Warning speed traps in the morning

[preselector]

My observation is that a lot of drivers do not look far enough ahead of them while driving to anticipate what may happen. I believe most drivers are only watching the car immediately in front of them. I am always looking a quarter to half mile in front of me, giving me plenty of time to react to a change. If you are a tailgater, you should be using this technique - it could avoid some rear end collisions for you.

I agree with the observation. The problem is tailgaters can't use the technique for two reasons:

1. Tailgating shortens the reaction time and necessitates focusing on the car immediately ahead because some braking actions of the car being tailgated, such as brake checking, overreacting to speed traps, and suddenly realizing they're in the wrong lane, can't be predicted by looking far ahead.
2. Tailgating reduces the sight lines needed to look far ahead. Edging to the left to increase the sight lines of traffic in your lane decreases visibility of actions to the right of the car being tailgated.

The safest method of driving is look both near and far ahead, drive with the flow of traffic regardless of the speed limit, maintain spacing, and patiently readjust spacing when the inevitable jackass cuts in front of you.

 

[preselector]

As I am reading everyone's traffic complaints, I blame it all on technology. As a kid, we did not have all of these electronic devices to keep us occupied in a car or tell us where to go. So what did we do? We watched and learned how to drive from our parents. We learned how to read a map and estimate distance and time. We learned that it was common courtesy to pull to the left lane when someone was entering a highway. We learned to give 18 wheelers room to pull in front of us to pass on a hill and not ride in their blind spot. We learned to pull over and help people change tires. We learned that the Hilltop Motel was not a place we want to stay again. Most of us also grew up on or near a farm where we were driving pickups and tractors at the age of 10, so when we turned 16, it was not our first time behind the wheel. Oh the good ole days!!

and there were low traffic, dirt roads where you could practice and learn how to control a car in a skid.

 

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

I wpuld rathe rwalk than drive around in that peice of junk.

Other than simple transportation; it's not good for anything.
You can't run to the store, because there's no real storage.

 

[CrashTest]

Traffic Safety Initiative Underway in St. Mary’s | Southern Maryland News Net

Based on citizen complaints of speeding and aggressive driving, combined with 2011 motor vehicle collision data, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has identified two travel areas where enforcement efforts will be concentrated.

In 2011, four hundred-sixty (460) motor vehicle collisions occurred on Three Notch Road between Wildewood Parkway and Pegg Road in the California and Lexington Park areas of St. Mary’s County, Maryland. In addition, thirty-nine (39) motor vehicle collisions occurred on Maryland Route 5 inLeonardtown, Maryland.

Over the next couple of months, deputies and troopers will be patrolling these identified areas during the morning and evening hours when traffic volume is increased. Officers will attempt to detect motorists who are violating motor vehicle laws including speeding, unsafe lane change, following too closely, improper passing of school buses and inappropriate cell phone use. Motorists who violate Maryland traffic laws are subject to receive a citation for the violation(s).

This article confirms what everyone should know already. The 460 crashes on 235 last year are courtesy of our local "leadership".

The County Times and The Calvert Gazette Newspapers - Serving St. Mary's and Calvert Counties, Maryland

 

[SugarNSpikes]

Kind of unrelated (I skipped the middle 14 pages or so) but has anyone noticed increased police activity in Waldorf during Friday nights? I guess I don't get out much... Boyfriend and I were driving home on 301 yesterday and he was doing the speed limit in the middle lane and some a$$hole decides to fly out of Denny's onto 301 and almost flipped his car in the process. He then proceeded to tail us, when he could perfectly well go in the right or left lane to pass us then after a few minutes, he went around on the right and some cop comes flying out of nowhere. He tailed the guy for a few minutes and finally pulled him over to the right near the Taco Bell light. It completely made my night.

 

[Crazyolgooseman]

Dyson Road Speed trap! PG county

Try going 30 mph, it is agonizingly slow on that stretch!

B

 

[glhs837]

Saw an interesting stat yesterday. Seems teen driver fatalities continue to rise, even though overall fatalities continue to fall. We have added large chunks of population, and astronomically added to miles driven, yet fatalities are at thier lowest point since 1949. But we STILL cant keep teens alive behind the wheel. When are we going to realize we need to teach the whole driving spectrum, not just normal operations? Instead of letting death winnow out our teens.

 

[kwillia]

Saw an interesting stat yesterday. Seems teen driver fatalities continue to rise, even though overall fatalities continue to fall. We have added large chunks of population, and astronomically added to miles driven, yet fatalities are at thier lowest point since 1949. But we STILL cant keep teens alive behind the wheel. When are we going to realize we need to teach the whole driving spectrum, not just normal operations? Instead of letting death winnow out our teens.

Back in the day (mid-80s) when drivers ed was an actual class given at the high school, my driving instructor would do things such as grab the wheel so that the passenger side tires would leave the pavement and hit gravel so that we'd experience how to auto-correct. It was all those sorts of little things she did that was the eye opener as to what driving was all about.

