fargingbastige's blog

Can they really be serious about bringing back such a ridiculous law?  I cannot recall a more ignored and broken traffic law.  The problem is that I do 57 MPH in a 55 MPH zone and I get busted, but that's another blog.

Proponents claim it will save gas and supposedly considering bringing the law back is a response to the high gas prices of late.  You want to know something?  If someone thinks that 55 MPH will save them money on gas, they have every right in the US to drive 55 MPH and save their money.  I would respectfully ask that anyone wishing to do so, please remain in the right-hand lane as long as the speed limit is above 55 MPH.

For some, time is more important than saving a few coins on gas.  Why should they suffer the arbitrary 55 MPH speed limit?

And why 55 MPH?  Is that some sort of magical number?  Can one save that much more at 55 MPH vs. 60 MPH?  If 55 MPH is so great, wouldn't 50 MPH just save that much more gas?

Some further argue that 55 MPH saves lives on the highway.  They cite the fact that there were fewer accidents when we had the 55 MPH speed limit.  I would suggest that we had fewer accidents then because we had fewer drivers and the the accidents are proportional to the number of drivers on the road, rather than arbitrary number posted on a sign.  More drivers = more potential accidents.  Fewer drivers = fewer potential accidents.  It's the law of probability or some such thing.  I'm not a mathmatician, but I'm fairly practical.

The Take Back Our Highways program appears to be one those thinks that briefs well, but really does little towards the desired effect of "changing people's driving habits" as stated by the State Troopers' spokesman.  I agree with removing impaired drivers - apparently "impaired drivers" is confined to driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol for the state troopers.  There are numerous other things that impair a driver's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, but nothing will be done about it.  Here's where we get into the driving while shaving, putting on make-up, reading the newspaper, etc.  Something needs to be done about this - my safety is jeopordized when I'm on the road with these people.

Likewise, the State Troopers say they are not targeting people driving slightly over the speed limit.  I will contest that comment every chance I get.  My last speeding ticket was 57 mph in a 55 mph zone - no construction, no schools, just out in the wide open interstate.  Fifty-freaking-seven in a fifty-five zone!?  There's that much inherent speed odometer error in some vehicles.  Thankfully that incident was just about three years ago.  I hope that I do not have to contribute to the state fund anymore.  Oh, and then the trooper's association calls my house asking for donations.  The way I see it, I've done my share to contribute.

The other thing that happens with a 150 or so extra patrolmen on the roads is that everyone starts driving with one foot on the gas and one on the brake.  People slam on brakes at the sight of a cop car causing an undue accordian effect on the roads, thus creating hazardous driving conditions.  Also, there will be some state troopers casually crusing down the interstate at 58 mph in the left lane on the interstate, presumably so that they can cut across the median to catch someone breaking the law in the other lanes.  No one will try to pass them in the right lane.  Drivers will bunch up around the troopers causing congestion - congestion that at any speed increases the chances of an accident.  They're scarred to pass.  Why?  The speed limit is 70 mph.  Just because the trooper is going 58 mph, that does not mean that they have set a new speed limit. 

We'll never know how many lives, if any are saved, by this effort.  Some will say that if it saves one life, it will have been worth it.  Has anyone ever stopped to think that it may cost a life?  All they can do is compare this year to previous years.  Sure, it's statistical, but it shows no improvement or degradation from what may have actually happened without the effort.

Trust me, I respect the law and it's enforcement officials.  While I've never been in any serious trouble, I have far more bad experiences with them than positive.

I responeded to a blog yesterday and alluded to merging into traffic and later thought that the topic had merit to stand alone.  Given that I see so many people who can not / will not / do not know how to merge properly, I thought I'd provide the correct protocol for merging.

Merging is designed to permit vehicles to enter and exit a highway without causing disruption in the flow of traffic. Highways are equipped with on-ramps and off-ramps, which generally connect to acceleration and deceleration lanes.  Here is one issue in question.  Vehicles moving with the flow of traffic on controlled access highways (interstates, expressways, etc.) have NO requirement to move over into the laft lanes disrupting the flow of typically faster moving traffic.  That maneuver only further exaccerbates the issue.

