Los Angeles synchronized lights; Traffic increases

Paul A. Eisenstein the Detroit Office may 30, 2013 at 7:37 AM ET
ROBYN BECK / AFP / Getty ImagesLos Angeles is famous for his car sucht-, whether in their convertibles cruising, or (more commonly) congestion sit in the monster traffic on the highway. But apparently, that traffic record, after planners synchronized traffic lights.

Los Angeles has become a symbol of America's traffic - its streets and paths that frozen still know often during the growing period, as rush hour.

But urban planners believe that they accelerate things can in the few months after completing a project, in the works of nearly three decades since come.

Of the smallest neighbourhoods, the largest downtown intersections, the city of all its traffic light has synchronized. Area of 469 square miles, Los Angeles is the first major city to achieve this milestone and is already a reduction in journey times by around 12 percent in some parts of the city.

"We actually see the flow of traffic. Michael Rose, a freelance film and documentary that so unusual, is what in Los Angeles,"said producer in the vicinity of Los Angeles/Santa Monica border. "It is such a relief."

Los Angeles is a city on wheels, and despite the efforts of the mass transit system, expand, few expect to move that many drivers off the road.

The traffic is so strong that highways - including the core-405 route - much of the day on a crawl to move. Off-highway traffic jams added to commuters know this often limited access roads to give surface streets.

The problem is that a single badly-timed light along a major street to create a massive ripple effect, creating tie-ups, to extend, for blocks, even miles in each direction.

Goal was to synchronize traffic lights so that travel, say a car, Wilshire Boulevard, one of the busiest boulevards of the city extremely freely miles could travel, if they maintain the posted speed limit.

The challenge was to coordinate a network of 4.398 street lights, especially if they contain complex intersections in the three, four, even, that merge more roads.

The project comes from the Olympic Games in 1984 that an event would be feared regional stop many officials of the city. The first attempt at lights focused sync on the area around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the Olympic key events.

"Due to the success of this system, the City Council asked that we expand it citywide,", said Verej Janoyan, senior traffic engineer with the City Department of transportation.

Part of that challenge came up with the computer capability, the city large traffic light network analyze calculate posted speed limits and then come up with the right timing algorithm. Add the network to control the traffic lights, 350 million increased the price for the project $. In the light of the California recall, the project was stretched for almost 30 years.

The programming is not inflexible. The project was also a network of cameras, the traffic manager a real time look at that happen on the streets of Los Angeles can give. You can quickly change according to shifting daily commute patterns - as well as construction and traffic accidents.

Experts warn that it even if the system is simply overloaded. At rush hour it is often impossible for motorists come close at posted speed limits.

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But for the rest of the day, it signs that up to 12 per cent in some areas will be cut off is time travel.

It remains to be seen how many funds follow example municipalities, especially in the densely populated Orange County, the city. But studies show that millions of dollars in lost productivity to generate traffic Snarls and exacerbate the region's problems endemic to smog.

"You really see a difference" says documentary producer rose. "It is truly amazing. The only question is why they previously does not do this."

Copyright © 2009-2013, the Detroit Bureau

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Driving with pets crash prices increases, says study

Michael strong, the Detroit Bureau - 3 days

As head of the U.S. Department of transportation declared repeatedly his goal distracted driving Ray LaHood, such as while driving talk. A new study adds another to his list of driving No. nos: pets, particularly for senior drivers.

To say, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham that both overall and at fault crash rates for drivers 70 years or older higher which were their pet often rode with them.

"This is the first study to assess the presence of pets in a vehicle as a possible internal distraction for older drivers," said Gerald McGwin, co-author of the study and a professor in the Department of epidemiology.

The crash risk for drivers, who drove with their pets was the double of drivers who never drove with an animal. Crash rates for those who occasionally or rarely drove with pets were tariffs for non-pet owner.

LaHood has good reason, distracted driving be worried: it makes more than 10 percent of all U.S. highway deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Government recently policies around the eyes of the driver, mobile phones, and on the road and discouraging car manufacturers prevent troublesome dashboard devices make.

The guidelines are to limit how long drivers look from the street. After Highway Safety Administration, drivers should their eyes off the road for longer than two seconds do not ingest. A playful pet, especially one on the front seats could require too much attention.

More than half of pet owners said, took their pet with them in the car at least temporarily usually riding in the front seat or the back seat.

"The increased crash rate for older drivers who drive always with pets is important in connection with the awareness of drivers of potentially dangerous driving habits."

The problem with pets in the car not have, that they are likely to physically interfere in the operation of the vehicle, but that they are disturbing. Hawaii is the only State that currently the driver before a pet in driver lap prohibits. Arizona, Connecticut and Maine have broader laws restrict conduct or activities which could potentially distract a driver such laws can apply to pets in a vehicle.

The authors suggest that older drivers slower cognitive performance and response time than younger riders displayed when dealing with "a higher cognitive or physical workload while driving."

