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Have not posted for a while. Anway I hope all is well with you and the others. I used to be a law enforcement officer in Disneyland, er...California. And I remember going thru red lights and then accelerating away. Yes I screwed up and blew a light. WE make mistakes, and as "representatives" of the public entity we were receiving money from, sorry about the mistakes.
Many times when we had an accident ahead, and/or treating people who we could not transport off the freeway, fill in here) I directed traffic on freeways IS 80,780, 680 Bay Bridge) and almost got run over by drivers who either were to dumb, (and they are out there folks ) to understand to slow down and stop. They are a rare driver..
Also worked the cities too, same result as above.
More commonly, I encountered the discourteous (i.e. selfish, callus, and/or self-centered), drivers who just were in a hurry and did not think they needed to wait for the others who also were in a hurry but those drivers were waiting until we could clear the roadway. Once in a while some of my friends got run down by people who made bad decisions.
I understand the frustrations of people due to the screw ups of other drivers. Yesterday I observed a m/c rider obeying the law and safely driving along a major freeway when a woman who did not see him, made a sharp left turn into his lane, in order to continue down a different roadway. The m/c rider braked, and let her go. She failed to signal, and I do not believe she ever observed him. If the rider had not anticipated her action, he would have toast on the pavement. He had on a helmet, and they may have kept him for getting killed. Can't say, but helmets do save lives.
Its easy to beat up on cops, and they are human too and indeed do represent the establishment. And yes we have a few "bad cops" too.
P.S. Do you ever see a local or state ELECTED representative make the traffice headlines? Pretty rare however, it happened recently in Cal. But oits doubtful, but then that's another post some day.
This s a great board and its nice to see everyone's posts.
Hope all is well with all and stay safe.
jensad
Yes, I would hope that my post would not be taken as holding up law enforcement types to a perfection standard. I truly do not. My real practices are give someone the benefit of a doubt, acknowledge ones own mistakes and do better (make less mistakes). On the occasion of having break through realizations, have the courage to intergrate them, which would involve change. As I paste more mileage to the history page (1.5 M plus) the key (LONG AGO ) anymore is survival: no caused accidents, no involvments in other folk's accidents, signal intentions, etc!
We thank you for your public service!! Some aspects of it can be pretty thank less.
Ok here is the situation. The road is two lanes in each direction, in my direction there is construction ahead blocking the right lane, everyone is in the left lane and its backed up for the better part of a mile but the right lane is clear.
Ok I get caught in this and know its going to take some time to get through so I say the heck with it I am just going to bypass all of this crap and take an alternative route. Now all I have to do is just travel down the right lane passing this long line of cars and make a right turn at the first side street go around the block to the main street I just passed, simple enough.
Well some idiot in an SUV didn't like the fact that I was doing this (passing the line of cars in the left lane by using the empty right lane) and decided to try to block me. I barely missed the guy (gal?) as they pulled into my lane as I was passing them. Then a few cars later some idiot in a sedan tried to do the same thing. :sick:
Man I should have just rammed one of them, the police would have been on my side.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
It also had one fog light or DRL on....as is typical for GM trucks. Is this a defect or people going for the old wives tale that one light is some kind of radar shield?
It is obviously more then a bulb problem because even after your replace the bulb with a new one the new bulb burns out rather quickly.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I could picture what you went through with those drivers. I had a similar experience three days ago.
I was behind an elderly woman who was slowly approaching a stop sign, braking, and twice drove over the "double bumps" (they are same as double lines)in the center of the road.
At the stop sign, she paused about 30 seconds with her brakes on. I thought to pass on the right and then make a right turn and get-a-away from her. But my instinct, said, no wait. Sure enough she turned right with out a signal and drove to the next stop sign, went thru that one, and stopped at a major intersection.
She then very slowly edged into the 1/2 of the one lane road and waited until a car stopped for her. This was after five or six cars went around her and kept on going. Anyway, she drove about 1 1/2 miles up to a stop sign, with about 25 cars, including mine, at 15-25 mph.
She crossed over the double bumps and just missed a head on. Since there have been three fatals there, I stayed way back. At the stop sign, a driver must continue straight about 50 feet, and then make a left turn onto the FREEWAY.
However, this confused lady decided to make a left turn at that stop sign and began to drive up the OFF RAMP of the freeway. Luckly, the cars coming off the freeway braked and stopped on the shoulder. And she finally figured it out that she was going the wrong way and about ten feet up, she made another u turn and stopped along the road.
I yelled out the window of my car, paraphrase, lady you have no business driving and you almost got killed. DMV needs to take your license.
