Would Rosa Parks have been able to hop a bus and escape New Orleans ahead of Hurricane Katrina if she'd been in town in 2005? It’s a pretty convoluted way to start a rant, but The Black Commentator guest columnist Meizhu Lui says Hurricane Katrina exposed the "internal combustion engine" divide. Forgetting the fact that Amtrak was deadheading [empty] trains out of town and that New Orleans had lots full of [empty] school buses, Lui flags the “alarming disparity in car ownership that literally was the difference between life and death for many Gulf Coast residents." The author then cites a “recent report” claiming that 24 percent of black households don’t own a car– as opposed to seven percent of white and 17 percent of Latino households. Rather than calling for expanded car ownership, Lui says there’s a better alternative. “Hurricane Katrina not only dramatically revealed the grotesque racial and class divisions in our country, but also pointed to some obvious causes, such as our car dependent economy. An inclusive and dependable public transportation system should be at the top of the list.”

According to the Federal Highway Administration, drivers over 75 years old have the second-highest fatality rate after teens. CNN’s “When Dad Should Stop Driving” (what about mom?) warns that taking the keys away from an aging parent raises “tricky issues of independence and role reversal.” Marion Somers, author of Elder Care Made Easier (note: not “Easy”), provides a list of 10 question for sibs considering seizing the keys from Mom or Dad. Unfortunately, a lot of them apply to most drivers (e.g. "Does he or she do well driving locally but struggle at higher speeds or when directions are needed?"). She suggests a gradual curtailment for the old folks, rather than a single, indigestible dish of cold turkey (e.g. no children in the car, no highways, no driving above 45 mph). Somers knows of what she speaks. She says convincing her father to surrender the car keys was “one of the most serious and complicated issues that I've had to deal with." In the end, Dad’s “lady friend” was happy to pick him up for their dates. Which is nice, and all, but how old was she?

According to Harlingen Texas police (via the Valley Morning Star), it was a “routine” traffic stop– until they ran the usual license check. They discovered that Valerie Ortiz Sanchez had 76 outstanding traffic warrants and more than $15k in unpaid fines, stretching back some nine years. When Sanchez was brought before Municipal Court Judge Valerie Garcia, the judge needed nearly 20 minutes to read the list of charges (including drunk driving). The judge then dismissed some of the outdated, outstanding warrants, “reducing” total fines and fees owed to $15,696. Moments after paying the fines and leaving the Harlingen city jail, Sanchez was arrested by police from San Benito. Officials there say Sanchez has at least 10 outstanding warrants and owes $2,718 in fines and court fees dating back to 2007. “Basically, driving is a privilege not a right and it can be revoked,” proclaimed Harlingen police spokesman David Osborne. Basically, but not specifically.

“Toll increases must be considered imminently,” says the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (via Boston.com). This news comes just two weeks after a 25- to 50 cent toll increase on I90. What’s the rush? “Fiscal woes” could delay more than $65m worth of construction and maintenance work on the 138-mile-long highway. Time for some regrets as well. In 1996, six exits at the western end of the highway (Exit 1 to Exit 6) became toll-free to passenger vehicles. That move “has deprived the authority of $120 million that could have staved off the growing backlog of maintenance work,” says Turnpike Authority board member Mary Z. Connaughton. State Senator Michael R. Knapik says reinstating tolls on the first six exits "would not be a popular step at all, to say the least.” State Representative David P. Linsky puts a finer point on it. "I am adamantly opposed to tolls going up, because I know that over 50 percent of the tolls we're paying now on the Weston-to-Boston extension aren't going to the road we're riding on, but to the Big Dig," he decries. Taxation without transportation?

