Why aren't these measures to cut gas consumption discussed in USA?

Question

All discussion in USA is around increasing mpg for cars and carpooling. OK these are maybe the most effective meausure but how about these changes:

-Using automated traffic lights so that cars do not have to wait for no reason

-Turning traffic lights to blinking yellow in not busy roads between 1 am and 5 am

-Using circles instead of traffic lights whenever possible.

-Using yield signs instead of stop signs wherever possible.

-Better synchronization of traffic lights so that there is no stop and go.

-Increasing the speed at which best mpg cars get to 65 mph since almost everybody drives at that speed on highways anyway

Answer 1

The answer to most of those is money. It takes money to automate lights, synchronize them, and install traffic circles. Many places do have overnight flash but since there are so few people on the roads, it doesn't save all that much gas. As far as changing the speed at which cars get the best mpg, that is mainly up to the laws of physics. Easier would be for people to ease off on the gas.

Answer 2

Many of these things are already in place - at least in and around Cleveland, Ohio (which is not exactly known to be a hotbed of environmental concern.)

Most traffic lights here have in-ground sensors, which only activate turn signals when someone is in the turn lane, or only trip a traffic light to red when there is actual cross-traffic.

With many stop lights now traffic-activated, the need for blinking yellows has dropped - since the main through-fare just gets a green all the time.   Although lights still do go to blinking in the early hours of the am.

During morning rush hour, I can drive into the city without stopping (if traffic is moving) - passing through literally dozens of lights that are timed so that I make them all.   And in the evening, the lights are timed the other direction.

I also suspect that, with some of these measures, we are talking about balancing safety with energy savings.    We have a few traffic circles on the edge of town and they are a nightmare.   No one here knows how to use them, so they are always slamming on the brakes or merging inappropriately or whatever.     It's a safety disaster.   And I suspect that all it takes is one bad car accident to get a Yield sign replaced with a Stop sign.  

Finally, you tend to hear a lot of "discussion" around issues when they are contentious - when they require people to change a LOT.  Like start carpooling or using public transit.   If they don't interfere with most peoples daily routines, then you don't hear a lot of discussion around them.

So I suspect that the reason you don't hear them discussed all the time is:

a) many of them are already implemented in many places.

b) safety sometimes trumps energy reduction

c) people talk more about big changes than small ones.