Polluted air more harmful than smoking, study says - CTV News

Breathing in polluted air is so harmful, it can actually have a greater impact on humans lifespan than smoking, according to just-released data.

The latest report by Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), published on Aug. 29, analysed how fine particulate matter (PM2.5) lingering in the air, such as smoke and dust, has a profound impact on human life expectancy and health when there’s consistent exposure.

The report, which used 2021 data, stated particulate pollution can reduce the global average life expectancy by 2.3 years.

That’s slightly higher than tobacco use, which reduces global life expectancy by 2.2 years.

For comparison, child and maternal malnutrition reduces life expectancy by 1.6 years, alcohol use by 7.2 months, similar to unsafe water, sanitation and handwashing. HIV and AIDS is 3.6 months; and nutritional deficiencies just 1.2 months, according to the report.

The report refers to this polluted air as PM2.5 as the matter size is two and a half microns or smaller.

“This is a size that's small enough to not just get through your body's defenses and into your lungs, but even into your circulatory system,” said Christa Hasenkopf, co-author of the report and director of air quality programs at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.

Breathing PM2.5 for long periods can cause lung diseases, respiratory issues, and also affect the cardiovascular system and lead to strokes or heart attacks, Hasenkopf told CTVNews.ca on Wednesday.

Although air pollution affects everyone, it is more impactful on sensitive groups, including the elderly, children or people who are pregnant, she said.

Beyond a population demographic, Hasenkopf also mentioned how health impacts from air pollution are not spread evenly across the world, nor is the financial assistance each continent receives.

AIR QUALITY: WORST AND BEST PLACES IN CANADA

It is important to note the report’s data is based on 2021 information. Back then, for the most part, Canada had quite clean air.

“It’s cleaner than the U.S. on average,” she said.

Hasenkopf explained Canadians could add up to 3.5 months to the average life expectancy if air pollution levels were brought down to the World Health Organization’s PM2.5 guidelines.

The WHO guidelines state that annual average concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed five micrograms per square metre, while 24-hour average exposures should not exceed 15 micrograms per square metre more than three to four days per year.

However, this year, due an unprecedented wildfire season, Canada’s air quality will probably not rank as high as it did in the latest report, especially areas of British Columbia.

“If wildfires persist from year to year, that can bump up that annual average pretty easily,” she said.

Hasenkopf said it’s important to keep an eye on upcoming years to see if extreme wildfires become a regular occurrence in the country as these will impact life expectancy in a negative way.

AIR QUALITY: WORST AND BEST PLACES GLOBALLY

According to the report, air pollution affects Asia and Africa far more than other continents.

The places with the worst air quality in the world are India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Indonesia.

These countries combined account for three-quarters, or 75 per cent, of the global air pollution burden due to their high pollution levels and large populations, the report noted.

“People in these countries are losing about five years off their lives on average,” said co-author Hasenkopf.

People wearing face masks walk along a street during a day with poor air quality in Beijing, Friday, March 10, 2023. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)

In Bangladesh, the country with the highest pollution levels in 2021, a citizen stands to lose an average 6.8 years of life.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., the average citizen loses just 3.6 months.

In Latin America, 60 of the most polluted regions are in Guatemala, Bolivia, and Peru. Residents in these regions breathe similar air to other major pollution hotspots such as Pune, India and Harbin, China.

On the contrary, the places with the best air quality are many Pacific islands, Scandinavia, Iceland and Canada – outside areas affected by wildfires.

WHY DOES IT AFFECT SOME COUNTRIES MORE THAN OTHERS?

Hasenkopf said some factors disproportionately affecting South Asia include industrialization, agricultural burning, infrastructure gaps and a lack of policies to curb pollution levels.

Another challenge is lack of vital statistics.

So far, 60 pollution epidemiological studies have been completed in Europe, the U.S. or Canada; but, in Asia only eight studies have been done outside of China.

Usually, these statistics are a basic building block to create policies and incite community engagement, explained Hasenkopf.

The report shared that only 35.6 percent of Asian countries and 4.9 per cent of countries in Africa have set a national air quality standard. Compared to 83.4 per cent of nations in Europe and North America.

Countries are also underfunded.

The Clean Air Fund, a U.K.-based climate non-profit, estimated that US$63.8 million were deployed worldwide in 2021 by philanthropic foundations to combat outdoor air pollution. Yet, not everyone received an equal amount.

