CA Lawmakers "Furious" Fuel Efficient Cars Don't Help Traffic

Photo by Daniel R. Blume via Wikimedia

When Dr. Parameswaran went before California's senate earlier this week to address issues of traffic congestion on the state's freeways, he wasn't prepared for the reception he received.

"They were furious," Parameswaran said of the state of the assembly following his seemingly passing comment: that the increased percentage of hybrid and electric cars on the road have done nothing to alleviate traffic congestion.

The UC Irvine professor of civil engineering was shocked to find out how few of the elected officials knew that there is no direct correlation between overall fuel efficiency of cars on the road and the number of cars on the road. Many lawmakers were confused, asking why hybrid and electric cars were granted rights to drive in the High Occupancy Vehicle lanes if they were, in fact, doing nothing to address this issue.

One senator, seeking some silver lining to the news, asked if the prospect of hydrogen-powered cars, which Honda has been conducting early trials on, would help the situation. Parameswaran didn't have good news for him.

"They've got some funny ideas in their heads."