Capitol Updates

By Jerry L

January 9, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this

As long as the speed limits on the interstate are not strictly enforced the drivers are not going to slow down. Until all are slowed down, it’s safer to drive with the flow of traffic, which I find to be between 75 and 85, of course even at them speeds there is always the idiot that comes flying by. Posted interstate speed limits are fair, enforce them.

By Vince

January 9, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this

You know why people speed in Atlanta? Because they’re always late because of the ridiculous traffic in and around the area.

By Jeff

January 9, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this

Georgia has the worst drivers in the country. Speed is a problem but not as much as poeple not paying attention (cell phones!) and the extrememly frustrating numskulls who drive in the left hand lanes of the highway rather thanmoving to the right. Does this state have driver’s training?????

By NickatNight

January 9, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this

Jerry L; Get Real! The 55MPH speed limit is fair?? You must be from Ohio. The speed limit on I-285 should be 65 or 70MPH. That’s the flow of traffic.

By Tim

January 9, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this

It is not the people who speed that kill. You need to focus your attention to those who drive below the speed limit on two lane roads and those who will not move over on four lanes. They drive slow or beside someone and will not get out of the way. That is what is causing the probelms. But leave it up to our stupid politicans to once again focus on the wrong people. Do I think most people drive way to fast —yes—-is it dangerous—probably—but get the slow people out of the way first. They are what causing most of the fustration and anger. Then you have Holly Spring Police, what a joke they are and their stupid speed traps. They need to re-focus their attention on slow moving drivers. No wonder no buisness wants to move to Holly Springs due to the harassment they would cause on the people that would work there. Perdue, why don’t you worry about more important things, like illegal immigrants, high cost of medical insurance due to them and the ACLU who could give a damn about the US.

By woody

January 9, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

Sychronize the GOD DARN traffic signals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Charles Turner

January 9, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

How about timing the traffic lights better. People are usually speeding to get thru the next light. Most of the time you have to stop at every intersection. Put that on your sonny do list.

By G-man

January 9, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

Hmmm…this coming from the man that has state patrol escorts everywhere he wants to go. A bit hypocritical I say. How about he add funding to light rail or another viable solution to ease the gridlock in the city and the perimeter.

By butch

January 9, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this

75 m.ph. on i-85 south of newnan would be a welcome relief

By RaisinBran

January 9, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

Weren’t we promised flying cars? Where in the heck are they?!?

But to the point, traffic signals do need to be resynced and definately something about the slow drivers in the far left lane. This is what needs to be focused on.

Drive safe everyone!

By Akagi

January 9, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

In many cases speed limits are simply a device to steal money for various communities from those that have the misfortune of traveling through those communities. Turning the police into modern-day highwaymen—robbing the public at the point of a gun (or at least a badge).

There is no better example of this than Northside Parkway south of Mt. Paran where the Atlanta police lay in wait for those coming from Cobb County each morning. I have seen them even using a pick-up truck as their attack vehicle.

Since most of these drivers will be from Cobb County, any complaints will fall on deaf-ears and the city of Atlanta will be enriched from the fines.

Well at least they don’t get “mugged” by the police like the professor from Tufts did—I guess that is something.

By Doug C

January 9, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this

Genius. Pure Genius… Once again, Sonny proves he’s not afraid to tackle the tough issues facing this state. Way to go Georgia… four more years of this turd.

By Seymour

January 9, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

The stoplights in City of Decatur are the worst. They approach 100% inefficiency: red when there is traffic lined up and green when there is no one to take advantage of it.

By harold

January 9, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

all sonny do is say “slow down?”

how about sonny do regional rail

how about sonny do marta subway to all of metro atlanta

how about sonny do something at all

say “slow down” is sonny do nothing

what a joke

By Ronnie

January 9, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

What about the Doraville police that milk their little bit of 285 for all it’s worth?

By Elrod

January 9, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

Slow down? Speed up, fat man!

