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Highway
mergers are dangerous and unpredictable. Often two lanes merge
into one with little notice- sometimes they merge to the right,
sometimes to the left, and sometimes even to the middle! The
driver receives little or no warning beyond a yellow "merge"
sign that is either missing, obscured or placed after the
lane has begun to close like a vise.
Why
not indicate a merge is approaching by replacing current dashed
straight lane markers with an angled painted line? The angle
indicates the merge direction, and they can begin a few thousand
feet down the highway giving motorists plenty of warning.
Best of all, the cost would be low since an angled lane marker
can be sprayed by existing equipment with minor changes in
the paint head.
I
have tried lobbying local and federal highway officials- if
interested, see their response
here.
If
you think angled lane markers are a good idea that could save
lives in your own community, don't tell me but instead organize
a school project, or write your Congressman and Senator.
Contact them online or by mail-- it's easy to find their address
at
house.gov, senate.gov
or congress.org |
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Current
dangerous merger lanes
The
impending merge is "invisible" to both drivers
until they see the sign- only by then its too late to change
lanes safely. |
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Improved,
safer merger lanes
The
bus and car drivers notice the angled lane markers long
before the merge begins. The angled lines informs the car
driver to merge into the right hand lane, so the bus moves
ahead slightly, to let the car slip behind. The merge is
completed before the lane disappears. |
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