Liberal Forum

Im watching "Modern Marvels" on "Story TV"..

Talking about the history of traffic control.

The Silk Road was first modern trans-continental trade route its time.

The Roman Empire invented Mile Markers but they were carved in stone.

Traffic Lights the moder percursor was just a cop who watched and gave hand signals but was no uniformity .

Germany built the first Freeways as we know them the "Auto-Bahn" 1930s.

The first actuall stretch of Freeway i  America was built in Detroit Michigan the "Davison Freeway" on State Route #8 thru Highland Park past Hamntramck.

In 1956 under the Dwight Eisenhower administration we embarked on the Interstate Highways project arguably the largest infrastructure project in history.

Its original plan & design was to be completed by 1984 actually 1992.

Since then our population has nearly Doubled.

In 1980 the population was about 175/80 million people

Todays population is pushing 360 million people that means double the traffic and goods moving thru infratructure designed nearly 3/4s a Century ago



 

The new thingy nowadays is automation in cars and trucks with online technology and sensors with features such as automated braking etc.

Now back almost a century ago engineers drew a straight line a map based the topograghy and cheaper construction costs as well..

On the straight miles and miles strectches the accident rates were catastrophic people would be so "bored" fall asleep behind the wheel.

Today we got a New Thingy people aint even driving watching the road anticipating traffic.

Today people constanly play with their phones cannot live 20 minutes without them.

Also newer vehichles are manufactured with "Info-Tainment" Centers thats the computer screen in the dash.

Even before that truckers used to put a old laptop on dash that could play "DVD" discs watch a movie going down the freeway.

Im sorry that aint "Real Driving" and if ya cannot get going on Coffee/Mt Dew be constantly watching ya mirror and anticipatation ya got "Zero Buisness" driving or being out on our Roadways take the bus then
 

TwoIfByTea » 07 Apr 2025, 1:28 pm » wrote: ↑

07 Apr 2025, 1:28 pm

Im watching "Modern Marvels" on "Story TV"..

Talking about the history of traffic control.

The Silk Road was first modern trans-continental trade route its time.

The Roman Empire invented Mile Markers but they were carved in stone.

Traffic Lights the moder percursor was just a cop who watched and gave hand signals but was no uniformity .

Germany built the first Freeways as we know them the "Auto-Bahn" 1930s.

The first actuall stretch of Freeway i  America was built in Detroit Michigan the "Davison Freeway" on State Route #8 thru Highland Park past Hamntramck.

In 1956 under the Dwight Eisenhower administration we embarked on the Interstate Highways project arguably the largest infrastructure project in history.

Its original plan & design was to be completed by 1984 actually 1992.

Since then our population has nearly Doubled.

In 1980 the population was about 175/80 million people

Todays population is pushing 360 million people that means double the traffic and goods moving thru infratructure designed nearly 3/4s a Century ago

I was driving a 79 cab over western star in Fl in 87 or 88 when they opened the i95 missing link so you could drive to Miami.  I was on leave helping out my father-in-law. 

Also our Interstate Freeway system built during the "Cold War" with Soviet Union Russia every 5 miles or so was designed be a straight landing strip for military aircraft.

Might be a "Conspiracy" theory but present evidence of that as well

TwoIfByTea » 07 Apr 2025, 1:45 pm » wrote: ↑

07 Apr 2025, 1:45 pm

Also our Interstate Freeway system built during the "Cold War" with Soviet Union Russia every 5 miles or so was designed be a straight landing strip for military aircraft.

Might be a "Conspiracy" theory but present evidence of that as well

 

Yeah, it is a myth.  Well, at least according to the DOT.  It is also odd that most of the interstates connect military installations.  

*Huey » 07 Apr 2025, 1:43 pm » wrote: ↑

07 Apr 2025, 1:43 pm

I was driving a 79 cab over western star in Fl in 87 or 88 when they opened the i95 missing link so you could drive to Miami.  I was on leave helping out my father-in-law.

I-90 thru Wallace Idaho the most famous missing link.

Just a small town beautiful scenery but could not build the road thru town resisted fought tooth and nails and sued, and sued in court.

Eventually 1991/1992 a compromise was made.

