crash factors for all of us to know & why UPS trucks never turn left

[redrider90]

Quite a difference in right turns vs left turns in crashes.
A study https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811366  on crash factors in intersection-related accidents from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Association shows that turning left is one of the leading "critical pre-crash events" (an event that made a collision inevitable), occurring in 22.2 percent of crashes, as opposed to 1.2 percent for right turns. About 61 percent of crashes that occur while turning or crossing an intersection involve left turns, as opposed to just 3.1 percent involving right turns.
Trivia sort of. 
Why UPS trucks never turns left.
 Left-hand turns are generally considered unsafe and wasteful on right-hand driving roads, such as those in the US.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/world/ups-trucks-no-left-turns/index.html

[ohiorider]

Those are some interesting stats.  I recall in southern Jersey (Cherry Hill area) there were high traffic areas where, to turn left, you were required to pass your intended street,  then make a right, another right and another right (make the block.)  It forced you to drive a bit further, but traffic wasn't being held up waiting behind you until it was safe to turn left.

[Lannis]

That is interesting!
The part about cars idling too long and burning /wasting gas I have to laugh every time I pass a fast food place in the am while in the states and seeing 20 cars waiting in the drive thru for a cup and macmuffin!



:-)

I try to do the little calculation every time I see a line of cars waiting to get through the toll booth.

The incredible waste of fuel in sitting, idling, pulling forward, idling, pulling forward, and then accelerating hard away from the booth is great example of the shortsightedness and "Silo Thinking" of our highway planners.   I'll bet more gas is wasted than is ever collected in tolls ....

Lannis

[oldbike54]

That is interesting!
The part about cars idling too long and burning /wasting gas I have to laugh every time I pass a fast food place in the am while in the states and seeing 20 cars waiting in the drive thru for a cup and macmuffin!



:-)

 Yeah , and people who drive to a gym to walk on a treadmill . My English friend in Texas said we are the laziest folks anywhere , Bill Bryson wrote several articles about that . We will start a car to travel a block 

 Dusty

[webmost]

Yeah , and people who drive to a gym to walk on a treadmill . My English friend in Texas said we are the laziest folks anywhere , Bill Bryson wrote several articles about that . We will start a car to travel a block 

 Dusty

[rocker59]

I try to do the little calculation every time I see a line of cars waiting to get through the toll booth.

The incredible waste of fuel in sitting, idling, pulling forward, idling, pulling forward, and then accelerating hard away from the booth is great example of the shortsightedness and "Silo Thinking" of our highway planners.   I'll bet more gas is wasted than is ever collected in tolls ....

Lannis

Why would the tollway authority, which is collecting tolls for use of its roadway, care about how much fuel is 'wasted' by the users of said highway?

Collected tolls are used by the tollway authority to maintain the roadway.

The cost and use of gasoline is not the highway authority's problem.  They're not putting gas in the tanks of the users of the tollway.

[blackcat]

Most locations in heavy traffic areas of the country are eliminating toll booths and going to an easy pass type system or just billing through a license plate reader.

[Lannis]

Why UPS trucks never turns left.
 Left-hand turns are generally considered unsafe and wasteful on right-hand driving roads, such as those in the US.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/world/ups-trucks-no-left-turns/index.html

You can really tell that news people are all concentrated in cities, where "going around the block" might save a left turn at the cost of 20 seconds or whatever.

Out here in flyover country,  I can't think of a single place in our whole county where you could avoid a left turn by turning right.    I see UPS trucks (like the one that delivers to my house 5 times a week) making left turns across traffic all the time .....

I understand that in a city, it's different, but that's not what the article implies ....

Lannis

[Lannis]

Why would the tollway authority, which is collecting tolls for use of its roadway, care about how much fuel is 'wasted' by the users of said highway?

Collected tolls are used by the tollway authority to maintain the roadway.

The cost and use of gasoline is not the highway authority's problem.  They're not putting gas in the tanks of the users of the tollway.

That's what the term "Silo Thinking" means, and why I used it.

One authority, as long as they can get what they want, doesn't give a rat's ass about what it costs anyone else, including the part of the government that taxes and penalizes people for burning gasoline.

Lannis

[Lannis]

Most locations in heavy traffic areas of the country are eliminating toll booths and going to an easy pass type system or just billing through a license plate reader.

I experienced that when I was living in Denver ... it's a bit spooky when you get a bill in the mail based on the system taking a picture, consulting the national database, and tracking down your current mailing address.   And you move even deeper into the Matrix when you give them your credit card number and it just happens automatically ....

Lannis

[dguzzi]

UPS drivers here tell me that right turn only stuff is BS. Not true.

[Two Checks]

I see UPS trucks making lefts all the time. They are on a schedule and need to get to their destinations as quickly as possible. Avoiding left turns doesnt get it done.

[Robert]

UPS driver would drive across my front yard (unfenced pristine desert) rather than back out the driveway.