This weekend, I attended the grand opening of the Hoffman Auto Group's "smart center" in Hartford, Connecticut. Two smart cars filled the appropriately diminutive showroom floor: the Passion coupe and a Cabriolet (no Pure). The first salesman was desk-bound and down, fiddling with his phone. When I asked about the smart's EPA mileage, he quoted me the wrong numbers, which were, of course, too high. A bit later, he disappeared, leaving two salesmen at the far end of the showroom. I busted-up their little confab to ask about available heated seats. Salesman B's thick German accent was, again, brand appropriate. But I got the distinct feeling I'd interrupted a more important conversation. Salesman-averse customers were SOL. Sales brochures were conspicuous by their absence. Even the Monroney sticker was MIA; the cars' windows were rolled down. The comments I overheard from the public in attendance were largely positive. Imagine how many sales leads were lost due to a lack of attention. Or was it arrogance from a dealership used to selling higher end (read higher-profit) cars such as Audi and Porsche? Perhaps it’s a matter of wen kümmert es?

CNN reports on a gathering of more than 40 of Prius-driving “mileage maniacs” near Tokyo. During this rolling geekfest, Takashi Toya (a.k.a. “The Shogun”) showcases his plug-ins rechargeable Prius. Toya's also tricked his Prius' ECU into thinking the gasoline engine is warmed up (when it’s not) so it can run on battery power right from the git-go. So, how far can a Prius take you on a single fill up? The self-proclaimed “world record holder” says she got 1.5k miles (2500 Km) out of a single tank of gas. Well, that and battery power. After the gathering, the group “raced” their Prioras to find out who can use the least fuel. As a counterpoint, we offer one Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to Sports Illustrated, Mr. James was recently clocked driving his 2008 Mercedes Benz at 101mph on I71 near Medina, Ohio. The incident occurred at 2:34 A.M. on December 30, on his 23rd birthday. Happy birthday. Sign here.

When Fortune magazine asked Ford CEO Alan Mulally about his employer's health, he “ignored the industry convention of talking up future models as a source of improved profitability.” Instead, Big Al focused on how much money the automaker has in the bank. That Ford obtained said cash by borrowing it makes his claim more than a bit disingenuous. As a general rule, healthy automakers rely on selling cars and trucks to generate operating cash. Yet Mulally reckons a bird in hand is better than one in the bush— no matter how you captured it. When a reporter from the Detroit Free Press asked Mulally if he’s willing to draw “a line in the sand” to prevent further sales losses, the Ford CEO was adamant: “Absolutely not.” Translation: Ford is ready to play “How low can you go?” Before contrasting Ford’s woes with the relative success of Audi, the article raises a salient question regarding Ford’s strategy. “If you work at Ford, what kind of incentive is it to be told that the company is trying to reach the bottom but doesn't know where the bottom is?” A psychologist would say you must experience the depths of despair to enjoy the highs of ecstacy. Is this also true for a corporation?

CNN reports that Jane Hambleton of Fort Dodge Iowa discovered booze stashed under the driver’s seat of her 19-year-old son’s car. Hambleton immediately placed this for-sale ad in a local newspaper: “OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet.” Prospective used-car buyers aside, Hambleton says she’s received more than 70 phone calls from the likes of emergency room technicians, nurses and even school counselors who phoned in to congratulate her for being a “responsible parent.” The hapless teenager– who claims the alcohol was left in his car by a passenger– is "very, very unhappy."  While the car has been sold, Hambleton is letting the ad run an extra week. Common sense from the nation’s heartland.

CNNMoney.com reports that the price of oil has topped $100 a barrel, for the first time ever. (Happy New Year!) U.S. crude priced for delivery in February has gone up $4.02, to reach $100 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX). Ira Eckstein, president of Area International Trading Corporation, says you ain't seen nothin' yet: "This market is really gonna fly.” CNN lists several reasons for the rise, including civil unrest in Nigeria and rumors of a potential cessation of Mexican supply (no reason given). And then there's the ongoing decline of U.S. oil supplies. Oh, and a “surprise fall” in US manufacturing, which could lead to lower interest rates, which could further ding the value of the dollar, which could lead investors bail out of U.S. equities and into commodities, which would drive up the cost of imported crude. No mater how you slice it, gas prices are sure to arc upwards, putting yet more pressure on a beleaguered market for gas-hungry SUVs and pickups.

