Saturday, April 21, 2012

Engine Brakes and unintended consequences

Engine Brakes

I've noticed many locations lately with the sign stating "engine brake prohibited".

Why would communities want semi tractor trailers to be less safe in their neighborhood?

Engine brakes recirculated exhaust through the engine to help the truck slow down.  Turning these off make the trucks rely on only their brake system to stop.

Turning these engine brakes off makes the trucks have less stopping power, hence less safe.

These signs show up in populated areas where there is increase traffic, making them needed even more.

This is another example of unintended consequences.  People really need to think before they request their compliant government officials to do things that on the surface, might sound good.........reducing noise........but it really makes the highways less safe.

Many newer trucks have engine brakes that are so quiet, one can't even tell they are being used, but with the legal requirements, truck drivers turn them off to avoid citations.

This is another set of rules that one would hope is ignored.

If communities really want to impact noise, they need signage indicated "no loud motorcycles allowed".  That would eliminate many times the noise than engine brakes and make the roads safer at the same time.

Parkersburg is the only municipality (that I know of) around that has stated publicly that they will not require engine brakes to be turned off, due to safety.