By Carnivore 69

September 17, 2007 9:29 AM | Link to this

Everyone calls it the suicide lane. No, I do not avoid it, it’s a fun way to play chicken with a random stranger.

By downtown connector 75/85

September 17, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this

I no longer drive on any of those roads, but I used to have the same experience going north on the downtown connector at the 75/85 split. I was terried. But then I always feel like I’m taking my life in my hands on expressways anyway.

By STORM WARNING

September 17, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

SAME KIND OF POOR DESIGNS ALL OVER THIS CITY…

STUPID CHEROKEE COUNTY COPS GAVE ME A TICKET FOR BEING IN THAT LANE WAITING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO TURN LEFT…THE “OTHER CAR” BARRELING TOWARDS ME HAPPENED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER…. I GUESS I WAS A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES.. YOUR DAMNED IF YOU DO, AND DAMNED IF YOU DONT. HE COULD HAVE AT LEAST BEEN NICE, BUT MOST POLICE OFFICERS ARE TOO VAIN FOR THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR.

By Frustrated Driver

September 17, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

It is drivers like you all, scared of the road, that make driving dangerous. You drive slow in the left lane - hands so tight around the steering wheel that you knuckles turn white. You don’t get up to speed when merging - causing those behind you to slow down making it harder for them to merge. ETC ETC ETC.

If you are afraid of the road, please stay off it so the rest of us who have real issues can get where we are going. You are a danger to the rest of us.

By even more so

September 17, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this

Even more so, those who stand in that lane trying to run across to the other side are more in danger of getting hit than those who use them in cars. Do they think that everyone can see them doing this??

By Jerk Detector

September 17, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this

By Frustrated Driver

September 17, 2007 9:47 AM | If you are afraid of the road, please stay off it so the rest of us who have real issues can get where we are going. You are a danger to the rest of us.

It’s aholes like you that make the roads dangerous to begin with. Your overinflated idea of your own self worth and the overimportance you place on whatever you are doing or where you are going is the real problem. What a pompous azz you are. Your real importance is only in your own mind. The road doesn’t exclusively belong to you jerk. Deal with that.

By ChrisD3

September 17, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this

Agree with FrustratedDriver. How many people also stop when making a right turn, even though big sign says “Keep Moving”. Get out of the way!

By Frustrated Driver

September 17, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this

Dear Jerk,

Screw you. I am a great driver, never gotten a ticket, never been in an accident, obey the speed limit, and am courteous of other drivers. I am just sick and tired of drivers who are scared of driving causing traffic delays and putting my own life in danger.

By Jerk Detector

September 17, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this

By Frustrated Driver

September 17, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this

Dear Jerk,

Screw you. I am a great driver, never gotten a ticket, never been in an accident, obey the speed limit, and am courteous of other drivers. I am just sick and tired of drivers who are scared of driving causing traffic delays and putting my own life in danger

See what I mean folks. Frustrated “jerk” Driver gets all bent out of shape over a blog comment. Imagine what he’s like when he self rightously flies into a fit of rage on the highway because someone else isn’t driving that way that his pompous azz thinks they should. Once again jerk. The road is not your exclusive domain. Deal with it.

By He's a Jerk Alright

September 17, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this

Yeah, I bet Frustrated “jerk” Driver doesn’t realize that kamikazee drivers like him are the reason for everyone elses caution. This type always sees himself as God’s gift to transportation without realizing what a menace he himself is.

By LMAO!!

September 17, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this

Hey dumbazz! I mean Frustrated Driver. So you obey traffic laws and speed limits? LMAO! If you do you are one of the problems you rail against because if you’re driving the speed limit you are the one holding things up. What a moron.

By Dan

September 17, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

In my younger days, I would drive fast to tick people off. Now I obey most of the road rules, stop at stop signs and go with the flow. If I am driving 70-75 in the left lane - in a 55, THEN YOU NEED TO MOVE OVER- Cuz you are going WAY TOO FAST. SPEED KILLS

By WTF

September 17, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

If you all would like to discuss something important………try discussing Jena 6!!!!

Does anyone here even know what Jena 6 is about?

By R. Byrd

September 17, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this

The Lane is refered to as a center dual left turn lane. It’s use is ment to releave backup in the thru lane because of vehicles turning left. However some motorists consider it to be their private driving lane and travel for blocks before making their left turn into a business or ohter destination or use it for an exceleration lane to merge into the travel lane. In any case you should always uses care when entering or exiting this lane because some motorists do not remember their driver training or just think they are the only one on the highway that has the right-of-way. This problem exists all over the country and it really comes down to motorists driving with a lack of due care and attention.

