Yesterday would go down into infamy for the people of Japan as a massive magnitude 8.9 scale rocked the northeast coast of the nation which affect million of people and damaging properties to billion. This was aggravated by the monstrous tsunami that followed. To date, there are no specific figures as to the extent of the damages.

Since Japan is the leading manufacturer of cars in the world, it is given that much of its manufacturing plants were paralyzed. This image is so compelling that it is kind of inexplicable to comprehend. Hundreds of cars are piled like bricks in the Hitachinaka City in Ibaraki prefecture. As of yet, we still have no information as to which car plant it is. Our prayers and thoughts go out to the people of Japan.

In what supposed to be ready for today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has appealed to Congress to give it more time in finalizing the new regulations requiring all vehicle manufacturers to install backup cameras by 2014. This is because the public comment period has only be closed recently.

The legislation, which has been delivered in Decemeber last year, could save the live of more than 100 people a year, with mostly young children involved. It would prevent 300 fatal bacover-related accidents a year, basically.

What is a bit intriguing here is the cost, which pegs at $1.9 and $2.7 billion annually, This means it costs $159-$203 for each cars without a pre-existing navigation screen, while $53-$88 for cars with a screen. BUt NHTSA was quick to assure that cost will “far outstrip the cost associated with lives saved by the law.”

Which means, “NHTSA uses a working figure of the “comprehensive cost for a statistical life” at $6.1 million, but the costs per life saved by the backup camera legislation would likely tally somewhere between $11.3 to $72.2 million.”

Which is what I still don’t understand on how they came up with the number and what sort of mathematical mumbo-jumbo they made. Let’s hope for the best out of this.

The intersection is found to be one of the most hazardous places where traffic accidents usually occur. The government is now doing its darn best to curb that statistic. One of which is installing red-light cameras. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is glad to report that it, indeed, saves lives. In the 14 biggest US cities in 2004 to 2008, some 154 lives have been saved. Had the cameras been operating all states, a total of 815 people could have been saved.

Of the 2.2 million crashes in 2009 with 113,000 injuries and 676 deaths in these intersections, common offenders were males younger than 30 years old with a prior accident record or alcohol-impaired driving record or speeding violations. When the cameras where introduced, red-light violations where dramatically decreased to 40 to 96 percent. And the agency intends to put more cameras in the streets.

I never thought that LED technology can add to saving more fuel in particular vehicle, particularly to electrically-charged hyrbids like Chevrolet Volt. In this case, LED lamps, according to manufacturer Osram Sylvania, reduces energy use by about 75%. This is so many miles away compared to the 240 watts usage of halogen bulbs on high-beam mode. So what does this spell? This means that it may add some six miles to the vehicle’s EV range.

Actually, LEDs are not new to the fray. the fourth gen Lexus LS 600h hybrid was the first production vehicle to use LED for low-beam use. This was followed by Audi A8, Cadillac Escalade and other models.And according to Electronics Weekly Magazine, it won’t be long until LEDs would overtake xenon technology in terms of performance. but we have to wait until the prices of them LEDs go down.

Today, the 2011 Toyota Prius and NIssan Leaf has them. While the Mitsubishi i-MiEV will have an LED option. But there’s no word yet if it is going to have a US model.

LED, or Light-Emitting Diode Technology. It’s brighter, more energy-efficient and lasts longer than other lighting technologies out there. That’s why Ford is now hopping in the LED bandwagon as they equip it inside their cabin to change the ambient lighting, giving it the innovation plus style it needs. As Interior Lighting Engineer would quip: “When LED illumination combines with ambient lighting technology inside a car, it enables clever features that make life easier for the driver. Ambient lighting can change interior accent color, but it can also add functionality that keeps a driver smiling. Interior ambient lighting has transcended ‘looking cool’ and is poised to deliver additional customer value in the all-new Focus.”

Hmmm. Better check on the new Focus myself, though.

That safety and security gadget/rearview mirror found at GM models which has quickly gaining popularity among enthusiasts can now be purchased standalone so other owners can experience its awesome features. Yes, the OnStar Anywhere rearviewmirror will be available anywhere this Spring for $299.

But what is the OnStar all about and why the much hullabaloo about it? Here are the features.

Automatic Crash Response: There’s an accelerometer built into the mirror that detects the sudden shock of an impact from the front, side or rear of the vehicle — and automatically calls an OnStar advisor.

Emergency Services: Pressing OnStar’s red emergency button links customers to a specially trained emergency advisor for assistance in situations occurring inside or outside of their vehicle.

Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance: OnStar will tell law enforcement where it is if you report it as being stolen.

Turn-by-Turn Navigation: Downloadable spoken turn-by-turn directions for reaching customers destinations.

Roadside Assistance: In non-emergency situations, drivers can push the blue button to help with problems like a flat tire or running out of gas.

Hands-Free Calling: Hands-free, voice-activated calls through a Bluetooth connection to the driver’s mobile phone or through prepaid packages of minutes purchased through OnStar.

Mind you, OnStar has already suited to non-GM cars like cura, Audi, Isuzu, Subaru and Volkswagen via licensing agreement.Now, it is already sold independently as a cnsumer device.It is expected to be functional on 99% of the 20 best-selling non-GM vehicles, or approximately 55 millions cars and light trucks. In other words, billions of dollars in revenues.Read on to the rest of the story at Jalopnik’s article.

Light and dark. Makes sense. How about light and light? Hmmm, still does, actually—especially if we’re gonna talk about this certain technology called daytime running lamp (DRL).

If, for instance, you’re driving somewhere in Scandinavia, where it is frequently dark even during the day, the DRL can be of great help to you in lighting up your way at the same time in getting your car identified while you’re on the road. That is precisely what the DRL is for: added illumination. Too, according to research, the DRL can improve road safety. Of course, extra lighting, even in the presence of sunlight, couldn’t be bad, right?

(Trivia: It is, in fact, in Scandinavian countries where the DRL was first mandated.)

Besides the boost in illumination, the DRL can also be the subject of awe for bystanders. You see, it could add that pizzaz to the front end of your ride, more of like what hip-hoppers call as bling-bling (see above photo).

Another technological breakthrough that puts us all on high beam!

Road signs have been hacked before. Little did I think that even electronic crosswalk indicators can now be tinkered and make zany images like a single-fingered salute according to the Spokane Streets Department. It is damage to public property, indeed. But like the above image taken in front of a bridge in Spokane, Washington, it is just snow packed into the grate covering the light. Nothing permanent, really. This is because the newer models of LED lights won’t melt the snow right away. So there’s no vandalism here.

Such process improves the appearance of vehicle headlamps and quality reflectors. This equipment automates the painting process for a more consistent and stable process with increased paint transfer efficiency.

The 10,400 square meters of land will house not only the manufacturing facility but also the injection molding, decorating and assembly operations.

“The plant expansion is the best way to celebrate our five-year anniversary and marks another key milestone. Through advanced technology and improved manufacturing processes and efficiency, we are committed to continuing to provide our customers with the highest quality products both in China and globally,” said VTYC General Manager William Newman.

This move boosts the plants objective in providing teh latest lighting technology so that customers deifferentiate their rides like high-intensity discharge, light emitting diodes (LED) and the adaptive front lighting systems Bi-xenon, the locally-made product by VTYC.

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