Thomas Johnson Bridge

[ohstate]

I feel the same way, but you should still wait your turn. If everyone tried that it would screw things up royally.

If everyone tried it, it wouldn't work anymore. I just wish people would learn the zipper merge method. I hate people who think there is a "line" when there really is a merge. Lemmings, I tell ya.

 

[Peter Forsberg]

When I had that commute, I would sometimes go straight at the light at Rtes 4/235, then do the u-turn to go south on 235 (where you can make the turn to go to the shopping center), then turn left onto Rte. 4. This is only worth it if traffic is backed way the heck back b/c of the time you lose at the light. Sometimes I think it was a psychological thing. I feel better when I'm moving and not sitting in line.

It didn't matter what you tried route 4 was closed to all traffic!

 

[LexiGirl75]

The thing that scares me is this is just a couple of car accidents and they can't even handle that.....can you imgaine a real emergency???

Speaking of, how was getting home on September 11, 2001?

 

[desertrat]

If everyone tried it, it wouldn't work anymore. I just wish people would learn the zipper merge method. I hate people who think there is a "line" when there really is a merge. Lemmings, I tell ya.

Exactly. It's only there for your convenience. Zipper merge? Oh yeah, there's a merge. Just not a mile up the road from where the backup is obviously starting. I hate people who pretend there isn't a bunch of people waiting to turn or exit and continue on until "oh, here's where I need to go, let me in, what is wrong with you people, I need to go there, you are all so unconcerned about me".

 

[Pete]

To all the nice people who attempted to drive all the way up 235 and merge in on route 4 heading towards solomons at the last min yesterday why I sat in the correct merge lane going nowhere.... You got real effin far didn't you?

You mean the ones who will zip passed 700 yards of cars backed up, slam on the brakes, turn on their blinker and expect to be let in line just before the obstruction?

They do it just past the intersection of 4 and 235 going north. People know that 3 lanes merge into 2 and the last 500 yards of the 3rd lane is for people coming off 4 south who want to go 235 north, so they move over before the intersection. Never fails someone will fly up the right lane and pass 30 cars and try to muscle in.

There is a special place in hell for those people.

 

[desertrat]

You mean the ones who will zip passed 700 yards of cars backed up, slam on the brakes, turn on their blinker and expect to be let in line just before the obstruction?

There is a special place in hell for those people.

We were sitting in a backup once when a guy in a Mercedes convertible came driving up the shoulder passing everyone...until he got to a bridge. He sat there until I could no longer see him in the rear view mirror.

 

[Pete]

We were sitting in a backup once when a guy in a Mercedes convertible came driving up the shoulder passing everyone...until he got to a bridge. He sat there until I could no longer see him in the rear view mirror.

You gotta love that. Unfortunately only the ones he passed will know what he did. Once those people pass him some do-gooder will let them in.

 

[desertrat]

You gotta love that. Unfortunately only the ones he passed will know what he did. Once those people pass him some do-gooder will let them in.

So he'll be back where he started. Just more pissed off.

 

[Pete]

People will do that at the toll booths for the Bay bridge. Drive all the way down and jam in line. They prefer the "Middle Eastern" driving technique and just jam over without making eye contact.

 

[cattitude]

People will do that at the toll booths for the Bay bridge. Drive all the way down and jam in line. They prefer the "Middle Eastern" driving technique and just jam over without making eye contact.

They do it everywhere. Very common driving practice....me first, screw everyone else. What these idiots don't realize is that they make the situation worse. But they don't care as long as THEY don't have to wait.

 

[Pete]

I admit I am prone to road rage and I don't apologize for it. It takes alot but when someone has finally plucked my last nerve it pizzes me right off.

A year or so ago taking boy to DE. for the weekend we were tooling along on 301 on the Eastern shore going to DE. Out there it is 4 lane divided and nothing for miles. We are cruising along about 65 or so and come up to a truck and a old piece of crap Mustang trailing him. I ease over to the left to pass and just before I do the Mustang slides over in front of me. He gets to about the middle of the guys trailer and slows to match the trucks speed. We drove about 5 miles and he wouldn't budge, just camped there. I started getting torqued and flashed the lights. The dude waved. I eased up closer and he brake checked me but I expected it.

Finally after about 5 more miles I said screw it, took a deep breath and moved over to trail the truck in the right lane. A van with plumbing stuff on the roof then moved up behind him. The guy in the van looked at me and shook his head because he was following me and saw the whole thing. Finally after 3 or so more miles he started blowing the horn and got right up on the guys ass. I knew what was coming so I inched up a little closer to the truck. Finally the Mustang piled on the brakes to brake check the van. Bad mistake, he opened up a 17 foot 6 inch hole between his bumper and the semi and I put my 17 foot long truck right in there.

By this time I am steaming, the van guy is steaming and there is a line of cars behind us about a mile long. Clear of the Mustang I floored it to pass the truck and get clear of all the mess. Mustang man got pizzed and I saw him flying up behind me. Not yet being clear of the semi on the right I jammed the brakes. I saw the nose of the Mustang dive and tire smoke. At this point I was ready to go to jail, I didn't give a crap. So I accelerated clear and before I could get over to the right he flew up the right side and yanked it over in front of me.

