U.C. Davis Learns Downside of Trying to Scrub Search Results
NY Times
4/15/16
The university paid at least $175,000 to two public relations firms to suppress the negative search results generated by its name, and the name of its chancellor, Linda P.B. Katehi, according to a report this week by The Sacramento Bee. The news has caused some California lawmakers to call for her resignation.
THE RELATIVE (IN)EFFECTIVENESS OF BICYCLE SHARROWS ON RIDERSHIP AND SAFETY OUTCOMES
Nicholas N. Ferenchak, Corresponding Author
University of Colorado Denver, Civil Engineering Department
Wesley E. Marshall, PhD, PE
University of Colorado Denver, Civil Engineering Department
The exact operational function of these markings is somewhat nebulous and seems to have evolved over time. When originally conceived, the hope was that sharrows would create distance between bicyclists and parked cars in order to avoid dooring crashes. Thus, many of the early studies of sharrows designate this avoidance of dooring as a primary objective. Similarly, the initial objective listed in the MUTCD is to assist bicyclists with lateral positioning so to avoid dooring crashes. However, this dooring objective is no longer the primary aim in some cases, evidenced by the fact that sharrows are now commonly placed on streets without on-street parking.
405 Freeway signs honor retired police Chief Mitch Waller, killed 3 years ago by a distracted driver
LA Times
4/9/16
Riding his bicycle with a partner toward the end of a typical Friday morning 50-miler on Highway 133 toward Laguna Beach, Waller and his friend Kevin Beach were plowed from behind by a wayward Toyota sedan. […] The government statistics show that 10% of all fatal crashes, 18% of injury crashes and 16% of all police-reported motor vehicle crashes in 2013 were attributed to distracted driving.
Takata Airbag Death in Texas Spurs Renewed Push on Car Recalls
Fortune
4/8/16
The brother of a Texas teenager killed by shrapnel from an exploding Takata air bag said on Thursday that his family never received a recall notice about the defective vehicle safety device.
The brother’s comments came as federal safety regulators called current methods of alerting consumers about vehicle safety recalls inadequate.
GM settles ignition-switch case before third trial
Reuters
4/7/16
G
M has admitted that some of its employees knew about the problems for years, and it has already paid roughly $2 billion in settlement and penalties. It continues to face 235 injury and death lawsuits consolidated before a federal judge in Manhattan.
Two motorcyclists die in Douglas County crash; woman arrested on suspicion of DUI
Fox
2/28/16
Uninsured driver was driving drunk, received DUI and reckless driving charge. Killed 2 motorcycle riders and injured another.
Uninsured Motorist insurance coverage can protect you and your loved ones from uninsured drivers.
The motorcyclist, 58-year-old Brian Lehner of Parker and passenger Jacquie Lehner, 56, were ejected and died at the scene.
Another motorcycle, driven by 28-year-old Joseph Bartoletti of Colorado Springs was also hit.
Two motorcyclists killed in accident with semi on Highway 85
Remember to always look for motorcycles.
There are far oo many crashes like this where the semi truck turned left in front of the motorcycle. Semi truck drivers and auto drivers have a surprising habit of turning in front of a motorcycle coming and not yielding right of way turning left in front of a motorcycle with no possible way to stop in time. Even in parking lots this happens. Some people say the front windshield can help a driver spot the motorcycle easier but nothing is better than drivers actually taking the time to look and make sure they have the right of way to make their turn.
when a semitruck crossed the highway eastbound on Weld County Road 18, police said.
Police said the motorcycle then slammed into the right front tire of the semi and went under the truck, bursting into the flames.
Dust storm triggers 15-vehicle pile-up in Lucerne Valley; 28 people injured
LA Times
3/28/16
A blinding dust storm swept through Lucerne Valley in San Bernardino County on Monday, contributing to a large traffic collision that left more than two dozen people injured.
Metro bus crashes in South L.A., sparking fire; 7 injured
LA Times
3/28/16
Aerial footage from KNBC-TV Channel 4 showed an orange Metro bus with extensive burn damage and broken windows around the middle. The bus appeared to have been T-boned by the car, which was also severely burned and apparently totaled.
IIHS
2/28/16
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in December issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to require stronger underride guards to stop passenger vehicles from sliding underneath the backs of trailers and semitrailers in rear-end crashes. The notice responds to the Institute’s petition to improve rear underride guards, as well as a 2014 request from the Truck Safety Coalition and Marianne Karth, a North Carolina mother whose daughters AnnaLeah, 17, and Mary, 13, died in an underride crash in 2013
