Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Make way for ?slow pokes?


Figure this thinking in the Idaho Legislature.

Unreasonably skittish lawmakers are holding up a bill to allow a new generation of clean-air, electric-powered, small personal vehicles on Idaho streets because they move a few miles slower than inner-city speed limits of 35 miles per hour.

Mixing the lower vehicles with standard autos would be dangerous and unsafe, the House Transportation Committee ruled.

Well, now. If legislators are so fired up about the safety of slow-moving vehicles mixing with high-speed traffic, why don't they ban all heavy construction machinery and farm equipment from major highways where they poke along despite posted speed limits of 55 to 75 mph (and traffic usually is faster than that)?

The United States will never enter the age of energy and transportation innovation until it abandons hidebound fixations on costly old habits. The future belongs to vehicles powered by electricity, some of which understandably move slower than gas-guzzlers.

Already, toy-like electric cars are making their appearance all over Europe and Asia. The American market can't be far behind when new consumer tastes sweep the globe.

By freeing up the legislation to permit small vehicles on city streets, legislators will give an inexpensive new choice to consumers who tire of $3-and-up gasoline and standard autos that're wholly unneeded for short, inner-city trips.

The arrival of slower, smaller fuel-efficient personal transportation has other untold benefits, not the least of which is that traffic speed enforcement will become less of a problem for police departments, insurance companies can drastically reduce premiums, and public lots could accommodate more parking.




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