My car goes 130 MPH!! If everybody went faster, everybody would get there quicker and everybody would be happy.

Anyone who doesn’t agree with me should have their licence taken away and belongs in a nursury home.

By Ron

January 9, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this

i think that the horrible traffic can be attributed in large part to speeding idiots who tailgate and do not pay good attention to what they are doing. One little rearender backs up traffic for hours.

By Cletus Snow

January 9, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this

Speeding on the expressway and 285 is totally out of control, most of the slower traffic is over the speed limit. tailgating and aggressive driving is the norm, the state is going to have to change the law or enforce it before there is a major disaster.

By DBH 1

January 9, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

Sonny asking everyone to slow down is as ludicrous as the neighborhoods that get sucked into installing traffic calming. No one is going to slow down until the police enforce the law. Re-assess the speed limits on the interstates, correct what is out of sync, give fair warning and start handing out the stiff fines, especially to violators in residential neighborhoods. I’ll bet all of you who run stop signs in residential areas wouldn’t do it if your mother or boss were riding with you. Why do you do it when your kids are with you?

By Sher

January 9, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this

I know something that Sonny can do, I’m just too much of a lady to say it!

By Rotorhead

January 9, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this

Hey Elrod, my chopper goes 215 mph! You can only go 130 for so long then ya gotta slow down or stop. Yeah, that’s me circling overhead and I’m talkin’ to “the man.” By the way, just what is a “nursury home?”

By Jeff

January 9, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

Give me a break!!! the governor needs to address all the idiot georgia drivers who fail to get out of the fast lane. They are too lazy to move and cause congestion on our major interstates. They are the ones who should be ticketed for failure to yielding to faster traffic.

By John

January 9, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

Whenever this issue comes up you immediately get the “It’s the slow drivers!” people spouting off. I think these tend to be talk radio listeners. No, it’s the speeding, tailgating and redlight running, all of which are totally out of control in Atlanta. And I agree with Seymour, City of Decatur traffic lights are the worst.

By Craig O

January 9, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

Speeding is one of the best parts about Atlanta. Slow people cause accidents, not people who speed.

By Jeff

January 9, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this

Well why do you think it is the tailgating, and redlight running, John??? I’ll tell you why! Because people don’t know where the accelerator is in their car!.

By Craig O

January 9, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this

People tailgate because people are slow. The redlight cameras are taking care of the redlight running. Got anything else John?

By Joe

January 9, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

Specifically for Georgia

www dot ticketkiller dot net

Stop giving these crooks your money.

By Jmarsh

January 9, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

If the speed limits on the interstates were more reasonable, fewer people would do 90; more of them would go five or six over the limit instead. When the limit is so patently ridiculous (55 on 400?!), then it gets completely ignored. When it’s reasonable, most people will push the limit, but not a whole lot.

The ultimate neighborhood traffic calming: Close down neighborhoods so they only have one exit. They’re public roads, people, people can cut through your neighborhood as much as they like.

Neighborhood speed, however, is much more subjective. When someone is standing in their yard, and you fly by at a whole 27 miles an hour, it seems that you’re driving 40+. I’ve had a woman flap her arms at me like her house was on fire, and my speed was… 24 in a 25.

By RWH

January 9, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this

Thank you for getting this “Slow-It-Down” from the Governor out in the general public. I am amazed at the dangerous driving of people here in Georgia particular locally in many of our cities. Its crazy and very dangerous the way they drive in and out of traffic. Tailgating and causing traffic tie-up when they have accidents! It is better to slow down and reach your destination rather than be in an accident and be late or never arrive. You do the math. You don’t have a second chance when you have an accident; your vehicle will never be the same even if it is repaired, its the internal workings that keep you vehicle working smoothly. Body work is mere a cover up of paint. You think about that the next time you are driving dangerously on the highways.

By mattcherry

January 9, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this

How about getting some state leadership to get people off the roads by adding commuter rail liness and expanding existing MARTA lines. Oh, the irony of sitting on the train to work this morning reading this in the AJC!

