June 6, 1996's Question
From: Michael Angelo Ravera <mravera@edidev.tymnet.com> Date: Friday, August 16, 1996 7:22 PM In California and many other places, drivers are and should be required to pull over when able when they feel that they must travel slowly are are holding up traffic. Enforcement of this law is occasional but not unheard of. Better ennforcement of this law would likely lead to better public awareness and better cooperation. The theory is great but the problem is that, usually, when someone feels that they must travel well below the speed of the other traffic, they are fixated upon the road ahead and don't dare check their mirrors. This fact leads me to my next suggestion. In California, headlights are often required on two lane highways. (DRL would be an acceptable substitute) I think that this is a good idea. If everyone would do this, it would make passing vehicles who can't or won't look back a good deal safer. It also alerts vehicles that wish to enter the roadway of your approach.Our accident rates on "Bloody Alleys" have dropped quite noticably withincreased traffic by use of this technique. Better labeling of turnouts and passing lanes are both good ideas, but restriping portions of highway for narrower or no shoulders and passing lanes for short distances could certainly make passing a good deal safer and turnout use a bit more frequent. At the very least it would enable one to get around that motorhome at a wide spot in the road. I don't believe agressive speed limits are necessary on two lane roads, but I am in favor of reasonable ones. I am a well known advocate of R&P speed limits everywhere. It is certainly reasonable to post most two-lane highways at 110 km/hr or higher with safety. I think that the 85th percentile speed strikes a good balance and achieves good compliance. I don't think what holds up traffic on two-lane roads has as much to do with the speed limit as a variety of viewpoints as to what a person and vehicle are capable of. On multilane roads this fact is overridden by lane discipline (SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT). There is no lane discipline to practice on two-lane roads. The bast that we can do a two-lane highways is to pull over when holding up traffic, stripe passing lanes when the road is wide enough, turn on our lights, and pass with care. From: Richard Rogers <RR2895@student.law.duke.edu> Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 19:02:46 -0400 (EDT) The slowpokes pulling over idea is nice in theory but will not work for two reasons that I can readily think of: A) People will refuse to cooperate; B) Not an especially safe thing to do in the United States. I'll explain B) first. Ever drive on the Trans-Canada Highway? I've spent a lot of time on it over the years, and one of the nice things I've noticed (in particular the stretch east of Moncton has this) is that the shoulders tend to be much wider than they are on two- lane roads in the United States. This allows RV drivers, for instance, to move most of the way off the travel lanes, while staying on the pavement and continuing at their travel speed, thus allowing faster traffic to pass more easily (because it's easier to spot oncoming traffic and because you have more space). Two- lane roads in the States often have NO paved shoulders whatsoever. Regarding A), this point seems obvious. People won't get out of the way on the Interstate when they're going 65 in the left lane as it is, so I can't imagine them getting out of the way on a two-lane road! (In North Carolina, it is the law on the Interstate that you move out of the way of faster traffic--even if the faster person is speeding. Naturally people ignore it, especially minivan drivers, and it is not enforced either.) What's the solution? I don't think there will EVER be a complete solution. I think that higher speed limits on two-lane roads would help, since it eliminates the problem of the guy who would drive faster but obeys the law out of a sense of civic duty or something. Unfortunately many states will refuse to go above 55 on these roads. Perhaps a more effective solution might be to establish stretches every 20 miles or so where there are three lanes, or maybe two lanes on one side, for about 2-3 miles, to give people a chance to pass. Another good solution would be more rational passing zones. Ever get stuck in a no-passing zone when you can see perfectly well that nobody's coming the other way? Happens to me all the time; US-15 in Virginia south of I-64 is an ideal example in many places, as is VA-20 between Dillwyn and Scottsville. If they would ALLOW passing where it is REASONABLE, there wouldn't be so many damn problems with pokes. (As it is I have to admit to passing over the double-yellow on a few rare occasions when there was no other way to get around someone.) But I suppose the ultimate solution is something of a cliche around this page: people just