Worst traffic impediments to good FE?

[Ladogaboy]

I voted for the first two because you really can't argue with the impact that idling and speeding has on fuel consumption. I've actually started to change my driving routes based on speed as much as anything else. Through exhaustive research, I've been able to determine that my car uses less fuel at 40-45 mph than it does at 65 mph.

[rollercoaster]

The county recently put up a new light on my commute route. Now the intersection went from tolerable to worse. -Anytime the government gets involved with anything it instantly goes to hell.

-and just because of a few impatient or incompetent drivers getting in an accident they have to go and put up a signal so the other 99% has to suffer.

I usually try to change my route when encountering dumb signals, but sometimes there are no options.

[larrybuck]

Un -synced stoplights are the ultra badboys here. If you travel to different towns, you can anticipate the light at the top of your game, and still get messed up.

Unfortunately, re-syncing by the powers that be, seems be be all too infrequent. Supposedly; this is an expensive task that many cities, and towns just.... don't want to go there!

Maybe we should all try to clone ourselves; to put better drivers on the road. It might
make Frank's day a little cheerier!

[Frank Lee]

Even more drivers on the road?!?

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Population growth.

Where I used to be able to cruise straight through (and I ain't THAT old) from A to B is now littered with intersections, stop signs, and stop lights which inevitably are red when approached. Cruise straight through = modest, constant speed in top gear = max fe vs. constant accel/decel, low gears, brakes, etc.

Then the traf**** density sometimes will prevent getting through a red on the first cycle which leads to even more idling and probably more intense jackrabbit starts.

The sheer quantity of firing cylinders at any given moment has forced the development of complicated and expensive computer emission controls (in some cases for the better and in some cases not).

The sheer demand for fuel forces prices higher for all, including those who don't flagrantly burn a lot of it.

The sheer volume and density of motorized vehicles operating, combined with society's acceptance of removal of mufflers, means that one's chances of finding a place where their right to enjoy their own property unspoiled has become increasingly elusive.

Combined with the increased volume of semi-truck traf**** needed to supply the increased amount of consumers with all the plastic disposable stuff they buy then discard a short time later means formerly relatively desolate "country" roads are now filled with trucks, commuters, and mufflerless joy riders. That leads to more waiting for merges, etc.

So, mustering up their best anti-logic, government, churches, and the general population of idiots decide that paying people to reproduce makes the most sense.

"Progress"

This, x1000. But since it isn't an option on the poll, I have to choose unnecessary lights/stop signs. There are plenty of intersections around here that would be much better served by roundabouts where the majority of cars could coast through without stopping.

[Ecky]

Lights and signs get my vote. There's no way to time a stop sign, it pulls you to a complete stop every time, but traffic lights generally affect a larger number of people.

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by Aveomiler

As most of my driving is done in the city, I have a feeling that unnecessary stop signs are a real killer to my FE. When there are consecutive stop signs at every street it is very tough to get good gas mileage. I cannot engine off coast in my car, and putting my car into neutral while I coast only raises my fuel consumption at speeds above 10-15 mph. As a result my routine when going through multiple stop signs involves a lot of braking, which indirectly kills my fuel economy.

It's the same situation here in the suburbs of NY City. The perverse logic is that if two stops signs are good for an intersection, then 4-way stops must be even better. In the past 40 years I've facetiously mused that I'd eventually see the day when they would put a stop sign in the middle of a block. That day has arrived, and these are now often seen at a cross street that does not pass through, being in effect a three way intersection. The neighborhoods that are worst in haviong abundant stop signs are usually those that want to drastically reduce all vehicular traffic - so the residents lobby to erect a stop sign on literally every corner. It does nothing to improve traffic safety, but it does give a sense of empowerment to those who push to keep all traffic out of their domain. And of course, as with most laws, once implemented they are never repealed - nor are stop signs ever removed, once erected.

Most stop signs could be replaced with yield signs. But there are several reasons why this will never happen. First, most brain-dead American motorists either cannot read English or can't comprehend what 'yield' means. Also, since running a yield sign and causing an accident is a 'prima facie' case, most lawyers would be opposed to it because there is nothing to argue about. Most police departments would not appreciate this either, as the opportunity for 'revenue enhancement' in monitoring stop sign violations would be reduced.

I can remember when permitting a 'right turn on red' was introduced here. It was seen as radical, dangerous and fiercely opposed by some at the time. Guess which side of the political spectrum opposed it most vehemently?

[Ladogaboy]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Even more drivers on the road?!?

I might be wrong, but this poll seems to pertain specifically to those things that a civil engineer would have some level of control over. I can think of dozens of other things that would have a major impact on fuel consumption but that are outside the sphere of influence of someone who is designing traffic ways.

In my opinion, one of the biggest offenders that is not listed in this poll is carpool lanes. In my experience, carpool lanes are responsible for the greatest number of freeway traffic jams. Granted, it is the drivers' faults, but they are enabled by poorly engineered roads.

[Frank Lee]

In your opinion, which traffic impediments are the worst in terms of affecting real world fuel economy?

I think I listed the worst ones.

[Ladogaboy]

I was just assuming that "of the following" was omitted. It is a poll, after all.

I do like the idea of restricting people to only driving certain days of the week. That way, people could be forced to carpool or take public transportation.