While it is wonderful to see novel, hi-tech vehicles capable of getting terrific mileage, these "new, improved" autos only exacerbate the problems of gridlock, population growth, car manufacturing and mining pollution, rubber, toxins, and old car disposal. Not to mention the death and dismemberment caused by streets littered and crowded with uninsured, drunk, sleepy, distracted, dizzy, tipsy, stoned, medicated, eating, drinking, smoking, cell-phoning angry, deaf, road-raged or just plain crazy drivers that continue to plague society. Studies show about one in 50 drivers today are driving drunk, but perhaps 2 out of 3 are driving with some medicine and/or another that may impair driving ability. But beware the DISTRACTED driver. Auto supply stores are now specialize in fireworks type car stereos called "kickers" or "thumpers" loud enough to "light up" a whole neighborhood. And for just $299, you can have installed a CD/DVD television screen that folds neatly out of the dashboard. With a 7"-square monitor, you're ready to watch those priceless Hee-Haw reruns while you're eating pizza, drinking a beverage, talking on the cell phone, smoking a cigarette and making a lane change. These "aftermarket" car accessories are completely illegal for manufacture in a car, for the obvious horrendous distraction they can cause a driver - but Car Stereo specialty shops are selling them like hotcakes. I'm not sure the fold-out DVD/TV screen will fold back into the dash before the paramedics come to pry dead hands off a steering wheel. If it is still dangling from the dash, cops will have a major clue what caused the accident. This TV-and/or laptop at the wheel stuff has caused a huge jump in accidents nationwide, and insurance rates are beginning to spike to reflect this. The enthusiasm for "bio-fueled" autos and the illogic of feeding food crops to cars in a world bristling with starving people evolving heinous diseases because they ARE starving, well, it boggles my mind. It's crucial to note that two-thirds of a car's pollution is produced during its manufacture. Getting 10% (20%? NOT 40%, see next paragraph) better tailpipe mileage is only reduces a fraction of the last third. If the CO2 from the new tailpipes was not colorless and environmentalists could see their own carbon output, they would faint. And hypercar buyer, what is your former car's tailpipe still doing today? Polluting by any chance? CBS NATIONAL NEWS REPORTED, MAY 28,2004, THAT THE HYPER CARS ARE HYPE-FOR-CARS OFTEN, EPA MILEAGE ESTIMATES POSTED ON ALL NEW VEHICLES ARE OPTIMISTIC BUT FOR UNKNOWN REASONS PROVE TO BE WILDLY OPTIMISTIC; CONSUMERS UNION (CU) REPORTS CITY MILEAGE ON THE HONDA CIVIC HYBRID IS JUST 26 MPG, NOT THE EPA'S STATED 48 MPG IT'S ADVERTISED WITH. AND THE DARLING OF EVERY ENVIRONMENTALIST'S CAR, THE TOYOTA PRIUS, GOT A (CU) CITY MILEAGE OF ONLY 35, AGAINST THE EPA/ADVERTISED CLAIM OF 60! Another hidden cost of cars is that (especially here in California) city planners and architects take it for granted that people want to live and work directly above, or surrounded by, their gas tanks and cars. Buildings are routinely constructed with a very weak first story, so cars can drive in, out, and around the toothpick-type legs buildings are then perched on. This design almost guarantees disastrous outcomes when the ground shakes. The Northridge, California quake cost $25 billion, most due to buildings that collapsed into garage space. How many similar complexes can you find in your community?
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By James DMake-it-home-safe MANTRA: When dealing with traffic, it's better to be patient than to become a patient; AND - A Sailboat is to a Polluting Cruise Ship what a bicycle is to a smokin' Hummer. I know bikes are beautiful but I’M not backing off until bikes are bountiful and bikers have greater strength in numbers. CategoriesArchives
February 2016
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