CHEATING ON THE SHOULDER
WRECK-LESS DRIVING©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist
CHEATING ON THE SHOULDER
DEPOSIT, NY: A professional long distance driver, Sally. A, wrote to say that there is highway construction going on across the nation. This causes traffic delays and sometimes miles-long lines. Delays are caused, too, by collisions, slow drivers, and inclement weather. Whatever the cause there are a few drivers who cannot suffer the delay and “cheat” by driving on the shoulder or emergency lane.
This is unlawful everywhere. Mainly because such impatient drivers may thereby block emergency vehicles from reaching quickly the scene of the traffic problem. Human lives are thus endangered even further. In Kansas I saw a line of such shoulder cheaters stopped just short of the next exit ramp by a police officer with a fat book of blank citations. Serves them right!
You have, no doubt, been upset by drivers refusing to move over until the last moment at places where lanes merge. Then they force their way into the front of the long line. Perhaps you have done this yourself at some time when you felt your convenience came first. Sally says that when she sees them coming in her rear view mirrors she moves her rig to cover parts of both lanes. Says she gets a lot of good CB radio vibes from the 4 wheelers whom she “protects” with this tactic. I wonder if that maneuver is lawful?
Tennessee has a new law which carries a hefty fine for not merging at the sign which directs all to merge. And that sign is now placed a greater distance from the protected zone to .make the process fairer and safer. It is the law in 29 other states, too.
GHD204 all rights reserved
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist
CHEATING ON THE SHOULDER
DEPOSIT, NY: A professional long distance driver, Sally. A, wrote to say that there is highway construction going on across the nation. This causes traffic delays and sometimes miles-long lines. Delays are caused, too, by collisions, slow drivers, and inclement weather. Whatever the cause there are a few drivers who cannot suffer the delay and “cheat” by driving on the shoulder or emergency lane.
This is unlawful everywhere. Mainly because such impatient drivers may thereby block emergency vehicles from reaching quickly the scene of the traffic problem. Human lives are thus endangered even further. In Kansas I saw a line of such shoulder cheaters stopped just short of the next exit ramp by a police officer with a fat book of blank citations. Serves them right!
You have, no doubt, been upset by drivers refusing to move over until the last moment at places where lanes merge. Then they force their way into the front of the long line. Perhaps you have done this yourself at some time when you felt your convenience came first. Sally says that when she sees them coming in her rear view mirrors she moves her rig to cover parts of both lanes. Says she gets a lot of good CB radio vibes from the 4 wheelers whom she “protects” with this tactic. I wonder if that maneuver is lawful?
Tennessee has a new law which carries a hefty fine for not merging at the sign which directs all to merge. And that sign is now placed a greater distance from the protected zone to .make the process fairer and safer. It is the law in 29 other states, too.
GHD204 all rights reserved
posted by WRECK-LESS at Saturday, April 05, 2008
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