From: clewis@ferret.ocunix.on.ca (Chris Lewis)
Subject: Re: Change the speed limit
Originator: clewis@bwdlh118
Organization: ?
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 16:31:35 GMT

In article <1992Aug19.155501.5090@aber.ac.uk> spk@uk.ac.aber (Stephen Kingston) writes:
>donald@sq.sq.com (Donald Teed) wrote:

>> OK, then what do they do in Europe when the traffic is bumper to bumper
>> moving at 1XX km/h and a heavy tractor trailer uses the full merge length
>> but only reaches 40 km/h by the time it is forced to take the a
>> position in the right lane?  

>In Britain a tractor would not be allowed onto a motorway and would 
>be suitably rare on a dual carriageway, thus making this particular example
>somewhat unlikely. (Additionally, of course, the acceleration lane joins
>with the left lane here!)

There's a major terminology problem here.  In North American parlance,
a "tractor trailer" isn't a farm tractor with a hay trailer, it's a very
large truck with trailer (often 18 wheels, and 40 or more tonnes gross weight).
I don't remember seeing trucks this size on European roads.  Certainly not
this size *plus* "pup" trailer units.

So translate the above question to "a very heavy truck that can't get above
40Km/h by the time it has to merge".

>> Can someone fill us in on the difference
>> in (1) density of road use 

>British roads are far more crowded then Canadian roads. I think this is
>true for the most of Europe.

My experience has been that British urban roads are about the same, to
slightly more loaded during off hours, and that non-urban roads are, on
average, slightly less travelled.  This is largely because there are
fewer cars per people, but the urban areas (London specifically) are
far larger.

On balance, London is somewhat more difficult to drive through than Toronto,
but non-urban areas are easier.  The former is largely because the
urban area is much larger, and the expressway/highway system somewhat
less developed.  Traffic circles actually do seem to keep the traffic
moving better than they'd normally be with traditional North American
stoplights.

Even the worst vacation-time traffic backups in Wales are no worse than
being stuck on the 400 on a summer Sunday evening.  Except that the 400
is 6 or 8 lanes.  At least the scenery in Wales is nicer and the distances
much shorter (being backed up on highway 400 is like being stop-and-go
all the way from Bristol to Liverpool).

>> (2) design of highways and associated
>> planning of merging roadways.  

>Most British roads are old and were not originally designed for fast 
>moving motor vehicles. In this part of Wales we have many roads with 
>numerous bends, high hedges and humped backed bridges which are only 
>one and a half car widths in breadth.

Right, I found on average, British roads are narrower, often with
non-existant shoulders.  Lanes tend to be narrower, with more bends.
And there's many single-lane roads.  On the other hand, the road surfaces
average somewhat better than in Ontario, and the drivers are *far*
more considerate.  I found driving in Britain to be more pleasant
than here.  But Wales certainly isn't the right place for long-haul
commutes.
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