Yet Another Wreck!!!

[Grumpy]

I see a lot of stupidity in the driving down to Pax every day, but I also drove to DC for 20 years and that is way worse..I drove to Silver Spring last weekend and hit a jam on the beltway caused by a car driving 50 to 55 in the fast lane. Woman driving the car had her newspaper draped over her steering wheel and reading it. Have seen that frequently on Rt 4 going north but never on the beltway. Lot of knuckleheads in southern MD but my bet is on the DC area having more.

 

[3CATSAILOR]

I had an accident on 235 by the CVS, when that light was first put up. I zoned out, forgot it was there, and ran it, hitting someone who was crossing onto Buck Hewitt. Significant damage to both vehicles. Clearly my fault and a cite-able offense. Police took a report but never wrote any tickets or summons.

It sounds like someone forgot to do his or her job.

 

[spr1975wshs]

I had one of those unreported fender benders a couple weeks ago.
I was going north on 3 Notch, stopped in the left travel lane at Chancellors Run for the light.

When it turned green, I hesitated to let the cars ahead of me actually start rolling forward.
The young lady behind me spaced out and started moving before I did.

The jolt was definitely a wake-up.
We pulled into the left turn lane (leaving room ahead for those needing to turn).

Had a nice little conversation while she wrote down her info for me.
Inspected the cars, neither of us was hurt, I was comforting her, manure occureth and all that.

Bent my rear license plate and scuffed the bumper, which cleaned up with some Windex.

When I was a hunter's safety instructor back in Illinois, we'd get a copy of the state DNR Incident Report for the year.
Analysis showed most are caused by 3 factors: lack of knowledge, impatience, or inattention to what's going on around you.
They get worse when you combine 2 or more of these.

My wife and I are from western Massachusetts originally. Driving is a blood sport back there, but proportionately, I think they have fewer accidents than I see on a weekly basis around here.

 

[officeguy]

My wife and I are from western Massachusetts originally. Driving is a blood sport back there, but proportionately, I think they have fewer accidents than I see on a weekly basis around here.

In the adjoining states, those drivers are known as 'ma$$holes'.

 

[BernieP]

For some reason reply with quote isn't working

Analysis showed most are caused by 3 factors: lack of knowledge, impatience, or inattention to what's going on around you.
They get worse when you combine 2 or more of these.

My wife and I are from western Massachusetts originally. Driving is a blood sport back there, but proportionately, I think they have fewer accidents than I see on a weekly basis around here.

I think what you see here is all three of those factors playing in to the collisions.

The laws in Maryland differ form those in other states, particularly when it comes to speed and right of way.
For instance if you drive in the left lane in New Jersey, you will earn your self a ticket unless you are passing

The reason it works in Mass is that they are working under the same understanding of the law and traffic moves

 

[spr1975wshs]

In the adjoining states, those drivers are known as 'ma$$holes'.

Heck, we call each other Ma$$holes.

 

[spr1975wshs]

The reason it works in Mass is that they are working under the same understanding of the law and traffic moves

All are playing from the same rule book, you nailed it.

 

[BernieP]

All are playing from the same rule book, you nailed it.

They are obviously driving with the same purpose in mind (getting to point B in the fastest time possible) and are cognizant of their surroundings (i.e. traffic).

I cannot say the same for some of the dolts I encounter daily on 235. Completely oblivious. It's been over 20 years since the BRAC expanded Pax River and increased the traffic on 235, t
the excuse that it's a rural community and people aren't use to it has long expired.
That leave the I don't care, I don't give a damn and a basic "F U" attitude.
Attitude is what I think causes the biggest issue. People refuse to merge. Watching multiple lanes converge, it would appear that people would rather sit in one long line than use the other lanes and then merge at the end.

 

[Grumpy]

Attitude is what I think causes the biggest issue.

Like the guys that do 50 flying up to the end of the merge lane and pushing their way in when they could have merged 200 yards before?? those guys??

 

[PeoplesElbow]

Like the guys that do 50 flying up to the end of the merge lane and pushing their way in when they could have merged 200 yards before?? those guys??

Or the guys that fly by you on the left hand side only to cut you off because they wanted to make a right hand turn just a couple hundred feet down the road from where they made the decision to pass you in the first place?

 

[RoseRed]

My wife and I are from western Massachusetts originally. Driving is a blood sport back there, but proportionately, I think they have fewer accidents than I see on a weekly basis around here.

I was in Royalston last weekend.

