idea could help save fuel, make roads safer.
In the 80's, highway designers and engineers came up with a plan to alleviate America's roads from growing gridlock on our highways. Their idea, at least on paper, was a good one. It was commonly reffered to as the "HOV" lane. HOV stood for high occupancy vehicle.
The plan was simple. Build these special roads with a clear path to home or work that could bypass the back-up on the highway. In order to have access to these roads, all anyone had to do was have 3 or more people in the car.
the idea was that this quicker path to one's destination would encourage carpooling. And these carpoolers would have access to the road, meanwhile, conserving fuel and lowering pollution for all of us.
It was a keen idea, but unfortunately, the think tanks and "experts" missed one factor.
Americans don't carpool. And that is even more true today than it was in the 80's. Our ridiculous and varying schedules eliminate the possibility of ride sharing for those who even desire to. About the only people who carpool are people who eithe rdon't have or lost their license from a moving violation like multiple tickets or a DUI. In the end, no amount of advertising will cause AMericans to give up their precious car and control. Carpooling to many in this country does not represent prudent conservationism. It represents being poor or in violation of the law to many who's car is part of who they are.
So we all NEED our car, and our control of our commute. It seems most people would rather sit in traffic for an extended period in their own car where they can have everything, including the radio on the right station than make any adjustments or sacrifices whatsoever and ride-share.
The result is what we see on most HOV lanes around the country. No traffic.
Meanwhile, we all sit around and waste fuel at a time when we know the supply is running out and prices are at all time highs.
So why not put these lanes to good use? Why not make HOV lanes "Truck Only Lanes (TOV)?
After all, trucks are on the road more. Trucks use more gas. And a truck being able to get through the gridlock benefits more people in the end with their cargo, not to mention the pollution saving and increase in safety seperating trucks, than any car carrying 3 people.
I have seen when traveling to or thru New York the "Cars, Trucks and Buses" lane...which is the right idea. Perhaps more urban areas should consider abandoning useless "carpool" advertising and put these roads to good use hauling our goods in and out of our city.
The roads are already there, so no great cost would be incurred. The only real expense would be making some new signs and maybe a few ads educating the public. And the advertising money could just be converted from a now defunct "carpool drive."
So, why shouldn't we give trucks the HOV lanes of America? It reduces congestion, pollution, accident rates and would make everyone a lot more comfortable on the road. That could reduce incidents of road rage amongst other benefits.
The benefits are clear. And I can see no downside in putting to use roads and lanes that go almost untouched since they were built."