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Road Warrior

Trying to make sense out of getting around

CHP watching traffic at Forestville School

Monday, at 12:34 by

If you drive by Forestville School on Highway 116, watch out for extra traffic and pedestrians. If you don’t, the CHP will be there to ensure you do. There’s construction starting at the school, and that’s changing how many students get to school. A sidewalk along 116 from Covey Road to the school will be closed, and that’s expected to mean more congestion in front of the school in the morning and afternoons. The CHP, starting Tuesday, plans to assign… Read More »

Eating that Big Mac while driving could get you a ticket

Thursday, at 6:20 by

It’s not illegal to eat a Big Mac while driving, but it is illegal if you become dangerous while chomping away. And you could get ticketed. Various local police agencies are joining the CHP and police across the state and nation in stepping up enforcement on distracted driving throughout April. CHP Officer Jon Sloat, spokesman for the Sonoma County office, said it’s not just drivers texting or using cellphones that get distracted. A variety of legal activities could quickly become… Read More »

Crashes up, fatalities, tickets down in Sonoma County

Monday, at 9:53 by

Traffic crashes rose last year, but fatalities dropped as did tickets and DUI arrests by the Sonoma County CHP, according to the latest statistics. A total of 2,485 crashes were investigated by the local CHP, which covers Sonoma County except for part of the Sonoma Valley. That’s up from 2,405 in 2010 and 2,324 in 2009. Sixteen people died in last year’s crashes — “that’s the lowest number in a long time,” said CHP Officer Jon Sloat, the spokesman for… Read More »

Mailbag: CHP using radar on the onramp?

Saturday, at 10:14 by

Here’s a question from a reader: We have noticed several times that the CHP is using radar on the onramp from Hwy 12 westbound onto 101. We are confused. I was instructed that when getting on a freeway you are to quickly get up to speed to match the traffic you will be merging with. Why would the CHP be using radar on the onramp. Are they giving tickets for going to fast? It is a very sharp turn and… Read More »

Been in a crash? Replace that child car seat

Friday, at 9:00 by

If you’ve been in an accident and you had a child seat in your car, you probably should replace it — immediately. Karli Tedeschi, coordinator for Safe Kids Sonoma County, said the impact of a crash, even slight, can cause the seat’s webbing and harness to become stretched and unsafe to use again. California’s insurance code requires insurance companies to include replacement of child car seats in their policies. Tedeschi said insurance companies vary in how they follow the code,… Read More »

Cotati Grade: Sonoma County’s new speedway

Wednesday, at 7:48 by

At times, it seems I’m the only one going 55 on the Cotati Grade. You too? With the opening late last year of the third north and southbound lanes on Highway 101 between Petaluma Boulevard North and Rohnert Park Expressway, many drivers have turned the stretch into a speedway, often far exceeding the 55-mph speed limit. As I cruise in the slow lane doing 55 or so, I’ve been passed by a variety of trucks and cars, from clunkers to… Read More »

Mailbag: Why carpool lane hours differ in Sonoma County vs. Marin County

Wednesday, at 8:25 by

We’ve had some questions from readers wondering about the hours of carpool lanes in Sonoma County and such, so we pitched them to Caltrans spokesman Robert Haus to answer: Why are the HOV lanes on 101 in Marin County just one direction in the morning and evening but both directions in Sonoma County? The first segment of Marin-101 HOV lane that opened in 1974 as a bus lane. Carpools were permitted in 1976.  Traffic congestion increased in one predominate direction… Read More »

Mailbag: Can CHP sit, wait in the dark along 101?

Friday, at 5:54 by

Here’s a question from a Road Warrior reader: I have a question about the California Highway Patrol. I drive at night on southbound 101 from Santa Rosa to Novato and I’m curious about the rules for CHP sitting in the dark on the side of the road with no visible lights on. Sometimes the CHP car seems to be hiding behind a portion of K-rail about a quarter of a mile before the Pepper Road on ramp to 101 south… Read More »

Carpool violators: Beware, the CHP is watching

Wednesday, at 12:11 by

It’s a common gripe from Road Warrior readers: Drivers illegally using carpool lanes without passengers. For our Christmas list last month, we wished that the CHP would crack down on these violators. After all, why have carpool lanes if anybody can use them. In response, the CHP offered some stats on its tickets for carpool-lane violations to show that it’s not open-season out there for violators. For 2009, 1,697 drivers were cited, for an average of 141.4 a month. For… Read More »

Mailbag: Legal to pass on the shoulder of the road?

Saturday, at 7:37 by

Here’s a question from a Road Warrior reader: This is a situation that I see all the time in Sonoma County.  I think there’s potential risk either way.  I’m curious what the legal answer is to this: There’s a car in front of you turning left, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear.  The road is two lane with an ample shoulder.  Can you (the car waiting behind) after checking for any other hazards, pull around the stopped car in front of you? Sally The… Read More »