Shtf/emp gridlock

[kenno]

Usually when I drive away from my AO I am heading into friendly territory on lonely 2 lane roads and I carry enough gear to walk home. Recently I drove to SoCal.
I left the 'empty' desert and traveled the freeways to the coast. I was driving 75 MPH and traffic was 'light' meaning that there were hundreds of cars and trucks around me. I began to think back to the novel "One second After" and it's description of the effects of an EMP blast to cars on a similar freeway. In the book most of the cars stalled, traffic coasted to a stop. As I looked around I realized how unrealistic that was.
Imagine a single 18 wheeler on an empty 4 lane freeway traveling 75MPH. Now imagine that truck's engine, steering and brakes completely failing in a split second. What happens?
The driver has no control over the truck, he may not be able to shift out of gear which will lock-up his rear axels and the emergency trailer brakes (may) activate. With luck the truck will come to a safe halt abliet with tires alight, but the truck may jack-knife, and at 75MPH, roll-over.
Now imagine this truck surrounded by thousands of other cars and trucks all of whom suffer the same fate.
On a crowded freeway, especially one with narrow shoulders and traffic barriers along each side of the road (very common in L.A.) the carnage and ensuing fires would be massive. Those driving EMP proof vechicles would slam into the car in front of them or be traped in a sea of dead vechicles.

[rsanders]

Usually when I drive away from my AO I am heading into friendly territory on lonely 2 lane roads and I carry enough gear to walk home. Recently I drove to SoCal.
I left the 'empty' desert and traveled the freeways to the coast. I was driving 75 MPH and traffic was 'light' meaning that there were hundreds of cars and trucks around me. I began to think back to the novel "One second After" and it's description of the effects of an EMP blast to cars on a similar freeway. In the book most of the cars stalled, traffic coasted to a stop. As I looked around I realized how unrealistic that was.
Imagine a single 18 wheeler on an empty 4 lane freeway traveling 75MPH. Now imagine that truck's engine, steering and brakes completely failing in a split second. What happens?
The driver has no control over the truck, he may not be able to shift out of gear which will lock-up his rear axels and the emergency trailer brakes (may) activate. With luck the truck will come to a safe halt abliet with tires alight, but the truck may jack-knife, and at 75MPH, roll-over.
Now imagine this truck surrounded by thousands of other cars and trucks all of whom suffer the same fate.
On a crowded freeway, especially one with narrow shoulders and traffic barriers along each side of the road (very common in L.A.) the carnage and ensuing fires would be massive. Those driving EMP proof vechicles would slam into the car in front of them or be traped in a sea of dead vechicles.

The truck's engine would stop running , because of being computer controlled,and power steering would be lost but the braking system is controlled by air that is stored in tanks mounted on the tractor itself as well as another tank on most trailers , so there should be no problem stopping the truck/trailer. The brakes on the truck /trailer would only lock up when there not enough pressure to operate the brakes. I would be more concerned about the aircraft that would be raining down. As far as getting the transmission out of gear,it might put up a little fight since they are air assisted but leaving it in gear would also help to slow it sort of like a "Jake brake"

[Pioneer]

Usually when I drive away from my AO I am heading into friendly territory on lonely 2 lane roads and I carry enough gear to walk home....

Ok, so I'm going to use the excuse that it's late and I'm having a blonde moment but what is your definition of AO in this case?

[Skyowl]

It's a military term meaning Area of Operations.:)

[kenno]

[. As far as getting the transmission out of gear,it might put up a little fight since they are air assisted but leaving it in gear would also help to slow it sort of like a "Jake brake"[/QUOTE]

I agree to a certin extent; air pressure is the method used to brake big rigs . The year and model of the truck would determine how the braking system is accuated and especially if it is routed through the OB computer as many of the anti-lock systems are. In my GMC even the trottle and the power windows are accuated by the computer not through any mechanical linkage.
In passanger autos it is quite common to accuate the transmision through the puter linked to the settings for the smog control system as well as the anti-lock brakes. On some Super expensive cars even the steering and suspension is routed through the computer.