"Another disturbing element, especially an active, potentially moving animal, provides more options for an older driver to cope with a condition in a satisfactory way less than add", McGwin said.

In the study, researchers noted, that 83 percent of respondents agreed it was unsafe, pets, to allow travel unrestrained in a vehicle but only 16 percent is trying to use any kind of pet safety restraint in your vehicle.

The study employs 2,000 community living - people who do not live in assisted living or nursing homes - licensed drivers aged 70 and over. There were 691 participants had pets.

Copyright © 2009-2013, the Detroit Bureau

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AAA: Cost of car ownership increases to $9,100 this year

Paul A. Eisenstein , The Detroit Bureau – 4 days

A report by AAA suggests that we will spend an average $9,122 on our cars this year – an increase of nearly 2 percent over 2012, about the rate of inflation.

Costs vary widely, of course, depending on what and where you drive and the ups-and-downs of fuel prices. But the typical sedan owner who clocks 15,000 miles a year should budget 60.8 cents a mile, according to the latest annual “Your Driving Costs” study from AAA.

“Many factors go into the cost calculation of owning and operating a vehicle,” said John Nielsen, AAA Director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. “This year, changes in maintenance, fuel and insurance costs resulted in the increase” of about 1.17 cents a mile compared to the 2012 study.

Now in its 63rd year, the study did have some good news. After rising sharply in recent years due to increased raw material prices, the cost of replacement tires was unchanged from 2012 to 2013. Depreciation costs rose by just 0.78 percent. Considering the price for a new vehicle, that adds up to $3,571 for your average sedan.

As you’ve likely noticed, fuel costs have been leveling off and even dropping in recent weeks. The AAA study factors in steadily improving fuel economy and estimates 14.45 cents a mile in gas for your typical sedan. That’s a modest 1.93 percent increase over last year.

Insurance costs are expected to rise 2.76 percent, to an average $1,029 annually – although that can “vary widely vary widely by driver and driving record, issuing company and geographical region,” AAA says.

The biggest increase, according to the Your Driving Costs study: Maintenance and repairs, which are expected to jump by 11.26 percent from last year, to 4.97 cents a mile. Expect big increases in both parts and labor – and you’ll likely pay a lot more this year for extended warranty policies, as well.

What are you likely to spend to own and operate other types of vehicles?

· Small sedans will average 46.4 cents a mile, or $6,967 for all of 2013.

· Midsize sedans jump to 61.0 cents a mile, or $9,151.

· Large sedans will average 75.0 cents a mile, or $11,248.

· An all-wheel drive SUV will cost 77.3 cents a mile, or $11,599.

· Minivans will average 65.3 cents a mile, or $9,795.

The Detroit Bureau: Auto Maintenance Costs Take Big Jump

The AAA has been compiling its driving costs study since 1950 – when gasoline averaged 27 cents a gallon. That year, motorists drove 10,000 miles, on average, at 9 cents a mile – for an annual car ownership cost of $900, which may seem like a bargain, but that’s $8,468 adjusted for inflation.

Copyright © 2009-2013, The Detroit Bureau

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Fiat increases its Chrysler stake to 30 percent

DETROIT - Fiat increased share at the Chrysler Group LLC Tuesday as the Italian automaker set several benchmarks to 5 percent by the Government meets their possessions.

The company now owns 30 percent of Chrysler, and it can increase property to 35 percent by a car 40 mpg in the United States

Fiat have a 20-percent stake in Chrysler, when it took over the company to increase funded bankruptcy in 2009, and the Government for a State several benchmarks for Fiat, its share. In exchange for the property management expertise got Chrysler small-car and clean engine technology and Fiat.

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Fiat, the enterprise's share rose to 25 percent in January, if it meets the first Government benchmark, by a fuel-efficient four cylinder engine in a factory in Dundee, me

The participation was granted Tuesday as Fiat-Chrysler's sales outside of North America, Chrysler Fiat's use of its technology offset and distributors in Europe and Brazil, Chrysler cars and trucks sell recruited.

Plans for the 40 mpg car are already in the works and Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler, is hoping to increase Fiat share to 35 percent by end of this year.

Marchionne said he eventually wants to increase Fiat ownership to 51 percent. It can buy another 16 percent as soon as it has repaid loans from the U.S. and Canadian Governments. Marchionne said in the past, he expected that happen in 2011, but on Monday said, which could in the next year, based on slides if Chrysler able, must repay the loans. Chrysler is negotiating with banks that refinance government loans.

In addition to Fiat, Chrysler's other owners include a United Auto workers retiree health care of trust fund 59.2 per cent, the US Government to 8.6 per cent and the Canadian and Ontario governments at 2.2 per cent.

Fiat added 5 percent proportional to came from the other three owners.

Marchionne said, his Government loan refinance Fiat before the return to Chrysler in the public stock exchange. At first he thought that the initial public offering could come at the end of this year has but recently said it could be delayed.

