Rich on the Road

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Let me start with a confession.  For most of my adult life I drove way too fast.  Way too fast.  Youthful indiscretions that cost me a lot of money in speeding tickets, threatened the loss of my license at one point... way too fast. 

But, when gas prices started to skyrocket a few months ago I happened to read a couple stories about hyper-milers - the folks who set their speed at between 55-60, try not to brake, coast when they can, maximizing mileage.  At $4/gallon it seemed like the prudent thing to do.  I tried it.  And, I liked it.  I set the cruise control at 60 (the speed limit on my drive to work), get out of the passing lane and relax.

The problem is, driving the speed limit often makes me feel like I'm about to be run over.  No one else is doing it.  Time and again cars blow up on my back bumper, then whip around.  Does no one else drive the speed limit? 

For awhile, I thought it was catching on.  Amid those going 85 or 90 were at least a few doing the speed limit, too.  But, as gas prices drop, the speed of those around me seems to have soared back up.

I know it's hypocritical for me to complain about what I did myself for so many years.  But, I'm telling you, the speed limit is the way to go.  I just wish a few others would join me on the way.

Rich

This should come as no surprise to anyone;  DFW is a traffic mess.  5th worst in the country, according to INRIX National Traffic Scorecard.

What did surprise me about the report that is most of the top 10 worst bottlenecks are in Tarrant, not Dallas, County.  Northeast Tarrant County has some real doozies. 

Here's a map that shows (in red) where the worst of the worst traffic jams are

You can read more on where and what is going on at:

http://scorecard.inrix.com/scorecard/Scorecard/INRI
X%20National%20Traffic%20Scorecard%201-25%205.pdfp>

Rich

 

 

Stemmons Freeway

Slogging through traffic on the way home to Denton County tonight I was happy to see that the new electronic roadside billboards had a message alerting drivers that in non-injury accidents they need to pull their vehicles off the highway. Please! It is the law. And, it will make a huge difference in traffic flow. Nowhere in the country (and I've traveled and lived in a lot of it) have I seen so many fender benders cause so many horrible traffic jams. It doesn't need to be. Pull off on a side street to exchange your insurance information. Or at least pull off on the shoulder. Don't jam up the works for hours by doing business in the middle of the freeway. Pass the word. Pull it off.
Richard Ray