Driving Phone-Toxicated

Ruth Marcus / Truthdig Sep 17, 2010 I am, as of this writing, 144 days away from never again being able to sleep soundly. That is when my 15-year-old daughter, as she delights in constantly reminding me, will receive her learner's permit. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

BART Officer’s Murder Trial Nears a Climax

Staff / Truthdig Jun 27, 2010 Oscar Grant was killed on New Year's Day 2009 in Oakland by a white transit police officer in a case that has drawn comparisons to the notorious Rodney King case in Los Angeles. The trial of the BART officer on a murder charge was moved to L.A., where the jury could start deliberations this week. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Slaps Toyota With Record Fine

Staff / Truthdig Apr 6, 2010 U.S. auto regulators have decided to fine Toyota a maximum $16.375 million, having determined that the car company waited “at least four months” to recall its troubled vehicles. Toyota can contest the fine, which, although a record, amounts to a tiny fraction of the total financial impact of recalling some 8 million vehicles worldwide. (continued) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Red Alert: NASA Launches Toyota Probe

Staff / Truthdig Mar 30, 2010 It seems like everyone is investigating Toyota these days. There’s the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Academy of Sciences and even the automaker itself. Why not NASA? Apparently Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was thinking the same thing. (continued) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Toyota’s Issues May Drive Change in U.S. Brake Standards

Staff / Truthdig Mar 3, 2010 February wasn't a good month for Toyota, what with the fallout from the automaker's recent recall, but Toyota's pain may lead to a gain for U.S. drivers, in the form of a potential requirement for automobiles to include a brake override system. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

And Now for Another Big Toyota Recall

Staff / Truthdig Feb 9, 2010 Sorry, Toyota. Certainly there'll be a slew of jokes about the automaker's old "Oh, what a feeling!" commercials -- oh, wait, too late! -- now that Toyota has caught yet another tough break (sorry again) in the form of a recall of about "436,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide," according to the BBC. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Cash for Clunkers’ Plan Suspended

Staff / Truthdig Jul 31, 2009 One country, so many clunkers: The U.S. government-sponsored "cash for clunkers" program has come to a halt after six short days of enticing car owners to sacrifice their gas-guzzling relics to the scrap-heap gods and drive off in newer, greener models. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Chance to Avert Tragedy

Marie Cocco / Truthdig May 21, 2009 So now we know that pilots responsible for the safety of about a quarter of the flying public rest up for duty by catching a few winks in an airport lounge, or sleeping in idle aircraft or aboard a cross-country flight from their hometowns to their airport home base. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Bill Puts Brakes on Mexican Trucks

Staff / Truthdig Mar 11, 2009 President Obama's $410 billion spending bill may paradoxically end funding for a cross-border trucking program between Mexico and the U.S. Critics of the program cite safety issues around Mexican trucks, while Mexican officials decry protectionism as policies surrounding the NAFTA trade agreement continue to fall apart. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Review of Bridges Ordered After Collapse

Staff / Truthdig Aug 3, 2007 As divers continue their search for bodies in the Mississippi River after Wednesday's bridge collapse in Minneapolis, federal transportation officials are calling for a review of some 700 similar structures. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Brit Ponders America’s Love Affair With Cars

Staff / Truthdig May 19, 2006 Next time you're stuck in gridlock, keep in mind that many American cities had fantastic public rail systems until Big Auto bought up all the tracks and scrapped them to make way for cars. The Observer reminds us that "it did not have to be like this." Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )