🚀 go-pugleaf

Hello,

Mike McKimens wrote:
 
>...... Negatives - a generation of
>drivers that did not learn to drive comfortably/knowledgably at 70 mph, and a
>few new highways not designed to the old standards that people insist on
>driving FAR above their safe limit (case in point:  the Dallas North Tollway
>was extended through Plano toward Frisco - the lane widths and curve
>sharpness clearly deserve their 55 mph postings, but people are driving it at
>70-75 anyway.)  

Tollway has only one sharp curve south of Belt Line that drops very steeply and
buckles to the east  to pass under Belt Line after passing over Quorum Drive 
(about 500 yards). It is the accident-prone site.

Mirs@ix.netcom.com says...

>Perhaps the rest of the Tollway deserves it too.  I don't think even the
>older portions of Tollway are/were speed-proof. I remember flipped 
>Mercs and other tragedies all the time on the lower half before the upper half
>existed.  I think people speed(ed) then on it because there was
>no enforcement whatsoever on the Tollway in those days.  After 2:00am it was
>often deserted, and bad wrecks would sit on the fully-lit road for a half hour 
>or more before someone saw it and called it in.  

The northern Tollway is much spacious and is capable of high speed driving. I 
have driven 130 on that portion without difficulties other than idiots who jump
into left lanes out of empty right lanes.

Many accidents are attributed to the overcapacity in the lower Tollway where the
drivers must either slow down or stop for toll collection. The stupid drivers never
bother to keep the distance between the cars. One jam of brake is all it needs for
chain collision.

Tollway has many vicissitudes in the lower portion where the drivers might have
limited visibility distance. It is attributed to accidents. Henceforth, engineering error...

The state troopers patrolling Tollway dislike the narrow shoulder because they are
easy target for obliteration. It is reason for low enforcement...

>Do you think kids should be trained in driver's ed to handle high speed?  

If the Germans can be learnt to drive at obscene speed on Autobahn, yes. It
is part of their driving education. I have seen the Fahrschule cars on Autobahn
on some occasions, passing us at 120.

Later,
Oliver