The road safety thread.

[morticia]

It was incredibly dangerous stuff. Not alone should he be put off the road but the safety of his kids should be monitored by the authorities as they are at risk while in the care of that moron.

That's disgraceful. Where are the traffic corps when you need them??

Given the price of fuel, I'd love to know how many car miles we've lost since 2008, and which drivers have been most affected? I'd take a guess at the boy racers all right.

Another reason for the drop in mortality is the newly opened motorways/dual carriageways..... UK figures state that 70% of fatalities are down to rural A roads, only 10-20% down to mortorways....less chance of head on collision at speed.

[Count Bobulescu]

Be glad you’re not driving in Los Angeles this weekend. A ten mile stretch of I-405 (the San Diego Freeway) will be shutdown in both directions for 53 hours, in order to demolish half a bridge. 4,000 tons of concrete to be hauled away. The other half gets demolished next year. The contractor will pay a fine of $12,000 for every ten minute delay beyond the scheduled reopening time. The section being closed, in order to facilitate a $1B widening project, (already 12 lanes wide), currently carries an average of 300,000 vehicles a day midweek, and 250,000 a day on the weekend, and is in the top 5 busiest sections of road in the US. The expected mess, with possible 60 mile tailbacks is known as carmageddon.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,5780842.story

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...8DI_video.html

[Count Bobulescu]

Cyclists are quicker than jet aircraft. One up for pedal power.

Because of the potential carmageddon issues in L.A. this weekend, discount airline Jet Blue decided to offer $4 (I-405) promotional flights across the city from Long Beach in the southwest, to Burbank in the north, and back, a distance of about forty miles each way. A group of elite cyclists issued a charity challenge, that said we can do this quicker than your Airbus A-320. And they did. One of their group took the flight. Rules were designed to make it as close to real life experience as possible. Flight time was only twelve minutes, but other airport delays added time. cyclists took ninety minutes, and abided by all traffic rules, but door to door they were one hour quicker.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,1625578.story

[morticia]

Brilliant..... hope that got lots of carbon neutral publicity...

[Count Bobulescu]

Try this for road safety etiquette.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...y.html?hpid=z5

[Baron von Biffo]

On the M7 southbound just past Naas earlier tonight, traffic was heavy but moving quite fast, I was stunned by a motorcyclist speeding along between the two occupied lanes. The smallest slip by either the idiot himself or a driver in either lane could have proved fatal.

The current RSA ad came wryly to mind. Even though it acknowledges that more than half of bike accidents are the fault of the biker, the ad targets drivers and cautions them to be more bike aware.

Perhaps the resources would have been better spent targeting the biggest menace when it comes to biker safety - Bikers.

[Count Bobulescu]

Here’s some new information that suggests tings in oireland are not really so bad.


http://www.benzinga.com/pressrelease...try-for-road-s

[Count Bobulescu]

Here’s a new type of intersection that’s getting attention in the US. Obviously, youse flip left for right, (I think, you hope).


The diverging diamond intersection. Not suitable for all situations, but sometimes appropriate.


http://www.slate.com/id/2300425/

[jpc]

On the M7 southbound just past Naas earlier tonight, traffic was heavy but moving quite fast, I was stunned by a motorcyclist speeding along between the two occupied lanes. The smallest slip by either the idiot himself or a driver in either lane could have proved fatal.

The current RSA ad came wryly to mind. Even though it acknowledges that more than half of bike accidents are the fault of the biker, the ad targets drivers and cautions them to be more bike aware.

Perhaps the resources would have been better spent targeting the biggest menace when it comes to biker safety - Bikers.

There is no issue with filtering between traffic lanes.
At low speeds.
Do it all the time.
But at anything over 50 kph very risky
As for targeting bikers thats typical political playing to the crowds.
Minority group easy to pick on etc.
Europe has been at it for years.
Riding bikes powered by pedals or engines carries an element of risk.
But then again so do many thing that are enjoyable.

[Baron von Biffo]

There is no issue with filtering between traffic lanes.
At low speeds.
Do it all the time.
But at anything over 50 kph very risky

In this case I was doing around 100km/h in the left lane and was being overtaken by lots of other vehicles while the prat on the bike went up between the lanes. That's just plain reckless driving.

I've long believed that uninsured and drunk drivers should have their vehicles seized as part of their punishment and I'd add this sort of riding to that list.

As for targeting bikers thats typical political playing to the crowds.
Minority group easy to pick on etc.
Europe has been at it for years.
Riding bikes powered by pedals or engines carries an element of risk.
But then again so do many thing that are enjoyable.

Drunk drivers are a minority as well but they're targeted for a reason - Their behaviour is a danger to themselves and others.

The RSA ad admits that more than half of bike accidents are the fault of the bikers but it goes on to address drivers. To my mind it makes more sense to target the resources on the greatest cause of the problem.

[morticia]

There are a number of pedal cycle riders who could be done for self endangerment as well. Traffic lights appear to be for lesser mortals, as is illumination in the winter.

The cops are getting better on speeding, drink driving etc, but they never seem to be around when the seriously dodgy lane changing, undertaking etc is going on.

[Baron von Biffo]

Again this evening I saw a Traffic Corps car on cash escort duty in Portlaoise. Road deaths are sad but cash is what really matters.

[Count Bobulescu]

Don’t get run over by this bus.

Obama went campaign walkabout this week, more precisely busabout. He got a new set of wheels. Secret Service unveiled one of two new buses. $1.1M each. Got a surprising amount of attention. They are government property. The other bus will be available to the R nominee for the campaign. Previously, SS would lease buses, upgrade security, and then downgrade at end of lease. Less expensive to custom build over a ten year lifespan. Buses will be available to other “protectees”. The Prez limo has an SS codename of the “The Beast” the bus has been codenamed “Stagecoach”. Politico thought that lacked sufficient testosterone befitting such a vehicle, and invited readers to submit alternatives. The winner, Ground Force One.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/secre...ry?id=14317203

http://www.insideline.com/car-news/n...road-trip.html

[Count Bobulescu]

Speeding supersized, 29 photo’s.

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...edweek/100129/

[Count Bobulescu]

Photo of the day. Garbage truck dangles from third floor window. Don’t drive like me.

http://www.theatlantic.com/personal/...garage/243771/