Jul 29 House, Senate move toward passage of short-term transportation bill By Joan Lowy, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- The House and Senate are moving toward passage of a three-month patch to keep federal highway and transit aid flowing to states while lawmakers seek the right mix of policy and revenue to achieve a long-term transportation deal. Continue reading
Jul 27 Watch 5:53 Fiat Chrysler faces record fines for failing to recall unsafe cars By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Jul 01 Watch 5:34 News Wrap: Justice Department investigating major airlines By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Wednesday, the Department of Justice has launched an investigation into whether major airlines have been colluding to keep fares high. Also, the U.S. and Cuba will be reopening embassies in each other’s countries for the first… Continue watching
May 26 Amtrak to install long-sought cameras inside all locomotives By Joan Lowy, Associated Press Amtrak said Tuesday it will install video cameras inside locomotive cabs to record the actions of train engineers, following a deadly derailment earlier this month in which investigators are searching for clues to the engineer's actions just before the crash. Continue reading
May 14 Safety technology might have prevented deadly Amtrak crash By Joan Lowy, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The deadly Amtrak derailment near Philadelphia appears to be yet another accident that didn't have to happen. Continue reading
May 07 Watch 0:37 This tractor-trailer drives itself By PBS News Hour In our NewsHour Shares moment of the day, a self-driving 18-wheeler has been approved for test-drives on public roads in Nevada. The goal of the semi-autonomous vehicle is to reduce driver fatigue on long-haul trips. Continue watching
Mar 27 Little vetting of pilots for mental health, U.S. experts say By Joan Lowy, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Despite U.S. and international regulations requiring that airline pilots be screened for mental health problems, little effective, real-world checking takes place, pilots and safety experts say. Continue reading
Feb 27 Fiery train wrecks put pressure on safety standards for oil transport By Joan Lowy, Associated Press The most serious oil train accident killed 47 people and destroyed the town center of Lac Megantic in Quebec, Canada, just across the border from Maine, in 2013. Continue reading
Feb 09 Report claims automakers have failed to make cars hacker-proof By Joan Lowy, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Automakers are cramming cars with wireless technology, but they have failed to adequately protect those features against the real possibility that hackers could take control of vehicles or steal personal data, a member of the U.S. Senate is… Continue reading
Feb 07 Fewer drunk, but more drug-impaired drivers on the road By Joan Lowy, Associated Press The number of drivers on the road with alcohol in their systems has declined by nearly one-third since 2007, but there has been a large increase in drivers using marijuana and other illegal drugs, a government report released Friday found. Continue reading