Tractor Trailers on the HOV Lanes

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   After this morning's miserable commute [:(!], isn't it about time VDOT reconsider their policy of allowing tractor trailers to use the HOV lanes completely (at any time)?  Especially given the construction in the mixing-bowl which has the lanes narrowed considerably, these vehicles pose a hazard not only to commuters, but apparently to themselves as well.

	Last traffic report I heard said even though the lanes have now reopened, travel time between Rt. 234 and the Beltway is approximately 178 minutes...[}:)]

	ShipM8s

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SHIPM8S Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SHIPM8S Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Tractor Trailers on the HOV Lanes Posted: 23 May 2005 at 7:15am
	After this morning's miserable commute [:(!], isn't it about time VDOT reconsider their policy of allowing tractor trailers to use the HOV lanes completely (at any time)? Especially given the construction in the mixing-bowl which has the lanes narrowed considerably, these vehicles pose a hazard not only to commuters, but apparently to themselves as well. Last traffic report I heard said even though the lanes have now reopened, travel time between Rt. 234 and the Beltway is approximately 178 minutes...[}:)] ShipM8s

122582 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote 122582 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 May 2005 at 8:16am
	HOV should not be for commercial vehicles of any kind (other than public/mass transit carriers) no matter what the time.

SHIPM8S Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SHIPM8S Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 May 2005 at 9:23am
	Let's play Devil's Advocate for a few minutes...[}:)] If the HOV lanes were actually HOT Lanes, and the tractor trailer involved in this morning's accident (from everything I've read, this was a single vehicle accident) was a bonafide paying HOT-user, what would Fluor have done to clean the mess up and get the lanes moving sooner that VDOT didn't or couldn't do this morning[?] My guess is NOTHING! Rumor has it, the truck has been moved to the side, but is still there. They intend to close the HOV lanes between 11:00 and 2:00 to tow it out. If it takes longer, it will no doubt have a negative impact on this afternoon's commute home [:(!]. And, until the rules regarding these types of vehicles change, it WILL happen again...the only question is when? ShipM8s

VA4ver Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote VA4ver Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 May 2005 at 9:47am
	You know speed was the reason for this accident -- that curve is bad in a regular sized car. After the driver recovered (because he was critical) they should charge him for reckless driving. Tractor trailer in general on a good day scare me to death on the beltway. Too big and going too fast.

122582 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote 122582 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 May 2005 at 9:49am
	And of course, the root cause of this morning's accident will be either distracted driver (cell phone) or going too fast for conditions.

Subaru Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 19 May 2004 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Subaru Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 May 2005 at 10:38am
	I VRE'd it this morning. If it wasnt so expensive I would think about VRE'ing everyday.

SHIPM8S Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SHIPM8S Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 May 2005 at 10:40am
	If I'm not misinformed, it was a CVS tractor trailer. I'm still looking for anyone that can tell me how Fluor (if the lanes were HOT instead of HOV) could have prevented this morning's mishap, or done a better job of reducing it's impact to the rest of the commuting public. They would have already collected the tolls from points further south (sir, may I have a refund?), and no doubt would have continued to collect tolls from vehicles entering north of the accident. I fail to understand what resources they would have available to them (that are not currently available to VDOT) that would have allowed them to clean this up under the timeframes contained in their proposal. HOT will NEVER work, and HOV will only get better when they change the rules to get rid of non-HOV vehicles, including tractor trailers and hybrids with less than the required 3 passengers. ShipM8s

Baz Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Baz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 May 2005 at 10:51am
	As much as the big trucks annoy me in the HOV lanes, they should be allowed to use the lanes just like everyone else. Theyre definately not any worse drivers than car/auto drivers thats for sure. So thats not a reason to keep them out. Everyone has a tendancy to speed, be careless, distracted, ect. Im sure there has been more car accidents in the HOV than semi accidents. They are definately harder to see around and are slower in their takeoffs in congested lanes, but we should have to suck it up and deal with it. They want to get where theyre going as fast as possible too.

122582 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote 122582 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 May 2005 at 11:10am
	So maybe stiffer penalties for inattentive/careless/wreckless driving?

Wagonman Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wagonman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 May 2005 at 11:24am
	quote: Originally posted by Baz [br]As much as the big trucks annoy me in the HOV lanes, they should be allowed to use the lanes just like everyone else. Theyre definately not any worse drivers than car/auto drivers thats for sure. I don't agree. They wear down the road surface much faster and increase the cost of maintaining the HOVs. They also all rush to the HOVs after they open to everyone and merge less easily and get up to speed much slower. I also don't like them going 65 mph in such a congested area. There is also the issue of them ignoring the "no commercial vehicles except buses in left lane" law to get into the HOVs at most of the entrances. Most of them are already using the HOVs illegally if you consider that. On another note. I heard rail traffic in Lorton has been stopped due to the 8 inch high pressure pipeline that runs next to the CSX line being punctured by a road crew. It is a windy day and but there is so much gas it wasn't getting dissapated and I could smell it from pretty far away. If this isn't fixed quickly, the VRE Fredricksburg line could be shut down tonight. If the HOVs and the VRE are both closed this could be a real nightmare commute.