Tag Archives: dot

Teaching Teens of Deadly Distracted Driving with Video Game?

The Department of Transportation has launched a new page on a redesigned website aimed at educating teenage drivers about the dangers of distracted driving, which is now responsible for about 5,500 deaths and 500,000 injures annually in the U.S. Continue reading

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DOT Distracted Driving Rule Bans Hand-Held Phone use by Commercial Drivers, but Allows Hands-Free Cell Phones

The latest DOT rule falls far short of a recommendation in September from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to ban the use of all cell phones – hand-held and hands-free – by commercial drivers except in emergencies. NTSB made the recommendation after a horrific crash in Kentucky between an 18-wheeler and a van killed 11 people. Continue reading

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New NHTSA Safety Ratings Are Incomplete, Potentially Misleading, Since Many New Vehicles Remain Untested

Many of the vehicles sold in the U.S. have not been tested since the ratings were revised last year. That evidently won’t stop carefully written press releases though. What’s needed here is a level playing field, one that won’t be slanted by automotive marketers until all cars are tested so the federal government safety program isn’t used to pick winners by p.r departments selectively presenting incomplete data. Continue reading

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American Fined $900,000 for Tarmac Delays at O’Hare Airport

Between May 2010 and April 2011, the first 12 months after the three-hour limit was in effect, the larger U.S. airlines required to file tarmac delays reported 20 tarmac delays of more than three hours, none of which was more than four hours long. In contrast, during the 12 months before the rule took effect, these carriers had 693 tarmac delays of more than three hours, and 105 of the delays were longer than four hours, according to DOT. Anti-government regulation fanatics should note that this is a clear case of effective regulation. Continue reading

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Biofuels Now in Commercial Use at United and Alaska Airlines

The use of aviation biofuels looks promising since it was pushed forward by the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) established by the Federal Aviation Administration, which has been working to find sustainable fuels for airlines since 2006. As always the issues remain cost, and potential negative effects on global food supply. Continue reading

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Milestones: 45 Years of the Department of Transportation

Over the weekend the U.S. Department of Transportation celebrated its 45 anniversary since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the law that created it by combining 31 agencies and their bureaus into DOT. “In a large measure, America’s history is a … Continue reading

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DOT Fines Orbitz for Violating Price Advertising Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today fined the online ticket agent Orbitz $60,000 for violating federal aviation laws and the Department’s rules prohibiting deceptive price advertising in air travel. Continue reading

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NTSB Wants Cell Phone Ban for Commercial Drivers

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended banning the use of all types of cell phones by commercial drivers except in emergencies. The Safety Board said cell phone use by the driver of an 18-wheel semi truck was the … Continue reading

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U.S. DOT Proposes Elimination of 46 Traffic Sign Regulations

In the regulatory areas that AutoInformed covers, little reduction has resulted at DOT, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) thus far. Continue reading

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FAA Announces More Commercial Spaceport Taxpayer Grants

In 2009, U.S. commercial space transportation and the services and industries it enables accounted for more than $208 billion in economic activity. More than one million people were employed as a result. Continue reading

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DOT Announces $417.3 Million in Grants for Highway Projects

In previous years, a pork loving Congress designated some of this grant money for specific highway projects and FHWA awarded the remainder through a competitive process. Because the FY11 budget passed by Congress last April directed that all such funds be discretionary, FHWA awarded these funds through what it said was a “competitive process.” Continue reading

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President Obama Unveils 54.5 MPG Fuel Economy Regulation for 2017-25. Will it Alter Vehicle Choices and Increase Costs?

In a thirteen minute speech in Washington this morning, President Obama revealed his proposal for doubling the fuel economy of vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2025. This proposal, which will apply to cars and light trucks sold during model years 2017 to 2025, establishes a global warming pollution standard of 163 grams of CO2 per mile per new vehicle by 2025—the equivalent of 54.5 mpg if all the improvements are met through actual increases in fuel-efficiency. Continue reading

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DOT adds Protections for Air Travelers Abused by Airlines

The rulemaking finalized today grows from passenger protections issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation in December 2009, which prohibited U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from permitting an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours. That rule stopped almost overnight a common abuse of passengers by 16 of the largest U.S. airlines. Continue reading

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Federal Highway Administration to Release More Than $319 Million as Repayment for Repairs to Damaged Roads, Bridges

U.S Department of Transportation will provide more than $319 million to states across the nation to cover the costs of repairing roads and bridges damaged by a variety of natural disasters, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced. Continue reading

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DOT Releases Long Delayed Toyota Unintended Acceleration Report, Exonerates Self, Claiming It Was Right All Along

The self conducted NHTSA study if it found problems, of course, would make DOT – with a staggering $79 billion budget vulnerable to Congressional dictated reforms, as well as budget and staff cuts as the deficit debate heats up on Capital Hill. Continue reading

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