Can Drivers Trust Info On E-Signs?

WE NEED ETA’S WE CAN TRUST: JL points out some concerns via email with the information now being provided to drivers via the electronic message boards on the interstate, including “how ‘real time’ is the incident info? Last week there was a notice ‘crash at San Antonio, seek alternate route’ so I got off at Candelaria. By the time I reached San Mateo, it was clear sailing.”

Along the same lines, Andrea’s email asks, “Who controls the information? The Department of Transportation in Santa Fe? Twice in one week I have looked at the signs and they gave travel times, but as I drove down the road, it was very easy to see an accident or something else was going on as traffic was going very slow.

“It will get to the point that drivers will not be able to trust the information if (it’s) not changed as quickly as possible.”

Ray Herne, who handles information for NMDOT’s Intelligent Transportation Systems Bureau, says the travel times “are based upon a number of factors, including posted speed limits, traffic density, location and time of day. Information used to determine travel times comes from sensors measuring the speed and number of vehicles along specific segments of the interstates, as well as event data gathered by patrolling NMDOT units, traffic police and personnel in NMDOT’s Transportation Management Center.

“Without more specific information on the dates and times of the events mentioned … it’s not possible for us to pinpoint the situations referenced and match them to reductions in traffic speeds. The ‘travel times’ system has an accuracy rate of not less than 85 percent. Obviously we’d like that to be 100 percent,” Herne says, “and we are working to eliminate any impediments to that goal.”

TRAFFIC-JAM MIRACLE ON INTERSTATE 40: Jim Steeves experienced one a few miles west of Edgewood last week.

He emails that he and his wife “came to a stop behind a big rig in the left lane. She had seen the traffic jam when we were a mile or so short of it. As we inched along behind a big-rig in the left lane she noted that, for some odd reason, there was no traffic passing us in the right lane. She inched over so I could look and, lo, there was nothing for several hundred yards ahead of us in the right lane. In the rear view mirror we saw, about 500 yards behind us, an 18-wheeler that was NOT closing up the big gap — about half a mile in length. This went on for about 10 minutes until we reached the crash site, where cop cars and emergency vehicles had the right lane closed.”

Jim says “I think what was happening was a miracle. The big rig back there was blocking the right lane, perhaps staying alongside another big rig. The result of this was that traffic was moving steadily, albeit slowly, past the crash site.

“Usually, in this situation, impatient or selfish drivers or someone who needed to get to a bathroom soon would close the gap, and then we’d all have to take turns passing the crash site. Such a process is much slower than if everyone is in one lane and moving slowly but steadily. The psychological effect is that instead of a dog-eat-dog situation in which each person will curse everyone else, we all are dealing with the traffic problem in a cooperative manner.”

FEEDBACK FROM A QUIET MOTORCYCLE RIDER: Ron Hunter wants to say thanks to the agencies that publish “information about seat belt use in auto fatalities and helmet use in motorcycle accidents. I ride a quiet cycle and wear a helmet, and I am concerned about motorcycle riders who choose not to wear helmets (though) I support their right to choose. Some of my Harley-riding friends also are very adamant about modifying their bikes to make as much noise as possible for safety’s sake, so other vehicle drivers can ‘hear’ them. I can’t help but wonder if (a recent motorcycle fatality involved) a loud cycle and (a rider who) couldn’t hear the truck approaching from his left. It was a tragic, useless accident.”

And Ron offers up “one other motorcycle riding safety tip: I have been keeping my headlight on bright when riding during the daytime for about the last 40 years. I almost never have anyone pull out in front of me while approaching intersections, which used to happen way too often before I switched on the brights.”

Assistant editorial page editor D’Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area on Mondays and West Siders and Rio Ranchoans on Thursdays. Reach her at 823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103; or go to ABQjournal.com/traffic to read previous columns and join in the conversation.
— This article appeared on page A4 of the Albuquerque Journal