© 2011 The associated press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

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Quake could cause large car price increases

There are some tentative signs that the Japanese automotive industry comes slowly back to life after the deadly earthquake and tsunami, which struck the country March 11. But American consumers should brace for the probability that they pay more for cars with Japanese nameplates in the coming months.

Mitsubishi and Nissan expect that at least some of their factories again, although industry officials warn that plans change quickly in the days and weeks ahead, could in operation this week continued uncertainty about factors such as basic communication and transport.

Japanese auto plants remained the most idle 10 days after the disaster, at least in part because of the crisis on the Fukushima Dai-Ichi makes nuclear complex and nationwide shortage has caused it.

The crisis has reached, automotive parts always in short supply across the Pacific with Japanese made. Several automakers, Toyota and Subaru, including have curbed production at their North American 'transplantation' assembly lines, while General Motors assembly plant in Shreveport, La., down for the week due to a lack of Japanese manufactured parts. GM is also production in the factory engine Tonawanda, in nearby Buffalo, containment and release of 59 of 623 workers.

"The impact of this [crisis] has yet to unfold," said Mark Reuss, President of GM's North American operations, adding that the ripple effects have Japanese auto suppliers close - or their delivery disturbed - "could be larger pipelines for everyone today white."

Deutsche Bank automotive analyst Rod pool said it is "still too early to estimate the impact of the supply chain, or how long energy conservation measures (such as the rolling blackouts felt across much of Japan) production could potentially limit."

But a report by IHS global insight makes claims, that all major auto manufacturers by the Japanese disaster and the subsequent lack of parts, probably by be affected are mid - to late April.

"It not a question of, but when," said Michael Robinet, Director of automotive forecast.

The effects of the disaster differently so far automobile manufacturers and suppliers. Nissan and Toyota have a range of facilities based in Northeast Japan, the region most hit by the disaster. On the other hand, said Suzuki's facilities based South of the nation "and not useful direct impact, suffering Kurt Sanger of Deutsche Bank."

But parts shortages and the situation electricity are wild cards, which threaten all Japanese automakers.

Sanger said Nissan has between four to six weeks of the imported parts for its North American plants, but he warned that that Honda trouble could face, how new 2012 launch civic is if at some point in the may re-opened the supply line is not ready.

Honda has delayed some U.S. merchants orders due to delays in the production.

For its part, Toyota has said "Every effort to long-term impact on the Prius availability to minimize makes." But the timing of the crisis is particularly bad for the world's top car manufacturers as it prepares to launch the Prius several additional hybrid models name as part of a new brand in a brand.

With a major engine plant may consider the Commission for a longer period of time, Nissan the possibility of shifting part of the production in a Powertrain plant in the United States it could filed shipping engines back to Japan as soon as home market assembly plants resume functioning.

American driver, which must have an eye on a new Japanese car, truck or crossover to stretch your budget a bit more than expected.

A number of online services that track of automotive pricing report, that Asian manufacturers and their dealers already begin to increase incentives, prices in the wake of the crisis still put an end to areas.

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Shuster, the CarWoo.com, said Darren Toyota prices immediately after the earthquake increases.

Japanese automakers and dealers are also eliminate the discounts and other incentives, which were before the Japanese natural disaster, according to Jesse Toprak, Vice President of industry trends and insight in TrueCar.com. The impact, he warned could "weeks, if not months." Last

Nissan expected, launch a series of component plants on Monday and bring your to at least some assembly lines by mid of week. A high official Nissan car manufacturers said "The situation hour by hour, partly by part tracked."

The disaster at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima complicates an already serious crisis for the automotive industry.

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The loss of the system of six atomic nuclear reactors causes headaches for the Japanese manufacturer of steel producers on silicon chip manufacturers who are faced with the nightmare of rolling blackouts.  Several automakers have reported suffering serious damage to equipment cool briefly during the blackouts in the molten metals.

Now, because the damaged reactors emitted radiation still, is there is growing concern not only about the impact on Japanese water and food, but were also on the country.

"We do not believe, is harmful radiation", Dave Reuter, Vice President of communications for Nissan North America said operations, but "should correspond to radioactive material our cars and trucks, the which will we all necessary precautionary measures take, to ensure that harmful material not in the country brought and to partners of carriage including customers."

The crisis is Japanese car manufacturers in a bad time for American drivers - such as automotive demand usually in the Spring Summit. Although the current crisis proves short-lived, can try the Japanese automaker, take advantage of the situation to push up prices, in the hope that the consequences of the increasingly strong yen.

Strong competitive pressure from United States, Korean and European automakers could force, to rethink this strategy Japan's automakers. But then again, the entire industry can see this as an opportunity to increase the prices, something that was difficult, during the recession, if the most lavish incentives car buyers could not showrooms again.

© 2011 msnbc.com.  Reprints

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