The entire continent of Africa receives under US$300,000, while Asia got US$1.4 million. Europe, the U.S. and Canada received US$34 million, despite having cleaner air.

“I think that's indicative of air pollution as an issue really flying under the radar,” said Hasenkopf.

SUCCESSFULLY REDUCING AIR POLLUTION

While some countries in South Asia have increased air pollution by 50 per cent in the past two decades, reducing pollution levels is possible.

China, for example, is a “huge success story,” said Hasenkopf.

The country declared war on air pollution in 2014 and has since reduced PM2.5 levels by about 42 per cent by implementing strict public policies, she said.

“It's quite outstanding in that short period of time,” she said.

Some of the policies included restricting the number of cars on the road, reducing the manufacturing capacity of iron and steel, and new coal plants were banned. Additionally, homes in the north replaced coal-fired boilers with gas or electric heaters. 

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Russia reports more drone attacks as satellite photos indicate earlier barrage destroyed two aircraft - The Globe and Mail

Open this photo in gallery:

This satellite photo shows the Princess Olga Pskov International Airport in Pskov, Russia, on Aug. 31.Planet Labs PBC/The Associated Press

Russian officials said Friday that air defences intercepted drones heading toward three of the country’s western regions, while satellite images indicated that a major drone barrage earlier in the week destroyed at least two Ilyushin Il-76 military transport planes at a Russian air base.

Regional governors said defence systems stopped three drones in the Kursk, Belgorod and Moscow regions.

Moscow airports briefly halted flights but no major damage or injuries were reported, according to Russian authorities.

Drones aimed at targets inside Russia – and blamed by Moscow on Ukraine – have become almost a daily occurrence as the war has entered its 19th month and Kyiv’s forces pursue a counteroffensive. Recently, the drones have reached deeper into Russia.

Kyiv officials normally neither claim nor deny responsibility for attacks on Russian soil.

The apparent Ukrainian strategy is to unnerve Russia and pile pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Associated Press was unable to determine whether the drones are launched from Ukraine or inside Russia.

MURAT YUKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: GRAPHIC NEWS

Meanwhile, satellite images analyzed by AP show that suspected Ukrainian drone attacks late Tuesday destroyed at least two Ilyushin Il-76 military transport planes at a Russian air base.

The images taken Thursday show Princess Olga Pskov International Airport, which is a dual military-civilian airport about 700 kilometres (400 miles) north of the Ukrainian border and near Estonia and Latvia.

The four-engine Il-76 is the workhorse of the Russian military’s airlift capacity, able to land and take off in rugged conditions. The Russian military is believed to have over 100 of them in its fleet.

The AP analysis, conducted Friday, showed what appeared to the blackened hulks of two Il-76s on separate parking pads on the air base’s apron. One included the plane’s tail, the other appeared to show pieces of another aircraft. Fire damage could be seen around the pad.

Eleven other Il-76s had been moved off their parking pads into different positions on the airport’s taxiways, possibly in an attempt to make it more difficult for them to be struck again. One was on the runway itself. Another Il-76 remained on the pad, though it wasn’t clear why.

Local reports said Ukrainian drone attacks on the air base had damaged four Il-76s.

The satellite image was taken at 1303 GMT Thursday. Videos on social media Thursday night showed anti-aircraft fire going around the air base again, though it remained unclear whether it was another attack.

The air base at Pskov was initially targeted Tuesday night, but cloud cover prevented satellites from getting an unobstructed picture.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country had developed a weapon that hit a target 700 kilometres away, apparently referencing the air base attack. He described the weapon as being produced by Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries but gave no other details.

The Kremlin’s forces have targeted Ukraine with numerous salvos of Iranian-made exploding drones in the war over the past year.

Ukraine's eastern metropolis of Kharkiv has built dozens of classrooms in metro stations to allow some pupils to return to in-person teaching.

Reuters

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More Canadians struggling to meet monthly bills, survey suggests - Global News

A new poll suggests nearly half of Canadians are living paycheque to paycheque as the cost of living crisis continues to squeeze household budgets, and young people are more likely to say their finances are in poor shape.

It also suggests the Conservatives, who are hammering home a message about affordability, are gaining popularity, with 38 per cent of respondents saying they’d vote for the Tories if an election were held today.