By Bill

January 9, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this

What a goofball! Sonny needs to read this blog. You all have it right. It is the people who ride in the left lanes and do not let people pass. Going slow is just as dangerous, if not more (inciting road rage). He needs to fix his rural Georgia mentality and focus on mass transit for the Atlanta region.

By jabster

January 9, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this

Has anyone ever noticed that the only traffic laws that get enforced are the ones that are enforced electronically (red light cameras, radar, laser, breathalyzers) so a cop doesn’t have to go to court and a judge doesn’t have to listen to two stories? Red-light running wasn’t a problem until the red-light camera was invented.

It’s all about turning law enforcement into a profit center—“sales”, “inventory turns”, “variable overhead”, etc. Follow the money. Traffic and drug courts are profit centers—other courts cost money. Require small towns to disgorge their fine revenue to the state, or get off the interstates, and watch them howl about the money. Watch how many traffic fines have revenue-raising “surcharges” slapped on them. Taxation without representation.

Put in reasonable speed limits and people will obey them. The kids know that many speed limits are for political and other B.S. reasons and therefore have NOTHING to go by when they go out driving.

Let’s KNOCK OFF the tachophobia and quit serving up the IIHS/GOHS Kool-Aid.

By Tom

January 9, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

Set reasonable speed limits and enforce them. Hint: 55MPH on a metro freeway is NOT a reasonable speed limit!

By Jerry L

January 9, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

Nickatnight, I am from Macon, would not live in Atlanta. We have very little if any 55 mph. I think 55 on 285 might have something to do with the amount of fatalities there. Macon traffic is about like Atlanta 20 yrs ago, but the speed is excessive on Interstate 75, 475 and even worse on I16. If you have ever drove into Georgia from Tennessee, you know how the speed jumps 15 or 20 mph when you get into Georgia. I really don’t care where it is excessive speed kills. Tailgateing is another violation that needs to be dealt with too.

By thinkaboudit

January 9, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this

Does anyone else hear Nancy Reagans voice saying…”just say no to…” SPEEDING. Sonny expects THIS to work??? Sonny, keep this one on your Sonny-do list. You have not FIXED the problem…..

By Jerry L

January 9, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Everyone talking about the slow lane, the slow here is 75 mph. The middle lane about 80 and the show-off lane has no limit.

By Tim

January 9, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Now to bad that you can not find a cop that will read this and do the right thing. Write those who are in the fast lane driving slow and will not pass anyone a ticket. That would rather mess with those who are driving 11-15 miles over tha those who are driving 10 miles slower. they are the ones causing accidents. I had GSP fly by me on I-75 north in Fulton county just to go to Cobb County so he could write tickets to those going north on I-75. But it is ok for them to speed and not us…. By the way—-if you get a ticket inside the city of Atlanta, your fine will double. Crooked Bastards..

By DJ

January 9, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

You folks who think you have the skills to drive at higher speeds make me laugh. And cringe. Blaming highway deaths on slow drivers makes about as much sense as blaming drive-by shootings on duck hunters. When you can demonstrate your driving skill objectively, I’ll happily concede your point. But I’ll still be afraid of you.

By George

January 9, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

Anyone who is dumb enough to post some of these comments about going 130MPH should be taken out behind the woodshed and beaten simply for stupidity. The trick is not go as fast as you can but arrive safely at your destination. I agree the police should enforce the law, especially with that Idiot behind the wheel. If everyone slowed down everyone would not be stuck in traffic for 500 years but we would all make good time. Sonny Perdue had the right idea about trying to get these morons to slow down a little bit, and try to control the traffic flow.

By jabster

January 9, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

One thing I forgot—per mile driven, Georgia has one of the LOWEST fatality rates in the Southeast. Look it up. So, we drivers must be doing SOMETHING right!!! Then again, that isn’t a problem for a politician or law enforcement to solve.

