What would traffic be like...

[Pollock]

...if there were no semis?

One scenario where they all just disappeared from the roadways, another where they were all replaced with more quick and agile vehicles.

How much do they slow everyone else down because of their limited acceleration, limited speed, large size/blind spots, and always sitting in the right lane?

 

[Vehemence]

What about flying cars? How would air-traffic be?

 

[BigJ]

It'd probably be even worse because we'd have many more vehicles on the road to transport the loads they do.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: dNor
What about flying cars? How would air-traffic be?

What about running out of gas in flying cars? How would having some dumbass who forgot to check the gas gauge crashing into your house be?

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: Pollock
...if there were no semis?

One scenario where they all just disappeared from the roadways, another where they were all replaced with more quick and agile vehicles.

How much do they slow everyone else down because of their limited acceleration, limited speed, large size/blind spots, and always sitting in the right lane?

The only way you'd get more quick and agile transportation vehicles would be to reduce their size. Then you'd have more traffic, and more slowdowns. No thanks.

 

[m1ldslide1]

Originally posted by: BigJ
It'd probably be even worse because we'd have many more vehicles on the road to transport the loads they do.

Yeah what he said.

Also having sat in traffic countless times in my life, I can tell you that semis and their limited acceleration and maneuverability carry little to no responsibility for it. Its the sheer quantity of cars that cause it, and semis make up like 1% of that total.

 

[her209]

Transporters!

 

[Injury]

Just because they are large and stereotyped as slow moving does not mean that they are the root cause of congestion on highways. Besides, a lot of truckers will avoid rush hour traffic.

I find that the root of the cause in most situations boils down to the bad habits of drivers... rubberneckers, for instance. In heavy traffic, it helps to remember that changing lanes sporadically means that everyone behind you slows a bit to compensate for your shitty driving. If everyone would stay in their lanes and let others merge to move around obstacles then everyone would get where they are going faster... yet some jackoffs always think that where they are going and what they are doing is more important than what anyone else on the road is doing.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: Pollock
...if there were no semis?

One scenario where they all just disappeared from the roadways, another where they were all replaced with more quick and agile vehicles.

How much do they slow everyone else down because of their limited acceleration, limited speed, large size/blind spots, and always sitting in the right lane?

There would be more smaller trucks.

It's like people who complain about buses in traffic. If there were no buses there would be 50 more cars per bus on the road!

 

[schmeggy]

now if your topic was "...if there were no mexicans?"

That would be a different story! Anyone (socal residents anyways) notice how there was NO TRAFFIC WHATSOEVER during the immigration protest thing here in LA?

 

[Pollock]

Originally posted by: BigJ
It'd probably be even worse because we'd have many more vehicles on the road to transport the loads they do.

Obviously something else would have to carry the freight; I was just curious what it would be like in this situation.

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: Pollock

Originally posted by: BigJ
It'd probably be even worse because we'd have many more vehicles on the road to transport the loads they do.

Obviously something else would have to carry the freight; I was just curious what it would be like in this situation.

So you mean something not called a truck but is still 75' long?

 

[clamum]

I don't mind truckers at all. Yeah they're slow to start but they usually pass me. I only do the speed limit or speed limit + 5 though.

 

[summit]

truckers are actually some of the nicest people. on my way to texarkana it was in the middle of the night and my car died. the trucker offered me help and was really nice. he looked real rough but one of the nicest people. he even helped me fix my ride. oh and they are skilled drivers most of the time. we have to thank all those idiots who cut people off and tailgate that cause accidents that cause traffic.

 

[Kadarin]

The problem with semis is really when they pass each other on a 4 lane interstate highway. As the passing truck overtakes the truck being passed (at less than 1mph difference), traffic tends to back up.

 

[mugs]

Semis aren't that big a deal if people stay in the proper lane. A semi in the right lane can't block the road, it's the retard in the left lane who is driving the same speed as the semi or slower who is the problem.

 

[Freejack2]

Semi's don't equate to much of the rush hour traffic. It's just too many cars and people driving stupid causing things like accordioning and rubbernecking.

 

[Squisher]

I see most semis in the middle lane of 3 lane expressways that make up the 90% of x-ways around here. I figure they do it avoid all the traffic slowing down to exit the highway and all the traffic trying to merge on. The problem is that this effectively turns all the x-ways into one lane roads. Add in the people that are scared to pass the big trucks and it can get frustrating.

 

[SuperSix]

Originally posted by: Pollock
...if there were no semis?

One scenario where they all just disappeared from the roadways, another where they were all replaced with more quick and agile vehicles.

How much do they slow everyone else down because of their limited acceleration, limited speed, large size/blind spots, and always sitting in the right lane?

You need to be more patient, and try to understand the HUGE impact semis have on commerce.

I *always* give them the right of the way, and go out of my way to make their jobs easier.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

They invented the replacement for semis a long time ago. They're called trains. Oh, that's right, the gub'mint trashed our trains in favor of airlines a long time ago. That's worked out pretty well.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Pollock
...if there were no semis?

One scenario where they all just disappeared from the roadways, another where they were all replaced with more quick and agile vehicles.

How much do they slow everyone else down because of their limited acceleration, limited speed, large size/blind spots, and always sitting in the right lane?

Semis don't hardly slow people down at all. They have very little impact on congestion because they maintain speed well and stay in their proper lane.

What slows people down are the people who sit in the left lane and never move over to let people pass, or who vary their speed by +/- 10 mph, or who weave in and out of lanes cutting people off... Cars are much worse for traffic than semis.

ZV

 

[Pollock]

Originally posted by: SuperSix

Originally posted by: Pollock
...if there were no semis?

One scenario where they all just disappeared from the roadways, another where they were all replaced with more quick and agile vehicles.

How much do they slow everyone else down because of their limited acceleration, limited speed, large size/blind spots, and always sitting in the right lane?

You need to be more patient, and try to understand the HUGE impact semis have on commerce.

I *always* give them the right of the way, and go out of my way to make their jobs easier.

I was never complaining about them - I realize that they are some of the best drivers. I was mostly thinking about ramps and merging.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Semis should not be allowed to pass other semis unless there is a 3rd lane. The overtaking of another semi when one is doing 62mph trying to pass one doing 61mph on an uphill is painfully slow.

This would make the flow of traffic much improved while on rural Interstates.

Another suggestion:

Remove semis from the roadway during roush hour commutes in large cities. Give them multiple windows of time thye can drive on through. Obviously excpetions will need to be made but if you are not making a delivery within those city limits then park your truck and wait until 9am on the outskirts of town.

My experience with Interstate 5 & Interstate 80.

 

[Eos]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
They invented the replacement for semis a long time ago. They're called trains. Oh, that's right, the gub'mint trashed our trains in favor of airlines a long time ago. That's worked out pretty well.

How many gas stations have tracks leading up to the in-ground tanks?
How many grocery stores have tracks leading right up to the docks?

No gasoline, no food. You'd be unhappy pretty goddamn quick.

 

[akshatp]

Truckers arent the ones slowing down our roadways.

Its the assholes talking on cell phones and not paying attention to driving. A study showed they drive 15% slower when on a phone than they do when their attention is fully on the road.

Its also the assholes who dont have the simple knowledge that the left lane is for passing only and not to cruise 40 mph while there is no one in front of you.