Message Monday - Don't stay left when you can drive right
How well a transportation system functions can depend on whether or not the system designers and users are on the same page. Take the left lane of a divided highway. Over the decades, road designers’ premise has been that the right lane is to be used for general traffic and the left lane is to be used for passing.
When a driver stays in the left lane and travels slower than the pace of traffic, the way the system flows can be disrupted, sometimes leading to frustration from the other drivers on the road.
Here are some tips courteous drivers follow to help keep traffic moving calmly and safely.
- Don’t Offend: Never cause another driver to change their speed or direction. That means not forcing another driver to use their brakes or turn the steering wheel in response to something you have done.
- Be Tolerant and Forgiving: The other driver may just be having a really bad day. Assume that it’s not personal.
- Do Not Respond: Avoid eye contact, don’t make gestures, maintain space around your vehicle and contact 9-1-1 if needed.
Do messages on overhead signs help unclog the left lane? https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a34056877/the-magic-words-to-hopefully-unclog-the-left-lane/
For 2020, there were a total of 338 fatalities reported. So far in 2021, there have been 25 deaths in traffic crashes. That is an increase of one since last Monday. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf
we need signs on four lane roads around cities with multiple exits stating thru traffic use left lane so drivers can merge easier onto the highway. that might help reduce accidents and deaths.
Posted by: ted daub | 03/01/2021 at 09:23 AM