Even after I put up some minor obstacles, a few rocks and boards, as a hint.

[Kiwi Dave]

I experienced that when I was living in Denver ... it's a bit spooky when you get a bill in the mail based on the system taking a picture, consulting the national database, and tracking down your current mailing address.

I got pulled recently on the Motorway (Freeway) in Auckland, NZ by a cop on a motorcycle with licence plate recognition technology.  If we have it here down under, imagine the arsenal you guys must be facing in the USA.

[Rough Edge racing]

UPS driver would drive across my front yard (unfenced pristine desert) rather than back out the driveway.

Even after I put up some minor obstacles, a few rocks and boards, as a hint.

  The UPS driver that usually delivers to me got a week off with no pay for driving on a lawn, not mine...Your sand and rocks are as good as a lawn...

[RANDM]

We got E-Tags for tollways and L-Plate recognition a while back, and they
stopped issuing Rego. stickers a couple of years ago. 
Not quite comfortable with it yet!

Maurie.

[Lannis]

I got pulled recently on the Motorway (Freeway) in Auckland, NZ by a cop on a motorcycle with licence plate recognition technology.  If we have it here down under, imagine the arsenal you guys must be facing in the USA.

Little bit different environment here, I expect, or more variable.  All of our traffic police are either local (city or county) or state (State Highway Patrol).   They have access to some nationwide databases, but I don't think that any cops are scanning my license plate in my part of the country.

Matter of fact, the local sheriff's deputies hardly pay attention to whether my state inspection sticker is up to date or not.   I got pulled up at a very rural traffic stop on the bike - he checked my DL and registration, but said nothing about my expired inspection sticker.

That being said, I can't say that I have a huge problem if the cops DO have something that will automagically scan my license plate and run my record in real time on the dash of the cop car.   It's the same thing the officer used to do with his eyes and a radio call, it's just a machine doing it now.  Same principle, as long as the human cop gets to make the decision as to what to do with me.

Lannis (I'll be those cops have got SCMODS ....)

[Rough Edge racing]

Little bit different environment here, I expect, or more variable.  All of our traffic police are either local (city or county) or state (State Highway Patrol).   They have access to some nationwide databases, but I don't think that any cops are scanning my license plate in my part of the country.

Matter of fact, the local sheriff's deputies hardly pay attention to whether my state inspection sticker is up to date or not.   I got pulled up at a very rural traffic stop on the bike - he checked my DL and registration, but said nothing about my expired inspection sticker.

That being said, I can't say that I have a huge problem if the cops DO have something that will automagically scan my license plate and run my record in real time on the dash of the cop car.   It's the same thing the officer used to do with his eyes and a radio call, it's just a machine doing it now.  Same principle, as long as the human cop gets to make the decision as to what to do with me.

Lannis (I'll be those cops have got SCMODS ....)

 Police cars I see have an array of computer equipment hanging off the dash board....When they follow you, I'm thinking the officer can punch in your plate number to see what goes on?

[travelingbyguzzi]

 Back on topic: I will never make a left into a gas station, if there is one on the right.
Many times, I don't know where the hell I am and that is a different situation. When you need fuel, you need fuel, but given a choice....

[Lannis]

Police cars I see have an array of computer equipment hanging off the dash board....When they follow you, I'm thinking the officer can punch in your plate number to see what goes on?

I'm sure they can.   

I know that the last time I entered Canada on a motorcycle, the Canadian border guard punched in my license plate number, and knew ALL about me immediately.   For example, he already knew that I had been issued a Virginia CCW in Appomattox County, and that it had expired a few months back.

He was asking me leading questions about it to see if I would tell him a lie of some kind.   I knew he already knew, though.   I hope he also saw that I had a clean driving record (no convictions) back to 1970.    And THEN he asked me if I had any firearms on my motorcycle.   I wanted to give him a smart answer like "Oh, yeah, like I'm going to pack a pistol across the Canadian line.   Waddaya tink I am, dumb or sumpin'?"   However, knowing from experience that these guys DON'T like a bit of humor or byplay, I answered in Hymie the Robot mode only ....

Amazing what they can get just with a license tag number these days.

Lannis

[Kiwi Dave]

Police cars I see have an array of computer equipment hanging off the dash board....When they follow you, I'm thinking the officer can punch in your plate number to see what goes on?

They don't have to punch anything in.  They can just operate the licence scanning in traffic, and when it detects something amiss, it will bring up a notification.

Soon the officers will be actual robots!   

[Mr Pootle]

A non-driving friend of mine bought himself a 50cc Honda step through when he hit his 40s. He very quickly became scared to turn right (Americans and Canadians, for right read left), and so went everywhere by making left turns only. He put some mileage on that little bike.

[simonome]

Yeah , and people who drive to a gym to walk on a treadmill . My English friend in Texas said we are the laziest folks anywhere , Bill Bryson wrote several articles about that . We will start a car to travel a block 

 Dusty

Well, it greatly depends on where you live, also.

