I often wonder why so many people disregard signage, road markings and construction limitations. These various signs indicate for all motorists the restrictions that are to be followed when driving.


For anyone who has ever worked in a construction zone, the feeling of a vehicle roaring past your body at a high speed can be unnerving to say the least. These people working are human and deserve for us to be respectful of their lives on the line while they are doing their daily job. Let’s take this a step farther… all speed limits and highway markings are put in place for a REASON.  Much research has gone into the study of our highways and bridges in order to determine a specific speed or lane requirement for the purpose of safety, traffic flow and in some cases air quality.


One area of question for me is along my regular route of driving on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. The Bridge is a 20 mile long stretch across the Atchafalaya Swamp. It’s not exactly 20 miles and depending on where you read about this bridge, you will find figures from 17.7 to 20 miles long. Let’s use 20 miles for the following figures. The speed used to be 70 mph for all vehicles traveling across the bridge. At 70 mph it would take 16.8 minutes to cross the bridge. After a fatal crash, the speed was reduced for all vehicles to 60 mph. At this speed it would take 19.8 minutes to cross the bridge. After another crash years later, the speed limit was reduced to 55 mph for large trucks along with a right lane restriction. At this speed, it would take 21.8 minutes. From the 70 mph to the 55 mph, we have just 5 minutes difference.


Below, I have included two links in relation to the speed adjustments made on the I-10 stretch of the Atchafalaya Swamp Bridge. The question would be… is the gain in time worth risking your CDL or the safety of others to gain that extra five minutes?

Louisiana Traffic Study

Truckers have a unfair advantage
 

Comments (5)

Henry Albert

Henry Albert is the owner of Albert Transport, Inc., based in Statesville, NC. Before participating in the "Slice of Life" program, Albert drove a 2001 Freightliner Century Class S/Tâ„¢, and will use his Cascadia for general freight and a dry van trailer. Albert, who has been a trucker since 1983, was recognized by Overdrive as its 2007 Trucker of the Year.

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John,

I never said it was always a good "reason " . Thanks for weighing in .

October 09, 2016 19:17:03 PM

John,

I never said it was always a good "reason " . Thanks for weighing in .

October 09, 2016 19:17:00 PM

John,

I never said it was always a good "reason " . Thanks for weighing in .

October 09, 2016 19:16:58 PM

Henry's comment makes sense in many places, I'm sure. But, not all. Traffic engineers in Pennsylvania have lost all respect for the majority of sensible drivers. They consistently under-post speed limits and abuse the engineering warrants to install unnecessary stop signs. The Pennsylvania Turnpike got smart and upgraded their speed limit to 70-mph recently. But, PennDOT still has the Route 30 Bypass around Downingtown and Coatesville, along with a newly redone portion of 202, posted at 55 mph. These roads are comfortable and safe at 65 and even above 70 mph under good conditions. What is needed is digital signs whose numbers can be altered to suit the conditions. If they would stop lying to us about the maximum safe speed, we might start believing the signs and obeying them.

October 07, 2016 12:52:27 PM

Nice article Henry. 5 minutes is nothing in the grand scheme but sadly many people don't think long term and for some that would be anything beyond a minute or two. Many people are only thinking of themselves and right now. If we all could think long term and slow down just a little then many things in this world would run much smoother and we would all be safer and probably a little more healthy.

October 07, 2016 8:07:45 AM