Complete Bummer - bottomed out
03-24-2010, 06:04 AM
#31
Advanced
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow - well done. That is precisely the intersection. I turned into the left turn only lane exactly where the white arrow is in the left turn lane, beckoning me to go there in order to take a left turn. It was dusk, almost completely dark. If the this narrow strip of curb was a "real median", it would have been obvious. With all this said, I don't doubt that your description of the process may be pperfectly accurate. I shall report back.....
03-24-2010, 07:04 AM
#32
We have these concrete medians in Ireland too - they call them 'traffic calming areas. They are not reflectorised on purpose - you really have to slow down in case you run over them - so I suppose they do they job. Newly constructed ones are of course very dangerous but usually there is a 'traffic calming' sign before them so if you do hit one its your own bad luck / lack of attention. But as a policeman I can appreciate the frustration you feel with the city as these can do very serious damage to a car if driven over at any rate of speed.
03-24-2010, 03:35 PM
#33
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes
on
15 Posts
Wow - well done. That is precisely the intersection. I turned into the left turn only lane exactly where the white arrow is in the left turn lane, beckoning me to go there in order to take a left turn. It was dusk, almost completely dark. If the this narrow strip of curb was a "real median", it would have been obvious. With all this said, I don't doubt that your description of the process may be pperfectly accurate. I shall report back.....
Gary
03-24-2010, 08:24 PM
#34
Drifting
What you are looking for is the California version of the Federal MUTCD ( Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices ). California has its own manual that is probably stronger than the federal manual I'm quoting below.
From the 2009 MUTCD (link: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009/...009edition.pdf )
Section 3B.23 Curb Markings
So you can see, the federal manual specifially states that curbs and islands in the roadway should have REFLECTIVE paint on the traffic facing surfaces. There are similar regulations for longitudinal traffic separators.
So the only thing you need to ask any City/State/County traffic engineer is: "Why did the <insert jurisdiction here> not comply with the established regulations on marking this curb/divider in the roadway?"
From the 2009 MUTCD (link: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009/...009edition.pdf )
Section 3B.23 Curb Markings
Code:
Standard: 07 Where curbs are marked for delineation or visibility purposes, the colors shall comply with the general principles of markings (see Section 3A.05). Guidance: 08 Retroreflective solid yellow markings should be placed on the approach ends of raised medians and curbs of islands that are located in the line of traffic flow where the curb serves to channel traffic to the right of the obstruction. 09 Retroreflective solid white markings should be used when traffic is permitted to pass on either side of the island.
So the only thing you need to ask any City/State/County traffic engineer is: "Why did the <insert jurisdiction here> not comply with the established regulations on marking this curb/divider in the roadway?"
