3D Printer Created Working Car

A working vehicle has been created by 3D printing. The Strati, Italian for layers, took 44 hours to complete and was unveiled at the International Manufacturing Technology show last week. Other 3D printed vehicles have been made, but none are able drive. This electric vehicle can reach a speed of 40 mph and can travel 120 miles on one charge. The Strati has 49 parts which is significantly less compared to most vehicles that have anywhere from 5,000 to 6,000. The Strati will have to go through many tests before it becomes street legal. Although we don’t have any vehicles made by a printer, we do have Toyota’s and that's the next best thing. Come into Yokem Toyota to check out an amazing selection!

Toyota's New Concept Vehicle for Entrepreneurs

Inspired by an increasing amount of entrepreneurs and those who like to do it themselves, this vehicle is as versatile as they are. This urban utility concept vehicle has the ability to roll back its roof, and the tailgate will fold down allowing it to be used like a ramp. The concept vehicle has been introduced at a Maker community event where Toyota was able to receive advice from the vehicle’s target audience, and design it especially for their needs. So for now, the vehicle has returned to California to make improvements before it will be available to purchase. Until then, come into Yokem Toyota where you can find a Toyota vehicle that surely fits your lifestyle.

Toyota Taking Rain Check on Self-Driving Vehicle

Toyota, as well as many other auto-makers, has invested a lot of time and effort into creating vehicles that can drive themselves. But Toyota has decided to pull the plug on the research for now due to shortage of technology and legal issues. Instead, they have decided to use some of the impressive safety technology in their newest vehicles. Toyota promises that by 2017 their vehicles will offer collision-prevention technology. While the vehicles will not be able to drive themselves completely, they will be able to steer themselves just enough to stay centered in the lane. Toyota also hopes to include cameras in their vehicles that monitor the drivers hands and eyes. This means if your hands come off the wheels or your eyes veer off the road, an alarm will go off. Even though self-driving vehicles are not right around the corner like we expected, these technology advances are incredible and should make driving even safer! Kudos to Toyota for taking this big step. To see incredibly safe vehicles that are available right now from Toyota, stop by Yokem Toyota and take one for a test ride.

4 Tips to Survive A Wrong-Way Driver

Police officers in England stopped a wrong-way driver on the M6 freeway on Monday night, using their car as a roadblock to stop the driver.

Their quick action probably saved lives. The 77-year-old driver suffered from dementia as he drove the wrong way down the freeway, according to the West Midlands Police department, which uploaded video of the crash to itsYouTube account. The officers involved and driver emerged unharmed from the accident.

But others who encounter wrong-way drivers aren't so lucky. A 2012 special report from the National Transportation Safety Board on wrong-way drivers found such crashes account for three percent of all collisions but are disproportionately likely to cause death or injury. That's because head-on collisions are the most dangerous type of crash. The California Department of Transportation found wrong-way collisions were 12 times more likely to end in a fatality and the Michigan Department of Transportation found that such crashes increase the likelihood of a fatality by 22 percent. On average, 360 lives are lost in wrong-way accidents each year.

While the study included recommendations for clearly marking on and off ramps on freeways and building barriers so that drivers aren't confused, wrong-way drivers are hard to prevent. Many are mentally confused due to age. Drivers over the age of 70 are disproportionately represented in wrong-way crashes. Older drivers are involved in less than 3 percent of overall crashes, but 15 percent of wrong-way crashes.

However, mental confusion and unfamiliarity with an area cause a minority of wrong-way crashes. The vast majority of these crashes involve drunk drivers rather than confused motorists.

Sixty percent of wrong-way drivers had alcohol levels above the legal limit. Of those impaired drivers, nearly 60 percent had a BAC of .15, which is approaching the .16 benchmark used by many states as the threshold for 'super drunk.'

Staring down a pair of headlights on the freeway is a frightening scenario to consider, but there are a few simple steps for protection yourself in this situation.

Scan Ahead

Many drivers only keep an eye on the few hundred feet ahead of their car. Drivers who keep an eye on the horizon or at least far ahead of their own headlights stand a better chance of seeing the wrong-way driver.

Slow Down 

No one likes to see brake lights on the freeway, but if a wrong-way driver is barreling toward you, slowing down can add precious moments to your decision making.

Swerve To The Right 

Like the driver on the M6, wrong-way drivers often go all the way to the right because they think it's the slow lane, rather than the fast lane. Swerving to the right is always recommended in a head-on collision situation because it will deflect much of the force of the impact. It's much safer to hit a stationary object or roll into a ditch than a moving vehicle (especially if you've slowed down) so even if swerving seems equally dangerous, do it anyway.

Buckle Up

Wearing a seatbelt greatly increases the likelihood of surviving any type of crash. According to AAA, seat belts saved more than 12,000 lives last year. Buckle up every time you drive.

 

Original story at http://autos.aol.com/article/how-to-survive-a-wrong-way-driver/