 

[cheezgrits]

We were heading north bound just before the accident happened. A car in the left lane decided without warning, that it needed to be in the turning lane for Aldi and cut right across in front of us, closely missing a car already in the turning lane. We passed comment about the idiot driving and the reason so many accidents happen. Fifteen minutes later heading South we passed the wreckage, not sure if there was any connection between the two incidents.

If we could break the SOMD habit of feeling like they MUST drive in the left lane all the time....

 

[PeoplesElbow]

If we could break the SOMD habit of feeling like they MUST drive in the left lane all the time....

Yea because that person wouldn't drive like an ass if they simply weren't in the left lane....

 

[glhs837]

The reason it works in Mass is that they are working under the same understanding of the law and traffic moves

All are playing from the same rule book, you nailed it.

I tell the wife that mayhem is avoided because everyone knows exactly what the rest will do. Like martial arts pros sparring it only works if everyone knows the moves. Last time I visited alone, I came out of Logan headed north, into a tunnel, Love that Dirty Water came on and it was glorious

Like the guys that do 50 flying up to the end of the merge lane and pushing their way in when they could have merged 200 yards before?? those guys??

If you open a gap as that other lane closes, it actually works a lot better. Then they dont have to push. And no, I'm not one of them, I'm the guy that opens a gap for the common good.

 

[Restitution]

If you open a gap as that other lane closes, it actually works a lot better. Then they dont have to push. And no, I'm not one of them, I'm the guy that opens a gap for the common good.

Actually, by letting these impatient buffoons in at the last second, all it teaches them is that they can get away with it instead of merging properly and/or properly planning to merge ahead of time.

It is not for the "common good" because eventually these idiots will wreck and possibly take some good folks with them to the hospital!

 

[glhs837]

Actually, by letting these impatient buffoons in at the last second, all it teaches them is that they can get away with it instead of merging properly and/or properly planning to merge ahead of time.

It is not for the "common good" because eventually these idiots will wreck and possibly take some good folks with them to the hospital!

Lets differentiate between someone who uses the merge lane properly, not someone who is driving at +20 over the pace of the folks in the non-merge lane. I should have made that distinction clear, I suppose. But talking about when to merge, that's a discussion to have.


https://www.google.com/maps/@38.3046573,-76.5218966,203m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

So, where in there is the "proper" place to merge?

 

[Grumpy]

Lets differentiate between someone who uses the merge lane properly, not someone who is driving at +20 over the pace of the folks in the non-merge lane.

Which was my original point. The zipper method of merging only works when both lanes are playing by the rules / common courtesy. I see it work that way maybe 50% of the time.

 

[GWguy]

Which was my original point. The zipper method of merging only works when both lanes are playing by the rules / common courtesy. I see it work that way maybe 50% of the time.

And really only works when both lanes are moving at speed and can adjust and merge like a zipper, as opposed to crawling at 0-10 mph and forcing your way in.

 

[BernieP]

And really only works when both lanes are moving at speed and can adjust and merge like a zipper, as opposed to crawling at 0-10 mph and forcing your way in.

when it slows down like that (or stops) it gives the a holes time to "close the gaps" and inhibit merging.

Where I see this a lot is on base, when multiple lanes have to neck down. If you don't get in line a mile back, you may not be permitted to get over.

This may explain why people get in the left lane and stay there, they worry their brother is driving and won't them move left (or right) when the time would be appropriate.

Same can be said of the right turn lane, people jump in that lane as soon if not sooner than they can and then goes as fast as they can to close the gap.

 

[Restitution]

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.3046573,-76.5218966,203m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

So, where in there is the "proper" place to merge?

Is this a serious question?? I will go on the assumption that it is

Can you see those shorter "dashed" lines? That is indicative of lane splitting between a travel lane and a merge lane. This is where you can merge from the merge lane into the travel lane.

Now, can you see those SOLID white lines? Those are indicative of lane separation. You are NOT legally allowed to merge "over" the solid white lines. This.... right here.... occurs multiple times EVERY... SINGLE.... DAY!!! Cars cutting in at the last second before the signal (which you can see... is a solid white line)

Hell... last night I saw a Sheriff's SUV make a right turn out of NAS Gate 1 onto 235 on a red light. In case some of you do not know... there is a NO TURN ON RED sign plain as day. No lights, no nothing... just turned and kept going only to stop at the next red light.

I suppose if our LEO isn't going to follow traffic laws, why should we??