Variable Speed Limits on i285 to start Sunday (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: 2014, dangerous)

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

Variable speed limits on Perimeter Highway effective Sunday - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Pay attention lest you get nabbed by a cop when the speed limits drops to lower speeds of 35-45.

[skbl17]

I'd rather they add lights to I-285 (and turn the ones at the I-20 interchange in DeKalb back on,) but I digress.

Most people seem to paint the VSL project as a waste of money, which it may very well be. Time will tell if we actually got our money's worth.

- skbl17

[ElleKaye]

If the true motivation is "warn drivers in advance that they are approaching heavy congestion or a crash site and to slow down that approaching traffic to a safe speed", then that's a waste of effort. You'd have to slow down anyway because the traffic is jacked up. How about a few words of explanation about why it's jacked up? The majority of the time when speeds increase above a crawl, I never find out what the problem was in the first place.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

Originally Posted by ElleKaye

If the true motivation is "warn drivers in advance that they are approaching heavy congestion or a crash site and to slow down that approaching traffic to a safe speed", then that's a waste of effort. You'd have to slow down anyway because the traffic is jacked up. How about a few words of explanation about why it's jacked up? The majority of the time when speeds increase above a crawl, I never find out what the problem was in the first place.

If people obey the signs and slow down then it helps by slowing the flow of cars entering the congestion which helps improve the overall flow of the system. Is why I always laugh at the idiots who are so obsessed with having their car literally planted on the backside of the car in front of them riding their brakes, and racing from a stop to go a couple hundred feet as quick as possible to only stop again. I'd rather drive at a slow 35 mph consistently than to constanly have to slam my brakes and stop. I personally already try to achieve this when in congestion in spite of the rage the aggressive drivers show when they see that the car in front of them is not sniffing the fumes of the next car.

[PKCorey]

Originally Posted by ElleKaye

If the true motivation is "warn drivers in advance that they are approaching heavy congestion or a crash site and to slow down that approaching traffic to a safe speed", then that's a waste of effort. You'd have to slow down anyway because the traffic is jacked up. How about a few words of explanation about why it's jacked up? The majority of the time when speeds increase above a crawl, I never find out what the problem was in the first place.

It's not a waste of effort. The backup coming from people suddenly stopping. If you gradually slow traffic down to the point of congestion, traffic will keep moving.

Most of the time, the overheads signs warn of the issues ahead, if the sign is in your direction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvb2ngNA1ME Video about the project

I'd rather they add lights to I-285 (and turn the ones at the I-20 interchange in DeKalb back on,) but I digress.

Yeah, I was hoping to get lights on the interstate and the overhead signs with this project but no go.

[sedimenjerry]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

If people obey the signs and slow down then it helps by slowing the flow of cars entering the congestion which helps improve the overall flow of the system. Is why I always laugh at the idiots who are so obsessed with having their car literally planted on the backside of the car in front of them riding their brakes, and racing from a stop to go a couple hundred feet as quick as possible to only stop again. I'd rather drive at a slow 35 mph consistently than to constanly have to slam my brakes and stop. I personally already try to achieve this when in congestion in spite of the rage the aggressive drivers show when they see that the car in front of them is not sniffing the fumes of the next car.

I do that a lot. Especially at traffic lights. No point in roaring to a light just to slam on my brakes, sit then accelerate from 0. Much easier to just slow down to 15 or 20 and coast. Then when the light changes, just cruise through. Saves gas. Of course with a bunch of traffic all bets are off. The problem with lights and stop and go on the freeway is that people don't accelerate at the same time. At really bad lights you can watch the light change from green to red before you even start to move. That's incredibly inefficient. On the freeways I do the same thing. A lot of times for safety. I end up in the same place at the same time but with more than 100 feet from the car in front of me which helps if someone makes a sudden stop.

[bornjacksonian]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

Pay attention lest you get nabbed by a cop when the speed limits drops to lower speeds of 35-45.

I really wonder will this be enforced.

[netdragon]

Originally Posted by skbl17

I'd rather they add lights to I-285 (and turn the ones at the I-20 interchange in DeKalb back on,) but I digress.

We already have metering on I-285 in Cobb and some of Sandy Springs, so that wouldn't help us.

[skbl17]

Originally Posted by netdragon

We already have metering on I-285 in Cobb and some of Sandy Springs, so that wouldn't help us.

Sorry about that; I should have been more clear. I was referring to the lack of overhead lighting on I-285, not ramp meters.

- skbl17

[Fubarbundy]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

If people obey the signs and slow down then it helps by slowing the flow of cars entering the congestion which helps improve the overall flow of the system. Is why I always laugh at the idiots who are so obsessed with having their car literally planted on the backside of the car in front of them riding their brakes, and racing from a stop to go a couple hundred feet as quick as possible to only stop again. I'd rather drive at a slow 35 mph consistently than to constanly have to slam my brakes and stop. I personally already try to achieve this when in congestion in spite of the rage the aggressive drivers show when they see that the car in front of them is not sniffing the fumes of the next car.

While I understand and applaud all attempts to ease congestion, intentionally slowing to instigate rage from "aggressive" drivers is more dangerous than those who confidently and competently endeavor to actually keep up with the flow of traffic while maintaining a reasonably safe two or three car length space ahead.