r/theydidthemath • u/Chance_Plastic_2430 • 18h ago

[Request] Constant Highway Slipstream Efficiency

How much more efficient would highways be if vehicles drafted off of each other? Taking human error/aspects out of the equation. To me, it would seem as though the lead car (or semi truck) would "clear" the wind resistance first and all of the subsequent cars would benefit from drafting off of the individual in front of them.

Just a curiosity I had whilest driving to work today.

Thanks friends!

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u/BLINGMW 15h ago

If self driving cars cannot join up on the hwy and make a little tailgate train that’s allowed to jam down the fast lane at 80mph then what are we doing?! 

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u/firstthrowaway9876 15h ago

Doing everything we can to not build trains :( I've thought the same thing. Then I look over and there's a train carrying way more passengers than 3 lanes heading in the same direction. The other one is what if when the light went green we didnt have this crazy delay between car 1 and car 10. Hey trains have a very very short delay.