe driving protocols yourself is critical, it’s equally important to remind friends and loved ones of the simple safety measures they can take to stay safe and save lives.”
Tips to Prevent Dangerous Driving Behaviors
Road Safe America and GMAC Insurance have identified the following as some of the most dangerous driving behaviors and offer easy-to-follow tips to prevent them:
1. Fatigue
— Driving Tip: Take a Break to Stay Awake. Approximately 130 million
Americans admit they would drive more than seven hours in one day
without significant breaks, according to a recent GMAC Insurance
survey. Be sure to plan ahead before trips, be fully rested and
take breaks often to stay alert.
2. Distraction
— Driving Tip: When You Turn the Car On, Turn the Gadgets Off.
Many people treat driving as the new down time, according to
results from the 2006 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. No
matter how busy your day is, when you’re on the road, focus only on
driving.
3. Failure to Fasten Seatbelts
— Driving Tip: Restrain Yourself. More than half (55%) of passenger
vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2006
were unrestrained, according to the 2006 National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) Annual Assessment of Motor Vehicle
Crashes. Always wear your seatbelt and make sure any children in
the vehicle are properly restrained for their age, height and
weight requirements.
4. Speeding
— Driving Tip: Put Safety Before Speed. According to NHTSA, the
percentage of speeding-related fatalities among overall fatalities
increased in 2006 for the first time after remaining unchanged for
three years. Remember when driving this holiday season: it’s more
important to get there safely than to get there quickly.
5. Tailgating
— Driving Tip: Count One Thousand One, One Thousand Two. Leave a
two-second cushion between you and the vehicle ahead - it could
save your bumper and your life. When following a tractor-trailer,
allow even more time to pass.
To do your part and to learn more about Drive Safer Sunday, visit www.drivesafersunday.org and www.roadsafeamerica.org.
Road Safe America is working to make our highways safer by reducing the number of collisions between large trucks and passenger vehicles. Many trucks travel at dangerously high speeds, making it impossible for them to stop safely in an emergency. Road Safe America is working in conjunction with many of the major tracking companies toward a national rule that requires operational speed governors in trucks, limiting them to 68 miles an hour, with serious consequences for violators. Passenger vehicles are responsible for many tractor-trailer accidents, as well. Therefore, Road Safe America also works to educate the driving public on how to safely share the road with large trucks.
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