need to have some manners and common sense. If they DID, we'd have a lot fewer problems on ALL roads. But they don't, and we don't. (I'm deliberatly not touching the Daytime Running Lights issue...my experience in Canada has convinced me that on two-lane roads, they are a virtual necessity, but this is not the place for that debate.) From: Bob Morrow <bobm@msn.fullfeed.com> Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 23:15:42 -0400 (EDT) I'd like to see the small reflectors used more. You know, the kind of reflectors that are glued to the road over the white and yellow lines. They're immensely helpful in snow or rain. It would also help a lot to vigorosly enforce the laws about holding up traffic. Every state has some form of law stating that you will not impede the flow yet it is almost universally ignored by the cops. (But! Go 3+ mph over the limit and you're a criminal on the order of Charles Manson, which requires the mobilization of -all- police resources to stop.) Some states pervert those laws by saying you can't impede the flow EXCEPT if it involves exceeding the speed limit. Then it's okay to impede the flow. That leads to the next issue- raise the damn limit! Use the 85%ile rule and everyone will be happy (except the anti-speed Nazis). Wider shoulders, not necessarily paved, would also be nice so that big road-hogs (oops, I mean RVs) can pull over and let people by. Provided, of course, they actually use those things known as mirrors. Certain intersections should be lighted if they are high-accident locations. From: John Bean <jbean@mindspring.com> Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1997 01:03:22 -0500 (EST) Texas has "tractor lanes" which are just wide shoulders on either side of the road. Texans have always been extremely corteous and moved over in these lanes to let faster traffic by. This works great in areas where there is enough land to make wide shoulders. From: Paul Boutin <starbeam@moose.ncia.net> Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 10:13:57 -0400 (EDT) Police should pull over and/or ticket as many people for driving 10mph UNDER the posted speed limit as they do for people driving 10mph OVER. They shouldn't be speed LIMITS, they should be Speed Safety Guidelines!! Speed driven on any roads should also take into consideration the type of vehicle. My '93 Mazda RX-7 corners and stops (ABS) a hell of allot better than an '82 Chevette! So I think I should be allowed, traffic permitting, to drive faster than most other vehicles! From: Steve Ruby <srr1@acpub.duke.edu> Date: Sat, 26 Oct 1996 16:59:01 -0400 (EDT) Slow-pokes should be summarily shot. Just kidding, of course. I guess. The more you think about it, though... Seriously, heavy trucks or folks who simply don't want to get to wherever it is they're going, and thus slow the rest of us down, should somehow be required to let faster moving traffic pass. A case could likely be made that slow-moving traffic on two lane highways contributes to accidents by encouraging illegal and unsafe passing attempts and forcing those in a hurry to exceed safe speeds to make up time lost to Sunday drivers. From: Alan Kezmoh <kez@bellsouth.net> Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 21:35:40 -0500 (EST) In many states, one of the neatest and best things Ive ever seen are "third lanes". Every so often, when space permits, a one or two mile slowpoke lane exists. It allows slower drivers to veer to the right and the 5-10 or so drivers inevetibly (sp?) stuck behind them to pass without endangering themselves or more importantly oncoming traffic. It reduces frustration when getting behind elderly drivers, snowbirds or BillyJoeBob because you know that in a few miles you can pass. I realize this isnt practical in all areas, but wherever possible should be adopted. As for part two, YES, turnouts AND turnoffs should be better labeled. Myself, I am almost predisposed to do a "flyby" and turn around to hit my desired locale, but so many people in unfamiliar territory will damn near lock their brakes, without concern for the 25 cars following them. Part 3, again yes, I think the speed limits on 2 lane roads should be...slightly more aggressive, but not much. In heavily traveled, ie a lot of turn ons and turn offs, caution signs should be amply posted to give early warning for the alert driver to compensate for the not so alert ones. From: Scott Johnson <johnssd@mindspring.com> Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 17:50:42 -0500 (EST) 1. Improve the infrastructure. I live out in the country and hate zoning laws, but no one should be allowed to build their dirveway entrance in the middle of a blind curve. Also surfaces need to be improved. Pull over and look closely at the surface of an older "country" road. It's a rough and uneven surface like giant sandpaper. No way is 100% of the contact patch touching th surface. 