NATION

NATION

Record gas prices lead to less driving, smaller cars

WASHINGTON — With gas prices holding at record levels above $4 a gallon, Americans are driving less and abandoning gas-guzzling vehicles, according to new government data.

Americans drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles in April compared with the same month last year, and 400 million fewer miles than they did in March, according to the Transportation Department.

With Americans driving less and opting for more fuel-efficient vehicles, gasoline demand will likely decline in 2008 for the first time in 17 years, energy consulting firm Cambridge Energy Research Associates said Thursday.

GM, CMU join on research for autonomous driving

PITTSBURGH — General Motors Corp. has a new five-year, $5 million agreement with Carnegie Mellon University to jointly develop autonomous driving technology.

The agreement announced Thursday paves the way for a research lab at the Pittsburgh university that will operate as an extension of GM’s Global Research Development network, according to the school.

Associated Press