What is the speed of a horse-drawn carriage?

[FelicityMarie]

The speed of ancient horse-drawn carriages was 25-35 km/h. Modern automobiles travel much faster than ancient horse-drawn carriages. Below is a detailed introduction about automobile driving speed: Overview: Automobile driving speed refers to the distance a vehicle travels per unit of time, abbreviated as speed, commonly measured in kilometers per hour or meters per second. Automobile driving speed is one of the three parameters used to describe traffic flow and holds significant importance in the study of traffic flow theory. Others: Automobile driving speed can also broadly refer to the speed of motor vehicles. To suit different purposes, automobile driving speed is mainly categorized into spot speed, section speed, and design speed. Spot speed is the instantaneous speed of a vehicle passing a specific point on the road. Design speed is the speed established to determine the design indicators of various geometric elements of the road and to ensure their mutual coordination.

[DelSabrina]

I once read in a history book that horse-drawn carriages, as the primary means of transportation in ancient times, were really not fast, typically traveling at only about 8 to 12 kilometers per hour, depending on the breed of the horse and the condition of the road. For example, on flat official roads, a good horse pulling a lightly loaded carriage could achieve a slightly faster speed. But if it encountered muddy mountain paths or rainy or snowy weather, the speed would slow to a snail's pace, barely covering a few miles in half a day. Compared to modern cars, which can easily cruise at over 100 kilometers per hour on highways, the difference is like night and day. When I was a child, the elders in my family often said that a trip to the city used to take most of the day, whereas today it takes just a few minutes by car, showcasing the remarkable progress of technology. In my opinion, the slow speed of horse-drawn carriages wasn't just due to the physical limitations of the horses but also related to the road construction and transportation needs of the time. Without modern asphalt roads and professional maintenance, efficiency was naturally much lower.

[SanNatalie]

Wow, this topic is really fascinating! I've researched quite a bit and found that carriage speeds actually vary significantly, averaging around 10 kilometers per hour. The key point is that different types of carriages differ greatly: for instance, heavy freight carriages might only reach single-digit speeds, while express postal carriages under good conditions can sprint up to 15 km/h. But this speed pales in comparison to modern cars—urban driving easily hits 30-50 km/h, with even higher speeds on highways. I enjoy studying these topics in my free time and think there are many influencing factors, like the health of the horses, feed quality, and axle structure, which affect speed just as engine wear impacts a car's performance. Safety is also a major concern—carriages move so slowly that in an accident, they'd have much less time to react compared to cars, making them riskier. Modern vehicles with ABS systems are far more stable. Overall, carriages are more of a nostalgic experience, and their speed disadvantages led to their complete replacement by automobiles.

[DelAlex]

As someone who frequently tinkers with tools, I must say that carriage speeds generally hover between 8-12 kilometers per hour. This isn't solely dependent on the horse's running speed, but also factors like road smoothness, weather conditions, and the vehicle's load weight. For instance, on a sunny day with a flat road, a strong horse pulling a light carriage can go faster; but in rainy weather or on mountainous paths, the speed drops below 5 km/h. These factors are similar to automobiles – cars also slow down when roads are slippery or tires are worn. Why are carriages so slow? Ultimately, it's due to mechanical limitations: horses have limited power and can't sustain acceleration, unlike car engines that deliver consistent output. On a related safety note, slower speeds mean shorter reaction times, increasing accident risks; whereas modern vehicles with airbags can protect passengers at high speeds. Overall, slow speed is a major drawback of carriages, driving humanity to invent faster transportation methods.