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Road Warrior

Trying to make sense out of getting around

Freeform merge lanes: Illegal or just plain stupid?

Wednesday, at 5:14 by

When cross traffic is heavy, frustrated motorists sometimes take matters into their own hands, nosing their way into the flow any way they can. But is it legal? That’s what Road Warrior reader Ralph wanted to know. Question: I see people turning right from Merced Avenue onto Highway 12, eastbound, and using the shoulder as if it was a merging lane on the freeway. Is this legal? It seems dangerous and just plain stupid. Same with using the suicide lanes as… Read More »

CHP issues first guidelines for motorcyclists who lane split

Sunday, at 1:55 by

It’s been one of the more controversial practices by motorcyclists, and now the CHP has issued guidelines on it. We’re talking lane splitting. California is the only state to allow lane splitting by motorcyclists, where the bikers ride between lanes of slow or stopped traffic. While there’s no law allowing lane splitting, there’s no law prohibiting it, so the CHP says it’s legal. CHP Sgt. Mark Pope of the motorcycle safety unit at the CHP’s Sacramento headquarters says the CHP… Read More »

Mailbag: Where are the sidewalks? Can police ignore traffic laws?

Thursday, at 5:45 by

Here are questions from Road Warrior readers: What happened to the sidewalks? Construction just finished on Shiloh Road west of Highway 101 in Windsor. They seem to have left pedestrians out during this recent construction. All existing sidewalks were in the north side of Shiloh Road this includes both the area in front of the Wyndham Resort and the highway overpass.  The south side of the road has very narrow shoulders with (in some cases) not even a bike lane.… Read More »

Big drop in tickets, crashes in Sonoma County, CHP stats show

Monday, at 4:00 by

The number of tickets written by CHP officers in Sonoma County dropped  by more than 20 percent and traffic crashes fell by nearly 15 percent last year compared to 2011, according to the latest statistics. The 27,259 tickets written by the local CHP, which covers Sonoma County except for part of the Sonoma Valley, was down from 2011′s 35, 385, 2010′s 37,003 and 2009′s 37,378. The local spokesman, CHP Officer Jon Sloat, said he and other CHP officials haven’t been… Read More »

Super Bowl Sunday a risky time to drive

Thursday, at 5:09 by

DUI crashes in California are 75 percent more likely to happen on Super Bowl Sunday than on regular Sundays in January and February, a study finds. That figure from an analysis of fatal and injury crashes from 2002 to 2011 was much higher than a similar study covering 1994 to 2002 that found a 41 percent increase in DUI crashes, reported the Automobile Club of Southern California, which conducted both studies. The studies excluded holiday weekends of New Year’s, Presidents… Read More »

Smart driving for teens, with a little help from the CHP

Wednesday, at 8:26 by

The CHP is offering a free class for newly licensed teen drivers to help them be safe on the roads. The two-hour class is offered at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Rohnert Park office. Call 588-1400 to get your name in or to get more information. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend with their teens. During the class, officers and speakers discuss safe driving habits and how to avoid collisions. “Our goal is to… Read More »

Staying safe in the snow

Wednesday, at 7:44 by

Going to Tahoe? Or elsewhere to the snow? Then here’s some safety tips from CHP Officer Pete Mann of the Truckee office to help you avoid ending up like the driver in the photo: 1. Give yourself plenty of time. Don’t rush when you’re driving on snow or ice. Conditions can change suddenly in the Sierra during winter, turning a three-hour trip to 10 hours. “Plan for the unexpected,” Mann says. 2.If you haven’t put on chains before or not… Read More »

New laws that will affect drivers

Wednesday, at 6:38 by

The CHP is alerting drivers to new laws that take effect on Tuesday — the first day of 2013: –Driving under the influence (AB 2020):  Takes away the option of  a person arrested on driving under the influence of drugs to submit to a urine test.  A suspect previously could take either urine or blood test to determine the drug content of their blood.  –Charter-party carriers of passengers, alcoholic beverages, open containers (AB 45 by Assemblyman Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata): Prohibits… Read More »

CHP cracking down on naughty Christmas drivers

Thursday, at 7:46 by

Every available CHP officer, including those in Sonoma County, will be on patrol for the long Christmas holiday weekend, looking particularly for drunken drivers. Called the “Maximum Enforcement Period,” it’s one of several the CHP holds during the year to get drunks off the road during certain holidays and to try to ensure everyone gets to their home or relative’s home safely. This weekend’s stepped up traffic enforcement starts at 6 p.m. Friday and ends at 11:59 p.m. Christmas Day.… Read More »

Mailbag: Frustrating red light at Highway 12/Brush Creek; calling the CHP

Monday, at 6:06 by

Here’s a question from a Road Warrior reader: Can you look into the signal light issues that have been occurring Brush Creek Rd and Hwy 12 intersection ever since Caltrans did work there back in August. The sensors DO NOT WORK and cars waiting to turn left and head east onto Hwy 12 from Brush Creek Road are left sitting at the signal for sometimes close to 8 to 10 minutes waiting for a green light. Just this past weekend,… Read More »