Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Changing lanes can be a risky maneuver

By STEVE HEGARTY
Published April 25, 2005

Years ago there was an automotive daredevil act called the "Hurricane Hell Drivers." If you ever saw the drivers, you, a) would remember, and b) are old.

They had one scary stunt where they crisscrossed lanes in front of each other at high speeds, leaving a mere inch or two between cars. It seemed like they were always on the verge of crashing and burning and, of course, that's why you kept watching.

It is with that in mind that we discuss a pet peeve: major roads that merge and cause motorists to weave crazily across lanes.

We like to think of it as Hurricane Hell Drivers for amateurs.

A good example is the northbound lane of Interstate 75 just north of the Pasco-Hillsborough county line. That's a tough spot for all those drivers trying to get over in the right lane to exit at State Road 56. Good luck getting around all those northbound I-275 cars. You're on the left, going right. They're on the right, going left. Everybody's going 70 mph.

Or how about northbound Dale Mabry Highway just after the railroad tracks where it merges with U.S. 41. If you need to get over to take a right on State Road 54, you have about three lanes and a dozen cars to contend with.

We're sure you have even better examples.

Here at no extra charge is our informal guide to crossing several lanes at high speed. First, turn on your blinker. It's amazing how many people don't use the blinker until the last second. Use it. You know where you're going. Why keep everyone else guessing? Maybe, just maybe, someone will see it and make room for you.

Also, don't forget that acceleration works. Sometimes you have to slow down to get into the next lane, but most often slowing down freaks out everyone behind you. That's how accidents happen. Another tip is to take the attitude that you have plenty of time to make the lane changes. You don't, but take that attitude anyway. Everyone seems to make the lane changes at the same moment.

If all else fails, wear a big, goofy helmet and put decals of orange flames on the side of your car. People will get out of your way. It worked for the Hurricane Hell Drivers.

Heritage Pines signal

The folks who live in Heritage Pines heard a long time ago that they would get a traffic signal at their entrance at the Pasco-Hernando county line. It's been a while.

We have news. We're not saying it's good or bad. Just news.

The signal - at County Line Road and Grand Club Drive - should be up and running by late June.

This is one of those projects where the county has the developer handle some road improvements and the signal. That's why we had to go to Lennar Homes to get an answer.

Lennar operations manager Ken Wagner said the project - the signal itself and the minor road improvements nearby - was approved a while back. There have been a few delays.

You might think the holdup was the fact that the signal would be right there on the county line, requiring approvals from two bureaucracies. No, that's not it.

It was the same phenomenon that has delayed such projects for the county and the Florida Department of Transportation for months. After the hurricane season, the storm-ravaged areas got first dibs on signal poles and other equipment.

That slowed things down for this project too. But work should start soon. It should be finished by late June.

Want to vent about traffic problems? Drivers' Side welcomes commuters' rants, comments and suggestions. Send e-mail to hegarty@sptimes.com or leave a phone message at 813 909-4610.

[Last modified April 25, 2005, 01:04:14]