DOT June 2023 Safe Intersection Challenge
A SUBMISSION TO DOT CHALLENGE FOR SAFER INTERSECTIONS,
IT WOULD SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
Title
New Highway Category and Vehicle Classification
Brief Description *
If more intersections were overpasses, accidents would be reduced. A new highway system that has a lower weight and maximum height of about 6' for vehicles would substantially reduce the cost and imposition of intersections. And lighter-weight vehicles would reduce severity of collisions. A new category of trucks is viable for most freight and parcels. This same technology would: advance autonomous vehicles, advance electric vehicles, and reduce commute times (significantly).
Description *
A new class of vehicles and roads could reduce the cost of overpass/underpass intersections by >90% (shorter heights, lighter prefabricated construction of overpass sections would be thin and low cost). Vehicle heights would have to fit into a 6' height. Weights would be low to be kinder to small vehicles when in an accident. The following are aspects and benefits:
This can be done, and it would be awesome. What is needed is leadership with vision and intelligence to make it happen. It is not about the challenges of making it happen, it is about the good approaches and solutions to overcome challenges.
PATH FORWARD
This project is about formation of a think tank/committee with a direct line to DOT and U.S. political leadership. The committee would meet with the specific directive of specifying a new class of highway and vehicles which:
Initial actions would be to host competitions/conferences and challenges on specific topics such as:
By example, a rapid implementation would be conversion of HOV lanes to this new class of vehicles for autonomous transit (including new levels of autonomous transit such as formation of vehicle trains to improve aerodynamics and capacity). These HOV lanes would be extended into inner city sections and the most popular destinations for non-stop transit at speeds faster than current times. Transit times would be cut by 50% to 90%, would be safer, and would cost less to maintain. Signs would display anticipated transit time of this "super-HOV", which uses the new class of vehicles and highway; the displays would be next to the transit times of the adjacent traffic congestion. Manufacturers would have a hard time to keep up with the new car and truck orders.
A goal is fully autonomous transit times and sections in these lanes; including AI coordinated interaction of traffic and all vehicles are controlled by a central system. This translates to being able to work and sleep in a vehicle. It translates into being able to undertake an 800 mile transit at 100 miles an hour while sleeping, working, and/or entertaining in the vehicle.
The challenges/conferences would be followed by budgets and competitions for initial implementations.
IT WOULD SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
Title
New Highway Category and Vehicle Classification
Brief Description *
If more intersections were overpasses, accidents would be reduced. A new highway system that has a lower weight and maximum height of about 6' for vehicles would substantially reduce the cost and imposition of intersections. And lighter-weight vehicles would reduce severity of collisions. A new category of trucks is viable for most freight and parcels. This same technology would: advance autonomous vehicles, advance electric vehicles, and reduce commute times (significantly).
Description *
A new class of vehicles and roads could reduce the cost of overpass/underpass intersections by >90% (shorter heights, lighter prefabricated construction of overpass sections would be thin and low cost). Vehicle heights would have to fit into a 6' height. Weights would be low to be kinder to small vehicles when in an accident. The following are aspects and benefits:
- Substantially increased use of overpasses and underpasses would significantly reduce commute times. We are talking about using these overpasses as routine intersections in cities as alternatives to stop lights.
- Substantially increased use of overpasses and underpasses would reduce vehicle collisions.
- Corridors with vehicles having maximum weights that are substantially less than current interstates would reduce accident casualties.
- Forcing the trucking industry to use lower-height vehicles would reduce resistance and substantially advance the use of electric trucks. They could form trains of 2-10 trailers and meet weight requirements.
- If implemented correctly (access), this would substantially reduce the cost of widespread use of autonomous vehicles; which in the end, would reduce casualties.
- In the end, it would substantially reduce the costs of highways and infrastructure (it is called sustainability).
- If implemented correctly, it would lead to a manufacturing and innovation revolution!
This can be done, and it would be awesome. What is needed is leadership with vision and intelligence to make it happen. It is not about the challenges of making it happen, it is about the good approaches and solutions to overcome challenges.
PATH FORWARD
This project is about formation of a think tank/committee with a direct line to DOT and U.S. political leadership. The committee would meet with the specific directive of specifying a new class of highway and vehicles which:
- would be based on overpass/underpass intersections that have near-zero incremental cost over contemporary interchanges (and a greater than 90% reduction in costs versus contemporary overpasses),
- would have vehicles compatible with existing roads and the new category of highway,
- would rapidly advance the viability and safety of autonomous vehicles,
- would result in lower cost and safer vehicles,
- would result in significant innovation and a burst of new manufacturing in the U.S.
Initial actions would be to host competitions/conferences and challenges on specific topics such as:
- low-cost rapid-implementation pre-fabricated interchanges for "low clearance" (e.g. 6') interchanges compatible with current downtown street layouts as well as rural interstate routes.
- low-cost rapid-implementation pre-fabricated highway sections and equipment to prepare site and assemble.
- strategies for rapid and low-cost transition in currently conjected areas.
- strategies to expedite transition to autonomous vehicles and reduced transit time.
- strategies to maximize sustainability and intermodal (e.g. air taxi) compatibility.
By example, a rapid implementation would be conversion of HOV lanes to this new class of vehicles for autonomous transit (including new levels of autonomous transit such as formation of vehicle trains to improve aerodynamics and capacity). These HOV lanes would be extended into inner city sections and the most popular destinations for non-stop transit at speeds faster than current times. Transit times would be cut by 50% to 90%, would be safer, and would cost less to maintain. Signs would display anticipated transit time of this "super-HOV", which uses the new class of vehicles and highway; the displays would be next to the transit times of the adjacent traffic congestion. Manufacturers would have a hard time to keep up with the new car and truck orders.
A goal is fully autonomous transit times and sections in these lanes; including AI coordinated interaction of traffic and all vehicles are controlled by a central system. This translates to being able to work and sleep in a vehicle. It translates into being able to undertake an 800 mile transit at 100 miles an hour while sleeping, working, and/or entertaining in the vehicle.
The challenges/conferences would be followed by budgets and competitions for initial implementations.