And support for the Liberals, who focused their recent cabinet retreat on the housing crisis, is slipping.

1:02 Poilievre empathizes with striking union workers, blames ‘Justinflation,’ carbon taxes

The poll by Leger shows that 47 per cent of respondents say they’re living paycheque to paycheque, including 53 per cent of those aged 18 to 35 and 57 per cent of people between the ages of 35 and 54.

The poll suggests high prices are hitting people in Atlantic Canada, Manitoba and Saskatchewan the hardest _ more than half the respondents in those regions say they’re just getting by on each paycheque, compared to 38 per cent of Quebecers and 42 per cent of people from British Columbia.

Sixty per cent of respondents described their household finances as good or very good, while 36 per cent said their finances were poor or very poor. Another four per cent said they were not sure.

2:07 ‘Getting more challenging’: Inflation takes bite out of back-to-school budgets

People over the age of 55 were most likely to say they were faring well compared to younger age groups, and more men than women reported that their finances were in good shape.

Nearly half of respondents under the age of 35 reported being worried about losing their job in the next year, at 47 per cent, compared to 35 per cent of people aged 35-54. Men were more worried about losing their job than women, according to the data. Anxieties were highest in Ontario and lowest in Quebec.

Younger people were also most likely to say they think Canada is in an economic recession. In all, 61 per cent of people who took the poll said yes to that question, while 16 per cent said they don’t know and 23 per cent said no.

1:19 Housing crisis: Poilievre suggests selling federal land, removing bureaucracies that ‘stop home building’

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Leger surveyed 1,597 Canadians last weekend. The poll cannot be assigned a margin of error because online surveys are not considered truly random samples.

It also suggests the Conservative party’s support is at 38 per cent — three percentage points higher than it was in the last poll in late July.

That continues a trend that has seen the Tories rising in Leger polls since late May, when they were at 31 per cent, and puts support for the party four points higher than it was during the last federal election in 2021.

Liberal support among decided voters was nine points behind the Conservatives at 29 per cent, the same as it was in July, and the NDP was top choice for 18 per cent of those polled. Support for the New Democrats was down two points from July.

5:00 Inflation, high prices – a teachable opportunity for parents to teach kids about how to budget

Still, 34 per cent of those polled say they’re either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government. Another 24 per cent said they were somewhat dissatisfied, while 35 per cent said they were very dissatisfied.

Only 35 per cent of women polled said they were satisfied with the government, while 57 per cent said they were dissatisfied.

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New premium for doctors aims to encourage more surgeries on evenings, weekends - CBC.ca

The Progressive Conservative government is taking another step to extend operating room hours in Nova Scotia, but it's not clear if it will cut into a stubborn backlog of surgical cases.

A contract the government recently signed with doctors extends a premium already paid for emergency surgeries to scheduled surgeries outside normal hours and on weekends and holidays. The premium would be available for surgeons, anesthesiologists and surgical assistants.

"I'm hopeful that this is going to result in more output and more surgeries for Nova Scotians who have been waiting but, you know, ultimately at the end of the day we're asking a lot out of a lot of people," Grayson Fulmer, the senior director of medical affairs for Nova Scotia Health, said in an interview.

"I think over time we're going to see much, much more success, and in the short term we're going to try everything within our power to coordinate and get as much access to Nova Scotians who need and deserve it."

Fulmer said a continuing challenge in reducing the backlog is an overall lack of staff. Along with needing enough doctors, additional surgeries require nurses, technicians to sterilize surgical instruments and people to clean and prepare operating rooms.

Premiums range from 35 to 50 per cent

As recruitment efforts continue, Fulmer said the new premium will come into play when hospitals have enough staff to take on the extra work, while recognizing that most doctors who could participate are already putting in full-time hours.

He compared the premium to overtime that unionized employees receive for putting in extra hours.

"It's about acknowledging their time, it's about acknowledging that we're already dealing with a busy cohort of people and we're asking for a little bit more out of them in certain cases."

According to guidelines obtained by CBC, cases that start between 5 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. on weekdays or from 8 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. on Saturdays would be eligible for a 35 per cent premium. Cases starting between 12 a.m. and 7:59 a.m. on weekdays, from 5 p.m. to 7:59 a.m. on Saturdays, or cases started anytime on Sundays or holidays would get a 50 per cent premium.

