TRUCKS' PRODUCTS * USA - "In 100 Yards, Hit the Bridge"

Princeton,NJ,USA -The Journal of Commerce, William B. Cassidy -October 16, 2009: -- Trucks have rammed into low bridges 46 times this year in Westchester County, New York, doing enough damage that New York state is considering severe penalties against truckers... In particular, New York Gov., David Paterson, wants to crack down on truckers who use GPS routing and navigation systems to find faster routes around congestion and wind up on prohibited roads with bridges with low clearance. He proposed confiscating trucks and sending truckers who ignore route restrictions to jail... Many truck drivers use navigation equipment specifically designed for trucking, such as the CoPilot Truck products offered by ALK Technologies, which tell drivers which routes are off limits to commercial vehicles. That's something the standard GPS device won't do, however... (Image from alk: Maps)


*Germany - Putting the brakes on running red lights - Mercedes Benz 'Smart Stop' technology

Stuttgart,Germany -
Gizmag, By Mick Webb -October 16, 2009: -- Taking driver-assist technology to the next level is the “Smart Stop” system currently in development by Mercedes Benz. The wireless safety system, which allows intersections to communicate with vehicles, would automatically cause a car to stop at a red light should a driver fail to heed it... Of course for this type of road safety technology to be effective it would require not only a blanket upgrade of communication standards and infrastructure but also the co-operation of national and local governments, and the industry as a whole – certainly no mean feat... (SEE VIDEO) ... So while Mercedes Benz is hoping to see this type of technology soon join the likes of current driver assist systems like lane departure warnings and proximity detectors, it may be some time before this radical leap forward in driver safety makes it onto the roads... (Image: Boing Boing Gadgets - The Mercedes Benz Smart Stop technology allows intersections and vehicles to communicate)