Freeways

 

A long stretch of interstate 10 across West Texas.  The left lane is in fine shape.  The right one is worn out.  It’s a bumpy rattly ride in the right lane.  The left lane is smooth.  There is not much traffic.  I drive in the left lane.  Then we come to a diversion for construction.  We’re rerouted to the other side of the freeway while our side gets a redo.  Both lanes are being resurfaced.

 

What’s wrong with this picture?  Only one lane is worn out, because it gets 90% of the traffic, but we have to replace both.  We have to replace both because of our driving convention: pass on the left, drive on the right.  After we pass someone, we move back over to the right lane.  (Not all of us always do, but enough of us do to make a big difference in lane wear.)

 

What if we could extend the life of the freeway for several years, for essentially no extra cost?  All we have to do is periodically reverse our driving convention.  On these long open sections, invest in a little signage that says “Drive on the Left, Pass on the Right.”  When the right lane starts to wear out, put up the signs and switch to left lane driving.  We wear down each lane equally before we have to replace anything.

 

Chaos would not ensue.  The human brain is an amazing thing.  It can accommodate change, sometimes without even thinking.  Drive down the open highway with one hand on the top of the steering wheel.  Unconscious hand and arm movements keep the vehicle in its lane.  Switch the driving hand to the bottom of the wheel.  The brain adapts.  All the necessary corrective movements are reversed, but they still just happen without any conscious effort.

 

We’re that good at driving.  We can effortlessly adapt to whatever is required.  Surely we could respond appropriately to signs directing us which lane to drive in.