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I make every effort to avoid I-85 when I can. I've driven through the area when there wasn't any construction, and it was still Mr. Toads's Wild Ride. One of the problems with I-85 through much of the Carolinas is that it's not nearly big enough for all of the truck traffic. There's a lot of traffic between Charlotte and Atlanta, and you have big trucks struggling to get up the hills, with frustrated car drivers weaving in and out, trying to get around them. You get one truck going 50 MPH up a hill in the right lane, and another one going 50.0001 MPH in the left lane, trying to pass them. Folks get impatient and do stupid stuff. I have a feeling that a lot of the near-daily big rig crashes may have a root cause in them being cut off by a car. Some of the truck drivers are to blame, too. I've been tooling along at 5 MPH over the posted limit, and had trucks go by so fast they practically blew me off the road. Not a good idea in heavy traffic, but I see it all the time.
Other parts of the country with heavy traffic have three or more lanes, with trucks prohibited from the left lane.
I make every effort to avoid I-85 when I can. I've driven through the area when there wasn't any construction, and it was still Mr. Toads's Wild Ride. One of the problems with I-85 through much of the Carolinas is that it's not nearly big enough for all of the truck traffic. There's a lot of traffic between Charlotte and Atlanta, and you have big trucks struggling to get up the hills, with frustrated car drivers weaving in and out, trying to get around them. You get one truck going 50 MPH up a hill in the right lane, and another one going 50.0001 MPH in the left lane, trying to pass them. Folks get impatient and do stupid stuff. I have a feeling that a lot of the near-daily big rig crashes may have a root cause in them being cut off by a car. Some of the truck drivers are to blame, too. I've been tooling along at 5 MPH over the posted limit, and had trucks go by so fast they practically blew me off the road. Not a good idea in heavy traffic, but I see it all the time.
Other parts of the country with heavy traffic have three or more lanes, with trucks prohibited from the left lane.
The majority of I-85 is 3 or more lanes in both directions. Especially in Greenville and Spartanburg. The only portion that isn't lies in Cherokee county and it's currently being widened to more lanes.
Part of the problem on that stretch of I-85 is that southwest of Pelham Road, people in the right lane slow down to 55 mph or so for at least a mile or two before the I-385 interchange. Come on- drive the speed limit!
I agree that the truck traffic is probably a significant contributor to the accidents. Not saying the truckers are at fault, but all of the truck traffic leads car drivers to do stupid things.
Part of the problem on that stretch of I-85 is that southwest of Pelham Road, people in the right lane slow down to 55 mph or so for at least a mile or two before the I-385 interchange. Come on- drive the speed limit!
It is now 5 lanes before you approach the interchange. I haven't experienced slow downs unless it's rush hour.
Part of the problem on that stretch of I-85 is that southwest of Pelham Road, people in the right lane slow down to 55 mph or so for at least a mile or two before the I-385 interchange. Come on- drive the speed limit!
This study could lead to bad PR for our area. The Governor should require the SCHP to more heavily enforce traffic rules in this area.
As SC drivers and citizens we should be demanding this. The next accident in these areas could be one of our loved ones.
I agree that the truck traffic is probably a significant contributor to the accidents. Not saying the truckers are at fault, but all of the truck traffic leads car drivers to do stupid things.
No, they do stupid things on their own. I put the blame squarely on selfish drivers.
The majority of I-85 is 3 or more lanes in both directions. Especially in Greenville and Spartanburg. The only portion that isn't lies in Cherokee county and it's currently being widened to more lanes.
You forgot I-85 south of exit 19. It's 2 lanes and very hilly down through the lake. There have been lots of accidents in just the last few years which shut down both lanes. Most often truckers have a bad habit of moving into the left lane to pass when they don't have enough room to squeeze in. They act entitled to the left lane when they should just stay in the right lane. If you've ever rode on the Autobahn, you can see that trucks know their place.
You forgot I-85 south of exit 19. It's 2 lanes and very hilly down through the lake. There have been lots of accidents in just the last few years which shut down both lanes. Most often truckers have a bad habit of moving into the left lane to pass when they don't have enough room to squeeze in. They act entitled to the left lane when they should just stay in the right lane. If you've ever rode on the Autobahn, you can see that trucks know their place.
Yes, but that's not the majority of 85 as the poster was implying. It's mostly 3 lanes or more in each direction in South Carolina.
I make every effort to avoid I-85 when I can. I've driven through the area when there wasn't any construction, and it was still Mr. Toads's Wild Ride. One of the problems with I-85 through much of the Carolinas is that it's not nearly big enough for all of the truck traffic. There's a lot of traffic between Charlotte and Atlanta, and you have big trucks struggling to get up the hills, with frustrated car drivers weaving in and out, trying to get around them. You get one truck going 50 MPH up a hill in the right lane, and another one going 50.0001 MPH in the left lane, trying to pass them. Folks get impatient and do stupid stuff. I have a feeling that a lot of the near-daily big rig crashes may have a root cause in them being cut off by a car. Some of the truck drivers are to blame, too. I've been tooling along at 5 MPH over the posted limit, and had trucks go by so fast they practically blew me off the road. Not a good idea in heavy traffic, but I see it all the time.
Other parts of the country with heavy traffic have three or more lanes, with trucks prohibited from the left lane.
There's a rumor (which actually makes sense, which is why I am passing this on): in the 85 roadway expansion effort, in construction zones, the roadway that comprises the temporary right hand lane, is really the shoulder - which is temporarily being used as a travel lane.
The asphalt composition of a travel lane is different than the asphalt composition in the shoulder; the asphalt composition of a shoulder lane isn't nearly as "sturdy" as that of a travel lane. Therefore, in construction zones, trucks are traveling on the left lane, while cars are traveling in the right lane (shoulder).
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As for 85, in NC, 85 was continually plagued by accidents...the issues 85 faces are not SC specific - all of which boggles the mind - considering that 85 is pretty much a straight run.
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