I live in Milano downtown(ish). Here congestions and parking places are a real pain. I would consider a waste taking my car to cover anything less than a couple km in urban traffic, and sometimes I prefer to walk even against riding my bike, if the distance is shorter than 1km. And even if I drive, I will be happy to park within 500mt of my destination. The day I can park in the same street as the place where I'm headed, is a day to remember.

In minor urban environment here in Italy people have no idea of what means "struggling for a park", and will consider a personal insult not being able to park within 10 steps from their destination.

I think it is more or less the same in the US.

What I see so much different in the US is this obsession for drive-thrus.

Here in Italy only mcdonald has tried to push this concept onto the market, and has been trying for the past 30 years with very little success. Nobody else is trying to do the same.
On my side I can think of very few things as unattractive as eating at the wheel of my car, with bits, sauces, vegetables falling on my lap and/or on my seat, so I really cannot understand this drive-trhough thing.

[Lannis]

What I see so much different in the US is this obsession for drive-thrus.

Here in Italy only mcdonald has tried to push this concept onto the market, and has been trying for the past 30 years with very little success. Nobody else is trying to do the same.
On my side I can think of very few things as unattractive as eating at the wheel of my car, with bits, sauces, vegetables falling on my lap and/or on my seat, so I really cannot understand this drive-trhough thing.

I've heard that explained by people when I take them up for eating or texting while driving. 

What they want you to understand is how INCREDIBLY important their lives are, and how UNBELIEVABLY important their time is, compared to you or anyone else.    That is why they are constantly on the phone, texting, endangering your life and that of everyone around them.   

In order to manage a life which is FAR more important, busy, and fulfilling compared to yours, they must multitask constantly.   No time to stop and talk, no time to sit and eat, they must GO GO GO GO all the time, which means spreading cream cheese on a bagel while answering a text while running 75 MPH 1 foot behind your taillight.

I really do wish there was a way to keep the good parts of American culture and cut out the B.S., and take the good parts of "La Dolce Vita" of Italy and cut out the B.S., and combine them together, I really do ...

Lannis

[screamday]

I rarely go to a fast food restaurant but when I do I find it much faster to go inside, get what I want and get out.

[screamday]

Most locations in heavy traffic areas of the country are eliminating toll booths and going to an easy pass type system or just billing through a license plate reader.

I just experienced this last week. The newly completed I65 bridge over the Ohio river at Louisville, KY is now a toll bridge and there are no tool booths. If you don't have a pass they supposedly bill you by mail. I haven't seen my bill yet but am curious as to how long it will take. Since I drove up to Illinois from SC and crossed the Northbound span on April 2nd, then returned on April 9th, I was wondering if they wait to see how many times you cross so they can combine the billing. On the Illinois tollways, if you go through a non-tollbooth section of a tollway you have 7 days to pay online or they will send you a fine of $300. It seems that if you don't have a pass on any of the tollroads I went on, you usually pay double the amount of the cash toll.

[Robert]

And THEN he asked me if I had any firearms

Then, where are they now.

I said, "I knew you would ask, and I left them home."

[Triple Jim]

In minor urban environment here in Italy people have no idea of what means "struggling for a park", and will consider a personal insult not being able to park within 10 steps from their destination.

I think it is more or less the same in the US.

Ha yes, for many people here, too.  I lost almost all of my desire to park very close to my destinations after commuting to college at the University of Maryland.  The parking lots I had to use were always at least 1/4 mile from class, and sometimes a mile away.  Walking a hundred yards to get into a store now is a pleasant stroll.

On my side I can think of very few things as unattractive as eating at the wheel of my car, with bits, sauces, vegetables falling on my lap and/or on my seat, so I really cannot understand this drive-trhough thing.

Drive through is nice when you're trying to get some food to take home to eat, although I can't say it's much better than going inside and buying it there.

[oldbike54]

I rarely go to a fast food restaurant but when I do I find it much faster to go inside, get what I want and get out.

 Yeah same here . We have a situation in Muskogee that exemplifies how silly we are in this country . There is a McDonalds located just East of a major intersection . There is a left turn lane controlled by a traffic light that allows traffic to safely turn East and travel about 200 ft then turn right into the McDonalds . However , about 60% of the customers continue South thru the intersection 200 ft and then attempt to turn left across oncoming traffic into an access road built specifically for the McDonalds . The access road was built for Northbound traffic , not for Southbound traffic. It amazes me how drivers find it acceptable to back up traffic instead of using the signal controlled left turn lane just 200 ft back up the road .


 Dusty

[Lannis]

And THEN he asked me if I had any firearms

Then, where are they now.

I said, "I knew you would ask, and I left them home."

Even that's dangerous when you're facing (on their turf) a bad-tempered border guard who looks like a bulldog chewing on a wasp.

The answers from me are "No", and "At home".   And I'm a guy who loves to chat if you give me a chance.

Lannis