Comments on: 4 ways to improve driving

By: Bunga Gunga

Bunga Gunga — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 19:44:39 +0000

I say keep the carpool, otherwise it’s just gonna be another cluster **** lane. Maybe if some of these dummies would leave a little more following distance traffic wouldn’t be so bad. You can always get a motorcycle, then you can use the carpool.

By: Volt Guy

Volt Guy — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 05:15:52 +0000

No way! Keep the carpool lanes as is. I’m getting a Volt next week and look forward to silently speeding past you all people on my way to work each day! zoooooooom

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:19:42 +0000

The carpool lane has got to go! Can someone please start a petition to get it repealed! I get so frustrated when the government does not do the will of the people.

By: DZerach

DZerach — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 19:38:17 +0000

You can’t control others’ driving in the moment. Learn and practice sound judgment and defensive driving skills to avoid the REAL hassle of injury and property damage. Every trip is a chance to practice taking your ego, personality, and sense of self-righteousness OUT of your DRIVING for your own benefit.

By: George

George — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:12:39 +0000

To sum up-
“Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
-George Carlin

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:10:07 +0000

List fails without including full-automating all cars on the road.

By: Leah

Leah — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:08:15 +0000

Number 1 – Pay Attention!!! to the road, not your phone, not your GPS, not the stack of papers you have propped on your steering wheel (yes i have seen this!) If you are paying attention you should notice that you are driving 15 mph UNDER the speed limit, or holding up traffic, or that the light is red.

Number 2 – Make gap – take gap! I leave you a gap, speed up and take it, I WILL NOT slam on my brakes and come to a complete stop to let you in. Pay attention, notice the gap and merging becomes much smoother.

Number 3 – Do not stop flowing traffic to let some one from a side street or parking lot in. If traffic is slow, its a nice thing to do, when traffic is flowing at the speed limit, and the car in front of you is stopping at every side street (when there are not stop signs) to let those other cars in, you’re not being nice to the mile of cars backing up behind you.

Number 4 – at night – don’t be a jerk, if you are behind someone and you can see their tail lights at pretty much full size, don’t turn your brights on. I drive to work at 3am and at least 3 times a week, this happens to me.

By: Dar

Dar — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:18:45 +0000

Keep right except to pass (the number one lane, the left-most lane, is not a “fast lane”, but rather a passing lane).

Use your TURN SIGNALS.

While I could go on and on and on about the horrible driving around Sonoma County/California/the U.S., I would be extremely satisfied if people would follow these two suggestions.

By: Robert Arnold

Robert Arnold — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:36:05 +0000

The left lanes on 101 (or any 4 lane HWY) are reserved for passing. If nobody is directly in front or to the right of you, move to the farthest right lane. Leave the left lanes open for you or others to pass safely.

The signs that say, “Slower Traffic Keep Right” are in black and white, which means they are mandatory. In other words: Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the way!

By: John

John — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 07:21:51 +0000

Oh, and this Joey guy above? He’s part of the problem. Assuming that other people don’t have the ‘right’ to drive at a speed they are comfortable with and consider safe just because you disagree is a good example of the attitudes that kill people around here. The basic speed law says to drive whatever speed is safe for the current conditions. If the car in front of you thinks pitch black windy roads require a slower speed, suck it up and wait for a passing lane.

By: JOhn

JOhn — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 07:18:35 +0000

People not being able to merge properly is one that bothers me immensely. Moving here has taught me what people are talking about when they complain about people on the road.

Going to work and back is not a race. There is absolutely no reason for a medium traffic merge to turn into a complete stall. The only reason it does, the only reason it turns into total chaos every time a lane ends, is that people in this area are so prideful regarding their spot in line that they can’t seem to bring themselves to have an ounce of common decency for the other people on the road. That doesn’t just go for those who don’t let anyone in as they merge – I always leave two car spaces in front of me at this merges and count how many cars pass it up thinking they can get ahead. Take the opening and get it over with. That one space isn’t going to make a difference, and fighting just means that no one goes anywhere – including you. It takes longer than just merging. I don’t understand why this is so difficult for some reason. It really makes me wonder if we need harsher requirements for driver’s licenses.

By: Leah

Leah — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 05:50:13 +0000

Actually get to the speed of traffic before attempting to merge onto the freeway. Going 35-40mph while getting on the freeway is NOT acceptable.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:40:56 +0000

If you’re in the left lane, be considerate and let faster traffic move by.

By: J. Longtooth

J. Longtooth — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 23:09:37 +0000

Never, ever tailgate.

HEY!

Yeah, you! You read what I just wrote?

Good.

By: Joey

Joey — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 22:58:49 +0000

Many drivers get into the fast lane and seem to not pay attention to the cars behind them. If you are in the fast lane, and see nobody in front of you for a long distance, look in the mirror and see if you are causing traffic to back up. This happens everyday driving North on 101 from Marin in the afternoon.
Despite what some drivers think, you do not have the right to drive whatever speed you want…drive at least the speed limit or just a little over if you’re in the fast lane.
If you are driving on 37 or Lakeville, again drive the speed limit. in the evening too many drivers seem to be afraid of driving in the dark and drive 45 in a 55. If you can’t see in the dark, stay off the road at night. You’re just screwing up the traffic.

By: Dennis Hart

Dennis Hart — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:49:09 +0000

How about not driving thru RED LIGHTS?? It’s rare that someone doesn’t just drive right thru in Santa Rosa. And why doesn’t the SRPD enforce this law?? I’ve seen them sit in the same intersection as 1-2 cars just keep on going after the light is red. Why isn’t there a much stronger fine or punishment for red light running? Assault with a deadly weapon? A car intentionally rushing thru against oncoming traffic. I sure don’t want anyone in my family becoming a victim! What’s up with this?

By: John Q P

John Q P — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:37:12 +0000

Two things: People feel like they are all better drivers than others, and that the rules don’t apply to them. Secondly, if driving in Santa Rosa felt like there were consequences to breaking traffic laws, they would try harder to obey them. I’ve been around and remember driving as a teenager, worried about breaking a rule and getting caught, now I see people breaking traffic laws in full view of police with no reprecussions.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:29:28 +0000

Part of the problem with letting people merge is there is a line of cars; bumper to bumper trying to enter the freeway. Can’t CalTrans see this is a problem. Turn on the (already installed) merging signals. Any excuse CalTrans has doesn’t hold water when you look objectively at this situation.

By: wangofango

wangofango — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:06:51 +0000

Presuming you don’t have physical handicap limitations in your neck, TURN YOUR HEAD TO LOOK before changing lanes or backing up. Don’t just glance in the mirrors, TURN YOUR HEAD. That way you may see the other car backing up into you while you’re backing up in the parking lot, or onto a street. Or spot the other car that’s changing lanes into “your” anticipated spot.

By: Wilson

Wilson — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:44:09 +0000

If you have a line of cars backed up behind you (especially when on one of our numerous connector country roads), speed up or pull over and let them pass. You can be ticketed for obstruction of traffic if you are holding up three or more cars.

If you find yourself uncomfortable or afraid while driving, whether it be the speed of the other drivers or the weather or any other road condition, get off of the road. Call somebody to get you. The life you save may be your own.