For such a tiny town its very odd see a giant "Flyover" freeway bridge around like a big city but that was the final completion of Interstate 90 from Boston to Seattle as a complete "Cross Country" Route

 
 

*Huey » 07 Apr 2025, 1:43 pm » wrote: ↑

07 Apr 2025, 1:43 pm

TwoIfByTea » 07 Apr 2025, 1:28 pm » wrote: ↑

07 Apr 2025, 1:28 pm

Im watching "Modern Marvels" on "Story TV"..

Talking about the history of traffic control.

The Silk Road was first modern trans-continental trade route its time.

The Roman Empire invented Mile Markers but they were carved in stone.

Traffic Lights the moder percursor was just a cop who watched and gave hand signals but was no uniformity .

Germany built the first Freeways as we know them the "Auto-Bahn" 1930s.

The first actuall stretch of Freeway i  America was built in Detroit Michigan the "Davison Freeway" on State Route #8 thru Highland Park past Hamntramck.

In 1956 under the Dwight Eisenhower administration we embarked on the Interstate Highways project arguably the largest infrastructure project in history.

Its original plan & design was to be completed by 1984 actually 1992.

Since then our population has nearly Doubled.

In 1980 the population was about 175/80 million people

Todays population is pushing 360 million people that means double the traffic and goods moving thru infratructure designed nearly 3/4s a Century ago

I was driving a 79 cab over western star in Fl in 87 or 88 when they opened the i95 missing link so you could drive to Miami.  I was on leave helping out my father-in-law. 

 

 

Two » wrote:

*Huey » 07 Apr 2025, 1:43 pm » wrote: ↑

07 Apr 2025, 1:43 pm

I was driving a 79 cab over western star in Fl in 87 or 88 when they opened the i95 missing link so you could drive to Miami.  I was on leave helping out my father-in-law.

I-90 thru Wallace Idaho the most famous missing link.

Just a small town beautiful scenery but could not build the road thru town resisted fought tooth and nails and sued, and sued in court.

Eventually 1991/1992 a compromise was made.

For such a tiny town its very odd see a giant "Flyover" freeway bridge around like a big city but that was the final completion of Interstate 90 from Boston to Seattle as a complete "Cross Country" Route

 
 

 

Wow a "Cabover" ya really "Old School".

I drove only two Cabovers I can remember one was a 1985 Kentworth a 13 speed for the meat plant shagging a "Reefer" behind me that hadda Big "CAT" too i mean like 4/500 hundred horsepower too got oh maybe 4/5 miles a gallon the way I ran it but fuel was "Cheap" back then like oh 85 cents a buck a gallon..

Hadda tiny "Sleeper Bunk"  though I mean like I put my jeans back on sitting down and no shelves or drawers but ya could flip the the bed up store stuff underneath.

Oh getting in out that sucker ya hadda hold on and watch ya step too..

The other was a beater Peterbuilt at the Grain Elevators but that was a "Day-Job" I went Home everyday slept in my own bed.

Tell ya what I love "Conventionals" and a Double Bunk Sleeper I can actually stand up in and put my pants back on 







 

Ya know something else @Huey ..

I am guy who B-words and complains about "New" technology still trying live like back in the 1970s/1980s when I was growing up.

Reefer Trailers today are much "Quieter" than old ones plus ya dont have to constanlty do a "Temp Control" check neither.

Even back in the day ya got "Used" to it and sleep thru it.

Dispatch used put signs up allover the terminal when ya Reefer stops ya got big problems

TwoIfByTea » 07 Apr 2025, 2:18 pm » wrote: ↑

07 Apr 2025, 2:18 pm

 


Wow a "Cabover" ya really "Old School".

I drove only two Cabovers I can remember one was a 1985 Kentworth a 13 speed for the meat plant shagging a "Reefer" behind me that hadda Big "CAT" too i mean like 4/500 hundred horsepower too got oh maybe 4/5 miles a gallon the way I ran it but fuel was "Cheap" back then like oh 85 cents a buck a gallon..

Hadda tiny "Sleeper Bunk"  though I mean like I put my jeans back on sitting down and no shelves or drawers but ya could flip the the bed up store stuff underneath.

Oh getting in out that sucker ya hadda hold on and watch ya step too..

The other was a beater Peterbuilt at the Grain Elevators but that was a "Day-Job" I went Home everyday slept in my own bed.

Tell ya what I love "Conventionals" and a Double Bunk Sleeper I can actually stand up in and put my pants back on 







 

 

I also drove a 76 White Cabover as well as a 73 red and Mack day cab.

