Jalopnik: Street

Deer Detecting Road Technology Being Tested In Colorado

Wes Siler — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EDT

An electromagnetic sensor system capable of automatically detecting the presence of large animals on or near roadways and alerting drivers to their presence is being tested in Colorado. So far, the system appears to be working; the only problem might be the drivers themselves. Colorado is trialing the system on a road where up to 70% of all accidents involve vehicles colliding with animals. But how does it work?

Cables have been buried in the ground several feet from the road, running parallel to it. The electromagnetic field they emit has been calibrated to detect the interruptions caused by deer, elk, or other large animals passing over it. Signs positioned along the roadway then light up to alert drivers to the presence of the animals. For the trial phase, radar detectors are being used to calculate both the volume of traffic and its speed. Should the alerts be capable of convincing a significant enough portion of drivers to slow down when animals are present, the system could be rolled out across frequent animal crossings statewide.

We’d love to see technology like this applied to roadways. Combined with other advanced warning systems like BMW’s night vision-equipped 7-series it could make the road a safer place for humans and animals alike. [via Treehugger; photo nrcdeer.com]

Motorsports Race Tracks Make Out Big In $700 Billion Bailout

Andrew Stoy — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:40:00 EDT

One of the so-called "sweeteners" added to the financial markets bailout bill that passed the Senate Tuesday night was an obscure provision allowing motorsports race track owners to write off the cost of their facilities over seven years. Apparently the IRS has been trying to extend the track write-off period to 15 years — which means track owners would be able to deduct less every year — but thanks to the Wall Street Bailout, superspeedway owners barely able to scrape by with obscure NASCAR and IndyCar races will finally get the tax breaks they deserve. Cost to taxpayers? $100 million. Provision and analysis courtesy of The Chicago Tribune after the jump.

2. Sec. 317. Seven-year cost recovery period for motorsports racing track facility. .

Track owners want to be able write off the cost of their facilities on their taxes over seven years - a depreciation timetable many of them have used for decades. But the IRS has wanted to stretch it to at least 15 years and has raised questions whether the increasingly popular tracks really belong in the same tax category as amusement parks.

Auto track owners are simply trying to get out of paying more taxes - which they'd have to do if they deducted less every year. These owners have gotten plenty of tax breaks over the years from states and localities eager to get speedways. The provision would be extend 2 years till the end of 2009 and would cost 100 million. The provision encompasses all facilities including grandstands, parking lots and concession stands.

[Chicago Tribune; Photo Credit: Funnyhub.com]

Alfetta Lives On In Brooklyn Despite Dead Owner

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EDT

As big fans of the Alfa Romeo Alfetta, this New York Times profile of one abandoned Alfa in Brooklyn has touched us. Owned by a Romanian immigrant who passed away, the worn 1975 Alfetta should have been towed away after a few parking tickets because alternate side of the street parking in NYC is strictly enforced. Miraculously, an angel of Italian metal let the owner expire just days before those rules were temporarily suspended, allowing the car to live on just a bit longer. The rules were reinstated and parking tickets have accrued on the lone Alfa but, for reasons only explainable by priests or mystics (or negligent city services), the rusted Alfetta still lives on Plaza Street West. (Thanks to Tony for the tip) [NYTimes, Photo: Robert Stolarik for The New York Times]

Matte Black Ferrari F430 Down On The Geneva Street

Mark Arnold — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:40:00 EDT

Now, we understand there's still an ongoing debate on the coolness of flat black paint jobs, but let's raise the question again. This time, we've got a certain Ferrari F430 Scuderia weighing in on the matter. We thought the Scuderia was a vast improvement over the styling of the standard F430, but this non-glossy example takes it to a whole new level. In the process it loses the tacky racing stripes, too. It looks like something that took a wrong turn off of the Fiorano circuit during a secret testing session. But do you think it would've looked better in a normal gloss black?
[Autogespot]
Edit: Ok, so it turns out this isn't a paint job, but a slickly-executed vinyl wrap. Hat Tip to Jamieson!

Google Street View Banned from Military Bases

Wes Siler — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST

The US military has banned Google Street View from its bases after photography and video was posted of Fort Sam in Texas that potentially threatened security. According to the Inquirer, the Pentagon got "its knickers in a twist" after a vehicle carrying Street View equipment was allowed access to the base, capturing "where all the guards are, how the barriers go up and down, and how to get in and out of buildings." Information that the military is worried could aid the dreaded terrorist masterminds currently plotting our demise.

Of course, if a couple of college students driving around with all manner of black boxes, electronics and wires can gain access to a high-security military installation, it begs the question, what's stopping Al Qaeda?

At the Pentagon's request, Google has removed the material.

Stop Getting Caught In Google Street View Accidents

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:15:00 EST

That's right, a fourth Google Street View accident. After Minneapolis and Phoenix - twice, we're now joining some firefighters on cleanup duty in lovely Oceanside, California on the very Jalop appropriate El Camino Real. The two car accident looks like it may have been a three car incident due to the sandwich effect on the ~~Mercury Tracer~~ Civic, but there's no third party anywhere in sight. The fire guys seem to have brandished the jaws of life on one of the cars, ~~but we can't for the life of us figure out what it is~~ an 80's era Mazda 626. Humorously the accident occurred in a most convenient location - right in front of a junkyard fronted by an auto repair shop. [Google Street View]

Google Street View Makes Phoenix Look Dangerous

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:30:00 EST

We're beginning to wonder if Google Street View is somehow causing these accidents. We saw the awesome Audi Q7 versus Range Rover upside-down cake near the Phoenix Country Club a couple of weeks ago. Now we're seeing another one a mere 2.7 miles away. "That's crazy talk!" you say. Nope, there's definitely a case to be made. While the country club crackup was decidedly expensive, this one is a bit more low-rent. Underneath the blazing Arizona sun (which apparently destroyed the front camera element), this Chevrolet Cavalier took a dirt nap after being T-boned by an S-10. You can barely make out the high build quality of the Cav because it's hidden behind the wrinkled roof and the driver still chilling out in the passenger seat. We're also enjoying the "WTF?" look on the burly cop's face when he notices the camera car. [Google Street View]

Another Google Street View Crash

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:00:00 EST

It's darn near an epidemic. As unlikely as it may seem, we have captured pictures of another Google Street View accident. Not only is this one more dramatic, it features a much healthier dollop of schadenfreude. Where before we had a random car crash, here we have a double luxo-SUV smash-up featuring the fancy pants Audi Q7 and Landie's Range Rover outside of the Phoenix Country Club. Feel that? That's stereotype humor rocking your socks off. Take solice in that there is still an element of 'WTF?'. Somehow that Range Rover finished the action upside down, and considering the extent of the damage we're surprised to see the occupant dutifully taking down insurance info. This is making us wonder how many Street View accidents there are out there.[Google Maps]