The more things change the more they remain the same.  Here we are again in a comparable energy quandary.   Somebody must really be trying extra hard to change the human state of mind about the use of energy and the lifestyles that we must play regarding that usage.

Every time you listen to, or read a news blurb having to do with the ever-fast changing, or modification of our lifestyles you will collect  a grocery list of how to DEAL with it.

Of all the new ideas out there bent around the new conservative ‘you’, there is ONE that gets below my epidermis.

And that my friends, is reducing our highway travels to the 55 mph speed limit.   For those of you that were around during the Oil Embargo of 1974 (yes, last century) our Middle East producers of oil claimed that they were facing huge shortages and a continuation of supply appeared very real.   Duh?  Hello?  Nearly 25 years ago we had a ‘shortage’ of oil?  NO !  Of governmental Leaders?  Yes ! 

Just like that in a nano second we went from over abundance to scarcity, all during President Nixon’s (Watergate shortened) years.  And just as fast as a soccer player’s ‘knee jerk’, we never followed through with seeking out the real truth, but rather quickly  scampered into our little corners to form committees to help the American consumer DEAL with it.

One of those infamous birthings in the new conservative-America was to lower the speed limit to 55 mph on all open highways.  If we were to outlast these shortages, we needed to slow our vehicles down about 10 mph and save fuel.   Wow !!  What a revelation and a message to those oil producers as they all sat in their sand-blown tents (when camping out) and their marble and bejeweled mansions when seeking some air conditioned relief.

It is a widely known fact that most automobiles will get their best gas mileage from 35 to 38 mph.  It takes a bunch of energy to get your machine rolling, but then inertia takes over and momentum in this case, becomes your friend.  Once you propel your machine beyond that speed your mile per gallon rating starts to drop systematically as you move the air before you.

I can’t provide you with the numbers from that era, however, we did save fuel and we did change our lifestyle with the lines at gas stations around the country becoming a common day occurrence.  And then, all of a sudden, there was no more ‘shortage’.   We must have found more oil or just remembered that we accidentally closed off some spigots which certainly took care of that Embargo.  Again, WOW, how can we be led like sheep to slaughter so easily?

And now our government is toying with the insatiable ’55 MPG’ to once again put a cure on our energy-woes.  I will try to deal with this Band-Aid approach in greater detail later. 

However, there remains ONE major traffic problem that needs to be regurgitated, retuned, and re-planned before we bypass, no pun, what I believe to be a golden opportunity in helping all of us.

Have you ever given thought, maybe a nasty one at the time, as to why our Traffic Light Systems appear to be out of whack with the reality of traffic flow?  In the quieter parts of the Midwest we pay little attention to ‘Lights’ since we don’t have any.

However, I am reminded on a constant basis while driving the big rigs around the country that our Traffic Light System needs an overhauling, no pun.  Without providing you the details of locations where I have observed, here are some observations that need to be addressed.

The electronic timing of traffic flows are done in two methods.  ‘Traffic-Actuated’ systems which change based on whether traffic is actually crossing.  ‘Progressive Signal’ systems are pre-timed to a set schedule of changing lights irregardless of traffic volumes.

This is what really makes my blood boil!  Traffic is moving smoothly; then the next traffic light goes to Red, and there is NO cross traffic…..What?  Or, with a matching feeling of despair, we approach an intersection on a major highway with a solid traffic volume, and then…..the Traffic Light changes to Red, and STAYS RED for the same amount of time that is given to the major highway.   While four or five cars emerge from the quiet side road, the other 10 to 20 on your highway sits, waits, and watches the evaporation of crossing traffic.  

Not only does this send your vehicle’s brake system into more immediate repair, BUT the fuel that gets lost, the momentum that is ripped from your vehicle, or from your ‘total energy waste package’ is amplified, bigtime!! 

It happens to all of us and there appears to be only a smidgeon of common sense with whomever (traffic safety engineers) came up with these archaic, ‘timing light schemes’ at our highway intersections.   In the next ‘Tales’ I will identify some of these ‘energy carnivores’ that you may recognize in your own city.  We seem to be taking de-bait without looking at the hook!  

When you come back to Wausa’s Porkchop BBQ on June 26th, you will find ‘lines’ but no ‘lights’, as this honored, festive event will streamline you in whatever direction you care to go.

Category: Rooster Tales