*Huey » 07 Apr 2025, 2:39 pm » wrote: ↑

07 Apr 2025, 2:39 pm

I also drove a 76 White Cabover as well as a 73 red and Mack day cab.

What was the deal with "Volvo/White" this another job back in the day I ran flatbed a summer back 1990s hadda White/Volvo but was a "Conventional like a Freighshaker Crapcadia good enough sleeper too.

I forget the exact transmission was a 9 speed and I hadda learning curve what I was used too starting out dropped afew gears

Eventually afew loads later I figured it out

TwoIfByTea » 07 Apr 2025, 2:37 pm » wrote: ↑

07 Apr 2025, 2:37 pm

Ya know something else @Huey ..

I am guy who B-words and complains about "New" technology still trying live like back in the 1970s/1980s when I was growing up.

Reefer Trailers today are much "Quieter" than old ones plus ya dont have to constanlty do a "Temp Control" check neither.

Even back in the day ya got "Used" to it and sleep thru it.

Dispatch used put signs up allover the terminal when ya Reefer stops ya got big problems

About ten years ago when I was a driver foreman I had to make a run.  The tractor they gave me was built in 2014.  I pretripped the night before but really did not look at the cockpit and where the switches were.  Big mistake.  The lights, cruise control etc were not a toggle switch but on the steering wheel as buttons or levers.

I was driving down the road trying to figure out what was what at 0200.  When I got back I told the maintenance foreman that in the future I wanted the older trucks with toggle switches the next time I had to go out.

*Huey » 07 Apr 2025, 2:46 pm » wrote: ↑

07 Apr 2025, 2:46 pm

About ten years ago when I was a driver foreman I had to make a run.  The tractor they gave me was built in 2014.  I pretripped the night before but really did not look at the cockpit and where the switches were.  Big mistake.  The lights, cruise control etc were not a toggle switch but on the steering wheel as buttons or levers.

I was driving down the road trying to figure out what was what at 0200.  When I got back I told the maintenance foreman that in the future I wanted the older trucks with toggle switches the next time I had to go out.

I bet ya remember too "Cats" had the power make push up the grade but they were very "B-Worded" too ya hadda be Real "Driver" listen and watch the "Tachometer" make ya shift too or they would put ya on the side of shoulder and ya didnt even have Cell-phone back then

If a Gas Station a exit up ya "Walked" if a "Nice Cop" happened Drive by see ya flashers and give ya a ride .

Back "In The Day" we used have "CB" Radios those thingys  ya used to bolt 2 ya dashboarad and tune antennas saw somebody call out even many regular cars "4-Wheelers" had Cb Radios back when I first started in Trucking

But if nobody heard ya call or saw ya out there ya 4-Ways on better got good legs and and a phone card 1800 or a roll of quarters a payphone call who ya gotta yes I used keep litteraly rolls of pocket change on me for Toll Booths in Illinois and Pay-Phones 

Today ya dont even pay toll roads ca$h they "Auto-Mated" an EZ Pass

Actually specifically Illinios Toll Roads Authority was "Forced" end Change Buckets because they can no longer source the parts fix em up keep them going.

After Covid pandemic Illinois went Ez-Pass or Toll by License plate photo and bill ya mailbox an extra fee too for having mail ya a "Notice".

https://newschannel20.com/news/local/il ... coin-tolls

 
 

Lets try this "copy paste"

Illinois Tollway Eliminating Buckets That Catch Coin Tolls
by The Associated Press

Mon, February 27th 2017 at 11:28 AM
UserWay icon for accessibility widget
The large plastic buckets that Illinois Tollway drivers usually toss change into to pay tolls soon will be eliminated. (WICS)
The large plastic buckets that Illinois Tollway drivers usually toss change into to pay tolls soon will be eliminated. (WICS)
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DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (AP) — The large plastic buckets that Illinois Tollway drivers usually toss change into to pay tolls soon will be eliminated.

The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reportstollway leaders have approved a deal to replace the buckets at toll booths with updated machines. The new machines would have touch screens that can accept credit cards or bills as well as coins.

About 100 of the machines still exist. They largely became outdated with the use of I-PASS lanes. Tollway spokesman Dan Rozek says the toll buckets are at least 20 years old and they're hard to fix because parts are scarce.

Thats another problem today too..