The idea behind this is when you pull onto the entrance ramp, you begin building speed. At the point where you can make eye contact with the highway, you need to immediately start assessing the gaps and the speed of existing traffic. From here, you should turn on your signal to reflect your intent to other drivers to merge onto the higway.

Then use the acceleration lane to match the speed flow, and ease your vehicle into an appropriate gap before the acceleration lane ends.  Make a decision.  Do not stop.

A successful merge entails you entering the highway almost at or at the speed limit, while causing no disturbance in the speeds of the vehicles behind you.

When vehicles move from the right-hand lane into the center lane or left-hand lane to allow other vehicles to merge, it further complicates the issue by slowing the faster moving lanes.  I know there are some who do this and consider themselves to be courteous drivers, but think about the other drivers on the road as well as those merging.  The drivers in the flow of traffic have responsibilities and so do those who are merging.  If we'll all just do what we're supposed to do when we're supposed to do it, it will work.  Traffic problems and gridlock are typically the result of improper merging. 

Use your mirrors and keep your head on a swivel to maintain situational awareness.  This is not the time to be fooling with a cell phone or iPod.  Drive.

I am constantly amazed, yet probably should not be at the amount of trash strewn along Alabama's highways, in this case particularly, the interstates.  I know the ALDOT has more pressing matters than to pick up trash, although it is quite certainly not paving roads, but it (litter) is out of control.  The ALDOT cannot shoulder all or even the majority of the blame for this.  No, the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of those individuals who do not care enough about their surroundings to not throw trash out the window.  You don't have to spend much time on Alabama's highways to see what kind of image we project to visitors - trash everywhere.

I recently drove a five-hour round trip, primarily on the interstate highways, in another state and I can count on one hand how many items of litter I saw in that journey.  It was refreshing to be able to take in the scenery without being distracted by vast quantities of fast food bags that had been mowed over by ROW mowers and spit out the back exacerbating the issue.

If you can't hang on to your trash until you reach a rest area with trash cans, a gas station or best yet, your home, you have a problem.  This is elementary stuff - don't trash where you live.  C'mon folks, clean it up.

I really love the traffic blog.  I now have a forum to spew forth my views, opinions and experiences as I travel around.

Here's my latest issue:  The intersection of Lakshore Parkway and Wildwood Parkway (in front of Wal-Mart).  What is up with the signal timing and/or the drivers here?  If one is sitting at a red light on Lakeshore headed east (toward I-65) and the light turns green, cars keep coming from the turn lane (going into Wal-Mart) for at least a minute.  Are that many people running a red light?  If so, where are the cops?  They could write six or eight tickets at each light cycle.  It's not isolated; it's all the time.  Or, could it be that the lights need better timing?  All I know is that something is amiss.  For me and other drivers to have to wait (at our green light) while others continue to make the turn is ridiculous.

I'm looking for an answer here - anyone, Bueller, anyone?

Close calls are business as usual on the Birmingham roadways.  Today was a little closer than I typically care for.  The off-ramp from the Red Mountain Expressway to 3rd & 4th Avenue South has the right-of-way at the bottom of the ramp - not the adjacent traffic.  The traffic at the bottom of the ramp has to YIELD to traffic exiting the Expressway.  Except today some guy decided that since he was driving a truck, he didn't have to yield to my motorcycle.  It was close.

I see it almost every day.  Oncoming traffic failing to yield and almost t-boning vehicles exiting the Expressway.  Maybe the intersection needs better markings.  I really think drivers just need to pay attention to what they're doing and pay attention to the traffic control signs & lights that are already in place.

The exit ramp has the right of way at this intersection.

What is it with people that hug the left-hand lane just cruising along oblivious to what's going on around them?  I traveled I-65 from Birmingham to Mobile and back this weekend and I lost count of the number of drivers that refused to move into the right-hand lane to allow faster moving traffic to pass.  The folks that I refer to in the left lane were not even within 5-10 mph of the speed limit (i.e. doing 60 mph in a 70 mph zone in the left-hand lane, forcing drivers going 70-75 mph to maneuver in and out of traffic in the left and right hand lanes to keep their pace).  I am convinced that it is the constant maneuvering of vehicles caused by slow-moving traffic in the left-hand lane that causes the majority of accicents and not speed, directly.

