[Oriz]

horrible roads, terrible drivers.

[loreebee65]

Originally Posted by Oriz

horrible roads, terrible drivers.

That's pretty much everywhere USA.

[cgregor]

I just found out in a recent Harpers Magazine article that gravel roads increase the cost of driving by 14.3 cents per mile. That might explain why some drivers might be terrible-- they can't afford it!

[squarpeg]

Vermont drivers are not terrible. That is a joke. Try living in FLA land of the old and decrepit or New York where I grew up and every driver is angry and in a hurry. How about puerto rico I lived there for awhile. If the road had to much traffic you just drove on the side walk. Vermont drivers are not particularly bad and by the way there is NO traffic.

[harry chickpea]

Originally Posted by cgregor

I just found out in a recent Harpers Magazine article that gravel roads increase the cost of driving by 14.3 cents per mile. That might explain why some drivers might be terrible-- they can't afford it!

<sarcasm mode on>Ah yasss, the engineering and statistical prowess of Harper's never ceases to amaze me. When I was growing up it was only a decent babble about literature and the arts.<sarcasm mode off>

Seriously, that is a figure that some junior with access to Excel or a calculator pulled out of his ... hat.
As an overall claim of costs divided by an overall claim of miles driven, it is still a bit of worthlessness. Each vehicle will react differently, and there are a multitude of other contributory factors, such as how bad the washboard is, how often it is graded, etc. Besides, 87.2% of people on the internet know I am right.

(not ragging on you, just joining in the playful fun you started)

[squarpeg]

You know I believe that figure of 14.3 cents per mile might be right. Having lived on dirt roads most of my life the damage they inflict is severe and costly. I have brought my vehicle in to Florida garages sometimes if they needed repair when I am in the state. The mechanics throw it up on the lift, look underneath... in a sort of stunned deer in the headlights way. Usually turn to me and say something like, "sir what in the world have you been doing with this car" Went to change my oil last year and the guys wanted to remove the plastic guard under the vehicle. Eventually they gave up every screw they touched either stripped or crumbled.

[cgregor]

I posted it first to comment on the "terrible drivers" bit and second to give some people food for thought when they hear their town is going to turn a paved road into a gravel road in the name of government efficiency....

[Oriz]

Originally Posted by loreebee65

That's pretty much everywhere USA.

Not as bad as Montpelier...