 

[GWguy]

Back in the day (mid-80s) when drivers ed was an actual class given at the high school, my driving instructor would do things such as grab the wheel so that the passenger side tires would leave the pavement and hit gravel so that we'd experience how to auto-correct. It was all those sorts of little things she did that was the eye opener as to what driving was all about.

Do they still show that movie 'red highway' or something? It was old, but very effective.

But I guess teen's attitudes today are different than ours used to be. Today's teens would simply say, 'that will never happen to me'.

 

[glhs837]

No, they dont. And in reality, teens attitudes about invincibility haven't changed any. But modern autos are so damned good, that whereas it used to be that they would feel in danger far before they really were, nowadays, they can feel perfectly safe, even when they are in far over their heads. Then they take that next step, and it's time to die.

 

[LadyDi]

As a flagger, I fear for my and other people's lives on any road I am working. Inattentiveness has to be very high on the reckless driving spectrum. I have many a times been very visible (protective, reflective state approved clothing) and have had cars go right past me, stop paddle in hand and realize, "oh, there was a human stop sign there". They showed a film during our next level class that a lot of people take for granted. It made me more cautious a drive in the job as a whole. I've not been doing it very long but I pray I make it home safe every day/night. So, if you see "us", please be aware that we are not there to ruin your driving experience. We could be saving your life from going in a huge hole in the ground and/or live electric wires.

 

[bcp]

Do they still show that movie 'red highway' or something? It was old, but very effective.

But I guess teen's attitudes today are different than ours used to be. Today's teens would simply say, 'that will never happen to me'.

All of those movies where made by the Ohio State Department of Motor Vehicles back in the late 50s and early 60s.
Whats needed are new movies so those watching cant say, well the cars are built better now, etc...
The problem is that there is no way you could show one of those movies without taking the chance of doing mental harm to some poor sheltered child.

Somebody would sue it it was shown.

 

[CrashTest]

As a flagger, I fear for my and other people's lives on any road I am working. Inattentiveness has to be very high on the reckless driving spectrum. I have many a times been very visible (protective, reflective state approved clothing) and have had cars go right past me, stop paddle in hand and realize, "oh, there was a human stop sign there". They showed a film during our next level class that a lot of people take for granted. It made me more cautious a drive in the job as a whole. I've not been doing it very long but I pray I make it home safe every day/night. So, if you see "us", please be aware that we are not there to ruin your driving experience. We could be saving your life from going in a huge hole in the ground and/or live electric wires.

I hear you. Now ask your leadership why it took 4 years to build sidewalks on a 1 mile stretch of Great Mills Rd.

 

[MrZ06]

They should make teen drivers go to drifting classes. It would teach them alot about how to control the vehicle.

 

[bcp]

They should make teen drivers go to drifting classes. It would teach them alot about how to control the vehicle.

They should be quicker to take driving privilege away from drivers that refuse to drive safely.
That would do much more than teaching them to be idiots on the road.

 

[MrZ06]

there are a lot of useful skills that can be gained from drifting school. The biggest one would be how to control a skid.

 

[royhobie]

Hey just wanted to let everyone know that the police are out in force. I just got stopped by one of St Mary's Finest and they said they are out on a special enforcement detail and that any violation of the law will be strictly enforced and they will be doing this for awhile. They are all in the area around the base and I think I saw some more down my the airport. I got stopped on Great Mills Rd. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR DRIVE INTO WORK.

This enhanced enforcement has been advertised quite a bit. I've heard it on the radio several times. Our Deputies and Troopers do an outstanding job. Their job is a difficult one, that doesn't pay very well, can have long hours, and is quite stressful. Traffic stops is one of the most dangerous things a police officer can do. If you were speeding, you should receive a ticket. However, your post does provide notification to folks. So, perhaps people will slow down and obey the traffic laws of our State.

 

[royhobie]

That's a myth.

Lack of attention. Improper lane changes. Failure to use turn signals. Not having headlights on. Texting. Putting on make up. These sort of things cause accidents.

All of what you said can cause accidents. However, speeding does as well. Don't believe me? - Ask any police officer.

 

[bcp]

This enhanced enforcement has been advertised quite a bit. I've heard it on the radio several times. Our Deputies and Troopers do an outstanding job. Their job is a difficult one, that doesn't pay very well, can have long hours, and is quite stressful. Traffic stops is one of the most dangerous things a police officer can do. If you were speeding, you should receive a ticket. However, your post does provide notification to folks. So, perhaps people will slow down and obey the traffic laws of our State.

People will only slow down for a period of time that it takes not to get the ticket.
Im sure you have seen people on the highway driving 20 or more above the limit, then they see a cop and everyone slams the brakes.
Soon as they pass the cop, they go right back up to the 20 or more above.

Tickets on the other hand, high dollar tickets at that will do one of two or even both things.
It will slow people down all the time
It will add to the States money and help keep taxes down.

 

[royhobie]

Yes, someone "flying" down Chancellors at 60mph would be traveling at an unsafe speed for that road. Driving at 50mph on Chancellors is not an unsafe speed but it is "speeding".

Chancellors Run Road has communities and a major park along this road. This traffic can be heavier throughout this area, as well as significant pedestrian activity. Thus, the speed that is posted is determined to be the safe speed.