random thoughts

[enjenjo]

Traffic circles. The state of Ohio has become very fond of them. They just redid a section of US route 20  near me and there are  five traffic circles in 6 miles of highway.

Technology isn't everything. Last night the power went out. The phone wouldn't work because it's powered by house current, and since I no longer get a phone book and use the computer to get phone numbers, I couldn't even call to report it. Thank heaven for cell phones.

I have discovered that in health care, the only thing harder than getting a straight answer from a doctor, is getting two of them to agree. And that there are different cultures in different hospitals.

Don't assemble things backwards just because it's easier, you'll just have to do it over the right way

If arms were built the right way, wrists would rotate 360 degrees, and have at least one telescopic joint.

Time moves faster the older you get. Your body moves slower.

[416Ford]

To much thinking Frank, get back to the garage and do some work.

[jaybee]

Five traffic circles in six miles is...a lot!

I'm pretty comfortable with them, but the closest call in traffic for me which was relatively recent occurred on a traffic circle in Greenfield, IN where BOTH lanes of the circle were allowed to exit right barely beyond where I was entering. I entered into a clear lane only to immediately hear a blaring horn from a car attempting to exit right from the left lane. I thought I was in the right until I looked at a Google Maps view showing his lane markings. Turns out the lane markings were different depending on where you were entering or exiting. My markings implied the left lane would be required to stay left at that point. His markings showed something totally different.

Normally I don't turn into a lane unless both lanes are clear, but...rush hour. I know from being at this location pretty often there are no good, clean breaks in traffic there at evening rush. Next time business takes me back there I'll probably steer clear of that traffic circle if I'm leaving at evening rush hour. I rarely have close calls while driving, so the sudden appearance of another car at a 45 degree angle to my driver's side door was pretty jarring.

He wasn't signaling, btw.

[58 Yeoman]

They're putting more traffic circles in IL also. People are getting used to them, as am I. I just wish they'd standardize things like left turn arrows, etc. Another weird thing is when you have two right turn lanes at a traffic light, but the one on the right is the only one that can make a right turn after a stop. You would think the car in the left lane has a better view of oncoming traffic from the left, but what do I know?

[enjenjo]

To much thinking Frank, get back to the garage and do some work.

I agree. But dealing with family matters has not given me much time in the shop laterly.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Traffic circles going in many places here too.  

Something else called a Diverging Diamond Interchange at freeways  being installed. Those look like future car pileup waiting to happen.  Running red traffic lights is a major problem here in metro Phoenix area.

[Bruce Dorsi]

In NJ and some New England states, circles have been eliminated due to too much traffic volume and too many accidents.

We visited Prince Edward Island (Canada) last fall and the locals were upset by the number of circles recently installed and the  issues they created.

[idrivejunk]

360° wrists? I can't uncringe. It was the best they could do with what grows here.

This part of Arkansas is all about the trendy new intersections. Drivers are slow to comprehend, self included. The trend I notice is everyone floors their junk upon exit. Some read yield as stop to look how many cars are behind you.

Live the way you think, or you will find yourself thinking the way you live.

Thank where for cell phones :?:  

Where is "at"?

My random thought pool is bottomless. Mary Castle was hot. ~:)

[idrivejunk]

Saw this today and thought: "I'd like to go for a ride in that.". Then "But I would want to know I was." :?

[jaybee]

Those diverging diamond interchanges are now pretty common in the Kansas City area. There's at least one in the Des Moines, IA area. It was open about 2 weeks before someone got on I 80 headed the wrong direction, causing a fatality accident.

[58 Yeoman]

I think I'll quit driving when diverging diamonds come here.

[chimp koose]

we had a traffic circle here many years ago . They took it out . Averaged 2 accidents a day in a city of less than 200 000 people back then . Was nearly hit while being rear passenger on a motorcycle by a big cadillac that did not see us until the last moment . License number on the caddy ended in 666 , i will never forget it !

[WZ JUNK]

I was in the British Isles last year and we did a lot of driving.  Nearly every intersection is a traffic circle.  They go the opposite direction (clockwise).  It makes for some interesting driving but you do adjust to it.  The state is going to build a traffic circle near me this year at the location of a new Love's truck stop.  This circle will be at an intersection near an interstate highway.  Since the truck stop was built, traffic in that area has been a big problem.  I was surprised that they went with a circle instead of a traffic light.

We have had a few of the diverging diamond interchanges here in Missouri for sometime now.  They seem really strange when you first encounter one but they work well.  It seems there are few accidents compared to the traffic circles.  

I have noticed that other drivers seem to honk at me more since my hair turned gray.  I think they are picking on me because of color of my hair.  Maybe I should dye my hair.

[kb426]

^^^^^
Side story. The guy that was my pitcrew on the dragster for about 10 years came by one day and said he almost died 6 times the other day. I asked what happened. He went out of town and let his father drive. His dad asked why everyone kept honking and giving him the finger. It wasn't too long after that the family had to pull his driving privileges.