Rethinking road legislation

I think we've got it all wrong.

Theoretically, if the linear length l of number of cars in a given length of road r is less than r, then the cars could maintain ANY speed. After all, a train is really a bunch of cars moving at the same speed with minimal spacing.

What is key, obviously, is co-ordination between vehicles. So, what we need to think about is enforcing the laws that relate to signalling/communication.

That is, things like indicating. If all vehicles were fully cognisant of the actions and intentions of all others, speeds would be higher yet safety would be higher also; until we get that, indicators are what we have.

We also have to look at what causes congestion slowdown. again, theoretically you could drive at ay speed even in HEAVY traffic

My theory is the "dust speck" - congestion is called by drivers in the pre-peak hour slowing down excessively, causing tailbacks and a snowballing effect. So perhaps we need to enforce minimal speeds at certain times.

Some ideas to mull.

i tried but my eyes glazed over

I put effort into a new theoretical approach to a major issue of public concern and nobody cares

Not saying my theory is fully formed, but the key elements are there

you could go at any speed you wanted if:

Roads were always good condition
There was no such thing as unexpected hazards
Roads were smart and talked to cars, ie: humans didn't control the vehicle.

humans cannot react in time.

I dunno how you can apply your rules as long as those conditions are not met.

vadz is saying that if everybody drove perfectly and each individual had a high confidence in others behaviour, then it would be less risky (than it is now) to drive faster.
But there would still be risk eg of mechanical malfunction or of course as always the remote chance of human error - and then it would be very very bad.

Basically what needs to happen is for the driver to be removed all together and let the computers do it all.

The new Mercs pretty much drive themselves anyway.

Then everyone can drive 100k everywhere all the time.

Excluding around schools and stuff I guess.

heh computers never crash eh?

remember that automatic braking system video a while back. lol. i think the exhaust smoke from the car in front stopped the detection process and BANG.

there shouldn't be any exhaust smoke in the first place if we are meeting kyoto protocol objectives

Yes, but like I said, UNTIL computers do it, what are our alternatives?

Signalling behaviour. peat, indicators are the pricing mechanism of the road

So, we need to work on those things in our enforcement. If we could get everybody indicating and giving way 100% of the time, average speeds could rise dramatically

magnets, magnets is what is required so that all cars are repelled by one another and so they never get close enough to cause congestion or have an accident

either that or rubber rims

like bumper cars

with little numbered flags

now THAT would be awesome