Latest news with #PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Electric Car Secrets No One Talks About
Owning an EV can be like a marquee signing for your sports team; the right one is a game-changer. Nonetheless, we can agree there are many stories of woe out there. For instance, finding charging stations in some regions may cost multiple hours searching or waiting for a charge. Repeat this on a weekly basis, and you have a problem. It is an example of how, for some, buying an EV comes with hidden truths that might have discouraged them otherwise. Of course, some realities are manageable. However, even for the most diligent EV driver, there are unhidden truths — or costs — they didn't consider before buying. Put simply, knowing what to expect will help you avoid these pitfalls. The truth is king in this world, and we aim to bring full disclosure about the intricacies of EV ownership. There is a network of fantastic online commentators from the auto world whose opinions matter; we have looked at what they say on the matter. However, this insight also comes from the real owners in forums across the EV map. By scouring the virtual public square, we can garner what EV drivers are saying about buying, driving, and maintaining their EVs. What electric car secrets do people need to know? If you think an EV is your ticket to more on-road entitlements than gas-powered vehicle owners, think again. A 6abc Philadelphia story in April 2025 announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will now charge electric vehicle (EV) owners annual road taxes. While motorists have traditionally paid this at the pump, EV owners will pay a $200 fee, rising to $250 in 2026, states the news report. Until now, states have been experimenting with how they charge EV owners for federal transportation taxes, upping registration fees, for one. Others, like Pennsylvania, will instead charge higher taxes — more severe than gas-powered cars, in some cases. Consumer Reports found in January 2025 that proposed fees for 19 states were far more punitive for EV owners than gas-powered motorists. In general, EVs will save the owner money in the long term — roughly half, if this Forbes article can be believed. In contrast, parts can be a headache, costing more and being harder to locate for older models. An example is that tires on many EVs must contend with a far heavier battery, more torque, and quicker acceleration. According to Kelley Blue Book, EV tires wear out 20% faster than regular gas-powered car tires. 'Since there are fewer choices for electric vehicle tires,' reads the KBB guide, 'you will pay a higher price for four new tires.' It is something all prospective EV drivers should also know. While Lucid Air Grand Touring owners can boast 518 miles of range on a single charge, some EVs might only get you one-third of that. Obviously, you are asking for trouble going anywhere long-range without first mapping out the journey for charging stations. EV forums are awash with stories of getting almost stranded or doubling road trip times. Of course, Tesla is way ahead of the curve with its Go Anywhere road trip planning app, and things are improving all the time for others. Nonetheless, a 2024 PlugInAmerica survey found that public charging infrastructure was a concern for over half of the respondents. Even if you live in suburbia, you need a car that suits your medium-range needs, so buying a Fiat 500e would be brave. AutoWeb's Brady Holt reviewed the 2024 version. While he praised the car's performance, style, and comfort, he also gave it a revealing descriptor of 'errand-running range.' If you plan a daily commute on the Interstate, the chances are you will need to drive an average of 70 mph. Your Subaru Solterra's 228 upper range might be good on paper. As Car and Driver explains in its review, the reality is different: more like 200 miles. You've just got your new EV, so you get to charge it fully as soon as you get home. However, this would be bad advice, according to the consensus on charging matters. A SmartCharge guide explores the many nuances of EV battery care, not least choosing the right charging level for daily use. 'Rely on your private level 1 charger to charge overnight,' reads the post. 'If needed, use a level 2 or level 3 fast charging station to supplement your charge on the go.' Furthermore, newcomers must research their car's capabilities. Keeping the battery within the 20-80% rule is widely considered the best route to battery longevity. If you live in a large city, owning a vehicle, let alone an EV, can be very hard. It is possible for those with the capacity for home charging, and even some tower blocks might have subterranean charging ports. However, other owners have to get in line at their local charging stations, often for much longer than they want. It's easy for us, the gas-powered masses, to scoff at those EV advocates. Some might giggle at the images of people lining up at 11 pm for a charger, like this classic TikTok shot in Burbank, California. Let's not get too carried away because technology is improving fast, and those waiting times will fall soon. An argument you will often hear