And no, I did not jump out of my car and play my old role. Gave that up at retirement. But my intuition probably saved me a bad accident. And reading snakeweasel's post, got me to post my "adventure".
Good luck to everyone and stay safe.
jensad
read what irony you want into that.
Speaking of which, I hate the bastards who try to pass by using an on-ramp merge lane to get ahead then try to get over which just backs traffic up even more.
Did all of you just get cataract surgery?? What's the problem with DRL's or brights in the DAYtime??? :confuse:
Maybe but it is still inconsiderate seeing that there was one business, two streets and driveways to several homes that I am sure someone would want to get to at some point.
Speaking of which, I hate the bastards who try to pass by using an on-ramp merge lane to get ahead then try to get over which just backs traffic up even more.
Are you talking about people already on the highway cutting into the on ramp to pass on the right? If so yeah I agree with you. If you are talking about people merging I would say that depends on the situation.
Did all of you just get cataract surgery?? What's the problem with DRL's or brights in the DAYtime???
Well as for me I am photophobic (my eyes are somewhat sensitive to light) and brights on in the daytime can be just as difficult as they are at night.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
This is another that has local interpretation. I remember heading down to Maryland one night,being in the left lane, and seeing a sign saying "lane closed, 1 mile." No cones or anything marking off the lane. No cars in lane from that point on, traffic stopped/very slow in other lanes. It seems that for them, that warning sign meant "Move over NOW!" Here, the expectation is "a lane is a lane until it is obviously closing" then the zipper merge is the norm.
As far as merge-lane-passing, I'm guilty. If there are a couple of idiots driving lockstep, side-by-side like effing pace cars, I will use the merge lane in a heartbeat if it's long enough for me to get a good run! :mad: For me, that's much better than driving along for miles with my blood pressure spiking and that tightness in my chest. I get mad just thinking about those people!
I agree that some advanced moving over is a good thing. I don't agree that a mile makes sense. What works best here is the first sign, then a second, then a gradual coning, so you have a funnel. Traffic continues to flow, just as you would if the roadway went from 3 to 2 lanes.
wife (driving): "Ok, but it isn't closed here." :P
me: "Yes dear."
Cheers!
Paul
Actually, in a situation where a lane ends, it makes more sense to have two lanes open until the very end where the cars should merge, zipper-like. That way everyone gets over fairly and no one cuts.
Sometimes people don't catch the end of the line of cars and then are "stuck" in the open lane. Those that merged early get ticked.
There are also situations where the long line of cars stretches past an onramp. Those poor souls have to deal with the anger of those in the left lane even if they had no choice. So they stay... trying to be nice until someone will let them in. That causes a back-up in the onramp lane... even onto the road they came from.
Nothing is going to make the traffic go any faster. Some folks feel that using all the lanes makes life easier in the long run.
No, those ain't fightin words. I agree if a couple of knuckleheads aren't keeping up the flow of traffic, I say pass them however you can safely.
Well we are in the middle lane with a Prius passing on the left as we approach. All of a sudden the Prius slams on its brakes falls behind us and cuts over three lanes of traffic to get into that exit for the toll booth. I am glad that the didn't run in front of us to do that,
FWIW the tollway does allow you to pay your toll online if you don't have a transponder and you accidently go through those lanes.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Unacustomed to frequenting toll roads up here in the NW, how exactly does that work? I'm hoping to be driving in that area this Summer.
Actually no, you won't. If you speed up, you've done exactly what I wanted you to do in the first place. All I have to do is cut in behind you and jump in front of the car in the left lane and be on my way. Either way, I win! :P
Hey, I don't have a Holiday Inn Express nearby, so I'm watching "Kung Fu" reruns.
I hope all of you in the mid west are safe and not affected by the flooding. My heart goes out to the people and their pets in Iowa and MO, and other states.
Hey, there are sooooo many absent minded drivers, (me included) that would forget to pay on our freeways except for the booths that catch us. I did forget one morning going to the Bay Bridge. But as the person in the Prius did, I pulled into the parking lot and paid my toll. I am glad the Prius did not cause any accidents.
To all have a great week end. We are going to get hot in Contra Costa County with temps in high 90s, low 100s. Off to the pool with the grandchildren and wonderful wife.
Good luck to all and stay safe.
jensad
Have to be very watchful at open-road toll plazas for vehicles abrubtly changing lanes to get to cash lanes.
Interesting thing about the transponder and open road tolling. If your route on Illinois Tollway encounters only an open-road overhead toll collection, you don't know when your account is getting low. You need to access your account at Tollway web site for info.
There is one segment that I use at times that does not have a toll at my entry point ramp nor at my exit point ramp. Those ramps that do have ramp collection devices give a blue or yellow signal when you pay your toll. Yellow means you are getting low in account.
