what? blame the transportation department because they can’t remove all ice/snow from a highway in winter?!
**news flash**: SLOW DOWN when it’s icy! (or foggy, or dust storm or heavy rain/snow)
I blame it partly on all the new car commercials touting their traction control systems. They show cars flying down the icy road and say look how well it handles. You still have to control your vehicle and speed in less than ideal conditions.
I see a lot of “slow down” comments above. While slowing down would certainly help, the Express Lane is a barricaded, two lane, toll way on a freeway that has limited traffic, and therefore higher speed limits (in this case, I believe it’s 75 mph). Therefore, the transportation department and the managing agency of the express lane would seemingly have some responsibility here, given that they suggested and approved the speed limit and the barricades, would they not? And before you say, “that’s the limit, not the minimum”, going slower than 5 under the speed limit (which would still put you at 70 mph), is dangerous due to other reasons (road rage, to name one), and wouldn’t have helped in this situation in any case. (Good luck stopping on black ice going any speed above 20 mph.)
None of you obviously have lived in Texas. They don’t normally de-ice or salt an area unless there has been at least one major incident on any stretch of freeway. They do not have the equipment or the manpower. Texas is a big state and this is such a rarity, there is little preparedness for these type of events. People should try and stay off the freeways at all costs during these storms. It’s just not worth it. The side streets are bad enough.
I’m curious if a subcontractor was being used for maintenance? Also, if North Tarrant Express is an LLC, does that shield them from the liability? The lawsuits will be tremendous!
what? blame the transportation department because they can’t remove all ice/snow from a highway in winter?!
**news flash**: SLOW DOWN when it’s icy! (or foggy, or dust storm or heavy rain/snow)
I blame it partly on all the new car commercials touting their traction control systems. They show cars flying down the icy road and say look how well it handles. You still have to control your vehicle and speed in less than ideal conditions.
It’s all about DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY. Not the highway departments, etc. I’ve seen it time and time again…EXCESSIVE SPEED.
It’s simple. Everybody, slow down!
I see a lot of “slow down” comments above. While slowing down would certainly help, the Express Lane is a barricaded, two lane, toll way on a freeway that has limited traffic, and therefore higher speed limits (in this case, I believe it’s 75 mph). Therefore, the transportation department and the managing agency of the express lane would seemingly have some responsibility here, given that they suggested and approved the speed limit and the barricades, would they not? And before you say, “that’s the limit, not the minimum”, going slower than 5 under the speed limit (which would still put you at 70 mph), is dangerous due to other reasons (road rage, to name one), and wouldn’t have helped in this situation in any case. (Good luck stopping on black ice going any speed above 20 mph.)
None of you obviously have lived in Texas. They don’t normally de-ice or salt an area unless there has been at least one major incident on any stretch of freeway. They do not have the equipment or the manpower. Texas is a big state and this is such a rarity, there is little preparedness for these type of events. People should try and stay off the freeways at all costs during these storms. It’s just not worth it. The side streets are bad enough.
I’m curious if a subcontractor was being used for maintenance? Also, if North Tarrant Express is an LLC, does that shield them from the liability? The lawsuits will be tremendous!