motorists news stories on Newser

1 in 5 Drivers Will Soon Be 65 or Older

Nick McMaster — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:56:52 CST

As the baby boomer generation enters old age, the graying of America may be felt dramatically on the road. In 15 years, 1 in 5 drivers will be 65 or older, reports AP . The NTSB is already trying to gauge the impact that might have—though smart cars and smart...

Woman Hit by Car— After Flashing Drivers

Harry Kimball — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:11:10 CST

An 18-year-old New Zealand woman had to go to the hospital and pay a fine after a drunken dare—flash oncoming traffic—caused one motorist to plow into her. Cherelle Dudfield escaped the accident with minor cuts and bruises, but police were not amused. “This girl put herself at risk...

Bad Driving Is in the Genes

Nick McMaster — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:37:56 CDT

Certain people—perhaps up to 30% of the population—may be fated by their genetic makeup to be bad drivers, a new study suggests. Researchers tested a small group of people on a driving simulator and found that subjects with a particular gene variant weren't so hot at keeping up...

Have Mercy, Officer: I Can't Think of a Good Excuse

Kevin Spak — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:55:30 CDT

Every time a cop pulls someone over, he or she is liable to hear an excuse. And every so often, a driver manages to surprise even the most jaded ticket-writer, the San Jose Mercury News reports. Like the pair of Frenchmen one officer caught speeding on Highway 101. They’d studied...

Next Recession Victim: Highway Rest Stops

Rob Quinn — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:00:02 CDT

The pit stops along American highways are starting to go the way of the Pony Express as states slash their budgets, the Wall Street Journal reports. Some states argue that the mushrooming of gas stations and motels at interstate exits make the rest stops obsolete, but American Automobile Association officials...

Amsterdam's 'Beer Bikes' Drive Into Trouble

Harry Kimball — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:11:01 CDT

“Beer bikes”—party vehicles that combine two of Amsterdam's favorite things—are under scrutiny after two recent accidents involving the gizmos, Reuters reports. Each large conveyance seats 10 peddlers at a central bar while a non-drinker steers. “This beer bike is completely legal,” said a transport official who is nonetheless...

Huge Pipe Break Traps DC-Area Drivers

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:46:00 CST

Rescuers in helicopters scrambled to pull motorists from frigid floodwaters unleashed by a massive water pipe break this morning on a commuter road just outside Washington. TV images showed two people in a minivan climbing into a basket lowered from a helicopter overhead. Rescuers also used a boat to save...

Gov. Vetoes Ban on 'Lap Dog Driving'

Ambreen Ali — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:18:26 CDT

Californians can keep driving with pets on their laps since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill that would have banned such behavior, reports the Sacramento Bee . The "Paris Hilton Bill," as it was named by conservatives, was one of 95 measures that the Terminator terminated over the weekend. Schwarzenegger...

Romo a Hero for Stranded Couple

Rob Quinn — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:20:13 CDT

Tony Romo took down the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, then rescued the Whites in Dallas on his way home, People reports. Car after car passed Bill and Sharon White, stuck on the roadside at midnight with a flat tire and a busted jack. But when one finally stopped to help,...