Where are the Most Dangerous Intersections in America?

Drivers asked to submit their dangerous intersections as millions travel for Memorial Day weekend
 
WASHINGTON, May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) is calling on drivers to submit dangerous intersections as part of a national movement to make intersections safer.

The National Safety Council estimates that over the Memorial Day weekend there will be more than 400 traffic fatalities and another 39,400 injuries resulting from motor vehicle collisions. With millions of motorists hitting the roads this weekend, NCSR, a national road safety organization, has launched a new online system to give motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists a resource to submit the most dangerous intersections they come across. The online form allows motorists to quickly submit an intersection they've driven through. After the information is collected, NCSR will launch an interactive map allowing drivers to see where problem intersections in their area are.

"Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer travel season and drivers need to take extra caution as they head out on the roads this summer," said David Kelly, president and executive director of NCSR. "As millions of families travel on road trips to enjoy their summer vacations, they are at an increased risk to fall victim to someone else's reckless decisions on the road. We are making it easy for motorists to submit the dangerous intersections they drive through so we can make these intersections safer."

Volkswagen, The Museum of Modern Art, and MoMA PS1 Launch an Extensive Partnership

Multi-year cooperation announced in New York City

Klaus Biesenbach (Director of MoMA PS1 and Chief Curator at Large of MoMA), Prof. Dr. Rer. Nat. Martin Winterkorn (CEO, Volkswagen Group), Glenn D. Lowry (Director of The Museum of Modern Art), and Hans Dieter Potsch (Member of the Board, Volkswagen Group) announce a new partnership between Volkswagen, The Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1 in New York City on May 23rd, 2011. (PRNewsFoto/Volkswagen)

 
NEW YORK and WOLFSBURG, Germany,  May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Volkswagen, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and MoMA PS1 have agreed on an extensive multi-year partnership. The prime focus of the strategic partnership announced today in New York City lies in the project with the working title, “International Discovery,” the development of an international contemporary art exhibition. Further pillars of the partnership are the extension of the MoMA online education program, the donation of two works by Francis Alys, and the sponsorship of a series of installations in The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. This cooperation with Volkswagen is the first partnership of this scale between the prestigious New York cultural institution and a leading international corporation.

Making innovation broadly accessible and taking responsibility for the environment and society are fundamental corporate values at Volkswagen. The company is promoting sustainable action in all spheres of life with the "Think Blue." initiative. Volkswagen's collaboration with MoMA reflects this. "Artists give us food for thought and let us look at the world from new angles. MoMA is one of the world's leading institutions in the field of contemporary art. With its persuasive expertise and its educational mission, it is our partner of choice. This partnership expresses our corporate commitment to take responsibility for the environment and for society," said Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, in describing this cultural partnership.
"We are pleased to have a strong partner in Volkswagen, whose commitment to innovation and education aligns with the Museum's," said MoMA Director Glenn D. Lowry. "This partnership will enable MoMA and MoMA PS1 to realize longstanding goals and ambitious exhibitions and programs."
"While MoMA PS1 has a long history of presenting work by contemporary artists on an international scale, this partnership will allow us to research, evaluate, and present the most wide-ranging survey of artists working innovatively around the globe," said Klaus Biesenbach, Director of MoMA PS1 and Chief Curator at Large at MoMA.

Nissan Celebrates 30-Year, $3.5 Billion Commitment to State of Tennessee With Installation of 30 Solar EV Chargers

Construction of solar-assisted charging stations is under way at Nissan's Smyrna, Tenn., Vehicle Assembly Plant. The chargers, which also will be installed at Nissan Americas headquarters in Franklin, Tenn., will be operational by July 1 and are designed to charge the Nissan LEAF, the world's first affordable, all-electric zero-emission vehicle designed for the mass market. Nissan soon will build the Nissan LEAF and the batteries that power it at its Smyrna manufacturing complex. (PRNewsFoto/Nissan North America, Inc.)

FRANKLIN, Tenn., May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nissan North America, Inc. has begun installation of 30 solar-assisted charging stations at the Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant and the Nissan Americas headquarters in Franklin, Tenn. The 30 chargers at the two Tennessee facilities mark the latest in a long line of dedicated investments totaling $3.5 billion over the course of Nissan's statewide, 30-year presence.

The advanced solar chargers, which will be operational for use by Nissan employees and visitors by July 1, are designed to charge the Nissan LEAF, the world's first affordable, all-electric zero-emission vehicle designed for the mass market. The Nissan LEAF debuted globally in December 2010, with Tennessee as a key launch market. Nissan soon will build the Nissan LEAF and the batteries that power it at its Smyrna manufacturing complex. The advanced, lithium-ion battery plant is 75-percent complete with an expected operational date of late next year.
"Tennessee is Nissan's home in the Americas region," said Carlos Tavares, chairman, Nissan Americas. "These solar-assisted charging stations demonstrate our dedication to a zero-emissions society, and our dedication to bringing innovation to our home in Tennessee. Nissan in the coming year will expand our manufacturing presence, enhance our philanthropic efforts and make new additions to our headquarters operations, all in Tennessee."
The charging stations illustrate the ability to reduce the impact to the electrical grid through the use of solar power and energy storage. They employ the same lithium-ion battery cells that also power the Nissan LEAF, an innovation that allows Nissan to study the battery's storage capacity as well as demonstrate the second-life use for lithium-ion batteries beyond their use in automotive applications.
Nissan is working with the U.S. Dept. of Energy, which is funding the stations through a matching grant, as well as Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Tennessee Valley Authority, with which Nissan will share usage and technical data from the solar chargers for further study.

SOURCE Nissan North America, Inc.