By GADriver

September 17, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

It is called a “Shared Left Turn Lane”. You are not supposed to drive down the lane, you are supposed to enter it to make a left hand turn so that you don’t impede the progress of traffic in the travel lanes.

The lane is not there for you to skip ahead of traffic and it should not be used to make a right hand turn.

The lane would not be dangerous if everyone followed the rules.

By two cents

September 17, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

@ WTF Yes i know what Jena 6 ^ is.

You’re right there are bigger issues 2 dicuss.

By Tray

September 17, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this

What needs to happen is that everyone in this entire state needs to retake driver’s education classes. Technically, they were never a requirement until just recently, so if you’re wondering why no one in GA can drive, it’s because they were never taught correctly…

By intown driver

September 17, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

Im with frustrated driver, too many nervous drivers.These same drivers also tend to drive suvs and cant seem to hold their lane on peachtree.also just a reminder folks be courteous when merging it is every other car just like a zipper

By Atlanta Pearl Girl

September 17, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

I think you definately have to ‘calculate’ driving moves when in that lane. I know exactly what you’re talking about.

And yes….people do barrel down that lane. It’s used for TURNING not CONTINUING FULL SPEED!

Atlanta Pearl Girl

By chris

September 17, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

You want a real suicide lane? Try Northside Drive in lower Buckhead. The center lane is for northbound traffic part of the day and for southbound traffic at other times. Very poor signage to indicate the current direction, and at least two blind hills where the road crests at an intersection and you just have to hope nobody is coming the other way or using it as a turn lane. Now, that’s a suicide lane!

By Sane Jane

September 17, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this

What if stakes were raised - more rigorous field tests, for example, or harsher penalties for infractions.

Imagine the squawking that would occur about the government taking away people’s “right” (not privilege) to drive.

Complainers will always complain. In this case, both Frustrated Driver and Jerk Detector are correct.

By KEITH

September 17, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this

DAT MIDLE LANE STUFF JUS DE WITE MAN NOTHER WAY TRIN TO KILL US ALL JES LIKE DEY TRIEN TO DO VICK BRANG VICK BACK WE NEEDS HIM BADD TOO FALCONS BE WINNIN AGIN IF WE DO AN VICK BE GOIN FO DAT RING NOE WHAT IM SAYIN

By Sane Jane

September 17, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

Ladies and Gentleman, meet KEITH!

He’s a 42 year old unemployed white man. He hates living in his trailer and clings desperately to the hope that he’s better than somebody.

So he comes onto these blogs posing as an ig’nant black man.

Stay classy, ATL.

By marbo

September 17, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this

Keith is the type of azzhole that just makes my day. A low life who feels that he is better than someone else….and you wonder why race relations are they way they are. He probaly uses a fake black c** on his girlfriend!!

By Alexis

September 17, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

Middle lane morons, HOV lane slow-pokes and people who stop to make a right hand turn are all idiots. People too afraid of their cars to operate them properly should be remanded to a state institution for the mentally challenged and given daily doses of experimental medications.

By timetopissontheneoconscumandotherrepubicsublifeforms

September 17, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

You can only enter the center turn lane within 40 yards of your turn. Any attempt to use the center turn lane as a travel lane or as a passing lane is a violation of the traffic laws.

By OJ Simpson

September 17, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

Jena 6:

The first book of The Bible.

By Fayetteisscary

September 17, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this

Instead of the middle name how about just driving in the Fayette Pavillion? I get scared everytime I pull in there. If the people from Fulton and Clayton can stay away I will feel safer….

By Fayetteisscary

September 17, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this

Sorry typo. It should say Middle Lane

By KEITH

September 17, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this

YO SANE JANE YOU DONT SEEM SO SANE TO ME YOU DONT NOE ME AN YOU TELLIN FOLKS THANGS LIKE YOU DO I AINT FOTY 2 AN DONT STAY IN NO TRAILER I JES WISH WITE FOLK LIKE YOU STOP BEIN LIKE YALL THINK YALL SO MUCH BETTER HEAR DAT

By frustrated

September 17, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this

That’s nothing compare to what I go through every day (at Fulton Ind. Blvd/Bolton Rd. and Bankhead Hwy). People get out of the fast lane (a long way back) and into the “middle turning lane”, drive down passing all of the traffic that is backed up, then as they get to the light (or right before) they cut back into the left lane and go on about their business. They apparently think they are better than everyone else because they don’t think they should wait in line like everyone else. I see this everywhere now and it makes me want to tech them a lesson in civility and courtesy. We are all in a hurry to get where we are going and none of us like to sit in traffic, but lets get real here people. First of all, it is against the law to do this and second, it is extremely rude. I basically get road rage daily now…..anyone else have this problem?

