InfoHive – Transportation

A program in Ohio collects data on how often drivers interact with their phones while driving. The state partnered with “ Cambridge Mobile Telematics to assess the behavior of Ohio drivers collected from smartphones and other sensor-enabled devices. ”

This data shows that Ohioans tapped their smartphones 21.9 times per 100 miles on average compared with the national average of 23.6 times per 100 miles & that Ohio drivers spent 0.78% of their driving time engaging in handheld calls, lower than the national average of 0.82%. 

Route Fifty | Smartphone data helps Ohio ‘be smarter’ about reducing distracted driving

Utah has installed sensor systems at six out of eight entry ports and at one of three smaller ports managed by the Utah Highway Patrol. The goal is to gather trucking data and more to manage traffic flow and safety.

The sensor data will utilize large language models to learn and adapt to improve safety and efficiency.

Route Fifty | Sensors in Utah’s roads aim to improve commercial vehicle safety and efficiency

The federal government has approved 2 new drone testing sites. It’s been a decade since the last federally designated drone facilities were approved. The two new sites are the  Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

Route Fifty | Feds announce two new drone test sites

Add Tesla’s robotaxi to the list of driverless taxi services in Austin. The robotaxis began service in June 2025, and this week marks their clearance for driverless service. Not all vehicles will be driverless and safety monitors will be in service.

TechCrunch | Tesla launches robotaxi rides in Austin with no human safety driver

“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced the launch of a new office dedicated to rapidly procuring and deploying drone and counter-drone technologies, marking a major step forward in restoring American airspace sovereignty – a top priority for the Trump Administration.”

The reason? Safety for FIFA World Cup and the 250th U.S. celebrations.

Funding comes from the Safer Skies Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, signed by the President in later 2025.

Currently California has a January 1, 2027 deadline for a pilot of a pay as you drive fee structure in lieu of a gas tax.

AB 1421 scales back the pilot and substitutes a report on pay as you drive by January 1, 2027.

Aftermarket matters | California legislature reconvenes for 2026 with bills affecting auto repair

A newly effective law in West Virginia allows for the use of thermal drones to locate missing pets and wounded animals. Wounded animals is how they are talking about hunting. We’re talking about using thermal drones in hunting.

West Virginia News | New West Virginia law allows thermal drones to recover lost pets and wounded wildlife

Most vehicles that have autonomous driving features rely on LIDAR. LIDAR relies on satellites. Satellites get impacted by space stuff like solar flares. To accommodate this space stuff, vehicles are engineered with extra sensors, hence a space tax. Neat, eh?

Space News | The ‘space tax’ on your self-driving car

n 2014, Las Vegas taxis provided 28 million rides. Since ride share has proliferated, taxi rides have decreased. 

In 2025, Las Vegas taxi rides have fallen by 53% to just over 13 million taxi rides.

The Nevada Independent | Where are Las Vegas taxi drivers a decade after Uber and Lyft shocked the industry?

Robo-helio taxis, drone delivery, all these new transportation technologies have led to states calling for federal cooperation to regulate these nascent industries. 

An FAA pilot program for the robo-helicopter taxi services has emerged. 

Route Fifty | States urge more federal coordination amid growth of new aviation options