Rick Denney wrote:Is there any real reason to believe that the signs are too small? Were the markings the reason why the driver had the accident? I'm unfamiliar with the ramp in question
Yes. Yes. and I am very familiar with the ramp in question.
1. It is a left exiting ramp, which is backwards from what we expect.
2. It is an HOV lane which has different signage requirements. The signs are all much smaller than normal, non-reflective and are black letters on a white background rather than the normal interstate green.
3. The last sign you see before the split says merely HOV with a split arrow. No mention of exit. You passed the exit sign a quarter mile before. There is a normal size stop ahead sign, but it is halfway up a short straight ramp. By the time you see it there is barely time to stop if you are at highway speed.
4. I was on my way to the airport with my wife a couple of months ago and almost missed it myself, and I know the exit well. I was motoring along, bored and not paying attemtion as well as I should and found myself vering left. I, being familiar with the road, immediately corrected but I sure PO'd the guy behind me who had come up to fill the gap.
5. A local TV crew put up a camera and during one rush hour caught five or six people doing the same thing.
IMHO the politicians blew it long ago in this case. A friend of mine designed this exit, and 6 more just like it 40 years ago long before HOV lanes. He says it was political then. He begged the DOT not to use left exits, but because of right of way issues they made him do it anyway.
Sorry to get on a soap box Rick, but this deal really sucks!
I am fortunate to have a great job that feeds my family well, but music feeds my soul.
