Traffic rules for traffic jam relief Houston REALLY needs (credit score, luxury)

[djtrancendance]

IMVHO they are...

1) A decent fine for rubber-necking (IE $30). I swear 60% of traffic on freeways is caused by this. The change from 15-65mph happens almost instantaneously after you pass the "oh wow" accident.

2) A similar fine for cutting across a lane into traffic going over 10 mph faster than you and within 2 car lengths or so of you...double it if you are not signaling. People need to learn to keep space cushions and look backward before switching lanes!

I swear a good 30% of freeway slow-downs are do to this.
Not to mention a huge percentage of highway accidents (you don't even have to speed to be put in huge danger by someone in an almost stopped lane randomly switching (without looking) into a lane going 40+ mph and, even if he is only 100 feet ahead of you going 5-mph when he does the lane switch, the accident is still your fault for "hitting the back of his/her car").

3) Use some tax dollars to get rid of most merge lanes or at least post signs 1 mile ahead of the merges & not, say, only 100-200 feet in front of them (give me a break, that's not long enough to find an easy gap to merge into).
There's no real safe "right-of-way" rule for navigating these so there are lots of merge accidents...plus when many people cut lanes at the last second they end up doing #2.

4) No cell phones on highways. Your coordination driving with one on is comparable to a drunk's...of course you're going to slow people down and likely cause accidents (or give others enough road rage to cause their own) if you use one.

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Final observation: why does the government spend SO much making wider highways and so little time teaching people how to avoid habits that cause traffic jams on freeways?

Thoughts on this or other ideas?

[SteveArmy]

$100 fine for flat tires that are already showing its cords. +$100 if theyre from when they were bought in a used car lot. +$100 if its >5yo "luxury' model

[City Love]

My husband has always said if he ever went into law enforcement he would create a "Traffic Flow Task Force." His idea is to assign officers to different sections of the city to oversee traffic patterns and accident traffic.

Accident are the main reason for most traffic. He would send an officer to accident scenes specifically to minimize the ambulances, tow trucks, and cops at the scene. And also make sure they are using the least amount of space safely possible. Many accidents take up several lanes without reason. Or Ambulances stick their butts out into another lane for no particular reason. Every extra lane helps during traffic.

At least, that's his dream.

[Thaskateguy]

these are all great ideas, for fining people who brake those laws. but nothing can help with Human behavior.

[HereItIs]

Do just one thing: Make laws to treat using cell phones/pda with or withour hands free devices , Make up & reading while driving VERY punishable. $100 for first offense , $ 5000 for second offense , Licensed revoked for 15 years on third offense. Test if for 6 months...see the difference.

[Thaskateguy]

Originally Posted by HereItIs

Do just one thing: Make laws to treat using cell phones/pda with or withour hands free devices , Make up & reading while driving VERY punishable. $100 for first offense , $ 5000 for second offense , Licensed revoked for 15 years on third offense. Test if for 6 months...see the difference.

So you are of the opinion that Laws prevent people from doing things?

[SteveArmy]

Originally Posted by HereItIs

Do just one thing: Make laws to treat using cell phones/pda with or withour hands free devices , Make up & reading while driving VERY punishable. $100 for first offense , $ 5000 for second offense , Licensed revoked for 15 years on third offense. Test if for 6 months...see the difference.

Throw in impacts on *credit score* and *deportation* in there. That should rattle a few cages

[Thaskateguy]

If we had proper deportation, there would be less accidents, and less hit and runs. and less car thefts. and a whole host of other "lesses"

[Tecksun]

Originally Posted by djtrancendance

IMVHO they are...

1) A decent fine for rubber-necking (IE $30). I swear 60% of traffic on freeways is caused by this. The change from 15-65mph happens almost instantaneously after you pass the "oh wow" accident.

While I'm with you on the stupidity of rubber-neckers ("Ooh! Flashy lights!"), I'm not sure that a police officer issuing tickets on the side of the road is a way to improve traffic flow.

[baggiegenes]

Most of ideas mentioned are covered by existing laws and can be ticketed if noticed by an officer. But that is the main problem, not enough traffic enforcement due to limited resources. The best solution i've seen to this are pilot programs with cameras monitoring freeways. Drivers get tickets in the mail days later. But, as with the red light cameras, this is often considered big brother meddling in the business of those who chose to drive badly.