With all the new hands-free cell phone laws hitting the books these days, there is a lot of press about the distracted American driver. I am not doubting that. In the old days we had fiddling with the radio. Now we have the cell phone. Soon we will have internet and tv connected cars.

Over the last few years there has been lots of talk about TV and video dash displays in American cars from manufacturers, and lots of argument back from citizens groups opposed to the idea of more distractions on the road.

Well, one thing I have noticed lately is that that dream (nightmare?) is already a reality in Japan. It is not uncommon to see Japanese drivers stopped at lights watching cooking programs or game shows. At night you can see the bright screen lit up in the center consoles of so many cars speeding down the road.

The skeptics are right: once TVs get in cars everyone will be watching. But does that mean they are right that the TV screen will turn drivers into distracted pilots of rolling weapons?

That much, I think, is still up for debate. Of course the driving culture in Japan is different than my home back in the U.S., but unlike my local news, I have yet to see the Japanese TV screen lit up with stories of horrible car accidents and distracted drivers.

Furthermore, my own experience suggests that Japanese drivers are far better, more cautious, and more courteous drivers. Low speeds and narrow roads often mean pulling over to let other cars or pedestrians pass and high volume means a constant need to pay attention.

In my own experience logging hundreds of miles on my bicycle, I have only had one instance where I felt a driver had done something annoying. Even on the busiest roads with no shoulders (including bridges and such) drivers always drive safely.

This experience runs contrary to the idea that technologically connected cars create dangerous drivers. Even if Japanese drivers have a safer baseline, there would be some indication of it if these TV-capable cars really were creating rolling torpedos.

I don’t intend to say distractions aren’t dangerous, but perhaps we should shift our focus from removing distractions to improving drivers and, more extremely, making licenses harder to get.

Photo: Tark Siala

Canada’s most populous province is finally following the lead of British Columbia and Quebec in permitting low speed electric vehicles (LSV’s) to be driven on public roads.  Canada’s LSV class is based on the Neighbourhood Electric Vehicle class in the U.S., where 44 states permit their use (as of May 2008).

However, Ontario vehicles and their drivers will likely face additional regulations meant to address safety concerns raised in a government study released at the end of November.

“LSVs are a new kind of vehicle and it will take a new set of standards to allow them to be safely driven on Ontario roads,” said Transportation Minister Jim Bradley.  “Based on the study results, we plan to announce LSV safety standards and the rules of the road for LSVs this winter.”

The study recommends the province require a number of additional measures for the vehicles and their drivers, such as:

• daytime running lights (failing that, drivers must keep their headlights on at all times)
• a notice affixed to the exterior of the vehicle indicating its maximum speed
• a slow moving vehicle sign
• three separate sound warning devices: horn, proximity warning system for pedestrians/cyclists, backup warning systems
• defrosting and heating systems
• three-point seat belts
• requirement that buyers sign a “Notice of Limitations” document at the time of sale that explains
  what the LSV’s performance and safety limitations are
• prohibition against carrying infants and children who require infant or child seats
• restricted to drivers with G class license or higher (ie. no new drivers in Ontario’s graduated licence system)
• no towing of any type of trailer
• on multi-lane roads, the LSV must drive in the right lane, except if making a left turn
• … and more (see NRC study pdf, below)

Both the federal and provincial governments have been under some pressure by the public and media for apparent foot-dragging on the issue of approving for sale and permitting this vehicle class on public roads.

Additional information:

Ontario To Permit Low-Speed Vehicles – Government of Ontario

Safe Integration of Electric Low Speed Vehicles on Ontario’s Roads in Mixed Traffic (pdf) – National Research Council of Canada

With winter fast approaching we’ll be seeing a lot more of this sort of thing.  We’ll also see our MPG drop off. This is normal. You will get lower mileage in winter, its just physics. However, there are a few things you can do to fight it. Here is my winterization list along with a few ideas from others on our forum. It includes ecomods and general winterization tips.

Use a block heater.
In colder weather it takes even longer for your engine to warm up. A block heater can totally negate this penalty of winter. It also gets you heat a heck of a lot sooner! Put it on a timer to reduce electricity usage.

