Speed regulation (1) Feb 20, 2006
I'm full of dumb ideas.  So here's another one to throw in the pile:  Regulating speed as a means to preventing traffic. 

Thinking back to the movie Minority Report (can't stand Tom Cruise), the futuristic ideas of cars and driving were pretty interesting.  From what I remember, it looked sort of like a roller coaster:  Everything was on a track (or several tracks), and people were in individual cars.  But the cars didn't really require any user intervention, seeing that the futuristic police were able to force Tom Cruise's car to go where they wanted it to go.  So basically, everything was automated. 

If everything was automated, there'd be no need for highway cops because no one would speed or break any other driving laws.  Merging would be no problem at all because cars would leave exactly enough room for another car to squeeze in.  Congestion would be non-existent because there wouldn't be that "one guy" that causes backups by tapping his breaks or driving too slow or rubbernecking or getting the sun in his eyes. 

So the idea of "regulating speed" would mean that everyone went the same speed.  Maybe that speed would be 70 mph.  Maybe it would be 40 mph.  Either way, everyone would be going the same speed, so no one would need to slow down or speed up or do anything stupid.  And the people merging onto a 65 mph highway would merge at 65 mph, not 30 mph.  (Obviously this idea stems from 16 hours of driving this past weekend.)

So yeah, I expect to see this implemented by tomorrow morning. #travel
Delaware Feb 20, 2006
I just drove from Virginia to New Jersey.  The only real problem I encountered in my 7 hour drive was the state of Delaware.  The entire state of Delaware.  All 3 miles of it.  I think Delaware exists for 2 reasons:  To gain money and to cause traffic.  On I-95, there was a toll to get into Delaware and a toll to get out.  Why?  Mainly to use their bridges and tunnels to get out of their God-forsaken state.  But the other reason is that they have no other way to make money than to charge people for driving through.  What a waste of a state.  Delaware's other main purpose is to cause traffic.  On a 10-mile stretch of I-95 at 1 or 2 pm, there were 2 huge spontaneous pockets of traffic.  Why?  No reason.  It wasn't construction, an accident, a cop, a merge, a toll, rush hour, nothing.  There was literally no reason for this traffic.  And hence my hatred for the state of Delaware. #travel