DETROIT, 8:45 AM, FRI JUL 25 | 29 POSTS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS | tips@jalopnik.com | RSS
Posts Tagged “

braking

”
gadgets

Sudden Stop Helps Prevent Rear-End Accidents

Getting rear-ended may never be your fault, but that doesn't mean it's not a pain in the ass to get a busted bumper fixed. One way to help avoid such situations is with a product like Sudden Stop, an array of ultra-bright LED lights that reside on the left and right sides of your license plate. Sudden Stop works by detecting G-forces, meaning it doesn't hook into your existing brake lighting system. If it senses a certain level of G-forces from you slamming on your brakes, the bright LED lights will flash and warn the driver behind; assuming they're not busy texting, it could provide enough advance warning to prevent a collision. The Sudden Stop is battery-powered and available for $30. [Product Page via TRFJ]

3:00 PM on Tue Jul 8 2008
By Travis Hudson
1,219 views, 47 comments

Latest by Viva La Volvo: Just yesterday some broad in a Saturn almost rear ended me in a 25mph neighborhood street while texting. that is hard to explain. more »

news

Crash Avoidance Technology Only "Kind of" Works, Says IIHS

The Institute for Highway Safety has concluded a study that shows the crash avoidance technology like blind-spot sensors, forward collision automatic braking, lane-departure warnings, emergency brake assistance and adaptive headlights won't significantly help prevent fatal car crashes and it is mostly due to the drivers. So much for PReVENT. The study shows that the crash-avoidance technology won't be cared about and ignored by the drivers. They technology also causes the drivers to be more reckless and careless while driving. More »

3:40 PM on Thu Apr 17 2008
By Travis Hudson
726 views, 24 comments

Latest by n/a: @charles_barrett: If my nephew said that, I would need to call in the police to help me lock down all my guns, b/c my bro would shoot him at least once with each one. more »

gadgets

Toyota Brake Assist Feature Links Up With GPS, Navigation

A new braking feature in Toyota vehicles links up the braking system with your GPS navigation—ultimately getting us one step closer to full automated butler cars capable to taking you anywhere. The system works by recognizing area with stop signs or other stopping requirements and cross-referencing with road markings that designate an impending stop. More »

4:30 PM on Fri Feb 8 2008
By Travis Hudson
754 views, 15 comments

gadgets

Though Not a Hybrid, New BMW 5-Series to Have Regenerative Breaking

Was ist das? A non-hybrid with a regenerative braking system. Yes, BMW's latest 5-Series sports an intelligent alternator that uses energy collected during braking to charge the battery. Not your regular Die Hard, this battery is a quick-charge glass mat, a new construction using saturated absorbent glass (boron silicate) mats between the plates rather than gel or liquid electrolyte. The system translates to a three percent decrease in CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. It's part of a new push at BMW to employ fuel-saving tech like low-resistance tires, start-stop systems and aerodynamics. Trickle-down hybridnomics? We'll take it. – Mike Spinelli More »

7:57 AM on Fri Jan 12 2007
By Mike Spinelli
1,158 views, 7 comments

Latest by thefizzle: At least they're not marketing it as a hybrid. My pessimism makes me think to add the word "yet", but we'll see... more »