Mental Floss
transportation Section Header

Transportation

The Latest

Just because seat belts make cars and planes safer doesn’t mean they’d do the same for trains, which are built differently, move differently, and, most importantly, seat their passengers differently. 

Find out which cities are scoring an A+ for their school commutes.
CaLea Johnson|
Merging with high-speed traffic is always risky, but these highways make it even more difficult.
Jake Rossen|
The spots were ranked based on factors like total number of campgrounds, amenities, and local livability.
Paul Anthony Jones|

Cars & Trucks

From smooth asphalt to pothole-filled nightmares, brush up on these lists before your next road trip.
CaLea Johnson|
Your car’s windows aren't sufficient sun protection.
Jake Rossen|
No one wants to be the victim in a hit-and-run car accident. Here’s where that kind of crash is most likely to happen—and the two states where every driver avoided that outcome.
Tim Brinkhof|
Diesel engines power heavy-duty vehicles, from cargo trucks to ships. But where does ‘Diesel’ come from?
Jake Rossen|
If you’re not originally from Tennessee, tunnel honking can be a mystery. Here's why drivers do it.
Jake Rossen|
Drivers are constantly being reminded to buckle up. The same rule doesn’t seem to apply to busloads of children.
Jake Rossen|
Can honking at too much traffic actually deplete your car’s horn? The answer might surprise you.
Jake Rossen|
Gas stations know what they’re doing when they play Bach at the pump.
Jake Rossen|

Planes and Airports

It might seem counterintuitive, but this piece of advice actually makes sense.
AJ DiCosimo|
Terrified of flying? You may want to avoid these airports.
Lorna Wallace|
On June 30, Flightradar24 broke their record for most flights tracked in a single day.
Michele Debczak|

Roads

Crossing these bridges are moments that stick with you, when the journey itself becomes the event.

Ships

The first dramatization of the ‘Titanic’ wreck featured a survivor playing a fictionalized version of herself and a love interest named Jack.
Jake Rossen|
Wearing your favorite old pair of camouflage shorts on a Caribbean cruise could put a real damper on your vacation. 
Mike Rampton|
From the Bermuda Triangle to the ‘Mary Celeste,’ here are some of the most puzzling enigmas of the deep.
Claire Cock-Starkey|
The replica boat ‘Orca II’ was the unsung star of 1975's ‘Jaws.’ But what happened after filming ended was worse than any shark attack.
Jake Rossen|

Trains

Here’s some inspiration for your next romantic excursion.
transporation MF

Learn More About Transportation

TransportationCars & TrucksPlanes & AirportsRoadsShipsTrains