2. The roads are for cars. Bicycles (sorry generation-X), horses and farmer Brown on his tractor don't belong. There sould be heavy fines for violating this rule. 3. Fences like line the interstates might cut down the number of animals (deer and the like) that can often be a hazzard. 4. Train drivers better. The arts of two-lane passing and speed- time-distance judgement are being lost along with knowledge of the concept of understeer and oversteer and things like that. The worst offenses are when I meet someone over the center line or when they pull out in front of me after letting me get too close. The rule is that you enter the highway in a manner such that the traffic sould never have to slow to avoid you or violate the 2 second following distance. 5. Abolish the speed limit and have the police patrol for safety (rather than speed) violators. The idea of slow pokes (a ticketable offense IMO) pulling over is a good idea, but places have to be built for this to happen and it has to be inforced. Perhaps a max number of cars following requires a pull over? These police officers would have to be trained to be better drivers (and therefore judge safety violations) than they are now. From: James M. Mullins, Jr. <sca00009@mail.wvnet.edu> Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 21:42:17 -0400 (EDT) First, I would like to say that there are numerous problems with two-lane roads that need to be corrected. Slow-poke drivers: Slow pokes should be required to pull over whenever traffic backs up behind them if there is room to do so. Where I live, there is a big problem with loaded coal trucks not being able to do this. Recently, the WVDOH installed several pull-offs for them to pull over on. This has helped some, but not enough. We need more of these. We also need to have more money spent on truck lanes on mountains and projects to straighten curves on these roads. Speed limits: Speed limits play part of the problem on two-lane roads. They should, like freeways, be set as high as safely possible (85th or 90th percentile speed) to encourage those drivers who won't break the speed limit for any reason to speed up and match the speed of traffic. Also, on two lane roads, I believe it is important that there be no car/truck differentials (although I would allow ones for different time periods). This would prevent differing traffic speeds. Turn signaling: Just like on other roads, people really need to use their trun/lane change signals more. Maybe cops should start ticketing for this rather than nailing everryone who's speeding (but driving in an otherwise safe and legal maneer and at a reasonable and prudent speed). That might prevent a lot of accidents. Turning lanes: More turning lanes need to be built. This gives peoiple who need to turn left a chance to wait without bloking everone else. In many areas, more center turn lanes need to be built as well. Markings: Our roads need to have better signage and markings on them. In many rural areas, like West Virginia, most roads have improper signage and often have very, very faded lines on them. Why not use the same type of long-lasting (6 years guaranteed by warranty) tape that Virginia is using on interstate highways? Traffic lights and stop signs: In some places, the traffic lights and stop signs are totally unnecessary. There is this one light in my town where, whenever it breaks, traffic always flows a lot smoother than when it was working. There would hardly ever be cars waiting to turn onto another street. Also, there are stop signs that need to be removed as well. I just have this feeling that some of them are mounted for the sole purpose of revenue-generation by cops ticketing people who fail to stop for them when there is no other reason to stop at an intersection (or other things). A stop sign was put up in fron of a Division of Motor Vehicles building in my town right before a crosswalk (no intersection with another street). It was later torn down. I, just like everyone else in Logan, probably knew it had another purpose. When you filed to stop to let the people cross the street, you would get a ticket for 1. not yielding to pedestrians (a nonmoving offense) and 2. running a stop sign (moving offense, as in points, bigger fine, and insurance surcharge). James M. Mullins, Jr, http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1371/ Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 22:48:28 -0500 (EST) From: Almondjoy <ram@aye.net> Probably the most effective methods of improving speed and traffic flow on 2 lane highways would be to add more turnouts or third lane to enable passing whenever possible and post signs in advance. All 2 lane roads are not created equal. Some could stand slightly higher speeds, others could not due to curves, local congestion, traffic lights etc. As with most any situation a little courtesy and a lot more thinking on the part of drivers would help immensely, but good luck on that one. From: Greg Cothran <gcothran@mont.mindspring.com> Date: Tue, 12 Nov 1996 11:02:20 -0500 (EST) I think the best way to handle this situation now is to enforce the no moving road blocks! I drive down a 2 lane highway, 30 minutes to work, and 30 minutes home. I spend alot of time behind people driving UNDER the speed limit. This causes major traffic problems, not to mention drivers becoming impatient and often making crazy decisions which can result in accidents. From: Jim Sikorski <jss167@email.psu.edu> Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 15:09:10 -0400 (EDT) I drive 2 lane roads for about 40 miles per day. No highways where I go. Over the past few years I have noticed a few things. Somehow the local police got a load of VASCAR devices and began painting lines all over the road to scare the hell out of everyone. The problem here is that the limits are ridiculous. People unfamiliar with the area see the lines and slam on the brakes(hopefully no one is tailgating these people!) Also like I said these limits are too low. I really get mad when people actually drive 25/35. We need a better sign system. Set a real speed limit that is reasonable and one for first time drivers on the road(we have many turns so this would be beneficial.) Also around our turns they post arrows and recommend a slower speed. Many times the recommended speed is too low also. It may recommend taking a turn at 15 when toy can really take it at 30. Because of this many people ignore these signs entirely. These suggestions are meant for roads with enforced speed limits. If in other areas no speed traps are used it doesn't matter if the limit is posted as 10 mph! The main thing is to tell government officials that slow speed limits cause accidents and say how in many cases money is the main concern. That doesn't mean insane speeds should be tolerated though. From: Dale L. Larson <dale@iam.com> Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 13:52:26 -0400 (EDT) Study who the slow pokes are. I suspect that many of them are people who belong somewhere other than behind the wheel of a car anyway. Driving should be a priviledge, not a right, and when someone lacks the common sense, reflexes, or whatever to drive at reasonable rates in a safe manner, then all of us are better off when that person doesn't drive. When grandpa is too old to be comfortable going more than 40mph, is he really going to hit the brake pedal quickly when a child runs into the street? Enforce more existing laws, like using turn indicators, and not making a left turn across a double yellow (though it should be legal when the road is empty, it is ridiculous to make a line of cars a mile long stop while you turn). From: John L. Wilson <jwilson@ncfcomm.com> Date: Sat, 17 Aug 1996 11:44:49 -0400 (EDT) 1. Improved training. A lot of people don't know how to safely pass on two lane roads. 2. Better enforcement, speed limit and passing infractions. 3. All paved two land roads should have shoulders 4. Better markings along the roads. From: Jim Kevern >JimKevern@aol.com< Date: Sat, 7 Dec 1996 21:06:34 -0500 (EST) Technically, getting rid of stop/yield signs & replacing with traffic circles (roundabouts) in many cases makes things much more efficient. Having driven in England several times, the increased traffic flow is readily obvious. However what is technically feasible isn't necessarily practical. Drivers here are not nearly well qualified enough to handle roundabout traffic control. And migrating from the current system wouldn't be pretty. I guess we're doomed. From: SEEardley <SEEardle@bechtel.com> Date: Wed, 5 Feb 1997 21:59:43 -0500 (EST) On rual 2 Lane roads, that do not have many turn-outs, such as Rt 71 in Riverside county (Ca) they should use "Jersey Barriers" in the center of the road to safe guard against "Head-ons". In other areas they should provide extra wide berms, on both sides of the road, to be used as "Safety excapes". From: Michael K. Hurley <thurley@mail.ameritel.net> Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 11:24:09 -0400 (EDT) Four words::Grill mounted Missle launchers!! Let's be real here. The state or local authorities are not going to make those who are traveling at or below the posted (though unreasonable) speed limit pull off to the side and if they did these people wouldn't anyways. This is a problem that must be faced by everyone as the situation arises. Myself, I like to pass them at a very inappropriate time and them pull back in the correct lane almost taking off the front bumper of their car. Maybe a good power brake or two is in order also (depending on how long I followed them and how far below the Limit). If uanble to pass these vehicles then be sure to maintain that two foot safety distance from the rear bumper (or is that two second?). Regardless I will follow some type of plan to be just as bothersome to them as they are to me. That is until they come out with an affordable missle launcher!!