US Airways Flight crashed into the Hudson River

A passenger plane, US Airways flight, has crashed into the Hudson River in New York City. Passengers, some wearing life jackets, are being rescued from the chilly waters. According to the TV reports, Flight 1549 was en route from La Guardia to Charlotte, North Carolina, carrying 148 passengers and 5 crew members. Prior to going down in the water the pilot reported a bird strike after hitting a flock of geese. According to Flighaware.com, the plane was in the air for just six minutes after take-off. Temperatures in New York are in the low 20s. Within minutes of hitting the water, the jet was nearly completely submerged. Still, there have been no reports of fatalities as a flotilla of boats — many of them water taxis — converged on the plane to rescue the passengers and crew.

Brad Keselowski vehicle crashes victory lane

The car of driver Carl Edwards clips the safety fence while airborne near the finish line on the final lap Sunday during the Aarons 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.


Part-time Sprint Cup series driver Brad Keselowski wrecks Carl Edwards out of his way to win the Aaron's 499. Seven fans are injured by debris from the wreck.

Safety Driving Tips for Winter Session

The following tips to keep you and your family safe while driving in winter weather:

No matter the season, drinking and driving is dangerous and illegal.

Make sure your vehicle is in good working order.

Have working wiper blades

Fill up on antifreeze and window-washer fluid

Check for proper tire inflation

Ensure your battery has sufficient charge

Keep an emergency kit ready in your vehicle. It should include:

A blanket or warm clothes (boots, coat, gloves)

A flashlight

Jumper cables

Tow rope

Shovel

Bag of sand or cat litter for traction

Battery-operated radio

State map to use in case of a detour

Snacks such as raisins, candy bars or other items that store well

To avoid slipping off the roadway, drive more slowly and give yourself more room to stop.

Brake gently to prevent skidding



If your vehicle does get stuck:

Never spin your wheels. That only digs the tires in more deeply

Use a shovel to dig around the wheels and undercarriage

Turn the steering wheel from side to side to clear snow away from the front tires

Gently ease the vehicle out



If that doesn't work, try rocking the vehicle by shifting into forward and giving it some gas and then shifting it into reverse and accelerating until the vehicle is free

Let other people know your travel plans so if you don't arrive they'll know where to start looking.
Tell people the route you plan to take

Make sure your vehicle has fresh air if you become stuck by checking the exhaust system to see if it's plugged by snow.
Open a window or turn off your car if necessary

Carbon monoxide produced by your vehicle is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill

Acura Advanced Sports Cars

Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept side

Acura Advanced Sports Car

Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept rear

Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept front

Gray Acura Advanced Sports Car

Acura Advanced Sports Car at Geneva Autoshow

Top 10 Tech Cars and specifications

• Power Plant: 462-kW (620 hp) supercharged 6.2-L aluminum V8 • Transmission: Close-ratio 6-speed manual; dual clutch • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: Information not available • Claimed CO2 Emissions: Information not available • More: Chevrolet is very proud of the fact that the ZR1's power-to-weight ratio is better than that of the Ferrari 599, the Lamborghini LP640, and the Porsche 911 GT2.

• Power Plant: 110-kW 1.4-L turbocharged fuel-stratified injection engine; 30-kW electric motor • Transmission: S-tronic 6-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox, a pairing of two manual gearboxes • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: 4.9 L/100 km (48 mpg) in mixed-mode operation • Claimed CO2 Emissions: 112 g/km • More: Minus the hybrid, the Metroproject is likely a preview of Audi's upcoming A2 subcompact.
• Power Plant: 1.8-L four-cylinder 190-kW (255 hp) turbocharged homogeneous charge compression ignition engine • Transmission: 7-speed automatic with integrated electric motor assist • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: 5.3 L/100 km (44 mpg) during cruising • Claimed CO2 Emissions: 127 g/km • More: The way Germans pronounce “DiesOtto” (the company's name for the engine design) sounds just like “DeSoto.” Daimler sold Chrysler (which owned DeSoto) this year, so shouldn't Mercedes-Benz pick another name?

• Power Plant: 298-kW (400 hp) 4.4-L twin-turbocharged direct-injection V8 • Transmission: 6-speed automatic; steering wheel–mounted paddle shifters • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: Information not available • Claimed CO2 Emissions: Information not available • More: The X6 lineup is likely to include both hybrid-electric and 197-kW 3.0-L six-cylinder diesel variants in the near future; the BMW X5 sport utility, to which it is closely related, will offer that diesel in 2009.
• Power Plant: 358-kW (480 hp) 3.8-L twin-turbocharged V6 • Transmission: Rear transaxle with sequential 6-speed; paddle shift • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: Information not available • Claimed CO2 Emissions: Information not available • More: It took the company months to decide if the US $70 000 car would be released as a Nissan or an Infiniti in the United States; in the end, it stuck with the global Nissan brand despite Infiniti's upscale image.