When you get a logon and password with Tollway web site for your account, you can see all details. These are exact time-of-day, direction of travel, plaza or ramp, lane number, etc. For those who incur 2 or more tolls on a trip, would be extremely simple for Tollway programmers and bean counters to put in software to compute average speed between toll points. When speed limit exceeded, Tollway and Police could send tickets and fines to be paid by account holder. This might be good way to help fund schools in Illinois. Maybe 10% of take to Tollway and 90% to school fund.
You have 7 days to make the payment and if you miss more than three in a year you can get a violation notice even if you pay the toll later.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Thats one reason to have automatic replenishing of the account. Fortunately for me I rarely use the tollway for anything other than commuting to and from work, and for me thats free
For those who incur 2 or more tolls on a trip, would be extremely simple for Tollway programmers and bean counters to put in software to compute average speed between toll points. When speed limit exceeded, Tollway and Police could send tickets and fines to be paid by account holder.
When they started the I-pass system the Tollway announced that they will not be doing that, so far so good.
However the records can be supenoed and I have heard of divorce cases where I-pass records were used against one of the parties (proof of adultery).
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I don't worry about that but I still don't use those things. I hate to have the government tracking my movements.
It's tough enough keeping my tin foil hat in place so they can't read my thoughts.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
There is a discount if you have a transponder. Those who pay cash, pay more. Click here for more info.
Interestingly enough, I have the opposite problem as snake... I merge onto a highway onramp that also serves as the toll booth offramp. Once in awhile you find someone who isn't always considerate about letting you on. I guess they don't want to miss the toll booth... it's a $49 fine if you do. Cameras take a pic of your car and license plate. The owner gets the fine no matter who is driving.
They have the same thing here in Illinois, when they did the big push to transponders they doubled the toll for cash and kept the toll for transponders the same.
I guess they don't want to miss the toll booth... it's a $49 fine if you do.
According to their website you can call customer service and establishing an account to charge the toll to. But they say it has to be within a few hours otherwise you get the fine (going up to $52 soon per their website). Here in Illinois you have 7 days.
Are their transponders good on other toll systems? The I-pass here in Illinois is good on any EZ-pass system.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Heh-heh... here in the land of "freeways", there aren't any toll roads, although that may change. And yes, the fines and the tolls are going up next month. :sick:
They did start allowing people to use the HOV lanes for a fee on one highway if they have a transponder (the same one they use on the Narrows Bridge... they call it "Good to Go"). The rate varies depending on how crowded that road is at the time. Signs tell you the current fee.
Interestingly enough, since the same transponder is used, if I were to use that road with passengers, I'd have to buy a special shield for my transponder so that I wouldn't get charged.
I have a special metallic bag that I put the unused transponder (I have two one personal and one for commuting) in so that it does get read.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is a toll bridge now???
Presumably that perk shows up as part of your income statement at end of year to be reported to irs.
Can we see you at times in a tollway truck or are you in the extravagent Tollway palace building in Downer Grove?
On topic, recent commutes on Tollway encountered noticably slower traffic and no inconsiderates. Are drivers getting nicer?
Well, the original bridge had a toll once upon a time.
The new bridge opened last July. Here's a link to some pics: Opening Day.
Now the bottleneck is at the Nalley Valley Viaduct... and that's where you'll find a few inconsiderate drivers.
Nope since it is a non taxable benefit.
Can we see you at times in a tollway truck or are you in the extravagant Tollway palace building in Downer Grove?
Well I wouldn't consider it an extravagant palace, I have seen more extravagant places in the private sector all the time. But yes I am there.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
First, an aging boomer in a pristine early model Porsche 944 - going 30 in the left lane of a 40, and he wouldn't get within 100 feet of the car in front of him. He must have thought he was driving a Bugatti Royale.
After I got by him, I got behind one of the local botox-injected trophy wives in a burgundy Range Rover - get this - eating a bowl of ice cream as she drove. She too was going well under the limit in the left lane as traffic zoomed by, engrossed in her frozen treat.
And after I passed her on the right , I was forced to pass on the right again as some dopey looking airhead in a Sentra was also in the left lane, yapping on her phone, going just as slow as the ice cream eater. As I passed her she actually sped up, then flashed me (with her car's lights...lol) as I got back into the left lane. So I slowed way down...and she wouldn't come near me.
Must be a LLC convention around here somewhere.
Heh-heh... Yes, actually, the new bridge is the third when you count "Galloping Gertie". :shades:
Ugh... I try to avoid going up there for any reason. And I'd be pleased if traffic was actually going 40 mph whenever I'm driving 405. :shades: