There should be a law...

[Wilbur]

I'm one of those conservative people who would like to think most people don't need a lot of direction from government, but with all the rain and flooding lately, I've got to ask if we might need a couple of new laws on the books:

1.  I realize when it rains during the day, Mr. Joe Driver can see just fine.  But nobody can see you!  When it's raining, TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS!

2.  How many times do people have to be told not to drive into flood waters.  How about a law that says: if you drive into high water and emergency first responders have to save your butt, you get a ticket (Jeff Foxworthy might say "Here's your sign.").

Neither of these laws would be needed if common sense would just kick in.

What other laws might be needed?

[Wekiwa]

I don't know about other states, but turning on one's headlights during rainstorms is the law in Georgia.  I think it's a great idea.

One thing I've noticed when I'm in Idaho is its against the law there to block an intersection when stopping for a stop sign or traffic signal.  I'd like to see a similar law enacted in Oklahoma.

And in California, they take the pedestrian right of way issue very seriously.  If a pedestrian is in a crosswalk, it's a serious offense for a driver to enter that crosswalk.  Just another law I'd like to see here.

My two cents.....

[Rowdy]

There's too many laws.

[Wilbur]

quote:Originally posted by Wekiwa

I don't know about other states, but turning on one's headlights during rainstorms is the law in Georgia.  I think it's a great idea.

One thing I've noticed when I'm in Idaho is its against the law there to block an intersection when stopping for a stop sign or traffic signal.  I'd like to see a similar law enacted in Oklahoma.

And in California, they take the pedestrian right of way issue very seriously.  If a pedestrian is in a crosswalk, it's a serious offense for a driver to enter that crosswalk.  Just another law I'd like to see here.

My two cents.....

Those two laws already exist here.

You can't enter an intersection if you can't make it all the way through.  Doesn't matter what color the traffic light is when you entered.

And pedestrians have the right-of-way in a crosswalk.

[Wekiwa]

Regarding the pedestrian in the crosswalk...if you worked downtown you'd see better what I mean.  The law may be there, but it's not enforced...at least I haven't seen it enforced in my 26 years of working downtown.

And the intersection law...what I'm taling about is when there's a line of cars stopped at a traffic signal, and people block the entrances to parking lots down the line.  Against the law in some states...but seems to be a sport here.

just saying...

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Wekiwa

Regarding the pedestrian in the crosswalk...if you worked downtown you'd see better what I mean.  The law may be there, but it's not enforced...at least I haven't seen it enforced in my 26 years of working downtown.

And the intersection law...what I'm taling about is when there's a line of cars stopped at a traffic signal, and people block the entrances to parking lots down the line.  Against the law in some states...but seems to be a sport here.

just saying...

Both are largely ignored, but still illegal.

[cannon_fodder]

As Libertarian as I am, the headlight law would not bother me as it is largely non-intrusive.  

The "pay to play" for services is actually on board with my philosophy.  That is to say, if you cost the public money on account of your own stupidity you should pay.

[daddys little squirt]

...there ought to be a law...

Just passed the short entrance to the BA eastbound at Lewis. Traffic was heavy at 4:30 but drivers made efforts to move to middle lane. First entering car slowed down, then stopped. The two cars behind him managed to barely keep from rear ending each other but the third car was accelerating and couldn't stop fast enough causing a chain reaction accident. Of course the first car then merrily pulled into traffic from a dead stop causing brake lights and swerving to existing traffic and left the carnage behind.

1. A law against stupid short entrances
2. Require extra training on entrances/exits of expressways for driving test preparation
3. Periodic driver testing?
4. Traffic lights at entrances?

[Wilbur]

quote:Originally posted by Wekiwa

Regarding the pedestrian in the crosswalk...if you worked downtown you'd see better what I mean.  The law may be there, but it's not enforced...at least I haven't seen it enforced in my 26 years of working downtown.

And the intersection law...what I'm taling about is when there's a line of cars stopped at a traffic signal, and people block the entrances to parking lots down the line.  Against the law in some states...but seems to be a sport here.

just saying...

I think I'm following you.  You mean blocking the entrance to a private driveway?  If so, that would be tough in some spots.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by daddys little squirt

...there ought to be a law...

Just passed the short entrance to the BA eastbound at Lewis. Traffic was heavy at 4:30 but drivers made efforts to move to middle lane. First entering car slowed down, then stopped. The two cars behind him managed to barely keep from rear ending each other but the third car was accelerating and couldn't stop fast enough causing a chain reaction accident. Of course the first car then merrily pulled into traffic from a dead stop causing brake lights and swerving to existing traffic and left the carnage behind.

1. A law against stupid short entrances
2. Require extra training on entrances/exits of expressways for driving test preparation
3. Periodic driver testing?
4. Traffic lights at entrances?

Huge pet peeve DLS- I exit off 15th to get home every day.  If I'm not in the RH lane before the Lewis entrance ramp, I can forget getting off at my exit.  At least two or three of my commutes a week some dingleberry creeps along slowly or slows down to get on instead of accelerating into traffic.  I'm surprised we don't have more crashes there.

That whole area of roadway from Lewis to the 15th exit is very poorly designed.

[Wekiwa]

Yeah, that's what I meant, Wilbur.  Blocking the entrances to private driveways.

[rwarn17588]

Basically, when merging, I make these judgments:

1) the speed and distance of the oncoming traffic;
2) whether the oncoming traffic is coming uphill or going downhill;
3) whether I'm going downhill or uphill;
4) whether the ramp design allows me to get a good head of steam.

That greatly influences whether I stomp the accelerator to merge ahead of the pack, or letting the pack go by and avoiding a potentially nasty situation.

It seems a lot of people think there's only one way to merge. And STOPPING is forbidden, unless absolutely necessary.

[grahambino]

-i think its a good idea to turn on your headlights during a thunderstorm.  personally i always do, as for enforcement, does a traffic cop really want to exit their vehicle during a thunderstorm to write a $30.00 ticket?  [^]

-gridlocking is already illegal. blocking a private driveway?  meh, its part of driving in an urban environment, deal with it?  ive noticed alot of people will let someone in, anyways (ie. gas station or a street near an intersection).

-as for charging a fee on saving someone...im conflicted on this.  I can see the argument in cases of negligence or stupidity http://kotv.com/news/topstory/?id=129350 ...not that im accusing the person in the top picture of that or anything...[]

[Wilbur]

quote:Originally posted by grahambino

-i think its a good idea to turn on your headlights during a thunderstorm.  personally i always do, as for enforcement, does a traffic cop really want to exit their vehicle during a thunderstorm to write a $30.00 ticket?  [^]

-gridlocking is already illegal. blocking a private driveway?  meh, its part of driving in an urban environment, deal with it?  ive noticed alot of people will let someone in, anyways (ie. gas station or a street near an intersection).

-as for charging a fee on saving someone...im conflicted on this.  I can see the argument in cases of negligence or stupidity http://kotv.com/news/topstory/?id=129350 ...not that im accusing the person in the top picture of that or anything...[]

Gotta love that picture.  I would think common sense, at some point, would have said "I better stop.  Water is coming in the doors."

[Rowdy]

Too much griping and too many laws.  If you don't like to commute by car, then take off to the hills like I did after my speeding ticket fiasco.

I live down the hill from Grizzly Adams...