• Power Plant: 66-kW (89 hp) 1.3-L Miller-cycle 16-valve four-cylinder • Transmission: Continuously variable transmission (CVT) • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: 4.3 L/100 km (55 mpg) on Japanese combined cycle • Claimed CO2 Emissions: 129 g/km • More: The “platform” or understructure will be the basis for a new Ford Fiesta in Europe, and Ford is considering selling it in the United States.

• Power Plant: 224-kW (300 hp) 4.2-L V8; 313-kW (420 hp) supercharged 4.2-L V8• Transmission: 6-speed automatic; shift-by-wire control and paddle shifters • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: Information not available • Claimed CO2 Emissions: Information not available • More: The XF is built on the underpinnings of the retro-styled S-Type, but you'd never know it; the production car retains (most of) the panache of Jaguar's jaw-dropping C-XF concept.

• Power Plant: 24-kW (32 hp) 623-cc aluminum two-cylinder • Transmission: Continuously variable transmission (CVT) • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: 4.7 L/100 km (50 mpg) • Claimed CO2 Emissions: 120 g/km • More: Tata plans to sell an upscale version in Europe, possibly for as little as one-third the price of the cheapest new car today. European makers are apprehensive.

• Power Plant: 1.4-L 59-kW (80 hp) three-cylinder turbodiesel • Transmission: 5-speed manual • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: 3.8 L/100 km (62 mpg) in mixed urban/highway use • Claimed CO2 Emissions: 99 g/km • More: The BlueMotion tag indicates the most fuel-efficient variation of each model Volkswagen sells.

• Power Plant: 2010 model: 254-kW (340 hp) 3.5-L turbocharged gasoline-direct-injection V6 • Transmission: 6-speed automatic • Claimed Fuel Efficiency: Information not available • Claimed CO2 Emissions: Information not available • More: The EcoBoost engine was originally christened TwinForce, but Ford renamed it to play up fuel savings and lower emissions, moving away from a high-performance image.

Car Tire Identification Number

Avoid Toll Traffic

If I'm forced to be on the road while gas prices are sky-high, few things bring me more joy than cruising tollright through toll plazas while lines of cars, each paying cash, sit in traffic and prolong their gas guzzling.

Suckers.

I can honestly say that my Aaat has changed my life—maybe not to the extent that my iPod has, but it has saved me much time and considerable road rage over the past three years.

With the help of a transponder mounted to your windshield, Aaat allows you to drive right through specifically marked toll lanes without stopping. Your transponder is linked to your personal checking account, and simply deducts the cost of the toll from your balance. No stopping. No reaching in the seat cushions hoping for exact change. No risking rolling up to the tollbooth with insufficient funds. (This MAY have happened to me, summer of '04 crossing the Walt Whitman Bridge into Philadelphia.)

Aaat specifically works for toll roads in the Northeast, reaching into the Midwest, and the southern border of Virginia. Other regions of the country have their own Aaat equivalent systems. Check out your state's department of motor vehicles website to see what program they have to offer.

Hopefully, saving time not sitting in toll lines will get you to your summertime destination a little quicker, and you'll have to suffer from one less "are we there yet?" coming from the backseat.

Road trips not your thing? Here are some travel tips to expedite the airport security process.

Tips for Traveling Abroad

Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service at travelregistration.state.gov. This will help us contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.

Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.

Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. If it does not, consider supplemental insurance.

Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. Other information about the countries you will visit.

Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.

Auto Transport Services

To clutch, budge, or transmit from one place to another means Transport and Auto Transport means to carry, move or convey vehicles from one place to another. Auto Transport is the simple, fast and affordable way to do business. Auto Transport services are needed by a miscellaneous cluster of populace and companies. Many people find it crucial and fewer exclusive to contract an auto transport companies to ship their cars, rather than transporting them themselves across the country. Vehicles can be transported by airplane, large ships, railroad car, or truck.

Auto Transport companies are copiously licensed and takes smugness in eminence of customer care. There brand of service is a straightforward one that continues to craft thousands of contented customers worldwide. Auto Transport companies first and only aspiration is to spontaneous and deliver your car to you safely and in a timely manner. They offer proficient transportation at reasonable rates. The company keeps each and every customer informed of the entire auto transportation process.