The Associated Press (via The Detroit News) reports that the car company that built the Yugo will be up for sale come springtime. Zastava is government-owned carmaker. Is only one in Serbia. With an asking price of less than $4k, the Yugo (I bet you were thinking the company) arrived in the US in 1986. The lackluster Yugo quickly became the poster child for cheaply made cars; Consumer Reports magazine claimed it “barely qualified as a car." Zastava produced some 15k cars in 2006, which is “far below” the company's potential capacity of 60k cars a year. Looking for a way out of the car biz, the government’s Privatization Agency placed an ad in the Politika Daily newspaper announcing that some 90 percent of the company’s shares will be sold off next April. The asking price for Zastava will be made public in the spring, but privatization minister Mladjan Dinkic says he expects “at least two major international companies to take part in the bidding." Perhaps VW fancies one more European economy brand to add to SEAT, Skoda and VW. Perhaps not. 

Automotive News [AN, sub] reports that Pininfarina is slated to build an "electric car" for the US, European and Japanese markets. The legendary Italian design house will partner with French battery maker Bolloré to build the plug-in electric. The partnership claims that the as-yet-unnamed new car will be a four-seater with a range of 155 miles of city driving. The batteries can be fully charged from "a standard home electrical outlet" in roughly five hours. (A five-minute recharge would get you enough for a 15-mile trip, according to the report.). The pack's designed to last for more than 124K total miles. Current plans call for building some 15K cars per annum, sold under the Pininfarina name. While pricing isn't mentioned, the article ends on a hopeful note: "Let’s just hope it has all the good looks that other Pinanfarina produced cars have with pricing that won’t make you mortgage your house." Amen.

No one… yet. But GM’s chief engineer for the Corvette believes his meisterwerk is doomed. "High-performance vehicles such as this may actually be legislated out of existence," says Tadge Juechter. According an AP report published by WTOP, the GM engineer thinks cars such as the ZR1 “may be the last in a long tradition of Detroit performance cars.” With CAFE standards set to increase to 35 mpg by 2020, at least in theory, Juechter reckons cars like the ZR1 “could really be an endangered species.” Global Insight analyst Aaron Bragman says Juechter’s being a drama queen [paraphrase]."GM wants to sell big, high-performance, fun cars. And typically that's what Americans want to buy." Bragman thinks future muscle cars “may be powered by smaller engines or electric motors; but they won't die.” Well thank God for that.

The Tribune (via CNN) kicks ass and names names, detailing a panoply of rental car “scams.” We're talking hidden riders, new fees and plain old cheating. For example… When a flight delay made Amy Villa late for her rental car pickup, Alamo exercised its contractual rights and revised the rate upwards; from $268 to $400. OUCH! Renter Penny McLain was whacked with a gas charge despite filling the gas tank as required (anything less than a pegged FULL needle isn’t full). ZAP! Rental companies are charging customers for damages inflicted on their sleds by previous customers. OOOOF! Drop-off fees are on the rise. Hertz used to allow frequent renter Warren Atwood to pick up a car in LA County and drop it off in Orange County without incurring a “drop off” fee. Not anymore. KA-POW! Holy read the fine print Batman! Caveat emptor old chum, caveat emptor.

In parts One and Two of this series, we looked at the websites of eight aspiring Chief Executives in an attempt to divine their positions on policies relating to automobiles. To say that our commentators considered their remarks fatuous would be like saying that a Hummer H1 would be slightly out of place at a Prius Owners Group. Still, civic duty inspires us to press on. Here’s what (the other) John, Joe, Chris and Ron have to say about alt. fuels, mpgs, etc.

They want your vote, but they drive you crazy. More specifically, passionate posting pistonheads don’t seem well pleased with America’s current crop of presidential aspirants. Part One of this series examined four presidential candidates’ websites to winkle out their auto-related policies on issues ranging from Corporate Average Fuel Economy to E85 to “oil addiction” and, uh, back. Judging from your comments on Hillary, Barack, Rudy and Mitt’s plans, you were about as impressed as pyromaniacs at a swim meet. So, in that spirit of world-weary cynical analysis, let’s have a look at what Fred, Mike, John and Bill have to say about all things automotive.