Install or beef up your grill block.
Last winter I ran my Matrix with a FULL grill block. The upper and lower grills were both completely blocked off and I never had any problems with coolant temps spiking at all. Depending on your climate, you might be able to do the same. The more you can block off the faster your warm up times will be and the more aerodynamic your vehicle becomes.

Install a radiator block.
If you don’t feel up to the task of installing a grill block, you can still speed up warm up times with a radiator block.  These are extremely easy to make with a simple piece of cardboard.  Just cut it to size and slide it in front of your radiator.  Size it accordingly and watch coolant temperatures to be safe.

Use thinner oil if possible.
Some manufacturers specify thinner oil to be used at colder temperatures. Check your manual to see if you can run thinner oil. This will help your car start easier in the cold and reduce power losses to friction in the engine especially during warm up.

Use a warm air intake.
Similar to our all around warm air intake ecomod, its use is even more dramatic in the cold months.
“Higher intake charge temperature has been found to increase the flame speed, the combustion reaction rate, the uniformity of the fuel-air mixture and reduce the heat transfer rate though the cylinder walls. This all adds up to the engine using more heat for physical movement and less being wasted.”

Use an 110V AC heater to preheat your cabin.
If you like jumping into a warmed up car, don’t go out and idle your car or use a remote start. A better way is to go pickup a small space heater. Plug it in 10 minutes before you go to get into a nice warm car. If you don’t even want to go out into the cold, I saw some remote plug units the other day at the store for turning on Christmas lights. Warm your car from the comfort of your home without using gas!

Get those snow tires on.
If you live in an especially snowy area, winter tires can literally be a life saver. Last year was the first year I’ve used snow tires, and I was very happy I put them on. My wife drives around a lot for her job, so its good to know she can get around better than before.

However, you will take a hit in rolling resistance when going to a snow tire. They are generally made from a softer rubber that will increase rolling resistance. Add that to the fact that they’re made to grip in snow and you have a tire that isn’t the most MPG friendly. So, this is your call. Just make sure to be safe out there.

Adjust tire pressure.
Again, this will be your call. Higher tire pressure is pretty much great for spring through fall. Its downside is definitely winter though. A hard tire is not going to mold well to an uneven surface like a snow covered road. So, it is advisable to think about decreasing tire pressure in the winter. You don’t have to lower it a ton, just find a pressure you are comfortable with.

Check and/or replace your windshield wipers.
You don’t want to find out your wipers are bad that first morning you wake up to a freezing cold vehicle. Its much easier to take a little initiative and check them while its still relatively warm out. Pickup a set of winter wipers. They have a softer rubber that doesn’t streak as much as normal wipers will.

What do you do to prepare for winter?

If you liked this post, sign up for out RSS Feed for automatic updates.

Image: yoshimai

It may seem counterintuitive, but according to a recent report more cyclists on the road mean fewer accidents involving cyclists and motor vehicles. I was convinced of this after spending some time living and cycling in Japan, but it’s always nice to have some real research to back up one’s personal hearsay.

This happens because as more cyclists hit the road, drivers are more aware of their presence. Not only are drivers looking out for cyclists, but as interaction between cars and bikes increase, drivers learn how to drive safely and respectfully around cyclists.

According to the University of New South Wales, who did the research:

“It’s a virtuous cycle,” says Dr Julie Hatfield, an injury expert from UNSW who address the seminar on September 5. “The likelihood that an individual cyclist will be struck by a motorist falls with increasing rate of bicycling in a community. And the safer cycling is perceived to be, the more people are prepared to cycle.”

Also, even more encouragingly, it doesn’t seem that cycling infrastructure is responsible for the change:

Experts say the effect is independent of improvements in cycling-friendly laws such as lower speed limits and better infrastructure, such as bike paths. Research has revealed the safety-in-numbers impact for cyclists in Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, 14 European countries and 68 Californian cities.

So, if you’ve ever thought about getting out on a bicycle, consider this: you will be safest in communities with the most cyclists; your contribution will not only keep a car off the road, but will help make everyone safer.

Happy riding!

If you liked this post, sign up for out RSS Feed for automatic updates.