Transportation & Infrastructure

Don Buciak II

Ford Recalls 117,000 Vehicles Over Possible Seatbelt Defect

Seatbelts can prove to be a literal lifesaver in the event of a crash, but they have to work properly for that to happen. For this reason, Ford is recalling nearly 117,000 trucks and SUVs. [More]

Inha Leex Hale

Expect Airport Security Delays As TSA Starts Scanning Tablets Separately From Carry-On Bags

If you’re one of the many air travelers who uses a tablet to play games, watch videos, read, or do work while flying, be warned that your device will soon be subject to the same sort of security screening that has been given to laptop computers for years. And even if you’re not carrying a tablet in your bag, you should probably expect longer waits at airport checkpoints. [More]

thoth1618

Colorado Makes It Legal To Break Into A Hot Car To Save Kids, Pets

When there’s a living being stuck inside a hot car on a sweltering day, sometimes desperate measures are necessary — helpful bystanders may have to break into that vehicle to save a child left behind, or even a pet. One state has now made these kinds of rescue efforts legal. [More]

Elliott Brown

Uber Is Charging Riders A $15 Fee In Some Cities To Have Drivers Return Their Lost Items

Realizing that you’ve left something precious in a hired car — a bag, a phone, a clarinet — is not a great feeling. But in order to turn that frown upside down and have your stuff returned to you, you’ll have to pay Uber $15 in some cities. [More]

Consumer Reports

Why Are People Paying So Much For Used Toyota Tacomas?

When shopping for a used car, there are a number of factors that can contribute to the price you’ll pay: type and brand of vehicle, model year, wear-and-tear, and mileage. Typically the more years and more miles a car had meant you’d pay a lower price. But that’s apparently not the case for one truck: The Toyota Tacoma.  [More]

Adam Fagen

Delta Flight Allegedly Delayed Two Hours Over Fighting Crew Members

Flight delays occur for a range of reasons, from inclement weather to unruly passengers or flight crews who have exceeded their maximum flying time. But one issue you might not expect: a fight between the pilot and flight attendant. Yet, that’s apparently what happened to a Delta Air Lines flight. [More]

Lyft Launching ‘Taco Mode’ To Enable Your Late-Night Taco Bell Craving

Lyft Launching ‘Taco Mode’ To Enable Your Late-Night Taco Bell Craving

Anyone who’s ever begged and pleaded with their cab driver to take them to get fast food after a night on the town knows it’s not always an easy task. But Lyft apparently knows your darkest late-night desires, and is ready to be a Taco Bell accomplice. [More]

Aner Manuel

Uber Suspends Driver Accused Of Getting Busy During Customer’s Ride

Public displays of affection can be an awkward person for anyone not involved in the action. But one Uber passenger says his experience went from beyond uncomfortable to downright dangerous when his driver engaged in sexual activity with a woman during a trip. [More]

Great Beyond

Don’t Use Social Media Behind The Wheel: 9 People Per Day Are Killed In Crashes Involving Distracted Drivers

Distracted driving comes in many forms, from talking on the phone, to messing with a navigation system, or posing for selfies on the latest social media app. Over the weekend, the latter distraction, combined with another dangerous driving hazard — drunk driving — to claim the life of a teen in California.  [More]

@adichappo

TSA Says It Did Not Ban Comic Books From Checked Bags On Flights Leaving Comic-Con

The thing about a major comic book convention like Comic-Con? People are probably going to buy stuff, including comic books, likely in large quantities. But some travelers leaving San Diego after this past weekend’s Comic-Con International were confused by signs informing them that comic books are not allowed in checked baggage. However, that’s just not true. [More]

Rachel

Frontier, American & Delta Fined $850,000 For Involuntary Bumping, Damaged Bag Violations, Delayed Refunds

Frontier Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines must pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines after the Department of Transportation found the carriers violated consumer protection rules related to refunds, disability assistance, and other issues.  [More]

Lyft

Lyft Wants To End Car Ownership — This Is How They Want To Do It

It’s no secret that Lyft has its sights set on a country without individual car ownership — with the company’s co-founder calling it a “$9,000 ball and chain” that people have to drag along in their daily lives — but now the ride-hailing service is elaborating further on how exactly it can accomplish that goal. [More]

(saguarosally)

Ford To Try To Avoid Recall Of 2.5M Vehicles With Takata Airbags

Last week, federal regulators revealed that millions of additional Ford, Nissan, and Mazda vehicles would be recalled for containing Takata airbag inflators that could explode violently despite containing a chemical meant to lessen the risk of the shrapnel-shooting ruptures. But Ford is looking to avoid another costly recall.  [More]

(John Hanley)

Report: VW, Mercedes & Others May Have Colluded On Diesel Emissions Systems

Could there be another “Dieselgate” on the horizon? It could be, as new reports suggest that several carmakers, including Volkswagen, Daimler, and BMW colluded to fix the price of other diesel emission treatment systems. [More]

Ride-Hailing Apps In NYC One Step Away From In-App Tipping

Ride-Hailing Apps In NYC One Step Away From In-App Tipping

A month ago, Uber rolled out optional in-app tipping nationwide, which made it look a little more driver-friendly while stuck in a traffic jam of terrible publicity. We’re sure that change had nothing to do with what happened in New York’s City Council today: A bill that would require ride-hailing apps to let customers tip within the app passed the transportation committee and is on its way to the mayor’s desk. [More]

Mike Matney

There Are Only 32 Retail Gas Stations Left In Manhattan

Every day, new people arrive in New York City, and those people need housing. In response to that demand, developers in Manhattan have been busy knocking down old buildings and putting up new ones. One casualty of that real estate boom? Gas stations, which have become increasingly rare in recent years. [More]

Don Buciak II

Flying From Mexico To The U.S.? Here’s What You Need To Know About New Laptop Rules

Although the U.S. has lifted the laptop ban on all foreign airlines it put in place in March, travelers flying here from Mexico with such large electronic devices will get their chance to grumble over new, longer security checks. [More]

MBQ

United CEO: Social Media Means People Will Pay Attention When Passengers Are Dragged Off Planes

Months after United Airlines found itself in the middle of a social media crap storm over a video of a ticketed passenger being dragged off a flight so an employee could take his seat, the airline’s CEO admits that the company has to learn to adjust to rapid spread of news online. [More]