From Deseret News archives:
Express lanes create more traffic problems
Oh, wait. It is too soon, since I'm still next to a double solid line, which means the Utah Department of Transportation doesn't want me to enter the lane just yet. What do I do? Stay in the left lane and slow down, or check my side mirror for police and just quickly ease into the sparsely traveled E lane, risking an $85 ticket? Already a couple cars ahead of me have made the switch, but I normally don't want to break the law.
Dang it!
A few minutes later it's time to leave the E lane so I can exit on Center Street in Orem. This means I have to get out of the lane at 1600 North, since it's the last access point before that offramp. The 3,000-foot dance begins, as E laners try to merge right and E laner wannabes merge left, all as we navigate the daunting Lindon turn in the freeway.
Phew! I made it through another day without sideswiping anyone!
Social and traffic engineers have made it worse with the double line facade, because restricted access points are even more dangerous than normal car pool lanes. A recent study of HOV lanes in northern California (no double lines, car pool lanes only active during rush hours) and high occupancy toll lanes in Southern California (double lines restricting access, 24/7 car pool only) showed there were more accidents per car mile in Southern California. The researchers found that the limited access points created frantic crossovers and more accidents.
So, UDOT, help me out here. Why did we follow the Southern California model when our traffic is likely closer in its metrics to northern California? What have the safety results been like here since the introduction of express lanes? Nearly every day I see people violating the weak line restrictions.
Give me my car pool lanes back and stop tempting me to flout a flawed law.
Mark Steele lives in American Fork.
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