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From: hodor@hplabsb.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Re: Eliminate traffic congestion
Message-ID: <2374@hplabsb.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 13-Jul-84 11:30:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: hplabsb.2374
Posted: Fri Jul 13 11:30:38 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 15-Jul-84 09:45:36 EDT
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA
Lines: 59

>From: an@hou2h.UUCP (A.NGUYEN)
>Subject: Re: Eliminate traffic congestion

>> From: hodor@hplabsb.UUCP (Ken Hodor)
>> The second part of [my] proposal involves the use of electronic
>> position detectors [which] would allow all cars to be about 1 car
>> length apart no matter what the speed ...  The electronic control
>> would .. put a maximum limit on the speed based on the traffic flow.

>Nice try Hodor, but I have to oppose that just on principles!  The
>logical extension of your idea would be electro-mechanically guided
>vehicles, probably running on some kind of track.  You get in, punch
>in where you wanna go, and sit back and listen to the "Clockwork
>Orange" soundtrack.  We already have that -- it's called a TRAIN.

I am sorry but I do not understand your "principles."  Comparing a TRAIN
with its limited area of coverage to the versatility of a car that can 
go almost anywhere does not make sense.  I personally like your logical 
extension of the idea to guided vehicles.  I can think of much better 
things to do with my time than to have to think about how do I go 
from here to there.

>> With electronic position detectors in cars the current highway system
>> would be able to support more than 3 times the [present] amount of
>> traffic ...  I believe this could be done for much less than anything
>> that would try to improve our highway system through more construction.

>I don't think you have a firm grasp of the problem.  Congestion
>occurs because of the sheer volume of traffic *AND* the diverse
>speed, skill, and tact of all those drivers.

When talking about the diverse speed, skill and tact of all drivers
one must also consider the standard deviation.  From what I have seen
on the freeways I would say there is rarely a person that drives less
than 50 miles per hour on a 55 mile per hour freeway.  

>Furthermore, even if you raise the speed limit, there will still be
>people who drive way below the limit.  People who are not sure where
>they are going.  Out of towners.  Heavy trucks.  The only way for all
>these people to fit on the same road and not kill the flow is to have
>everyone strictly disciplined on the rules of the road.  Keep right
>pass left.  Check blind spots.  Signal.

I have a hard time believing this is the "only way."  I think technology
can also be further exploited to improve all ways of life.

>CONCLUSION:  MORE ROADS,  AND BETTER DRIVERS!

I would be interested in finding out how we could produce better drivers.
If anyone has any ideas as to how this could be done please offer it
to the world.  

The proposal that I made takes into account the varing abilities of
the drivers of today and tries to substitute technology where there is
a definite lacking in the human being.


				Ken