By Dr. Gridlock Ron Shaffer
Thursday, March 3, 2005
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
Many pickup and SUV drivers do not seem to realize that their vehicles' larger tire treads can kick up loose rocks as they drive.
I would encourage owners of these vehicles to add tire flaps to reduce the likelihood of flying rocks that can chip and crack windshields.
Purchasing a set of mudflaps is far less expensive than paying for a damaged car and losing time and pay to go to small claims court.
Albert Banwart
Waldorf
That seems like a sensible suggestion. What do you folks think?
Class for Older DriversThe AARP and Civista Health Inc. are conducting a class in Southern Maryland to teach drivers age 50 and older safety tips and how to improve driving skills and avoid accidents.
Topics include age-related physical changes, declining perceptual skills, rules of the road, local driving problems and license renewal requirements.
The session runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It is free, but registration is required by calling 888-332-4847.
Right Rubbernecking
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
I've long heard and read about drivers railing about a backup at the scene of an accident being caused by rubbernecking. While backups are frustrating, I submit that rubbernecking is not necessarily always the cause, but may actually be the result of proper, careful driving.
A responsible driver sees an accident ahead and instinctively eases up slightly on the accelerator and may even prepare to brake, thus decelerating perhaps only a few miles per hour.
The driver behind him senses the slight deceleration and likewise eases up on his accelerator, most likely dropping even a few more miles per hour. And so on.
If traffic is heavy and closely packed, rather than being sparse and sufficiently spaced to allow adjustments, eventually the chain reaction will cause those farther back in line to come to a crawl, if not a complete stop.
Thus the backup has not been caused by rubbernecking, but actually by responsible driving.
Donald M. Simonds
Kensington
But what caused the first vehicle in line to slow down? Responsible driving, rubbernecking or both? It's the rare driver who can pass by an accident scene without wanting to look.
Jolted in Georgetown
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
I have lived in Washington for two years. On the way to the school where I teach, I have to drive over steel plates on Wisconsin Avenue NW in Georgetown. As far as I can see, there is no ongoing construction in this area.
Why then are we forced into a rough ride over these plates? How long will this project take?
Dick Cunningham
Washington
Utility lines beneath Wisconsin Avenue, between M and S streets NW, are being replaced. Most of the work is being done overnight. It is expected to be completed in July.
Which Way to Park
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
The question of pulling into or backing into a parking space was a hot topic in your column a while ago, and most readers agreed that backing into a spot was the safer practice. Honestly, I had never thought about the subject until reading your columns. Now, if other cars aren't waiting and people aren't nearby, I always back into a spot.
I have found, with my big Cadillac sedan, that if I'm backing out of a spot, I'm a perfect target before I can even see another vehicle coming.
John M.B. Essex
University Park
My advice is to look farther out in a parking lot for two empty, back-to-back spaces. Pull through them and park in the second space, allowing for a forward exit.
If folks want to back in, or pull into an empty spot, that's okay, too. It's a matter of what is most comfortable for the motorist.
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
I have been driving for more than 40 years, and I always back into a parking space. I use my mirrors to move into a static situation that is under my control.
If I backed out of that space, I would be entering a fluid situation. I would have to trust other drivers to yield to me, and I would have a restricted view of where I was headed.
However, this is still a free country and if you prefer to back out of a space, that is your prerogative.
Perry Levin
Rockville
I agree. And the way to back out without a collision is to do it v-e-r-y slowly.
Telecommuting Works
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
As a team leader for several projects, my workday at my Washington office is filled with distractions that interrupt any serious writing or reviewing that I need to do.
When I had my first performance review with my new supervisor, she suggested that I look into telecommuting after she agreed that it is difficult to do effective writing in five- and 10-minute spurts between interruptions. I researched it, then arranged and got approval to telecommute.
Now, I load up my briefcase the day before telecommuting and am able to do more reviewing and writing in one day at the Woodbridge Telework Center than it would take me in several days at my downtown office . . . and the written product is much better!
I telecommute from the center, rather than from home, as I feel the temptation to distract oneself while working from home is too great. The center in Woodbridge is quiet, well-equipped, and has a helpful and friendly staff.
Tom Bradley
Lake Ridge
I am pleased to hear of government agencies initiating telecommuting and employees liking it. With so many computer-dependent jobs in our area, it would seem that some of that work could be done at home or at a satellite office center. Telecommuting reduces the number of vehicles on our roads and passengers on Metro.
Looking for Lights Out
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
It's been a long time since a service station attendant came out to pump my gas, checked under the hood and walked around the car to see if all my lights were operational. It's the latter inspection that we all could use more of today.
You only have to drive 15 minutes nowadays to see a car or truck with a burned-out brake light or turn indicator light.
