‘Penn Dots’ project doesn’t make a whole lot of sense
To the editor:
Here's one I've been thinking about for years - and frankly wanted to forget about - but PennDOT wouldn't leave bad enough alone, so here we are:
Among the weirdest things we've run across - literally - might be called "Penn Dots."
Several years ago, while heading north on I-81 near Carlisle one dark night, I momentarily swerved and hit the brakes, trying to avoid a big white blob that had suddenly, as I came over a rise and around a bend, appeared in my headlights!
I quickly realized the blobs were just paint - about 30 2- by 4-foot white ovals.
Subsequent day trips revealed accompanying road signs advising "Maintain 2 Dot Minimum Between Vehicles," and that PennDOT had painted 15 in each of two groupings.
Over the years I noticed that everyone ignored the advice - perhaps because the blobs were about three or four car lengths apart, which would mean driving six to eight car lengths apart. And I distinctly remember being taught to keep two car lengths behind!
Worse yet, over the years the road signs disappeared and the ovals deteriorated into odd shapes and sizes.
I'd have let it rest, as we all occasionally commit stupid acts, and PennDOT, after all, is just people.
But, I recently was traveling down Route 41 - a two-lane road east of Lancaster which connects the famous Gap, Pa., Town Clock with Avondale, Pennsylvania's mushroom capital - when suddenly appeared fresh white oval blobs, complete with signs advising the "2 Dot Minimum," etc.
For years I'd chalked up the I-81 dots as a fluke experiment that failed. Have they appeared in other parts of the state? I'm now curious!
I also like the "Fog Area" signs - they don't matter when you can see them, and you can't see them when they do matter!
Or, as a famous comedian once said regarding "Low Flying Aircraft" road signs, "What am I supposed to do, duck?"
Paul Politis, online reader
Greencastle
|
TheGr1zz
|
|
|---|---|
|
07-08-08 8:40 AM
|
In 1986 it was the "two second rule", that has been updated to "four second rule" as listed in the drivers manual. I have two driving pet peeves, tailgating and failure to use signaling devices, so the increased distance between vehicles would be welcome. But....It is unrealistic. Try driving on 322/I81/I83/581/I95 etc. during rush hour and I dare you to keep four seconds between your car and the vehicle in front of you. As soon as you open that space it will be filled, usually by someone cutting you off. Try as I might to be safe driver, with the traffic load on the highways, it is virtually impossible to keep four seconds. I use what I was taught in high school, two seconds between vehicles, add in paying attention and anti-lock brakes and it is about the best you can hope for. Now if only all those new vehicles out there could just get their turn signals fixed I'd be really happy :)
|
|
smokinjo
|
|
|
07-08-08 7:00 AM
|
good advice Bucks !!!!!
|
|
voiceofbucks1
|
|
|
07-08-08 5:41 AM
|
Paul- Sorry, but your memory has failed you. Decades ago the PA Driver Manual expressed following distance in car lengths/10 mph of speed, ie. 65 MPH = 6.5 car lengths following distance. More recently, the Manual instructs drivers to maintain a 4-6 second following distance as a safe "adjustment cushion." Failure to maintain an appropriate following distance is not only a leading cause of collisions on our highways, it is also an indicator of aggressive driving tendancies. AAA offers driver improvement courses that will refresh your memory, reduce your driving risk levels, and result in a lower insurance premium. Sign up soon, please!
|