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Driving requires constant attention — yet people are seemingly spending more time staring at iPhones to text friends. It's dangerous and that's why it's becoming illegal in more states. A guide to where and how the laws work below. More »
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A Detroit legislator is trying for the second time to put a stop to texting while driving in Michigan, pursuing legislation levying a misdemeanor and hefty fine on perpetrators. More »
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A study released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reiterates a fact made apparent by James Dean in the classic Rebel Without A Cause: teenagers are some rebellious bastards (for no apparent cause). In 2006, a law was enacted in North Carolina that completely banned persons under the age of 18 from using any type of cell phone device, including hands-free Bluetooth headsets, while driving. A study was conducted before the law went into effect, and again after the law was enacted, and yielded some alarming results. More »
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Not a day goes by without a local news report discussing the dangers of driving while talking on a cell phone, but now researchers at the University of South Carolina are taking things one step further by analyzing what goes on in the brain that makes cell phone use while driving so damn dangerous. A series of experiments by Dr. Amit Almor demonstrated that preparing to speak or actually speaking was four times more distracting than simply listening. Another experiment by Almor lead to some findings that could definitely change the landscape for the future of communicating while driving. More »
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California is really going balls to the wall with laws regarding driver distractions. The hands-free requirement is inching closer to being implemented and that animal petting law is still going through the ringer. But in an odd move, California is now proposing a law that would allow drivers to have windshield-mounted GPS units. Oh, you didn't know? Yeah, having a windshield-mounted GPS is illegal in California and punishable with "obstructed view" citations. The specifications behind this new law isn't being accepted well among the GPS faithful. More »
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Michel Foucault's Discipline & Punishment focuses on the transition into the modern system of punishment, away from public embarrassment into a gentler and more measured approach. We Americans welcome Canada into the league of nations going the other direction. Speeders in Oshawa, Ontario are now being given the choice between getting a speeding ticket or having to sit through a poorly-written essay on speeding from a teenager. One driver broke down crying after having a teenager exclaim she was now dead because the driver chose to speed, though we're not sure if the crying was due to the emotional impact of the text or the labored rhetorical strategies most teens employ. Nevertheless, we think this is a great strategy as there's no one more self righteous than a teenage girl on a power trip. More »
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California Assemblyman Bill Maze is proposing a new law that would make driving with an animal in your lap illegal and punishable by a $35 fine. The law passed through the California Assembly this week and will be making its way to the Senate. It's a pretty obvious that those crazy old cougars that drive around with their miniature toy dogs in their laps pose a giant risk to other motorists so there's no reason not to go ahead with this law. More »
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Hey Ohioans! If you bought that hybrid SUV with the sole purpose of being able to vroom down the HOV lane with hulking impunity, it's time to break out the Kleenex because state Rep. Todd Kiser is about to seriously hurt your feelings. Kiser, a Republican, has sponsored legislation that will compel Ohio comply with a national law the forbids hybrid SUVs from qualifying for use in the HOV lane. Kind of... More »
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Two years after the first speed-limit enforcement cameras were installed in the Arizona hamlet of Scottsdale, ABC News decided to send three of its crack journalists on a mission to aggressively investigate whether they work. The answer? Yes! Wow—Lisa Stark, John Parkinson and Imaeyen Ibanga, your dedication and attention to detail should be celebrated with some kind of award. More »
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Those who thought they were in good hands with Allstate may not have noticed those hands were jacking them off. Insurance company Allstate owns a stake in body shops across the country through company Sterling Autobody Centers. This didn't go over well in Texas where a law was passed to stop this obviously horrible conflict of interest. Despite losing twice in a Texas district court and once at the appellate level, Allstate Insurance and their lawyer Ken Starr (yes, that Ken Starr) is questioning the constitutionality of said law. The perverse logic of it below the jump. More »
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OMG! Whatever you have to tell your BFF Payal better wait as the police in Washington State are now empowered to ticket your ass. A law designed to curb composing text messages went into effect on Tuesday. Penalties range from $124 for a driver texting or emailing to $175 if that texting leads to an accident. IMHO, it's not a bad law as you should probably be looking at the road and not your crackberry. More »
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(The 10th amendment of the US Constitution created a patchwork quilt of state laws related to driving, which is why Jalopnik sorts through the red tape to bring you detailed guides to driving topics such as teenage driving, speed limits, open containers, dehorsing and lemon laws.)
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It's probably safe to assume by looking at the writing staff and reading the comments from this site that more than a few Jalopniks are driving some slightly used vehicles of various vintages in various forms of disrepair. It's in this spirit that we take a deeper look at how emissions laws work, why the exist and what exemptions your fuel-leaking, smoke-spewing vintage DeSoto might qualify for. More »
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Britain's Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly is none-to-pleased with the EU's plans for a 125g/km carbon dioxide limit for all new cars from 2015. Porque? According to Kelly, the onus it puts on car manufacturers that sell only a few high emission cars (Aston Martin/Bentley) is unfair. It may not be a problem for the Seats and Citroens of this world, but Britain still has a few small marques. This isn't America, so she's not asking for all emission standards to be thrown out of the window. She merely wants a target date to be 2020 or 2025 so that smaller manufacturers can prepare for the stricter standards. And by prepare, one can only hope that she means an Aston Martin Hybrid Estate, Bentley Continental Hatch or other brand dilution that results in a cheaper ride.[What Car] More »
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Vintage Triumph drivers took first place in a survey commissioned by eBay Motors and administered by Mensa on motoring knowledge. The worst? Folks with more money than brains who fancy themselves a bit Bond-y: Aston and Bentley drivers. Oddly enough, Dodge owners came in second. Since both Triumph and Dodge enthusiasts are regarded as a bit off in the UK, it makes sense that they'd take such pride in knowing the rules of the road as well as the ins and outs of their cars. More »
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