from EV-resistant debaters is that switching to EVs isn't as clean-energy-oriented as we might think. The hypothesis is that electricity generation has to come from somewhere, usually a fossil fuel. They would be half-right, too. A Department of Energy report shows that it depends on the quality of the energy used. For instance, a car charging on West Virginia's 86% coal-fired electricity will generate more emissions than one in California. The Golden State gets over half its power from renewables. California needs over one million public charging stations installed by 2030 to meet demand — a pipe dream, says Alejandro Lazo of CalMatters. There are several reasons EVs lose value so quickly compared to gasoline vehicles. Most importantly, EV technology makes such huge advances each year that even recent car models can look dated. Like a Hollywood starlet, an EV's visual appeal shelf life is fleeting, soon forgotten for a fresh-faced newcomer. A Motor1 post surfaced recently, revealing the 10 fastest-depreciating EVs in the US marketplace. Sadly for the 2019 Jaguar I-Pace, used buyer confidence must be low — we won't get into these reasons. Nevertheless, these EVs lose up to 72.5% on average over five years, which resembles a $51,953 difference in MSRP, according to the post. One day in the future, charging hubs might resemble the gas stations of today, though at least gas stations are plentiful. Most EV news hounds will have seen videos of charging station confrontations. One such video posted on X recently shows a skirmish between two Tesla drivers, one accusing the other of line jumping. Of course, these events aren't too common, and most visits to charging hubs will go swimmingly. However, as EV adoption rolls out across the country, we can probably expect to see more people go head-to-head in the pursuit of those sweet kilowatts. The Department of Energy predicts the need for 28 million charging stations by 2030, and the country is nowhere near this projection. What's more, an Axios report confirms that President Trump will be halting Federal spending on the previous administration's costly rollout. There appears to be no shortage of irony as an EV owner, including the fact that you probably cough up more than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle owners. A recent report from AAA unpacks why this is possibly the case. Higher vehicle value, more niche repair procedures, and unique risks like cybersecurity threats all contribute to these costs. What's more, replacing EVs isn't as simple as their analog cousins. Finding a spare part for a limited vehicle fleet makes replacements more expensive. It all makes grim reading for Tesla owners reeling from the recent spate of nationwide vandalism. Even those unaffected will feel the sting. Three out of five Tesla owners will pay an average of $340 increase per year, according to auto insurance firm Guardian Service. In the wise words of Joni Mitchell: 'You don't know what you've got till it's gone.' One must be careful not to just see greener grass across the river if their living situation doesn't allow it. Buying an EV could help you land in motoring Heaven or a logistical nightmare, depending on the approach and conditions. It's pertinent to navigate the real world with this understanding of what to expect. Of course, while these observations may seem anti-EV, this isn't the intention. We just want future EV owners to know what they may have in store. Happy charging.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Water and sewer line work to close roads in Saint Marys
ST. MARYS, Pa. (WTAJ) — A key roadway in Elk County will be closed for more than a month as the city of St. Marys begins a water and sewer line project along Route 1003, also known as Washington Street. Starting Thursday, May 29, Washington Street will close at the intersection of Fourth Street. A detour will be in place using Route 255, Route 1002 (Taft Road), and Route 1003 (Windfall Road). The project is expected to continue through early July. Although the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) issued the advisory, the project is being completed by the City of St. Marys and is not affiliated with any PennDOT roadwork. Drivers will be able to access Washington Street from the north up to Rightmeyer Road and Lawrence Street. PennDOT encourages motorists to 'Know Before They Go' by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting downloading the 511 Android or iPhone app, or by calling 5-1-1. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
PennDOT: Traffic fatalities statewide decline in 2024 as crash deaths climb in Erie County
