Sort of.
https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/legal-truck-a...
The STAA (Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982) trucks can have unlimited length cabs but are primarily limited to interstates and marked state routes.
So while yes, I used California's state limit as an easy from of comparison, because it is one of more restrictive western states - you're correct in that the STAA allows a longer tractor. In the end, the rules are lightly enforced - but the state limits guide the total length of combination. It's why (for example) you almost never see doubles being pulled by anything other than a day cab.
There is also the weight factor - even if you could legally have 90ft trailers and 25ft cabs, it would probably put you over the weight limit for many roadways and negate the savings.
Personally I'd optimize a bit more for everyone else's safety, since you know, there's more of them. Plus a semi is a multi-ton missile going 90kmph.
School buses typically have a large nose in front of the driver. Are they unsafe?
https://www.mercedes-benz-bus.com/content/dam/mbo/markets/co...
Intuitively it would make sense that being able to see in front of you with no obstruction would have an impact on safety. How much, I can't say ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
> School buses typically have a large nose in front of the driver. Are they unsafe?
Guess what, European buses don't have a nose, either :-)))
I have seen four wheelers do all sorts of stupid shit around trucks, stuff that endangers everyones lives, I want that extra little bit of hood in front of me.
I agree that going to a hybrid model is good, where its a short nose conventional cab, like the Cascadia - rather than a long hood-high hood model.
Interesting, in Germany there happen 4 truck accidents on highways every day, every third one of those is a truck driving into the end of a traffic jam [0], in total they apparently cause more deaths than speeding [1].
[0] https://www.autofahrerseite.eu/sicherheit/524-lkw-unfall-sta...
[1] https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/lkw-unfaelle-fordern-...
A cabover has better close up visibility, not distance.
What makes the road network in CA so old compared to eastern states that had roads built so much earlier?
A lot of highways in California have warnings like "no services for 100 miles" and you won't encounter a lot of other vehicles (similar to Nevada and Oregon adjacent).
What road is that? How about the Pennsylvania Turnpike?
Differences are typically that a freeway is designed and constructed to allow maximum speed and no interruptions/stops (hence all the on/off ramps, lack of lights, lack of toll booths), and is available to the general public for use without significant restrictions or costs.
Which make it far easier to use, faster, etc. the interstate highway system was designed largely using the model.
One key thing at the time I believe was the grade separation/right of way stuff, which I think had only occurred on toll roads for any distance before.
Previously almost all highways ended up having to stop or intersect with other roads (and hence stop signs, or traffic lights, or whatever). Most highways are still that way, outside of major arterials.
Most major arterial highways are the same as freeways now everywhere of course, but I think that’s more about economic factors. California I think was just the first mover on it (and got exposed to those same economic factors earlier than most).
At the time (and still does, though it gets less press now), California was a huge oil state, and was at the forefront of designing and building refineries too.
It's pretty natural both have somewhat differing regulations in regards to transportation.
The maximum length of an articulated vehicle in Germany (and most of europe) is 16.5m or 54 ft. [1]
The maximum length of a vehicle in California is 65 ft. California is one of the more restrictive states when it comes to vehicle length simply because of the age of the road network.
The longest vehicle you'll see in the states are turnpike doubles, which are around 130 ft long, the longest total permitted vehicle length in Europe is 65 ft.
The US used cabovers before vehicle length rules were liberalized, and thats why we don't anymore, drivers prefer conventional trucks, the ride better, largely handle better, and are safer for the driver.
[1] https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/dimensions...