Race Car Fuel Dispenser Operator belted down when Methanol Tank Exploded

A 49-year-old male auto dealer/ buyer working as a race car fuel dispenser, died from injuries received when a methanol tank at an automobile racetrack exploded in the fuel building. The wooden fuel building was constructed of sheet plywood supported by 4- by 4-inch and 2- by 4-inch wood supports. The fuel building housed both the pit concessions and the fuel storage and dispensing area. The decedent had filled several plastic fuel containers for the racers at the racetrack. It is unclear if he was filling another container, or was transferring methanol from a 55-gallon drum to a 1,000-gallon methanol holding tank when the explosion occurred. Although on fire, he was able to exit from the burning building. A racecar driver who was also a firefighter wrapped a shirt around the decedent’s face and pulled him away from the burning building. Emergency response personnel who were already on site provided medical assistance and transport to a local hospital. He sustained burns over 80 percent of his body. He died the next day at the hospital. Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA) personnel found that there were no grounding straps used and that the wiring was not rated for the area.

Recommendations:

• Racetrack owners should ensure that flammable material use and storage is in compliance with applicable safety standards and NFPA recommendations.
• Racetrack owners should train employees who dispense/transfer racing fuel to do so in a manner that will minimize the production of static electricity.
• Racetrack owners should develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive health and safety program that includes, a job hazard analysis and employee training in hazard recognition and avoidance. The safety program should include provisions for fuel distribution personal to use fire rated clothing.
• Racetrack owners should contact MIOSHA Consultation, Education and Training (CET) or other safety and health professional to conduct an inspection of the racetrack to identify potential hazards and racetrack compliance with applicable health and safety laws.
• Racetrack owners should comply with NFPA 610, Guide for Emergency Response and Safety at Motorsports Venues standard.
• Racetrack owners should contact their local jurisdiction’s building inspector to review any changes in existing building use.

All America AutoTransport Services

All America Auto transport has been transporting all types of vehicle from 1964. It is transporting vehicles to all the cities in United States of America and overseas. We have many satisfied customers which include individuals, military, government personnel, sports teams and corporate houses. We will ship your vehicle very safely. All American Auto transport has a fleet of over 500 car transport trucks. Every truck is fully covered by public liability, property damage and cargo insurance.

We provide various types of services to our clients, some of them are open auto transport, enclosed car shipping, door to door service and terminal to terminal vehicle shipping. Car shipping is nothing but shipping your vehicle from one location to another on an auto carrier truck. We at aaat.com do understand the importance of your car. We will ship your car safely within a reasonable time for a fair price. Our workers are educated on handling your vehicle.

International pedestrian Road Transport Safety performance

Australias pedestrian fatalities with other OECD nations between 1990 and 1997. The comparisons are drawn taking into account the population and level of motorisation of the countries reported. Pedestrian fatalities per 100 000 population The number of road deaths for every 100 000 population is a measure of the public health risk associated with road use. Table 1 within the report shows that pedestrian road safety in Australia compares unfavourably on this basis, with a number of OECD nations.

Australia had 1.78 pedestrian road fatalities per 100 000 population in 1997, slightly above the median for the OECD as a whole (1.68). Within Australia, in 1997, Tasmania had the lowest rate with no pedestrian fatalities per 100 000, whilst the Northern Territory had the highest rate at 9.09 per 100 000. Only in Tasmania, ACT and South Australia was the pedestrian fatality rate below the OECD median.

Fatigue management programs in the road transport industry

Fatigue and fatigue management has attracted considerable interest in the long distance road transport industry over the last few years because it has been acknowledged increasingly as one of the industry's major problems. The research that has occurred because of this interest has clarified a number of aspects of the problem. Most notably it has shown that regulatory approaches that are generic and attempt to limit working hours and manage rest in a "one size fits all" approach is not necessarily the best approach (Williamson, Feyer, Coumarelos and Jenkins, 1992; Feyer, Williamson, Jenkin and Higgins, 1993; Arnold, Hartley, Penna, Hochstadt, Corry, & Feyer, 1996). Not only are such approaches difficult to implement and police, surveys of drivers and the industry indicate that regulatory approaches are unlikely to succeed because they do not accommodate the differing needs for rest between individual drivers or the differing operational needs of companies.