Traffic fatalities in Pennsylvania dropped statewide in 2024 over the previous year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. But Erie County's fatal traffic crashes climbed, according to data from PennDOT and the Erie County Coroner's Office. According to data released by PennDOT on May 1, 1,127 people died in crashes on Pennsylvania roadways in 2024, a decrease of 82 from the previous year. Notable drops were seen in areas including motorcycle fatalities, down 19 from 2023; pedestrian fatalities, down eight from the previous year; and fatalities in alcohol-related crashes, which dropped from 307 in 2023 to 244 in 2024, according to information in PennDOT's Pennsylvania Crash Information Tool. Areas where traffic fatalities increased statewide, PennDOT reported, include intersection crashes, which increased by 20 over 2023; and crashes at intersections with a stop sign, which increased by 13. Deadly day in Erie: 2 killed in car-motorcycle crash hours after fatal accident, shooting PennDOT's data listed 36 traffic fatalities in Erie County in 2024, up from 30 in 2023. It was the highest number of traffic fatalities in the county, as charted by PennDOT, since 39 traffic fatalities were recorded in 2010. Motorcycle and pedestrian fatalities remained the same in 2024 as they were recorded in 2023, according to the agency's data sheets. The most notable increase in PennDOT's data for Erie County was in fatalities at intersection crashes, which climbed from six in 2023 to 17 last year. The Erie County Coroner's Office investigated 23 motor vehicle deaths in 2024, up from 18 the previous year; 13 motorcycle deaths, up from 12 in 2023; and six pedestrian deaths, down from eight in 2023, according to Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook and data his office previously released. The Erie Bureau of Police is about to employ new tools to help combat speeding, a common factor cited by city police accident investigators in fatal crashes. Police Chief Dan Spizarny said the bureau recently purchased three portable speed signs through federal grant funding, and the police will post those signs in certain areas to track the flow of traffic and speed of motorists. The signs, which utilize radar, will flash to motorists the speed they are traveling as they approach and pass the signs. But they will also capture data on the number of vehicles traveling through the area and the speeds those vehicles are traveling, to help in determining which areas police may target for enforcement, Spizarny said. Please enable Javascript to view this content. "We can't write a ticket based on the radar because we are not allowed to, but it gives us information and lets us know what we are seeing on blocks as far as traffic and speeds," he said. The signs are expected to be put on display at an upcoming news conference in which Erie police and PennDOT will announce an aggressive driving campaign, according to Spizarny. Various other traffic enforcement efforts conducted by Erie police will continue, officials said, including enforcement of school zones and addressing speeding complaints in neighborhoods. Erie police are also continuing specialized patrols along East 38th Street, an enforcement effort launched in 2024 in the wake of two serious traffic accidents along the roadway. Pennsylvania State Police troopers will again assist Erie police in the East 38th Street targeted enforcement effort, said Lt. Gary Garman, patrol section supervisor for state police Troop E in Lawrence Park Township. More: Erie police charge city men with street racing on East 38th that led to serious May crash Garman said troopers will also do a number of other traffic enforcement details in the Erie region, as they regularly do each year. They include a Click it or Ticket campaign over Memorial Day and at least 13 DUI checkpoints the troop does each year, he said. Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@ Follow him on X @ETNhahn. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Despite drop in traffic deaths statewide, Erie County's 2024 deaths up
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Officials remind drivers to put down the phone; Paul Miller's Law to take effect June 5
May 27—WILKES-BARRE — Paul Miller's Law is about saving lives, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said on Tuesday. "Your choices behind the wheel can change lives forever," he said. "Make the safe choice. Put your phone out of reach and don't text and drive. One text, one glance down — it could kill someone. And it's not worth it." On Tuesday, in keeping with Gov. Josh Shapiro's commitment to safety on Pennsylvania roads, the Shapiro Administration urged drivers to put down the phone while driving, ahead of the June 5 effective date for Paul Miller's Law, which makes it illegal to use a hand-held cell phone while driving. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike), and Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) joined Sen. Rosemary Brown and national advocate Paul Miller Sr. and Eileen Miller, Paul Miller Jr.'s parents, to urge drivers to make safe choices behind the wheel. As part of his mission to provide a safe transportation system for all Pennsylvanians, Gov. Shapiro signed Senate Bill 37 into law on June 5, 2024. Effective June 5, 2025, the law — known as "Paul Miller's Law" — prohibits the use of hand-held devices while driving, even while stopped temporarily due to traffic, a red light, or other momentary delay. Pennsylvania already enforces a texting-while-driving ban that prohibits drivers from using mobile devices to send, read, or write text-based communications while their vehicle is in