Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Investigations: New Cell Driving Laws Won't Reverse 2,600 Yearly U.S. Death Toll

Talking on cellphones while driving kills 1,000 to 2,600 people yearly in the U.S. alone, and laws that restrict yakking drivers aren't going to do much to change that, says this Mother Jones story. That's because it's the conversation - not whether the talker is on a hands-free device - that causes the "inattention blindness." Mother Jones explores why U.S. federal highway-safety officials concealed the problems for five years.

TAGS: investigations, safety

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Investigations: Apple Tried to Block iPod Fire Records

Some of Apple's iPod MP3 players have overheated and burst into flames, injuring their owners, according to this investigation by KIRO 7. Apple's lawyers tried to block consumer-safety records on the incidents from being released, but KIRO's dogged reporter, Amy Clancy, persisted and succeeded in getting 800 pages of records that reveal the problems for the first time. Hot stuff, Amy!