With the introduction by Queensland Department of Transport of an alternative compliance approach, the Fatigue Management Programme, the focus has moved to increasing the flexibility available to companies and drivers to manage fatigue in ways that suit them, rather than trying to match their work demands to the working hours regulations. The programme attempts to encourage companies to take a primary role in planning for fatigue management by developing Fatigue Management Programmes (FMP'S) for work-rest scheduling on particular routes. While this approach is clearly in harmony with the findings of the research on fatigue, it has some fundamental difficulties, most notably because there is very little information available on what constitutes effective alternative work-rest schedules in comparison to the working hours regulations. If the FMPs are to be useful, it is imperative that the work-rest schedules they allow offer no loss in the ability of drivers to manage fatigue, and preferably that they improve fatigue management.

One way of improving the effectiveness of the FMP approach is to develop a range of model work-rest schedules that have demonstrated effectiveness for managing fatigue. These models can then help in designing work-rest schedules that provide additional flexibility for companies and drivers to meet their operational needs, but still manage driver fatigue most effectively. The aim of this project was to begin to develop some model work-rest schedules by evaluating work-rest schedules that had been operating under the current regulated regime and some FMP approaches that had been allowed to begin operating under the pilot FMP scheme.

Conclusions

This project has demonstrated that evaluation of work-rest schedules using standardised and sensitive methods for measuring fatigue is an effective approach to fatigue management. The results have identified work-rest schedules which have demonstrated capacity to manage fatigue as well as identifying the features of work-rest schedules which need to be modified to ensure that fatigue is maintained at the lowest possible levels.

Evaluation of the current working hours regime suggests that provided drivers are rested to begin with, one full cycle of the regulated regime does not produce fatigue or performance capacity decrements that are of concern for safety. There is considerable evidence however that performance decrements increase significantly as the schedule becomes more demanding. This is a warning signal for the development of alternative approaches to ensure that schedules are designed that do not simply increase the demands on drivers. The evidence from both evaluations of alternative FMP approaches reinforces these conclusions as the results for both alternative compliance schedules suggested that they increased the demands on drivers, but did not balance them sufficiently with rest in order to allow recuperation and recovery from accumulated fatigue. These results do not mean that the working hours regulatory regime is the only satisfactory approach to managing fatigue. The results show clearly that it is possible to increase trip length to 16 hours, say, and still maintain good performance levels. It is not possible, however, to continue to do 16 hour trips without a longer break than is usually allowed, even in the regulated regime.

The challenge for the road transport industry now is to use information like this and build on it to provide better guidance to drivers and companies on how to trade-off work and rest safely. These evaluations show that greater flexibility in scheduling is possible, but that it needs to be evaluated carefully. The development of model work-rest schedules that have been evaluated is clearly one way of assisting the industry down the path of better fatigue management.

Australia's international road transport safety

The number of deaths for every 10 000 registered vehicles is a method of comparing road fatalities taking into account the level of motorisation.

Road fatalities relative to vehicle ownership have declined significantly in Australia since 1975.

In 1975, there were 5.8 deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles in Australia, in 1998 this had decreased to 1.5

The median rate for the OECD nations reported has also declined. In 1975, the OECD median was 7.2, by 1998 it was 2.0

For the years reported, Australia’s rate ofdeath per 10 000 registered vehicles is below that reported for the OECD median.

In 1998, Australia recorded 1.5 deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles. Australia ranked equal 6th of the 27 OECD nations for which this information was available.

Sweden had the lowest rate recording 1.2 deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles.

Korea, with 8.0 deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles, had the highest rate of the OECD nations.

The number of deaths for every 100 000 of population is a measure of the public health risk associated with road use.

The public health risk associated with road use has declined significantly in Australia since 1975.

In 1975 there were 26.6 deaths per 100 000 population in Australia, in 1998 this had decreased to 9.4.

The median rate for the OECD nations reported has also declined. In 1975, the OECD median was 18.4, by 1998 it was 11.0.

In 1998, Australia recorded 9.4 road deaths per 100 000 population. Australia ranked equal 8th of the 27 OECD nations for which this information was available.

Sweden had the lowest rate, recording 6.0 deaths per 100 000 population.

Korea, with 22.6 deaths per 100 000 population, had the highest rate of the OECD nations.

Reduction of Road Transport Related Optimism Bias and Risk Taking

Optimism bias regarding road-related optimism bias may contribute to road deaths and injuries by increasing risk-taking on the road. Because driver training courses may worsen road-related optimism bias, components of driver training courses which seek to reduce this bias are important. Although optimism bias is difficult to reduce, techniques developed and evaluated during this research program appear to have some promise. Further, a session of a driver training program (the 'Low Risk Driving Course') designed to combat optimism bias appears to have comparable efficacy. These approaches share two important components: teaching drivers to have a realistic view of their past experience, and motivating them to think realistically in order to minimize their crash risk. Further research is required to promote a better understanding of road-related optimism bias and to refine techniques which reduce it.

