Speed cameras causing fatalities in the UK

http://www.pistonheads.com/speed/default.asp?storyId=16025

(Keeping in mind this is United Kingdom business, not American, but the truth I'm sure, doesn't just exist on their side of the pond.)

The government decided that the side effects of blanket speed camera usage warranted investigation, the transport department discovered that neglect of a statistical bias had exaggerated the main benefit of speed cameras by 400 per cent.

In September 2006, the proportion of injury crashes involving any speeding vehicle nationally was found to be only five per cent -- not one-third as previously claimed.

And now Safe Speed has learned via a Freedom of Information request that the speed camera side effects research, announced in May 2005, had been axed. (bad information research... ain't going to continue)

According to the Safe Speed campaign: " speed cameras are making road safety worse. But the Department for Transport doesn't want to hear this, which is the only possible reason for axing the most important research."

Safe Speed campaign founder Paul Smith said: "Speed camera policy has failed catastrophically. Department for Transport knows that it has failed but won't admit its deadly mistake and pull the plug. Officials seem to be hoping that speed cameras will fade away over the next five years, yet they know that the policy isn't working and is costing lives.

http://www.safespeed.org.uk/

One of, maybe the most important and central, leaders of hot rodding passed away, Robert Petersen... founder of Hot Rod Magazine, and so much more

http://www.scta-bni.org/news/Deceased/petersen.htm

One of the most inspirational of all the pioneers of hot rodding, through the magazines he originated, Hot Rod and Motor Trend to name two, he inspired unknown millions to love hot rods and treasure the racing his generation began.

Shell and Dow busted for fixing prices on tire rubber

http://www.rubberworld.com/news.asp?action=showweek

EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes busted 5 companies for colluding to rig prices of rubber ingredients used in tires, Shell was fined €160.9 million and Dow €64.6 million.

High school auto restoration class restores a 1958 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite

http://www.teamsprite.com/ Nevada City, California ... Living Wisdom High School, 13 to 18 yr old girls and the shop teacher bought a completely disassembled project car, in fall of 05. The restored it and auctioned it at the Jan 19 '07 RM auctions. Wow, thats cool!

Learned about this here http://blog.coker.com/index.php/2006/10/23/61/#more-61

A local newpaper did a terrific story here http://www.teamsprite.com/News.html

The next project is restoring an Isetta 300 http://elite-bike.blogspot.com/2008/12/in-favorite-all-time-car-stories-is.html

Email them at brianp@anandabell.net