Most people got the "Attention Span" of a Fly but all these tech companies juice it up with ads and links and nobody reads the actual article they attenion span been diverted 10 times already

TwoIfByTea » 07 Apr 2025, 1:41 pm » wrote: ↑

07 Apr 2025, 1:41 pm

The new thingy nowadays is automation in cars and trucks with online technology and sensors with features such as automated braking etc.

Now back almost a century ago engineers drew a straight line a map based the topograghy and cheaper construction costs as well..

On the straight miles and miles strectches the accident rates were catastrophic people would be so "bored" fall asleep behind the wheel.

Today we got a New Thingy people aint even driving watching the road anticipating traffic.

Today people constanly play with their phones cannot live 20 minutes without them.

Also newer vehichles are manufactured with "Info-Tainment" Centers thats the computer screen in the dash.

Even before that truckers used to put a old laptop on dash that could play "DVD" discs watch a movie going down the freeway.

Im sorry that aint "Real Driving" and if ya cannot get going on Coffee/Mt Dew be constantly watching ya mirror and anticipatation ya got "Zero Buisness" driving or being out on our Roadways take the bus then

I don't remember any talk about CB radios being a safety hazard...do you...?
If anything they might have helped some drivers stay awake.
 

I wanna get back the 294 tollway around Chicago.

Dont watch the road its nothing but Convoys of Slow Semi trucks too.

Find like a littke honda dragged 3/4 miles underneath a trailer too thankfully she "Survived" Uninjured needed no imediate "Medical Attention".

Nonetheless people put ya phone down when get on the road.

I used 2 make my "Ex" put her phone in the purse and lock it in the trunk.

https://youtu.be/9XdTSCbEszY?feature=shared

Milwaukee News channel 4 WTMJ did a better job of this story..

https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/wa ... ook-county

 
"COOK COUNTY, Ill. — A car with the driver still inside was dragged on the Tri-State Tollway by a semi on Tuesday and a man caught the incident on camera"

And ya freaking moron playing around on Iphones in ya Kia or Honda had better understand the "Deal" .

Interstate 94 is an "Industrial Corridor" nothing but Big Trucks movimg from Detroit to St Paul/ Minneapolis and Chicago/Milwaukee inbetween.

Dont ride my freaking side I gotta blind-spot if I gotta make a jack move.

Later on a breif "Fender-Bender" minor property damage the car I learned just ease the trailer over lane line suddenly and see if anybody sitting there.

Also pick a speed & stick with it use the cruise control or a big truck for most insurance companies set a governor sensor 65/68 miles per hour cuts the motor

Today people run like 75/80 down a freeway while playing on their phones too but its that "Stopping and Slowing" because ya on phone not paying attenttiom creates BIG PROBLEMS

Again if ya cannot survive 10 / 20 minutes without looking at ya phone ya got "Zero Buisness" driving or being out on a public roadway "Ride The Bus"
 

Just the driving too people today really big fat hurry.

Really always was a hurry but people today alot "Dumber" and that more "Agressive" to when driving not even really even know what they actually doing will burn rubber just slam brakes hard that redlight I saw already down-shifted" and coast into.

On the Green Light ya already cut me off slammed infront of me still going low range now I gotta slam my brakes hard keep from rear-ending you.

Thats called "Anticipation" of traffic

Also Look back in the day people didnt drive that fast.

Cops would give ya 5/6 over 10 over was really pushing it and they pulled ya over wrote ya speeding ticket might even look inside ya car too find a roach in the ashtray or empty beer can ya threw under the seat ya forgot about still open alcohol container inside a motor vehicle in codified law too

*GHETTOBLASTER » 07 Apr 2025, 3:58 pm » wrote: ↑

07 Apr 2025, 3:58 pm

I don't remember any talk about CB radios being a safety hazard...do you...?
If anything they might have helped some drivers stay awake.

Heck ya I remember late night hauls we all talked crap on the Cb Radio infact channel 19 was called "Sesame Street" but I dont remember anybody really pulled over and threw down just laughed.

When hit a truckstop though really take and need take a nap afew hours or so dont forget shut it off before ya climb into the bunk.

Last place I ever really used a CB Radio was the Grain Elevators because check in then was call in then give them your paperwork numbers and pull ahead the scale and probe for quality check.

 

This man was real "Trucker" and some record company guy stuck in traffic heard him talking crap on the CB met him cut a deal "Trucker Wallys" tapes & CDs $old "Millions" of copies at Truckstops all across the "USA"

https://youtu.be/RhUC_V-Yosw?feature=shared