07-25-2012, 05:17 PM
Oink,
Firstly, thanks for your postings in this thread, they are very interesting especially given your background. I appreciate your insight and knowledge in the area, it's good to read.
Secondly, I'm not sure there are more slower drivers here than elsewhere, the problem with slow drivers, particularly in the Puna area is that we don't have many major highways with more than two lanes. What that means, taking H-130 as an example, is you're much more likely to encounter them or their after effects. Got a nice clear drive into Keaau from HPP? Well, maybe, but more often than not you'll catch up with a slow driver with a bunch of frustrated drivers behind them and no way for others to pass that driver, at least legally. Then, when H-130 becomes a four-lane highway, the speed limit drops by 10 mph, so it frustrates some drivers even more (and there's quite often a cop there parked at the humane society). The frantic lane changing and need to get ahead of others is something to see just after 8am...
So I don't think its the number of slow drivers here, just their effects are much more noticeable. The same probably goes for the faster drivers and especially the more less-thoughtful ones. You encounter them more because the slow drivers end up backing up the traffic and so you see more people passing on the shoulder or tailgating you than you would, for instance, during a commute on a larger mainland highway.
Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/
quote:
Judging by some posts here there are a lot of slow drivers that never or rarely exceed the posted limit. That has not been my experience on the job. I've found those people are a rarity. Yes, in certain traffic situations the slow pokes can impede the flow of traffic and sometimes cause accidents, although they may not be physically involved in the crash. They cause those with poor judgement to pass when good judgement would dictate otherwise. Other than at intersections the crashes involving passing are the worst. As for enforcement, illegal passing is a hard one. It's one of those where even off duty LEOs mutter to themselves, "there's never a cop around when you need him."
Firstly, thanks for your postings in this thread, they are very interesting especially given your background. I appreciate your insight and knowledge in the area, it's good to read.
Secondly, I'm not sure there are more slower drivers here than elsewhere, the problem with slow drivers, particularly in the Puna area is that we don't have many major highways with more than two lanes. What that means, taking H-130 as an example, is you're much more likely to encounter them or their after effects. Got a nice clear drive into Keaau from HPP? Well, maybe, but more often than not you'll catch up with a slow driver with a bunch of frustrated drivers behind them and no way for others to pass that driver, at least legally. Then, when H-130 becomes a four-lane highway, the speed limit drops by 10 mph, so it frustrates some drivers even more (and there's quite often a cop there parked at the humane society). The frantic lane changing and need to get ahead of others is something to see just after 8am...
So I don't think its the number of slow drivers here, just their effects are much more noticeable. The same probably goes for the faster drivers and especially the more less-thoughtful ones. You encounter them more because the slow drivers end up backing up the traffic and so you see more people passing on the shoulder or tailgating you than you would, for instance, during a commute on a larger mainland highway.
Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/
] I've got to admit that while going ticket less all these years, I had a memorable "first" road test when getting my license as a teenager in North Carolina.