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Why can't the government put a limit on car sizes?

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Re: Why can't the government put a limit on car sizes?

#41

Post by HWR_14 »

ibejoeb wrote: post #16

No substance. How could the government limit the size of vehicles? > Companies will never voluntarily reduce their SUV sizes unless outside forces pressures them to do (like $10 oil). If oil (say, brent crude) goes to $10, something has gone very awry.

> How could the government limit the size of vehicles?

Tons of ways. For instance, "a car must get at least 40 MPG". "A car can weigh no more than X". There are lots of whats to phrase the rules.

Or do you mean "how could the government possibly enforce a law against a product in a highly regulated industry with compulsory registration", in which case it seems obvious.

Re: Why can't the government put a limit on car sizes?

#42

Post by vehemenz »

A larger vehicle full of passengers is often more efficient than a smaller one. Are we going to regulate minimum passengers per vehicle size? I'm not sure this proposal solves the intended problem in a meaningful way.

I'd rather see hefty taxes on fuel. This might yield better incentives toward urbanization, alternative transportation, and mass-transportation infrastructure.

Re: Why can't the government put a limit on car sizes?

#43

Post by bombcar »

eatonphil wrote: post #6

I'm also curious why (required) speed limit regulators aren't a thing, especially in cities. Why are cars physically allowed to go more than 25 MPH in NYC? I thought speed limit regulators are required on some kinds of scooters and electric bikes. Cars are a lot more dangerous. It's not that I think NYC or the US is very progressive when it comes to dealing with potential car crashes (we aren't) but I'm also curious…

The limiters on scooters and bikes is to let them ride as a bike - many localities say that a mike that can go over X MPH is a motorbike and treated as such (requiring licenses, etc).

I'm surprised that insurance companies haven't offered discounts to people willing to limit their vehicle to certain speeds; but my guess is that the hassle isn't worth it.

Re: Why can't the government put a limit on car sizes?

#45

Post by rpmisms »

HWR_14 wrote: post #28
rpmisms wrote: post #3

I'm the oldest of 10 kids. My family needed a 15-passenger van to travel. Why can't the government stay out of my business?

Maybe the government should have been more in your parents' business. I'm not usually one to think that the government has any place in the family, but 10 children seem like too many for 2 parents to wrangle well. Unless your family has more than two adults, how were you supervised?

So far the four of us who have turned 18 are doing great for ourselves, so it turned out pretty well. No neglect, great food, and an excellent education.

Are you saying some of us should have been put in the notoriously abusive foster care system instead of having a great family?

Re: Why can't the government put a limit on car sizes?

#47

Post by rndmind »

Geonode wrote: post #2

Why can't they government fix my pet peeves? This kind of thinking is what's leading us to a prison society without privacy or freedom, one little whiny step at a time. The government should do as little as possible, and the least at the federal level.

big trucks are so cliche and should go the way of steam engines, but the government doesn't have the right to limit how big they can be.

The registration fee's should be much, much higher.

Tragedy of the commons is a real thing, it's not a pet peeve, you disingenuous dumbass

Re: Why can't the government put a limit on car sizes?

#48

Post by warent »

HWR_14 wrote: post #28
rpmisms wrote: post #3

I'm the oldest of 10 kids. My family needed a 15-passenger van to travel. Why can't the government stay out of my business?

Maybe the government should have been more in your parents' business. I'm not usually one to think that the government has any place in the family, but 10 children seem like too many for 2 parents to wrangle well. Unless your family has more than two adults, how were you supervised?

This is bizarre nonsense. Because you don't know how to do something successfully then the government should regulate it for everyone? People have been raising huge families for ages. Mormon families for example are known for often being massive and still successful.

Re: Why can't the government put a limit on car sizes?

#49

Post by kps »

eatonphil wrote: post #6

I'm also curious why (required) speed limit regulators aren't a thing, especially in cities. Why are cars physically allowed to go more than 25 MPH in NYC? I thought speed limit regulators are required on some kinds of scooters and electric bikes. Cars are a lot more dangerous. It's not that I think NYC or the US is very progressive when it comes to dealing with potential car crashes (we aren't) but I'm also curious…

> I'm also curious why this hasn't shown up in other countries/cities in Europe

It is. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31996148

Re: Why can't the government put a limit on car sizes?

#50

Post by micromacrofoot »

Geonode wrote: post #2

Why can't they government fix my pet peeves? This kind of thinking is what's leading us to a prison society without privacy or freedom, one little whiny step at a time. The government should do as little as possible, and the least at the federal level.

It's not really a pet peeve, the government actually subsidizes large vehicles, many of which do a disproportionate amount of roadway damage.

So maybe not a restriction, but at least let's end the subsidies. A tax by weight, which has been recommended by some in the past, seems entirely reasonable as well.

The US is constantly shooting itself in the foot with what I'd argue aren't too many regulations... but regulations prioritizing the wrong things.

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