By Scumsucker

September 17, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this

Where the hell is fayettville? People live there?

By White Knuckler

September 17, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this

Sorry to burst the bubbles of many on here, but driving in a “suicide lane” to avoid traffic is illegal. It is a turn lane, not a travel lane. You are allowed to travel no more than 300 feet in that lane and then you’re ticket-able.

Sit on Pleasant Hill at Buford Hwy. at any given time and watch Gwinnett pull over car after car for traveling in this lane to avoid the traffic generated by trains crossing at the intersection.

It’s against the law. Brush up on your rules of the road.

By LockEmUp

September 17, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this

Yes, I’ve heard of the Jena6. They’re scum and they belong in prison.

By Mandy

September 17, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this

Driving anywhere in ATL is dangerous. There are many selfish drivers who could care less about others on the road. Why people have to drive on someone’s bumper in rush hour traffic? It’s not like they’re going to get to their destination any quicker. Many don’t use turn signals, others cut you off and then drive slow, while others try to beat everyone down the highway and are in the far left land and then realize that they have to get off the exit, so they cut everyone else off instead of getting in the exit lane ahead of time.

I’m moving back to NYC so I can take the subway, the bus or walk.

By hatedrvn

September 17, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this

On Fri with all the rain causing havoc on the roads, one driver stops to let another person pull out of a parking lot. The other drive was so busy with her conversion on the phone wasn’t paying attention to the other person holding up traffic trying to be nice and let her out. Then when the cell junky did pull out went so slow and driving all over the place still talking away. That’s when its not worth it to be courteous because of dumb@as’ like that on the road.

By Lex Luthor

September 17, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

My favorite are the a-holes that merge onto a highway before the dashed lines. Then they pull up beside you and force you to enter the the emegerency lane.

They are too stupid that passing on a solid line is illegal even if it isn’t yellow.

By LiasMom

September 17, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

R Byrd - Nice to see someone with common sense. I guess you passed your driving test, but you sure failed your spelling test!

:-)

By Blyin

September 17, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

Hey Keith, stop trying to sound as dumb as you are. Folks don’t type like you’re trying to talk.

By cya

September 17, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this

To the NY chick heading back home. Hope you enjoyed your stay and you will be missed!

By KEITH

September 17, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this

What if stakes were raised - more rigorous field tests, for example, or harsher penalties for infractions.

Imagine the squawking that would occur about the government taking away people’s “right” (not privilege) to drive.

Complainers will always complain. In this case, both Frustrated Driver and Jerk Detector are correct. DATS WHAT RONG WIF YOU WHITE FOLK ALWAYS WANTING TO TAKE AWAY MO OF SOMBODY RIGHTS YALL HAS TO STOP SOMWERE

By tray

September 17, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this

CAN I ASK A BRIEF QUESTION? wHAT THE HELL DO THE PROBLEMS IN JENA (AND THE JENA 6) HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS SUICIDE LANE AND DRIVING BLOG?? I’VE RESEARCHED THE WHOLE THING, AND AS A 27 YEAR OLD WHITE GUY, DAMN, WHAT’S HAPPENING THERE IS WRONG. HOWEVER, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS BLOG, GEEZ…

By Not much better here

September 17, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this

Those lanes are scary but they are nothing compared to the eight-way stops in the Fayette Pavilion. Whoever designed that shopping center ought to be tried and sentenced to directing traffic between Target and Best Buy for a month.

By Fayetteisscary

September 17, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this

NotMuchBetterHere When the pavillion was first built it was just suppose to be Walmart, Home Depot, Target, Publix and a movie theater. The devlopers got greedy and started building everything and just building lanes wherever they could. Now the Pavillion has turned into a nightmare. There has been many of time where I wish Shermon would come back alive and burn down the pavillion….