Surgeries scheduled for regular hours cannot be bumped to gain a premium and the cases occurring outside regular hours must result in demonstrable additional surgical activity to be eligible for the premium.

Level of interest yet to be determined

Fulmer said there will eventually be a change to the fee code system for doctors doing additional work, but at first the premiums will be authorized internally.

The premiums became available on Aug. 1, so it's too soon to know how many doctors are willing to take on additional cases, said Alexandra McNab, a spokesperson for Doctors Nova Scotia.

Surgical teams also include technicians who prepare the instruments and specialized nurses. This file photo from 2016 shows instruments used during an organ transplant. (Molly Riley/AP/The Canadian Press)

"What we do know, however, is that physicians are always willing to be a part of the solution," McNab said in an email.

"But it is of course difficult to ensure they are keeping that work-life balance and providing safe and sustainable care for patients."

Fulmer said it would be up to individual doctors to decide whether they will perform more surgeries. And doctors would follow regular safety standards using the professional judgment they already exercise to monitor for fatigue and burnout.

Change at some hospitals will be easier than others

Implementing the change could be easier at some hospitals than others, he said. Some sites have more resources than others, although the new contract for physicians also allows for travel-related payments for doctors willing to go certain distances for work.

"Making sure that all the right people are there at a particular site at a given time to enable this is going to be very, very challenging and our perioperative teams [who deal with patients before, during and after surgery] locally are trying their best to make sure that all of this aligns and moves forward."

A health authority spokesperson said that although the incentive applies to specialists' pay, the collective agreements for other health professionals such as nurses and medical device processing staff may allow for overtime in these settings. If other professions such as diagnostic imaging and laboratory services are required for surgeries, they may also be eligible for additional payments.

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U.S. judge sentences another Proud Boys member for Jan. 6 attack at Capitol - Reuters

WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday sentenced a member of the far-right Proud Boys who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a failed bid by then-President Donald Trump's supporters to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden's election victory, to 10 years in prison.

Dominic Pezzola did not play a leadership role in the group and was the only defendant of five to be acquitted of seditious conspiracy. He was convicted of other felonies, including obstructing an official proceeding and assaulting police.

"You personally played a significant role in the events that day," U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly said. "It was a national disgrace, what happened."

Kelly noted that Pezzola was a new member of the group and had been acquitted of seditious conspiracy, but also took note of Pezzola's actions.

A second sentencing hearing for defendant Ethan Nordean, a leader of the group who was convicted of seditious conspiracy and other crimes, will take place later on Friday.

Kelly on Thursday ordered two other former Proud Boys leaders, Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl, to serve 17 years and 15 years in prison, respectively.

Thousands of Trump supporters attacked the Capitol following a speech in which the Republican falsely claimed that his November 2020 election defeat was the result of widespread fraud. Trump has continued to make those false claims even as he leads the Republican race for the 2024 nomination to challenge Democratic President Biden.

Five people including a police officer died during or shortly after the riot and more than 140 police officers were injured. The Capitol suffered millions of dollars in damage.

The government had sought a 20-year prison term for Pezzola and is seeking a 27-year term for Nordean.

Although Pezzola was found not guilty of sedition, prosecutors said his assault on former Capitol Police Officer Mark Ode, in which he stole Ode's riot shield and used it to smash at a window at the Capitol, helped to justify a lengthy prison term.

"He was an enthusiastic foot soldier in that conspiracy," Erik Kenerson, a prosecutor, told the judge on Friday.

Pezzola's attorneys had asked that their client be sentenced to around five years in prison, and said in their sentencing memo that he has already served about three years in jail awaiting trial. Steven Metcalf, one of Pezzola's attorneys, told the judge that Pezzola was caught in the "heat of the moment."

"I stand before you with a heart full of regret," Pezzola said in an emotional speech before the judge, in which he apologized to Ode and directed rueful comments to his wife and two daughters. "I never should've crossed the barrier at the Capitol that day."

Nordean's attorney, Nick Smith, plans to argue for a lower sentence within the range of 15-21 months.

"Nordean walked in and out of the Capitol like hundreds of Class B misdemeanants," Smith wrote. "When the government does distinguish Nordean's actions from any other January 6 defendant's, it relies on characterization, not facts."

More than 1,100 people have been arrested on charges related to the Capitol assault. Of those, more than 630 have pleaded guilty and at least 110 have been convicted at trial.

