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Yellow Light Timing

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It looks like some local governments are setting the yellow light timing too short in order to increase the incidence of red light violations (and in turn increase the number of tickets).

A couple thoughts:

  1. The State of New Jersey seems to have their act together with regards to ensuring yellow light timings are based on speed and safety for motorists. Though, in my opinion, it should be the state DOT setting the guidelines, not the legislature.
  2. It doesn’t surprise me that Chicago has picked the lowest recommended timing
  3. Motorist safety is the core of the issue here. If private companies were operating these intersections and doing this the uproar would be tremendous. Not to mention they’d have their pants sued off

Manhattan’s Internet Vault

I guess this is transportation related… transportation of data. Anyway, an interesting article on the Hurricane Sandy damage to Manhattan’s internet infrastructure. Some staggering photos of the telecom vaults in use in NYC. I’ve been inside some cool telecom and electrical vaults, but these are beyond anything I’ve ever seen.

Unfortunate that the pumps to keep air in the copper insulation for flood protection were located on floors that made them vulnerable to flooding.

Number One But Losing Millions

So Condé Nast ranks Virgin America as number one yet they are losing millions.

since 2007, Virgin America has posted a net loss of $671 million and an operating loss of $447 million.

How does the airline with highest customer satisfaction and the best reviews do so poorly? The aforelinked article from Time shines some light on that.

I think that, in general, most people flying domestically in the States are purchasing their tickets based largely on price. Perks, comforts, and luxuries aren’t what most domestic travelers are looking for. If they have the money for that they’ll likely have the money for business class or first class anyway. I know that when I fly domestic I don’t even look at the major carriers… I just go to Southwest.com and hope they serve my destination. Virgin is trying to offer value to their flights in a market (domestic America) that values price first.

However, international flights are a whole different story. Myself, and others, are willing to pay a few hundred dollars more (often just 10% of the overall cost) for a better airline that is more accommodating. I’ll never fly international on American again, based on experience. I tolerate Delta. I much prefer a European carrier, or if possibly a Middle Eastern one.

Condé Naste Traveler: Top 25 Airlines

No big surprises here. From the international list I’ve traveled Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar and can vouch for all of them. It doesn’t surprise me that no US air carrier is on that list.

From the US list, I’ve traveled Southwest, Frontier, Delta, AirTran, and American. I’d probably have ranked them in that order as well.

Electric Car of the Year

Or rather, Motor Trend’s Car Of the Year 2013 happens to be electric. Actually watching their video and reading the material makes a compelling case for the Tesla Model S.


Photo courtesy of Tesla Motors.

Tesla remarks that they didn’t just want to build the best electric car but rather the best car that just happens to be electric. Thats a great goal. But the $58,570 base price tag makes it a premium sedan that is unobtainable for many. I’d like to see an electric car maker with a goal inspired by Henry Ford; not the best car or best electric car but an electric car anyone can afford to own.

In any case, very exciting to see progress in the electric car market. The Model S looks like a fun ride.

Unintended Consequences: CAFE Standards

Well, it appears that CAFE Standards are going to be effective enough to reduce the tax revenue from the gas tax. The CBO is reporting that over the next 10 years revenue from the gas tax will be reduced by $57 billion.

This makes sense and actually indicates the CAFE Standards are having the desired effect… increasing fuel efficiency and thereby reducing consumption for gas vehicles.

What’s disappointing is the that CBO proposes solutions that really just address the symptom. This from autobloggreen:

The CBO suggests three ways to deal with the shortfalls: do nothing (i.e., keep on transferring money from the general fund), spend less on highways and mass transit or raise the gas tax (or other taxes and direct them to the Fund).

The problem is that under this system not only are the true costs of the infrastructure hidden from the end user, but many hybrid and electric vehicles will be getting a “free ride”. Hybrid and electric vehicle use, and therefore wear and tear, of the infrastructure occurs without those operators sharing the cost of the infrastructure.

Simple solution… usage tax. Pay per mile (or your unit of measure of choice).

More at The Detroit News.

I never would have guessed…

From The Telegraph, Surviving A Plane Crash:

A US government study found there were 568 plane crashes in the US between 1993 and 2000, involving a total of 53,487 passengers and crew. Of these, 51,207 – or over 90 per cent survived. Even on the 26 crashes deemed the worst, the study found that more than half the passengers and crew survived.

I knew my fear of flying was irrational but wow! I had no idea crashes were that survivable.