The Department of Transportation reports that driver error—throttles wide open and brakes not engaged—was the cause in dozens of Toyota crashes. According to the Wall Street Journal, only one fatal incident among those analyzed was attributable to a flaw in the vehicle.
Driver error blamed in Toyota acceleration accidents
Crash testing old cars vs. new cars
It's well-understood how much car safety improved from the '70s to the '90s (previously at Boing Boing), but not how much it has improved since. This video takes a tour of the times—from the viewpoint of crash test dummies. Check out the absolutely useless airbag in that 1997 Rover, 2:30 in. The clip includes the… READ THE REST
This massive cannon fires dead chickens at high speed in the name of airplane safety
Birds and airplanes collide more than 10,000 times each year, according to reports to the Federal Aviation Administration. In fact, it was a flock of geese that caused the emergency forced water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in 2009, aka "the miracle on the Hudson." While bird strikes rarely cause catastrophic accidents, it does… READ THE REST
German workplace safety video dry of humor and wet with blood
Some people say that Germans have no sense of humor, but this public safety video about the unsafe workplace adventures of Forklift Driver Klaus perfectly illustrates a bone-dry and blood-wet form of comedy fit for our age. [via reddit, where it has been tagged NSFW] READ THE REST
Ditch the extra cup of coffee. This gadget can really boost your productivity
Whether gaming in your spare time or burying yourself in spreadsheets at your 9-to-5, efficiency matters. And while you may have the latest and greatest laptop or smartphone to work on, its small screen can totally kill your enjoyment, especially when you're hopping over to different apps or watching your favorite streaming content. If you're looking for a way… READ THE REST
Enjoy a pet without the mess with this robotic canine!
The world is full of reasons to love dogs. How could you not? They are cute, kind, thoughtful, and always trying to make friends. The world is also full of reasons to love technology. But is there a way to bring these two together? Is the world ready for robotic dogs? The answer is yes! Petoi just… READ THE REST
This Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle with Rosetta Stone is the perfect way to learn a new skill
If there was ever a time to refresh what's going on in that noggin, it's now that you're finally digging into new technology instead of the old hat ways you're used to. You've finally got a good hold on life, and now it's time to elevate your value. This Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle is perfect for… READ THE REST
