3 ms·
"Critical mass" only makes sense in systems where you need a minimum concentration to achieve a self-sustaining feedback loop, but traffic is not such a system.
by phailhaus 4y ago
"Critical mass" only makes sense in systems where you need a minimum concentration to achieve a self-sustaining feedback loop, but traffic is not such a system. You just need two cars to get the benefits of hypermiling via tailgating. But the amount of cooperation needed between the two cars is such that we'll probably never see it outside of long-haul trucks, and even then only within fleets operated by the same company.
- bluGill 4y agoI think for long haul trucks if this ever works every company will want in, and want each other in. Maybe there will be some system to ensure no cheating (pay the lead truck?), but there are enough companies that run trucks that it is easy to create a convoy on the fly, with someone else, but much harder to get one for your company.
- kevin_thibedeau 4y agoIt will be banned as soon as enough people are killed by the carnage caused when a lead truck causes a chain reaction among those following.
- bluGill 4y agoSome safety is assumed from the start. Right now such things are banned and truckers are much more likely than average to actually maintain safe following distances.