Drivers who choke when the goin' gets tuff

Two posts from reader Charlie in Fort Worth:

I am absolutely amazed at just how badly people drive some days. Let me ask a question: What are you supposed to do when you come to a 4 way intersection where all traffic lights are out? This should be an easy answer. STOP as if the intersection has stop signs. I ran into two intersections today — the worst being Summit@Henderson in Ft Worth -- where 99% of drivers seem to have forgotten this. All the drivers on Summit just kept going and going and going leaving all of us on Henderson either to fend for our lives trying to get on Summit or stopped forever. I’m just amazed there weren’t any wrecks there today. Where were the Ft Worth police when we needed them?

What’s the problem, drivers? Are you afraid to go the speed limit on 183 by NorthEast Mall and by Central? 3pm today I head home from work expecting to hit Rangers traffic but there wasn’t any. I ran into heavy rush hour traffic at about 315pm westbound on 183 at Central. 3pm!!! Why? I ask. No wrecks. Dry Roads. Beautiful sunny skies. Every stinkin’ day I run into the same problem. “Oh no! there’s a bend coming up. I should slow down to 35-40 mph at best to make that bend. Better yet, I’ll hit my brakes multiple times and cause a backup all the way into Irving!” Come On people there is absolutely no reason to slow down on that part of 183! The speed limit is 60. That means that you can SAFELY come around those bends at 60 mph. In fact, you can even make those bends at 70 or so. Let’s all do the right thing and quit turning 183 into a parking lot. 3PM!!!! Jeez.

Comments

[TWU Commuter]

I've always thought the slowdown by NE Mall was more due to the fact that the four lanes of traffic where 820 and 183 combine are quickly reduced to two by the time you reach Holiday Lane. No idea what the problem is back at Central, though.

[Gordon Dickson]

Part of the problem on the eastbound side is the 183 on-ramp from Bedford-Euless Road is on an incline (just before the Central Drive exit) and most people don't have enough horsepower to get going any faster than about 40 mph before being forced to merge with the main lane traffic. One tentative merger or near-fender bender is all it takes to create a sea of brake lights that lasts long after the offending parties have moved on.

[Michael H.]

'course you also have the problem where most of the people in Texas don't know *how* to work a 4-way stop.

[Doug]

If I was Boss of the World...Drivers would need to take a road test and earn their license to drive on the freeway before they would be allowed on there.

[chris]

Uh, Summit and Henderson don't intersect.