Blog number 169 May 14, 2008
The speed limit in the Arizona countryside is 75 MPH. When we first got here three and a half years ago all trucks traveling the highways ran at a minimum 75, with most going 90 - sometimes 95. As should be expected, the nightly TV news reports very often contained scenes of fatal traffic accidents involving trucks.
Not only were trucks traveling at what I consider a high rate of speed, they often - I would say always, tailgated. There are not many things more disconcerting than to be traveling at a speedy 75 and look in the rear view mirror and see a huge radiator filling the glass. At such times, one tends to hold the steering wheel a little more firmly and to turn one's thoughts a little more toward pondering the extent of God's love of one's remaining lifetime.
I have noticed that since the latest series of increasing gas prices, that trucks very seldom speed over 65 MPH, and frequently travel at a comfortable 60 MPH. Traveling at 60 MPH rather than at 75 or 90 MPH increases the miles per gallon efficiency of an engine and thus keeps more money in the pockets of the truck owners. At the same time I have noticed this decrease in the speed of trucks, I have also noticed a sizable decrease in the reporting of truck-involved fatal accidents.
Do you suppose that the price of gas has a direct effect on the number of deaths per mile on our highways? Huh?
3 comments:
Yep, the "fender of a huge truck" in the rear-view mirror of my car is a definite myocardial infarction waiting to happen if I ever saw one! However, higher gas prices do indeed save lives. Yet, we still want them lower. Go figure. ---angel
I fantasize about building an underground highway for trucks, leaving the above ground highways for us. (Mostly for me.)
...an Underground Highway for Trucks? What a fascinating idea! ---angel
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