By ViningsDude

January 9, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

One of the many reasons Jimmy Carter was booted out of office included lowering the speed limit to 55 M.PH. What an idiot!

By JohnM

January 9, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

Amazing! Grow some guts Sonny-do and do whats right for the region. Scrap the idiotic bus rapid transit crap you are proposing and give us commuter, light and heavy rail. Streetcars too. Interesting that we have the ONLY big city transit system in the U.S. that gets not one dime from it’s own State. I still can’t believe this fool was reelected - have our standards here sunk this low?

By Boy Racer

January 9, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

When you tailgate someone, you’re just begging to hand over your house, assets, pay, etc. in a civil suit because you ran into the back of them because you were too impatient to hang back and use your head before you use your foot.

By Greg Leathers

January 9, 2007 01:01 PM | Link to this

I am tired of the whining right wingers. People speed because of the traffic congestion in Atlanta and everything is so spread out. Perhaps building Marta stations all over the place and having trains that are not just local but go six or more stops at a time would get some of the people off the road and out of their cars. But of course when Marta is proposed to be expanded into the hoity toity suburbs, people get scared of the rif raf it will bring. They are just racist.

By Tom Ramsey

January 9, 2007 01:01 PM | Link to this

Let’s ask ourselves. WHY do we allow the automotive industry to manufacture and market automobiles capable of exceeding the national interstate speed limit of 75 mph? There is absolutely no valid reason other that their marketing.

Nationwide we spend billions enforcing the speed limits. What a waste. Limit the speed of the vehicle in the first place and then you don’t have high speed chases to the give the person a speeding ticket. And we might not kill approximately 52,000 people per year with motor vehicles. If any one other consumer product killed that many people it would have been banned by now.

By withheld

January 9, 2007 01:02 PM | Link to this

I think alot has to do with the illegals and the fact that they don’t know how to read the english signs. Oh, I know, why don’t we just put spanish down on the bottom for them????? I don’t know how anyone can get a drivers license and not be able to read the signs. Just about every slow, stupid driver I get behind is a hispanic woman, with 10 kids in her car, doing 30 in a 50mph zone (and not one kid is strapped in). They just don’t understand.

And try to flash your lights at the slow driver in front of you, they don’t get it either. Whatever happened to “Slow traffic keep right”.

I’ve lived in Atlanta for close to 30 years, and I am truly surprised more people are not killed on our roads. I wish I was a cop, I see all kinds of stupid things on the roads.

By Mike

January 9, 2007 01:04 PM | Link to this

We might have more troopers available to enforce the speedlimits on the roads if Perdue wouldn’t have gutted the State Patrol. There are supposed to be about 950 troopers in the state and we might have 700 if that many. Perdue and his choice of leadership for the State Patrol at the rank of Major is a joke. You get what you pay for so Perdue needs to come up with some money to expand and help the State Patrols effort!!

By Jane

January 9, 2007 01:05 PM | Link to this

Okay. I assure you that everyone who is mouthing off about faster, faster, is driving some big vehicle. Somehow, they think that gives them the right to own the roads. No one is allowed to be faster, or to pass them. I’m with the Sonny on this one. Slow down some. Is it worth running someone off of the road to rush for that cup of coffee? Try leaving home earlier so you don’t block all of the lanes when you cause the wreck. Everyone has the right to follow the speed limit or the flow. I do agree that slower drivers should stay to the right, but it’s the agressive drivers that prevent them from getting over. Allow for merging traffic? In Atl you must be kidding yourself! Stop killing folks because you think your laws of driving rules the roads!!