motion. Beginning June 5, law enforcement will begin issuing written warnings for violations of Senate Bill 37. Law enforcement will have the ability to issue summary citations to violators beginning June 6, 2026. Under Paul Miller's Law, drivers can still use their phones to alert emergency responders and, if they are using hands-free technology, to make phone calls, use a GPS, and listen to music. "As the Prime-Sponsor of Senate Bill 37, now Act 18 of 2024, seeing this law go into effect is incredibly rewarding knowing it will save lives," said Sen. Brown, R-Monroe County. "Since day one I have always believed in this commonsense policy. It's important that drivers remember that the cellphone has become the most consistent, repetitive, and lengthy distraction behind the driver's wheel causing significant public safety concerns. This law will change behaviors and save lives. The legislature passed Senate Bill 37, now Act 18, with overwhelming bi-partisan support, and I am confident that my efforts, along with the efforts of my friend Eileen Miller, have Pennsylvania going in the right direction for public safety." The law is named for Paul Miller Jr., who was tragically killed in a crash with a tractor-trailer in 2010 in Monroe County, as the result of a distracted driver who reached for their phone while driving. Since his death, Paul's mother Eileen Miller has become a national advocate for stronger laws to curb distracted driving. "Nearly 15 years ago, two Dunmore state troopers knocked on my door to tell me that my son was killed," said Eileen Miller, Paul Miller Jr.'s mother. "My son did everything right — he was killed by someone else's unsafe choices behind the wheel. This law is for every family in Pennsylvania that doesn't have to experience two state troopers knocking on their door to tell them that their loved one was killed by distracted driving. Paul Miller's Law will be a beacon of protection for every driver and passenger in Pennsylvania." Paul Miller's Law will also work to prevent bias in policing by requiring law enforcement to collect data on drivers pulled over during traffic stops, including race, ethnicity, and gender. The data will be made publicly available in an annual report. "The Pennsylvania State Police will enforce the new law to its full extent," said PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. "Distracted driving is not a minor offense. Just one second of inattention can result in irreversible consequences. We urge all drivers to stay focused behind the wheel." According to PennDOT data, in 2024 there were 9,950 crashes involving a distracted driver, resulting in more than 6,000 injuries and 49 fatalities. Distracted driving crash data, however, is believed to be under-reported due to many drivers' reluctance to admit to being distracted at the time of a crash. Safe driving tips —If you are expecting a text message or need to send one that can't wait, pull over and park your car in a safe location before using your device. —Ask a passenger to be your "designated texter." Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages. —Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving. —Cell phone use is habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone's "Do Not Disturb" feature, silence notifications, or put your phone in the trunk, glove box or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination. Cell phone use is not the only distraction while driving. Anything that takes your attention away from driving, your eyes off the road, or your hands off the wheel is a distraction. Driver behavior is the leading factor in 83% of the crashes that occur annually in Pennsylvania. These behaviors include driving distracted, impaired or aggressive. For information on distracted driving, visit PennDOT's media resources web page offers social media-sized graphics for numerous transportation-related campaigns, including safety topics such as aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving and seat belts for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders. Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
PennDOT announces $1.2M available in grants for school bus safety
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that $1.2 million is available in grants to help increase school bus safety. The funds, available through the School Bus Safety Grant Program, can be used to promote and increase school bus safety, education and training, as well as pay for education, training and other associated costs related to someone earning their commercial learner's permit and license. 'This grant program furthers Governor Shapiro's commitment to providing a safe transportation system for all Pennsylvanians,' PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said. 'The funding will allow schools and their partners to invest in programs designed to increase the safety of children riding school buses across the state.' Independent school bus contractors, school entities and municipalities are eligible to apply for grants, which can be done online beginning June 2 through July 3 at 12:00 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
