Michigan still uses a Model T in an official government business

[Tparts]

https://www.theautopian.com/heres-why-m ... -business/

[Moxie26]

Very practical road improvement decision. Why wasn't this done years ago?

[Woody23]

I wonder if they are hiring?

[Erik Johnson]

I watched the video yesterday.

Driving on the shoulder, especially in an antique car like a Model T, is a bad idea.

The shoulder is where a majority of road debris winds up and there is an increased risk tire damage.

Just my two-cents which is neither here nor there.

[perry kete]

I saw the article and watched the video and I have a few questions & comments.

The article states it "uses" a Model T for official government business, but it doesn't say it owns it.

Are the two fellows driving the car state employees? If so, why aren't they wearing safety gear and why no flashing lights or follow truck with lights?

If they cause an accident who is responsible? the state or the driver?

[John Codman]

I was fascinated that someone thinks that driving a T on the shoulder is a bad idea. The article says quite clearly that they are checking the shoulder to see if it's safe for the Amish and Mennonite carriages. How can they do this without driving on it? As to safety gear - if some idiot can't see the Model T - is wearing a dirty yellow vest going to change anything? I do think that having a flashing red light or two in the rear wouldn't be a bad idea.

Edit: On watching the video for the third time, I noticed that the T has two red taillights and two add-on red lights in the front of the car. It could be that there is a flasher in the circuit. The T shown is either owned or controlled by the state. Showing red forward on a privately-owned vehicle in Michigan is illegal.

[Original Smith]

If the DOT Michigan is using a Model T for this purpose, whey doesn't the car have government license plates? Something is going on here I can't understand!

[Erik Johnson]

I watched the YouTube video yesterday I know exactly what they are doing and what they are trying to accomplish.

It's foolish to drive on the shoulder for a number of reasons and road debris ranks high on the list. I won't do it in a modern vehicle and I certainly wouldn't do it in a Model T. It's also why when I ride my bicycle on the street, I stay as far away from the gutter as possible.

Amish buggies don't have pneumatic tires so all the junk that winds up on on the shoulder probably doesn't matter to their vehicles, but it could affect their horses.

In the day and age of computers, high-tech cameras and other equipment, there are probably better, safer and more efficient methods of doing what they are trying to accomplish.

[DHort]

I few years ago I left OCF heading west on Michigan Ave. Either I missed it or there was no exit and the next thing I knew, the speed limit went from 40mph to 70mph. I had to drive 12 miles on the shoulder before there was an exit and of course it was on the left side of the highway. Thankfully the shoulder was a full width, so I wasn't concerned about the road, just the cars flying past me at 85-90mph. The worst part was crossing the highway to get to that exit on the other side and dodging all those cars.