A biweekly roundup of automotive news, good, bad and just plain weird:
N.Y. tests ‘textalyzer’ to check phones
Using a cellphone while driving is impaired driving.
Flat out, no questions about it. Two weeks back, my column touching on the use of police plainclothes operations in enforcing traffic laws seemed to get lost in translation regarding texting-and-driving, so let’s be clear. Using your phone while driving is at least as dangerous as driving while intoxicated, and should carry both the same social stigma and penalties – the former is there, the fines have yet to catch up.
But how best to enforce the law? Currently, police in British Columbia mostly use visual checks to catch those checking their phones – but they can’t be everywhere. When the guy next to you veers into your lane, you know what the reason likely is. And what if he causes an accident?
Ideally, you’d like to close the barn door before the horse has bolted, but in a case where a collision has occurred, police in New York state now have a new tool. Called a “textalyzer,” it’s a device made by an Israeli company that can check for recent phone activity on the spot.
While it would be simple enough to check the phone itself, the textalyzer’s advantage is in its ability to dodge privacy concerns by simply indicating whether the phone was in use or not. Like the breathalyzer, police who are suspicious of driver impairment have the option to employ a field test.
And, of course, there are a few issues. First and foremost, voice-to-text via Bluetooth is still perfectly legal, and it appears that the textalyzer can’t yet tell the difference. Visual confirmation is required, and you know some text-addled drivers are still going to get away with it. Still, it’s another tool in the box.
Toyota feels earthquake aftershock
The recent earthquakes in Japan’s Kumamoto captured the world’s attention, not least because of the terrible tsunami that caused so much damage not long ago. This time the quakes were still deadly, but more confined in scope, and are now somewhat overshadowed by the more major destruction in Ecuador.
But for Japan’s automotive industry, the effects of this most recent earthquake are all too familiar. Toyota, for instance, has stopped production on most of its factories throughout Japan, and won’t be reopening them until April 23 or later.
Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi are all also affected, though to a minor degree. The problem for Toyota isn’t the integrity of their plants, but rather a sudden shortage in parts supplies. Whether this temporary shortage will last long enough to affect Canadian imports or Canadian production is unclear, but it’s worth remembering that the previous earthquake did cause a shortfall in production that consumers noticed.
Ford keeps Focus EV a low ranger
With the Model 3 making headlines (despite not quite existing just yet) and the Chevy Bolt offering a clearer picture of a 320-kilometre-range EV future, you might expect Ford to be fighting back with a major upgrade for their Focus EV. Not so: the Focus will remain with its current 160 km range.
Why not try to go the distance? It’s all about Ford’s strategy and sales demographics. Most Focus EV owners are urban dwellers, and using only a small fraction of that range daily. By keeping the range in the same bracket, Ford is able to keep the price of their EV fairly low.
Additionally, while Ford may have something to worry about if the Model 3 comes with its promised 350 km range for US$35,000 (which, based on the Model S pricing structure, it probably won’t), the competition is still a ways off in delivering their vehicles. And sales of EVs are low right now, in an age of inexpensive gasoline.
So, Ford stays pat, and maybe has a thing or two up its sleeve. It’s not people lining up outside your dealerships, but it’s the smart play.
Subaru takes aim at the Isle of Man Record
The Isle of Man TT is a famous, dangerous, insane, and historic motorcycle time-attack event. Motorcycles, as you know, generally have two wheels. Somebody forgot to tell Subaru.
They’ve just announced a new Prodrive-built STI, ready to tackle the course and set a new record. Driver David Higgins has tackled the TT twice now, and the official record sits at 19 minutes and 15.9 seconds.
So why is a company that makes their money selling Foresters trying to set a record on a motorcycle track? A record that, it should be pointed out, doesn’t really seem to be under threat from any other manufacturer? Simple. Given the huge publicity around the TT, Subaru gets to waltz in and be the only show in town. Seeing Higgins hurtle around the course is as good for Subaru’s publicity as Ken Block’s stunts are for Ford.
So yes, this new, hand-built and aerodynamically-tweaked STI has too many wheels to count as an official TT entrant. However, if Higgins stays airborne long enough with all four off the ground, maybe it averages out.
Watch this space for all the week’s best and worst of automotive news, or submit your own auto oddities to [email protected].