Former Proud Boys Chairman Enrique Tarrio will be sentenced on Sept 5. The government is asking for a 33-year sentence.

Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Makini Brice in Washington; editing by Scott Malone, Grant McCool and Jonathan Oatis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Reports on U.S. Congress

Sarah N. Lynch

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Sarah N. Lynch is the lead reporter for Reuters covering the U.S. Justice Department out of Washington, D.C. During her time on the beat, she has covered everything from the Mueller report and the use of federal agents to quell protesters in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, to the rampant spread of COVID-19 in prisons and the department's prosecutions following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

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Sharper and more flattering than the floral midi, the tea dress is making a comeback - The Guardian

First things first. What is a tea dress? Some of you will know what I mean. But some of you will be like: “Oh my days, what nonsense is she on about now?” – so I should explain that this is a real thing, not a name I’ve made up.

A tea dress usually has a 40s silhouette with a defined shoulder. The waist is most often emphasised with a raised seam, or with pin tucks or ruching. Around the ribs, waist and hips it is not skin-tight yet not baggy; loose enough that the lightweight, slippery fabric still has movement on the body rather than being fully stuffed. There might be flowers or polka dots. Little covered buttons, too.

So now you are picturing yourself riding a bicycle with a wicker basket, calling out cheerfully to the postie as you cycle into the village for a half pound of butter. Bingo. That’s precisely the dress I’m talking about.

The tea dress is making a style comeback to fill the gap left after people like me ruthlessly cancelled the floral midi dress earlier this year. You may have noticed that it sounds a lot like that dress, what with often being floral and being knee length or longer. But the tea dress has a bit more oomph to it. The floral midi dress got cancelled for being a bit boring and generic; the tea dress is more shapely, more high energy. Where a floral midi can feel a bit schlumpy, a tea dress snaps its fingers at you, makes you stand up straight and pull your shoulders back.

Also, the tea dress looks good on most women. The shape emphasises the vertical line between your ribs at the front, rather than the horizontal one around your waist, which is more relaxing if, like me, you like being able to eat lunch without worrying that your tummy might stick out a bit afterwards. It also covers the shoulders and knees, which makes it more versatile than a skimpy holiday dress.

It is very important not to get hung up on the 40s thing. Historical accuracy is not the point. We are in the market for a mood, not a re-enactment. Two fancy designer dresses have done a lot to bring the tea dress back this summer, and both are modern interpretations that take the style somewhere different. The Victoria Beckham Gathered Waist Midi Dress, which has been worn in a very Agatha Christie poison green by everyone from Kendall Jenner to Queen Letizia of Spain, is tea-dress length, with delicate gathering and draped sleeves, but has a simple high neckline that makes it less sweet and flirty, a bit cooler. Alessandra Rich’s polka-dot dress, which is generally agreed to be the best thing about the Princess of Wales’s wardrobe, is a little more glam and starched, with pearl-and-gilt buttons and a formal ivory collar.

Excellent affordable tea dresses abound. Nobody’s Child makes a great modern tea dress: the £59 button-through Alexis has a shirred panel at the rear for gentle shaping and tie-detail sleeves, and comes in gingham or cherry print. Jigsaw’s Mini Graphic Pansy Tea Dress, reduced at the time of writing from £155 to £108, has decorative rouleau button loops trimming the V-shaped neckline, which is a nice quirky touch.

Or go vintage. I would bet that this classic’s return is partly because more of us are rummaging vintage rails. It was popular in the 1970s, and those versions are plentiful. But the more authentically retro your tea dress, the less faithful your styling should be. Brightly coloured trainers rather than a brogue; a big sweater around your neck rather than a little cardi. The tea dress is a real thing. I didn’t just make it up. But fashion history looks best when worn lightly.

Hair and makeup: Carol Morley at Carol Hayes Management. Model: Suzanne at Body London. Dress: Rixo

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Tesla Model 3 Highland officially unveiled with new design and more features - Electrek

Just hours after photos leaked of the upcoming Tesla Model 3 refresh, codenamed “Project Highland,” Tesla has officially unveiled its highly-anticipated facelift in Europe.

The refresh includes a “facelifted” front-end design, interior changes like more screen space (including a new rear display), and increased range. Tesla says that the refresh replaces more than half of the parts in the vehicle, though we’re not exactly sure how it measures that metric.

