From Helmets to Hydrogen, From Tesla to Waymo PR machinations

Topics this week:

• the decline in all-rider helmet laws
• the historical impact of the 1964 'chicken tax' on the dominance of SUVs,
• the ongoing issues with Tesla's 'Full Self-Driving' and Summon features.
• the challenges faced by first responders with electric vehicles
• the intricacies of autonomous vehicle perception technology
• recalls

Links:

• https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/lax-helmet-laws-have-killed-more-than-20-000-motorcyclists-study-shows
• https://www.nsc.org/road/resources/road-to-zero/massive-hazards-new-rtz-report-on-light-trucks
• https://apnews.com/article/tesla-full-self-driving-investigation-pedestrian-killed-f2121166d60d85bd173a734c91049e73
• https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/no-one-in-the-car-self-driving-app-raises-questions-after-maryland-crash/3746690/
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/tesla-crash-after-police-pursuit-highlights-challenges-electric-cars-pose-for-1st-responders-1.7335290
• https://jalopnik.com/gateway/these-are-the-worst-experiences-youve-had-selling-a-car-1851678885
• https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-reintroduces-school-bus-safety-act
• https://www.wsj.com/tech/waymo-san-francisco-self-driving-robotaxis-uber-244feecf
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/chrysler-surges-ahead-in-the-recall-race/ar-AA1sHsNZ
• https://www.ford.ca/technology/connected-services/bluecruise/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyzRwXowJDI
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V763-9335.PDF
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V757-9102.PDF