And while I rant, here's another one:  Why on earth do drivers going 70 mph in a 70 mph zone slam on brakes at the sight of a law enforcement vehicle?  They're not breaking the law.  They're doing the speed limit.  I saw it all weekend while logging over 500 miles - and I see it all the time.  And if a law enforcement vehicle is cruising along doing 65 mph in a 70 mph zone on the interstate, it's OK to drive 70 mph to pass him or her.  You're not breaking the law; you're doing the speed limit.  When drivers are afraid to pass a slower moving law enforcement vehicle, it causes a huge jam on the road.

Let's be reasonable and pay attention to what we're doing when we drive.  Think.  Drive.  Obey the law.

There's a lot of talk about saving gas - or more notably, saving money on gas.  I've read, thanks to several of you, tons of tips on the blogs.  Here's what has worked for me.  In no way is what I've done scientific and the only thing I have to substantiate my claims are gas receipts and credit/debit card statements.  But, here it goes:

1.  I ride my motorcycle whenever I can.  I didn't buy the bike when the gas crunch hit; I've had it for a few years because I enjoy riding.  I don't know how much gas you'd have to save to pay for a bike if you decided to go that route.  However, in a typical week I'd burn a tank in my truck; I get around 14-15 mpg in town (22 on the highway).  Bottom line:  it costs about $70.00 to fill it up.  I can fill up my motorcycle for about $20.00.  I get 44 mpg around town (to and from work).

2.  Combine erands.  Everyone says it; not everyone does it.

3.  Eat at the office/workplace.  Not only do you not have to drive somewhere to eat, but eating in costs much less and the food is typically better for you than what you get elsewhere. 

4.  Tire Pressure.  Your tires last longer and you get noticably better gas mileage by keeping your tires properly inflated.  I'm a real stickler for this one.  Gas ain't cheap and neither are tires.

5.  Driving Habits.  I think Brooke has it on her blog right now - jackrabbit starts, etc.  Don't do it.  Also, don't sit and idle at the drive-thru for lunch (see item 3).

Since I've started tracking this I'm averging about $45.00 - $50.00 per week savings; close to $200.00 per month.  Keep that up and pretty soon you're talking about real money.

I know that this does not apply to all, so those of you to whom it does not apply, how about putting a little peer pressure on those to whom it does apply - police your own people. 

Bicycle riders are constantly upset that automobile drivers do not extend them the same courtesy on the road that they do other automobile drivers.  I can rightly see the bicycle rider's point of view on this one.  However, increasingly I see bicycle riders that refuse to obey the most basic traffic laws, most notable stop signs.  Maybe if bicycle riders acted more like they were on a motor vehicle and not immune to motor vehicle laws, they'd get a little more respect.  I know that they would from me. 

Time and again, I see bicylcle riders blow through stops signs after slowing somewhat to see if the way is clear and keep right on moving.  I watch this while I sit in my truck on on my motorcycle waiting from the vehicle in front of me to inch up, stop and move forward.  I have seen bicycle riders break the speed limit.  I routinely drive on Broadway in Homewood.  The speed limit is 25 mph and I exercise a great deal of restraint to ensure that I am never more than 1 or 2 mph over the limit due to the vast amount of pedestrians, kids playing, etc. - and well, it's the law.  Bicycle riders pass me and while I do not have a radar gun readily available, I can assure you that they must be doing well in excess of the posted 25 mph limit.  The blow through the stop signs along the way as well.  I'd hate for them to have to stop and start peddling all over again (sarcasm).  I see them blow through the stop light at Roseland and Broadway.  I've never seen a bicyclist pulled over.  Why?

If you want the benefits of traveling on the road and the respect of motor vehicle drivers, you might try extending a little courtesy and respect yourself - and obeying the law.