Now it is moments like this in a mans mind where we do some calculations. How much time will I serve? If I hit him do I have enough speed to go up and over his car? Should I speed up? Should I arc right to hit him more squarely in the door? I opted for the glare and hold. I held my line and speed. He freaked at the thought of a pickup not giving an inch and plowing him at 70mph and yanked it back nearly losing it.

Every time I go that way now I look for that car.

 

[desertrat]

It's good you called his bluff and didn't let it escalate any further. Mustang vs. truck? I'm surprised he was screwing with you. Some people are just idiots. My wifey says I shouldn't feel it's my responsibility to "educate" them.

 

[Pete]

It's good you called his bluff and didn't let it escalate any further. Mustang vs. truck? I'm surprised he was screwing with you. Some people are just idiots. My wifey says I shouldn't feel it's my responsibility to "educate" them.

Escalation was pretty much done. He was going to yeild or I was going to drive right over the top of his car. End of story.

 

[ohstate]

Exactly. It's only there for your convenience. Zipper merge? Oh yeah, there's a merge. Just not a mile up the road from where the backup is obviously starting. I hate people who pretend there isn't a bunch of people waiting to turn or exit and continue on until "oh, here's where I need to go, let me in, what is wrong with you people, I need to go there, you are all so unconcerned about me".

The line wouldn't be nearly so long if everyone waiting until they had to merge to get in line. It has been shown in study after study and is taught in driver's ed classes. I guess you missed that day.

 

[itsbob]

The line wouldn't be nearly so long if everyone waiting until they had to merge to get in line. It has been shown in study after study and is taught in driver's ed classes. I guess you missed that day.

In the case of 235 and 4, you'd be blocking and slowing down the through traffic on 235.. Which is another reason people get pissed off at the last minute mergers.. they have to come to a complete stop and wait for someone to let the merger in.. I'm surprised there haven't been many more rearenders there with the speed people tend to travel on 235 N..

IF traffic was actually MOVING at that intersection the zipper might work, but it's NOT.. and now instead of one lane being stoppped cold you are talking about blocking two lanes the turn lane and the through traffic lane, not a good move.

 

[Bronwyn]

IF traffic was actually MOVING at that intersection the zipper might work, but it's NOT.. and now instead of one lane being stoppped cold you are talking about blocking two lanes the turn lane and the through traffic lane, not a good move.

So true. I was on the Solomans side of the traffic jam. I decided that I could wait till later to cross the bridge, I was going to just eat dinner in Solomans and then try. Of course BOTH lanes were blocked because people were trying to wait and merge left. I had to sit in traffic for thirty minutes just to reach the Rec center so I could turn around.

 

[ohstate]

In the case of 235 and 4, you'd be blocking and slowing down the through traffic on 235.. Which is another reason people get pissed off at the last minute mergers.. they have to come to a complete stop and wait for someone to let the merger in.. I'm surprised there haven't been many more rearenders there with the speed people tend to travel on 235 N..

IF traffic was actually MOVING at that intersection the zipper might work, but it's NOT.. and now instead of one lane being stoppped cold you are talking about blocking two lanes the turn lane and the through traffic lane, not a good move.

I wasn't talking about that intersection, just where two lanes merge into one. Not where people cut over at the last minute where both lanes continue. For example, just N. of Rte 4 on 235, three lanes become two. It is completely legal and makes traffic work better if the alternate merge is used at that spot.

 

[Penn]

They other day, when I was coming back over the bridge from Solomons, I saw a guy in a Stratus trying to pass a whole bunch of cars in the right hand lane.

I stepped on it, matched his speed, and he ended up having to make the right turn that leads you under the bridge to the island.

I do not understand the craving some drivers have to "get ahead of the next guy." You're going nowhere fast, heading up that bridge, because due to semis, sightseers, or people that are scared of that bridge, they all end up doing around 45 - 50 mph, tops.

So, what's the rush?

 

[Sharon]

They other day, when I was coming back over the bridge from Solomons, I saw a guy in a Stratus trying to pass a whole bunch of cars in the right hand lane.

I stepped on it, matched his speed, and he ended up having to make the right turn that leads you under the bridge to the island.

I do not understand the craving some drivers have to "get ahead of the next guy." You're going nowhere fast, heading up that bridge, because due to semis, sightseers, or people that are scared of that bridge, they all end up doing around 45 - 50 mph, tops.

So, what's the rush?

I see that a lot too. I just let them pass and hope they find the radar before I do. Sometimes they'll be sitting at the light (235/4) by the time I get there, so I'll wave.

 

[Penn]

I see that a lot too. I just let them pass and hope they find the radar before I do.

Sometimes they'll be sitting at the light (235/4) by the time I get there, so I'll wave.

THAT is something I have definitely done!! I've occasionally mouthed the words at them - "Do you always drive like an azzhole?"