Hazard for Pedestrians, a Tesla Profit, and More Automobile Info This Week

Whenever you’re a pedestrian—and who isn’t?—this week’s WIRED Transportation missives are decidedly grim. Whenever you’re riding in a automobile, American roads are most efficient getting safer. In response to figures from the US Division of Transportation launched this week, automobile-associated deaths fell by 2.4 p.c final year. But 6,677 pedestrians died in 2018, a 3.4 p.c build bigger from 2017. What’s responsible? Doubtless factors embody a tick up in distracted riding, extra out of the ordinary SUVs and autos at streetlevel, and streets that are extra designed to rep traffic transferring in the present day than folks transferring safely. On the final level: Some engineers are trying to tag extra fun, pleasant, and presumably even safer crosswalks, however the federal government—the identical one which effect out these safety stats!—is now not but jubilant that extra or less avenue build works. At the least one Iowa town is going forward with a rainbow crosswalk anyway.

Also this week: We drove the Volvo’s efficiency price’s original electrical automobile, and Tesla drove a reasonably good third quarter, with a actual profit. It’s been per week; let’s rep you caught up.

Headlines

Experiences you might per chance additionally need overlooked from WIRED this week

• A look for of Uber tipping data suggests folks aren’t gigantic about tipping service personnel on apps.

• Why federal engineers maintain a out of the ordinary narrate with rainbow crosswalks.

• Federal data displays that American roads are getting safer—except you’re walking.

• Tesla built a Chinese language manufacturing facility in 168 working days! Right here’s why the corporate’s plans within the country would per chance per chance additionally sleek existential.

• A breeze by western Sweden in Polestar’s first EV, which our reporter calls a “precious, family-pleasant sedan.”

• Why drone companies would favor to wing your prescriptions to you.

Drivers of the Week

The bestest motorist of the week award goes to the 17 rats who participated in a University of Richmond look for published within the journal Behavioural Mind Analysis. Researchers taught the rats the appropriate solution to characteristic copper automobile steerage wheels built into plastic meals containers on wheels. Is it adorable? Absolutely yes. Does it build increased aspects about the elasticity of animal brains, and what occurs when minds are challenged with extra and extra advanced initiatives? Perchance yes!

Stat of the Week

$75 mi

Subscribe to the newsletter news

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe