The federal government’s campaign against distracted driving was recently bolstered by news that a new law on the books bans commercial drivers from texting while driving. The ban covers people who operate vehicles carrying hazardous materials and those who operate commercial trucks, buses and trains. The bottom line is that if you’re employed behind the wheel and law enforcement catches you texting while driving, you’re looking at a traffic stop and hefty fine.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recently made big waves about the dangers of distracted driving. The government agency released data saying that 5,500 people died and around 500,000 were injured in 2009 in accidents in which distracted driving was a factor. Likewise, research has surfaced saying that teens still don’t think texting while driving is as dangerous as drunk driving, even though both have been shown to be just as detrimental to a driver’s ability to operate a car or truck. 

A quick update on the investigation into Toyota cases involving unintended acceleration: According to Toyota, its own engineers and technicians have not found a single case of the electronic throttle control causing a runaway vehicle after examining around 4,200 vehicles.

During the peak of the unintended-acceleration hysteria, many media outlets speculated that the electronic throttle control might be to blame. 

Rumors of Lincoln's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Well, perhaps not greatly. After a number of Detroit brands fell under the ax, Ford's other, upscale badge has been living in the shadows of late -- and Ford wants to change that.

Of course, skeptics -- actually, everyone -- will point out that Lincoln has quite an uphill battle ahead of it. Success is hardly a sure thing in the crowded luxury market, but over at CNBC, Phil Lebeau has three reasons why Lincoln may be able to pull it off.

First, LeBeau points out that Ford's commitment is long-term. Lincoln is elemental to the overall Ford company, and the manufacturer will treat it accordingly. 

 

In a move reminiscent of MINI's track challenge to Porsche, Chevrolet has challenged Ford to a real-world competition, looking to pit GM's heavy-duty hauler against the Blue Oval's best in a mountain-grade course that tests towing prowess on the way up and factory-issued exhaust brakes on the way down.

Of course, on paper Ford already wins: Its 6.7-liter Powerstroke diesel V8 engine puts out 400 horsepower and a whopping 800 lb-ft of torque, compared with GM's 6.6-liter Duramax with 397 horsepower and 35 fewer lb-ft, at 765. Then again, Chevrolet's point is that numbers on paper don't necessarily translate to the best performance on the road -- hence the real-world challenge. Or, as Chevy Silverado marketing manager Tony Truelove says, "Let's go work these trucks in the mountains, and may the best truck win." 

 

Just back from the International Motor Press Association’s annual Test Days at Pocono Raceway -- this year better known as Noah’s Ark, the sequel. Every year, manufacturers bring their latest 4-wheeled wares to the Pennsylvania hills for two days of testing, one on public roads (with SUVs muddying it up at a local ski area) and another on the Pocono road course, which also incorporates a stretch of the steep-banked NASCAR oval.

 

Veterans of the event said that for the first time in the history of Test Days -- which began in about 1972 at the now-defunct Bridgehampton circuit on Long Island, N.Y., then moved to Lime Rock in Connecticut before switching to Pocono -- the track part of the day was totally washed out by torrential rain. But the curse could have been worse. Actually, it could have been much worse: On Friday, just after journalists and automakers departed, the Split Rock Resort’s Sports Complex was heavily damaged by a gas explosion that amazingly resulted in only a single injury.  

 

The preceding, explosion-free day was a vision of fall loveliness, especially because we were surrounded by dozens of spanking-new machines. A sample of what was on tap: the Chevy Cruze, GM’s new compact car, which is just arriving at dealerships; the latest Volkswagen GTI, still one of the hottest-driving cars you’ll find for less than 30 grand; the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, both preparing to duke it out for electric-car supremacy in December; the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, as good in person as it’s been on paper; and, for a cherry on top, the mind-blowing Corvette ZR-1.