100 Years of Concrete Roads!

In 1909, the first mile of concrete road in the world was laid on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan between Six Mile (McNichols) and Seven Mile. It was 18 feet wide (now it gets as wide as 5 lanes in each direction at that location!) and cost a little over $13,000 (around $1 million in today's dollars).

The road was studied by road builders from all over the country to see how the concrete withstood traffic and the elements. It inspired many modern highways to be built!

And it all started in the Motor City itself!

(via waymarking.com)

Smart Speedbumps

Cool new technology for people who respect speed limits and hate speed bumps:

Concerns over the environment — and the utter annoyance of having to brake and accelerate frequently — have prompted one Mexican state government to embrace a "smart" speed bump that could make driving smoother, without sacrificing safety.

The device, being developed by Mexico-based Decano Industries, automatically lowers into the ground when drivers go the speed limit or slower. Drive too fast, and the bump stays up.

"With this speed bump, people will feel rewarded for obeying the law," says Carlos Cano, the company's president.

Brilliant! I can't wait for them to make their way into the States!

(for more info & my source, click here)

In A Roundabout Way

How do you feel about roundabouts?

Maybe you feel like they are confusing and dangerous? Maybe you think they are a waste of space? Maybe you can relate to Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's European Vacation every time you enter one?

Personally, I am a big fan. I love anything that prevents me from having to wait at red lights or for green arrows. I don't like stopping in general.

Wonder why they are springing up all over the place lately?

Well, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

"Where roundabouts have been installed, motor vehicle crashes have declined by about 40 percent, and those involving injuries have been reduced by about 80 percent. Crash reductions are accompanied by significant improvements in traffic flow, thus reducing vehicle delays, fuel consumption, and air pollution."

(click here for their reasoning)

Those are all good things! Go roundabouts!