The most striking change is obviously the new design, which keeps most of the same look of the current Model 3, but changes the front end to look sleeker, removing the somewhat bulbous bump in the front end of the current Model 3.

We saw this front end in a leaked photo back in April, and it looks like it was the real thing all along. Now we have actual photos from Tesla, so you can see the changes in their full glory.

These photos show the new “Ultra Red” color, replacing the current red multi-coat. But this color may only be available in Europe – we’ll have to wait for more word from Tesla on this one.

The headlights have also gotten narrower and more aggressive-looking, in keeping with the general changes to make the front end look sleeker.

Tesla says that the refreshed Model 3 will have longer range, rated at 344 miles WLTP for the SR RWD version, and 421 miles WLTP for the LR, both with 18″ aero wheels. These numbers are an 11-12% improvement from WLTP ratings for the current Model 3.

But note that those are WLTP numbers, so they’re bigger than the US EPA numbers will be when they come out. If we expect a similar 11-12% improvement, then you’ll see roughly a ~300 mile EPA range on the SR and ~370 miles on the LR.

This increased range largely comes from improvements in aerodynamics, with a lower and less bulbous front end, channeling air around the vehicle more effectively. This has resulted in a Cd of .219, Tesla’s lowest yet (down from .225 on the current Model 3), which improves range by 5-8% on its own.

Tesla’s new 18″ “Photon” wheels

Tesla’s new 19″ “Nova” wheels

Another improvement is new wheel cover inserts which strike a compromise between consumers’ desires for larger-looking wheels and more range. Aerodynamic wheel inserts can increase range by a lot, but many think the wheels look better without the caps on (personally, I disagree, but whatever floats your boat).

There is a significant slate of interior changes as well:

• A new rear 8-inch touchscreen, giving rear seat passengers control over climate change and entertainment
• Deleted stalks on the steering column, much as in the Model S and X, with the gear selector now on the touchscreen and turn signal buttons on the left side of the steering wheel
• Ventilated front seats, which can be controlled from outside the vehicle through Tesla’s phone app, heating or cooling them up before you get in the car
• Cushier rear seats (now perforated, but not ventilated like the front seats)
• The sound system has been upped to 17 speakers (from 14)
• Improved bluetooth microphone performance
• Improved wi-fi and bluetooth for better connectivity to routers and phone keys
• A quieter interior than on the original Model 3, due to several changes to aerodynamics and materials
• Customizable interior ambient lighting
• Larger rear trunk, up to 594 liters from 561

Changes are now live on Tesla’s European sites, where the refreshed Model 3 is now available for order.

Deliveries begin in October (right after Tesla’s shameless FSD transfer scheme expires) in left-hand drive markets in Europe and the Middle East. Tesla has not yet announced when deliveries begin for North America (or for RHD markets like the UK). We don’t have pricing for North America yet, either, but in Norway for example, the SR version is the same base price as before, and the LR version is 10,000 NOK (~$941 USD) more expensive. So far, no performance Highland version has been announced.

Electrek’s Take

We’ve expected this refresh for quite a while now, but now that we see it, it’s a lot more extensive than we had imagined it would be.

The front end changes have been well documented, but the significant overhaul of the interior is quite a lot more than we thought it would be.

I personally love most of the changes, but am not a fan of the new steering wheel. While I haven’t tried this specific one, the “yoke” wheel on the Model S was not that pleasant to use. I’m sure it would be fine after getting used to it, but turn signal stalks are just so convenient and familiar, and I don’t like the change to buttons.

Same for using the screen for gear selection, which just feels kludgy – though that command isn’t used nearly as often as the turn signals, so it’s not as offensive to me personally.

And, lest you think I am merely a luddite, recall that in our original Model 3 review, I raved about almost everything about this car, including the changes that many considered odd. It was and is an exceptional vehicle, and the Highland changes do not change that on balance.

We’ll have to wait and see if changing 50% of the parts in the car results in a few glitches here and there with early models, but Tesla has gotten a lot better at manufacturing since the early days, so hopefully it won’t be too bad. Even my early Model 3 (VIN ~2500) has been mostly free of problems (except for the stinky feet air conditioning issue – it remains to be seen if Tesla has finally solved this with Highland, but we sure hope they have).

What do you think of the new Project Highland Model 3 Refresh? Let us know in the comments below.

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