New Florida billboard campaign aims to curb distracted driving

by Jeremy Korzeniewski

It seems to us that when we're glancing in the direction of a roadside billboard, we're not really keeping our eyes on the road. This undeniable fact hasn't stopped the installation of a new billboard in Fort Myers, Florida directing drivers to visit deathbycellphone.org. Good cause, poor implementation?

In a report that seems oblivious to the irony of an eye-catching billboard reminding drivers to pay attention to the road, the local NBC affiliate quotes Jay Anderson, founder of Stay Alive Just Drive, as saying, "Distractions are dangerous, period. At any given time, look left look right and you're going to see someone on their cell phone." Vinny Fazio of Lamar Advertising, which donated the billboard space, adds, "That's the good thing about outdoor advertising. We're looking to grab people's attention."

In related news, deathbybillboard.org has yet to be registered. Hit the jump to watch a video segment from WLBZ Channel 2 in Bangor, Maine along with a press release from the National Safety Council.

Porsche loan request rejected by Germany's state bank

by Chris Shunk

Porsche is profitable and it owns a big chunk of the far larger Volkswagen, yet cash seems to be in short supply. Automotive News is reporting that the world-renowned luxury sports car maker's 1.75 billion euro ($2.45 billion USD) loan request from German state bank KFW has been rejected, leaving Porsche to search elsewhere for funding. Porsche secured 10.75 billion euros ($15.1B) in financing from banks in March to feed its 9 billion euro debt ($12.6B) mountain, but it's looking for alternative means for financing its cash crunch.

Porsche has already looked outside of Europe for funding to handle its mounting debt, as it worked with the Arab emirate of Qatar to secure a sizable stake in the company. VW, smelling blood in the water, reportedly gave Porsche an ultimatum, offering up 3-4 billion euro ($4.2-$5.6B) for 49% of the sports car maker in exchange for not forcing the repayment of a 700 million euro loan ($983M) in September. Porsche responded by saying that ultimatums don't belong in the 21st century. Unfortunately, bankruptcies are all too common in the new economy, so the proud German company may have to dig a bit deeper to keep themselves from falling into the financial abyss.