By GATraffic Sucks

September 17, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this

To the blogger that is moving back to NYC, count me in! GA DOT should get the boobie prize for the way they have designed these roads. A child in pre K could have designed a better layout. For the most part GA is backwards period!

By KLove

September 17, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this

I once got into a head-on collision in the “suicide lane”, and I will admit it was all my fault. I was northbound on roswell rd by the fulton county annex, but traffic backed up all the way to dalrymple rd, and it was raining. Anywho, I got impatient, and decided to drive down the center lane all the way from trowbridge rd and slide back into traffic while doing so. I also remember telling my ex-wife at the time “dont try this at home, this is only for experienced drivers”, not 10 seconds later did i smack head on into a pickup truck that was turning left out of the annex into the turning lane headed southbound.(someone decided to be nice and let him out of the parking lot and i didnt notice the break in traffic) Totaled my car and got a scolding from the officer and a ticket for “improper use of turning lane”. Man did I ever learn, but I will admit I still do this from time to time (along with driving on the shoulder, using the HOV on/off ramps, whatever I need to do to stay moving. If I had a hummer, I would prolly use the grass as well), I just dont go as fast. I have bad nerves and cant stand sitting in traffic!!!!

By cya

September 17, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this

So let me get this straight. Most New Yuckers dont have cars? Soooo, if all of you all that moved here and THEN buy a car, is it that you all dont know how to drive and could be part of the problem? eh.

By Art

September 17, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this

Try it on a motorcycle… it’s even worse. Moreover, Atlanta has the worst drivers in the entire world. Even the Italians, who are notoriously bad drivers, are better than Atlantans.

By Becky

September 17, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this

frustrated, I’m there with you every day..I usually get right on the line & make them run off of the road to come around me..All these people talking about moving back to NY, I’ve been there & they don’t drive much better..

By Magenta

September 17, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this

A young driver using the center lane of Mt. Vernon Highway as an express lane totaled my car several years ago. My 6-year-old son suffered a broken collarbone and my foot sustained a sprain from mashing the brake (to no avail). We received a settlement from them, but it should have been more. When 100 cars are lined up in the right lane waiting for the light, that ought to tell you something…

By Not Much Better Here

September 17, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this

To Fayetteisscary, I agree, something should be done. My workaround is to skulk around directly in front of the stores and stay away from the central road altogether. Sure, it’s time-consuming, but I feel safer.

By Belinda

September 17, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this

Quick question- How do you tell a bad Ga. driver from a bad N.Y. driver? I agree with cya. If all New Yuckers are use to riding the subway, theirin lies the problem. They all think they are DRIVING

By Belinda

September 17, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this

Sorry, I hit a wrong button. New Yuckers are use to riding the subway and they think they are DRIVING it here and noone else is on the tracks but them!!

By FYTVLSis

September 17, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this

I have been driving in Atlanta Metro for 30 years, and thought I was used to the crazies… that is, until I changed jobs and started commuting up 314 to 279 (Old National) to 285 to Marietta. Somehow, I’ve managed to miss the suicide lane follies, but every morning, when Old National backed up, some crazy would come barrelling up the turn lane doing 50 miles an hour for a mile. First time it happened, I thought what an AH! Then I started noticing all these folks doing it, over and over again.

Mix in those who walk across the street to get to a MARTA bus station, and the horrors just multiply. I’ve seen mothers with young babies in strollers running across the street in this mess. LAWDY!

It was so nerve wracking (and 285 NB traffic so bad), that I just started going straight up GA 85 to I-75 to get to Marietta.

I’ll never complain about Riverdale drivers again.

Pavilian? Like NotMuchBetterHere, I stay off the main road and stick to the lanes that run through the parking lots. At least there, you’re only dealing with 4 drivers at the 4 ways instead of 8!

My favorite, though, is the 3 way stop at the front of the Pavilian, near Publix and Starbucks. It just melts brain matter to watch the drivers try to figure that one out!

By thatsme

September 17, 2007 6:12 PM | Link to this

Many from New York City, not the State of New York (let’s get that straight, as there are people who are from the State and do not have the convenience of public transportation as those of us from NYC), do not drive on a daily basis. The convenience of the transportation system in NYC, the cost of owning a vehicle, the cost of parking, etc. are some of the reasons why it is not necessary to drive. BUT there are some very good drivers from NY; you see we had to take our driving test on real roads, faced with real life situations, not in parking lots. Therein lies some of the problems with many drivers. So if Mom, Dad, or Cousin Jimmy taught you how to drive, when you took that road test in NY, all of the bad habits that they taught you were going to help you fail the test.