Do you think it would help if the local motor vehicle administrations had a toll-free line to report the tag number of such vehicles? We could just leave the information on a recording, and officials could notify the party in question.
I know I am always grateful when someone alerts me to a problem with my vehicle, whether it be lights, tires, tailpipe, etc. What do you think?
John Scheleur
Arnold
I believe the best way to handle this is for fellow motorists to quickly flash lights on and off, or bright lights on or off, to alert another motorist to a missing light. Many times that gets them to turn on what they have forgotten.
The Power of Parents
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
I have been reading about the various reasons for teen driving problems with great interest. I agree that teens need to be familiar and comfortable with the vehicle that they eventually will drive alone.
But lately, the problems appears to be speed, speed, speed. I am only surprised there are not more accidents.
The future driver has been driven by his parents and dropped off at school, soccer, parties, etc. When a parent is rushing to get somewhere on time, the speed limit is often ignored. Why would someone expect anything different from their child when he gets behind the wheel? After all, the parent probably never even got stopped by police.
Parents need to remember: Their teen driver will only be as careful as they have been. Parents, use your turn signals, be courteous in traffic and keep the foot off the gas.
Nancy Keogh
Dayton
For Passengers' Sake
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
I learned to drive many years ago in a driver's ed course at Surrattsville High School in Clinton. One lesson the teacher drilled into us each time we were in the car was, "Never drive so that you sling your passengers around."
He'd call you on it in a minute if you rounded a curve or made a turn sharply enough to move him or other students about in the car.
You quickly learned how to navigate turns and curves smoothly and change lanes, stop and accelerate skillfully.
Can all of that be accomplished while speeding? Of course not.
This was a lesson I passed on to my son when I taught him to drive 10 years ago, and he's a very good driver.
Also, I treated the time in the car with my son not as a chore, but as a special time. While I instructed and he practiced, we chatted, ran short errands, checked out local landmarks, stopped for a soda and often drove down to the river for a peaceful stop.
Those are fond memories for both of us.
Bonnie Luck
Fort Washington
What a useful teaching tip. I particularly like that you used the driver's ed experience to bond with your son. A rare experience, given teens' natural search for independence.
Lighting Up the Night
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
I wanted to submit some night driving tips:
• I recommend yellow night driving glasses. They make oncoming headlights look like fog lights and significantly reduce glare.
• Since most states require that lights be turned on when windshield wipers are used, why not have manufacturers create lights that automatically turn on with wipers? Many people don't seem to obey that law, so why not help them? It shouldn't be difficult or expensive for auto manufacturers.
• Outlaw white halogen headlights! They are a real problem for oncoming drivers.
Richard J. Eckenrode
Rockville
Manufacturers should do that.
I'm not sure if those very bright headlights are halogen or high-intensity lights that use xenon gas. Whichever, I'm for banning them, as well as the use of auxiliary lights, except in fog.
Rush Hour Towing
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
Every weekday afternoon at around 5 p.m., I notice a fleet of District towing trucks removing cars on Seventh Street NW between Constitution and Independence avenues.
I understand that this is a no-parking zone during the afternoon rush hour, but I've observed that, since Seventh Street is a six-lane road, traffic always flows smoothly even with cars parked on each side of the road.
Why does the city go to the expense of perpetuating a routine that seems to add no value? Also, most of the towed cars have out-of-state tags and are no doubt driven by tourists. I wonder how they track down their towed cars.
Lawrence R. Impett
Washington
By calling the city's all-purpose hotline, 202-727-1000. Could the towing be better employed elsewhere? Probably, based on your description. Such as at H and I streets, major east-west routes that have become more congested since the federal government closed Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House.
But I'm not a critic. We want more parking tickets written for illegal parking during rush hours, and I'm glad to see the city doing it, at least on Seventh Street NW.
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
I have read many of your online chat postings about illegally parked cars during rush hours. I got a ticket at 7:02 a.m. in the 5400 block of Connecticut Avenue NW. I have seen the same officer parked in the area at 6:50 a.m., ready to write parking citations at 7 a.m.
The city seems to allow no grace period.
Heath Baumann
Washington
I once got an evening rush hour ticket at 4:03 p.m. You're right, the city provides no grace period for violators. And this is good. I deserved my ticket, and I'm glad to see law enforcement officials writing tickets for violating rush hour traffic restrictions.
If the city responded even more fully to the problem, traffic would move more smoothly in rush hours.
Transportation researcher Diane Mattingly contributed to this column.
Dr. Gridlock appears Sunday in the Metro section and Thursday in Extra. You can write to Dr. Gridlock, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. He prefers to receive e-mail, atdrgridlock@washpost.com, or faxes, at 703-352-3908. Please include your full name, town, county and day and evening phone numbers.
