rbrucecarter5 said:
My pet peeve is terms like "left center lane" on the traffic reports. Why don't we do something intelligent like number the lanes from the left like Houston traffic does: "stalled car in lane 3" or "lanes 1 and 2 blocked by construction". Less time, less confusing.
Well, Bruce...as a former traffic reporter in this fine town(s) of ours,
MY pet peeve
is markets that use the "number" lane way of reporting,
OR the
"inner loop/perimeter eastbound" or outer loop/perimeter westbound (like Atlanta).
Drives me crazy. For God sakes, call it 285!
Guess it's how we all look at things,
LITERALLY, and as drivers.
Take for example southbound I-35E at Sandy Lake Rd in Carrollton. Now, in that location
there are three main lanes (left, center, right) and an HOV lane. It would confuse the heck
out of me if I heard a reporter say "accident in Lane 1 southbound 35 at Sandy Lake". Ok,
does that reporter mean the HOV, or the (fast) left lane??
MUCH easier for me as a driver to hear someone say "accident in the center lane,
southbound 35 at Sandy Lake". That way I can move to the left or right lane to
hopefully get around it.
What infuriates me is when you hear a reporter say "that wreck is blocking the three
left lanes", or "TXDOT is saying the four right lanes are blocked" such as an accident
on 635. What?? No! HOV, Left, left center, center, right center, right, and possibly
an exit only lane. If there are three lanes on the highway, and the left and center lane
is blocked, that means only the
RIGHT lane is getting by!!. Please say that.
Many do in their reports, but an overwhelming majority
DO NOT.
Ok, <soapbox off>.....