Non-prescriptive Fatigue Management Policy for Express Coach Drivers

This project assessed the impact of a number of work-related factors on coach drivers' well-being and performance using a survey completed by 108 drivers. A fatigue management training program based on realistic, difficult scenarios commonly faced by coach drivers was developed to assist drivers to develop more effective coping strategies. An evaluation was conducted after four weeks at which drivers reported positive reactions (self-efficacy and motivation), strong intentions, and high levels of critical in-training, transfer enhancing activities that are regarded as precursors to successful transfer of training. A longer-term evaluation suggested that the training course and the situational exercises were relevant, but that the training course needed to include additional information about managing fatigue, and issues such as improving communication between management and drivers.

Manage Study of Crashed Vehicles Equipped with Airbags

Australian Design Rule (ADR) 69 called for all new passenger cars to comply with a dynamic full frontal barrier crash test requirement, similar to US safety standard FMVSS 208 but with restrained test dummies. This study set out to evaluate how effective ADR 69 has been at preventing injuries and Harm to passenger car occupants in Australia since its introduction.

A case-control study of real-world crashed vehicles equipped with and without Supplementary Restraint Systems was conducted. Data included 253 drivers in airbag-equipped vehicles and 130 drivers in non-airbag vehicles, involved in a frontal collision. The analysis revealed reductions in the numbers of injuries to the head, face, chest and neck in the airbag-equipped vehicles although the numbers of upper extremity injuries increased. At higher injury severities (AIS2+) reductions were also observed in injuries to the head, face, neck and chest. Further analysis using Harm as an outcome measure found that the mean Harm per driver (in terms of $AUD) was 60% greater in the non-airbag vehicles compared with the airbag-equipped vehicles. The main conclusion from the study was that the results offer a strong indication that the Australian Design Rule (ADR) 69 requirement has been successful in addressing some of the outstanding issues that remain for injury prevention for drivers involved in frontal impacts.

Heavy Vehicle Seat Vibration

Past research has associated whole-body vibration exposure with a number of adverse effects on the human body. The effects of vibration on the lower back and spine have been extensively researched and documented. Effects on the gastrointestinal system have received less attention but are considered by some to be significant.

The following points summarise the findings of the literature review:

* There is some laboratory and field research that supports a relationship between low frequency vibration (3 Hz) and increased fatigue or drowsiness. This may have implications for heavy vehicle truck drivers who usually experience vibration levels around this frequency while driving.
* Intermittent and random vibration can have a stimulating or wakening effect.
* Vibration exposure has been found to cause changes to body metabolism and chemistry that could lead to fatigue effects.
* The health effects of whole-body vibration have been extensively researched and adverse effects have been established. Truck drivers shown many of the symptoms of adverse health effects associated with whole-body vibration exposure.
* Typical whole-body vibration exposure levels of heavy vehicle drivers are in the range 0.4 - 2.0 m/s2 with a mean value of 0.7 m/s2 in the vertical (z-axis). Vertical vibration is highest in the frequency range 2 – 4 Hz.
* The average whole-body vibration level experienced by drivers of heavy transport vehicles exceed health, fatigue and comfort limits of the Australian Standard and most exposures are within the Caution zone (for health) according to the current International Standard. Many typical exposures will reach the likely health risk zone of the International Standard. According to these standards, many truck drivers are at risk of incurring adverse health effects from prolonged exposure to vibration.
* There is evidence that truck drivers have back complaints that could be partly attributable to whole-body vibration exposure.
* Comfort limits of both Australian and International Standards are exceeded by most vehicle rides.

Driving Performance Related Transport Tasks

The study was conducted as a double blind, placebo controlled, four-way cross over study. To assess the psychomotor effects of the administered drugs, the participants were required to perform the critical flicker fusion frequency task (CFF), choice reaction time task (CRT), Bond- Lader visual analogue scale of mood (VASM) and the digit-symbol substitution test (DSST). A significant effect between condition and time for CRT (F(3)= 7.918, p<0.001),>

International road safety comparisons

The International Road Safety Comparisons report presents detailed tables of road death rates for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations and Australian states/territories. These rates allow Australias road safety performance to be compared with other OECD nations while taking into account the differing levels of population, motorisation and distances travelled.