By Road Warrior

September 18, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this

Of all the glaring examples one can find all over this and every city in america, these types of lanes are the best expample of why the government should never be allowed to build, manage, or maintain roads. Alternating lanes make some sense for bridges, where the costs of additional lanes can be huge, yet the overall traffic flow is significantly uni-directional based on time of day. Onto or off of an island for instance. Use of them through heavily populated towns with times that are constantly changing or are not posted, is basically just lazy, but more what should be considered as criminally negligent.

To make matters worse, remember that the brilliant folks who administer driver’s licneses in this state will just give you a Georgia license if you have a currently one from another state. No training, no test, no nothing. “Hey buddy, on some roads, we switch the direction traffic can flow and the only way to tell is some green, red, and flashing yellow X’s overhead. Good luck.” Just think what sort of reaction th epublic would have if they drove onto Six Flags property and cars were allowed to drive in similar screwy ways. You can bet that there would be lawsuits against Six Flags, and certainly criminal charges if folks kept dying. I made similar points after the Minneapolis bridge collapse. Did you know that every morning before they open the employees at Six Flags walk every inch of track looking for loose bolts, cracks, etc.? Then the guinea pigs for the day are the park employees? That’s when they get the free rides. Any problems and they shut down the ride, post it at the ticket window and deal with the potential lost sales. If they didn’t, they would suffer lawsuits and possible criminal charges.

Not so with government. They inspect the bridges and roads when they feel like it. Justify all sorts of problems they find. Delay repairs as long as they can. Wonder what happeded to all the money they stole from taxpayers that was supposed to go for maintenance, and then sit around pointing fingers when the roadway collapses. They never really worry. Even this kind of criminal misconduct will never result in criminal penalties. Goverrnment employees are immune. As for civil penalties to all of those mangled families - oh well. Its no s coming out of their pockets. That’s what the tax base is for. And don’t ever think of firing someone - the union is likely protecting them. 200 deaths and a big pension. Arent government jobs great?

The only way to fix what ails our roads is full and complete privatization of ownership anf operation

By BUSHWACKER

September 18, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this

Law says no “traveling” in that lane, meaning use a minimum amount of lane to get to the point where you make your turn, or wait til you are past the last intersection or entrance that is just before the intersection/entrance you want to turn. This eliminates the need to go in and out they way you describe, even when 2 cars are heading toward each other its just a matter one then the other turning at the same point eliminating the need to get out of the way for the person “travelin” who has not reached their turning point yet.

It’s called common sense!

By BUSHWACKER

September 18, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

Road Warrior IT AIN’T THE ROAD because thousands of people are able to travel these roads every day without getting killed.

It’s the dumb a’s on the road.

People need to learn how to drive.

Typical liberal response, it’s the govts fault for bad roads.

B.S.

Put responsibilty where it belongs on the driver for knowing how to drive.

Your probably the same people who thinks there should be a concrete barricade down the middle of 2 lane roads.

How do you explain how 99% of the people who travel on 2 lane roads everyday survive?

Just lucky?

No, it’s because most of us are not total idiots!!

By Jokerman

September 18, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this

The center lane is not, I repeat, not a “merge into traffic” lane. This is a big problem where Beauregard Blvd. merges into Hwy. 85. A lot of people use the middle lane to squeeze into the northbound lane. Unsafe people!

By Road Warrior

September 19, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

Bushwacker…

Typical Liberal response - blame the government?

Now I’m positive that the terms liberal and conservative must go.

Liberals love government. Conservatives are supposed to reject government solutions.

Figure out which you want to be and consider supportive arguments for your case instead of namecalling. What point does it really serve. Besides, there is far more evidence of government failure in this world than success. 200 million dead citizens in the 20th century alone.

And you can forget me blaming the drivers. The fact that 99.9% of drivers can manage to navigate a particular piece of highway does not mean that it was well designed or even safe. 5 out of 6 Russian Roulette players live. That doesn’t make it a safe game.

You may wish to sit back and not hold government officials accountable for bad decisions, but that is not what the founders of this country expected of the populace. So long as the government chooses to maintain the monopoly on road ownership, construction, and maintenance, then they deserve all the criticism they can get over lazy workmanship and poor design. By the way, lets also remember that the government is also the folks who decide who is qualified to get a license (not the insurance companies or other financially-interested parties).