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In 1996 dollars, the Federal Highway Administration has calculated the "weighted rural and urban combined" costs per mile of interstate highway to be $20.6 million. But simple Interstate Highway rule changes combined with off the shelf technology could allow our Interstates to carry two to four times the traffic more safely while reducing the need for upsizing construction expenditures.
Currently it is recommended to have one car length distance between cars for each 10-mph your car is going. Even with this spacing congested traffic corridors encounter multiple car accidents. Even though the stopping distance may be maintained drivers do not always react quickly enough to avoid hitting the car in front of them if preceding vehicles slow or stop quickly due to traffic.
If the current recommended distance is maintained, a one-mile (5280 ft.) stretch of interstate highway can accommodate about 35 cars at 70 mph. Or about 70 cars during heavy traffic at 30 mph. But if cruse control which applied breaking and throttle using lazier technology to maintain a 20 ft. distance behind the car in front the interstate highway would be safer and carry more cars. Using this simple technology would accommodate about 146 cars at 70 mph. Or the same 146 cars during traffic jams at 30 mph. This would mean four times as many cars per lane during normal traffic and twice as many vehicles during peak times.
In addition to saving the US Tax payers $ 22 million per mile in additional highway construction trying to up size interstates, added fuel efficiency of vehicles drafting at 20 to 25 ft. behind preceding vehicles would save $50 Billion a year in over the road trucking costs. Of course the left lane would need to be designated for use of this new application of technology so the right lane could allow entry exit and emergency stops etc.
When you ride a bike on your own you need to overcome wind resistance it accounts for about 80% of your effort @ 32kmh (20Mph). If you ride behind something that has already disturbed the air, then most of the air that you pass through is moving closer to your speed. The larger the object/s that you are following, the more air is disturbed and the less effort you will need to put in.
Currently there are an estimated 3 million over the road trucks operating on Interstate Highway in the United States. The average 100-truck fleet consumes about 1666600 gallons every year. According to 1997 US ... 59% of all ground transportation diesel fuel consumed in the US. ... Studies suggest upwards of 40 percent energy can be saved by drafting (vehicles staying 20 to 25 ft. behind the vehicle ahead). This type of savings could translate into $16,000 per truck per year fuel savings for US trucking fleets ($50 Billion per year).
Average Diesel consumed per truck 16666
Gal cost of Diesel $2.50
Total fuel per truck per year $41,665.00
Potential 40% drafting savings per truck $16,666.00
3 Million truck savings $49,998,000,000.00
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