By mel

January 9, 2007 01:05 PM | Link to this

To all who actually think that there is a “fast” lane, there is not. All traffic lanes have the exact same speed limit. Why don’t you check with DOT and also check out the test that some college students did. The video in online. The speeds are designed for your safety and the safety of those around you! A speed of 35 miles per hour in a steep curving ramp where you could roll over, kill yourself and our passengers, hurt the guy driving next to you, and stop traffic for hours during any time (rush hour or high traffic time) is designed to slow you down so that you can get to your destination alive. DOT works hard to make sure that we are all okay. Maybe if everyone actually left on time to get there on time, they would not be speeding and endangering me and everyone around them. To all the idiots that do not use your traffic lights to indicate the proper merge into a lane: and you wonder why others slam on their brakes, weave through traffic and are forced to slow down or drive defensively. To all those who race and wave throught traffic, hope yo kill yourself and that my taxpayer money does not go into patching you up and getting you on the road again. I hope you all run into the medium and kill youselves. If you drive like the traffic laws that are designed for everyon’s safety don’t apply to you, the you should not even have a license.

By Larry

January 9, 2007 01:05 PM | Link to this

Wow…I can’t believe I’m chiming in on this, but as long as you’re going to focus on Atlanta traffic (we didn’t have these problems in such magnitude prior to ‘96. I guess it’s the price you pay for progress):

I guess it’s all been said before and I just wanted to see my name in print.

By Jack

January 9, 2007 01:06 PM | Link to this

They should make the drivers test alot harder than it is. Ensure that drivers know what a solid white line means (so they don’t cut across the gore and hinder cars ahead of them trying to merge.) They should know what all lines, street signs, signals, and practices (don’t sit in the left lane and block faster traffic) mean before being issued a license. That would alleviate alot of the cars on the road if you gave the test today!

That said, the speed limit inside I-285 should be raised. They should put up digital speed limit signs that change with the traffic volume. So when there is very little traffic, the higher speed is acceptable. It should be lower when raining (no one knows how to drive when it rains!).

By cass

January 9, 2007 01:07 PM | Link to this

Hey Agaki: There is a better example, try Hwy. 19/41 in and around the Atlanta Motor Speedway (Hampton). They left up the construction signs for a year after it was finished so they could call it speeding in a construction zone. If you try to go to court over it, you might as well say thanks for the privilige to pay an addtional $50 in court costs. What a racket they have down there.

By Jim

January 9, 2007 01:11 PM | Link to this

It is good to know that Purdue understands that our roads are overburdened. Now why doesn’t he do something about it!!!!!!!!!

By Larry

January 9, 2007 01:14 PM | Link to this

Oh, 4 & 5, see the comments from DJ and thinkaboutit. Jeez. Everything had been said before, it just hadn’t posted yet.

By Sandynista

January 9, 2007 01:18 PM | Link to this

Hey Viningsdude,

The national 55 mph speed limit was instituted in 1974, TWO YEARS before the Carter admin. Google it.

By speed_racer

January 9, 2007 01:19 PM | Link to this

I understand that the speed limit is 55 inside the perimeter due to the region’s inability to meet emission standards (lower speed creates less emissions). I would drive 55 if EVERYONE was driving that speed, but it is insanity to do so now. Going 55 when everyone else is going 75 puts yourself in an unsafe situation with tailgaters and being cut off. Enforcing the speed limit ALL the time and not just on occasion is the only way to prevent this. Until then, you won’t find me going 55 on any interstate anywhere near Atlanta, it’s too dangerous.

By Dave

January 9, 2007 01:22 PM | Link to this

Consider a few things. The most recent survey noted that extending MARTA costs $100 million per mile. Not to mention the difficulty acquiring the land since there isn’t that much open land avaiable where the lines currently stop. Also they seriously need to improve security on the trains. It doesn’t bother me personally, but I wouldn’t put my mother or grandmother on one of those trains alone. I am all about mass transit, but we need to clean up MARTA and (gasp) raise the gas tax to pay for expansion and I don’t see that happening

As for those of you who say slow people cause accidents, in an accident between a 55mph car and an 85 mph car, I’m pretty sure the 85 car gets the ticket and pays for the repairs. You can check with the po-po’s but I’m pretty sure I am right. What causes accidents is all of the people swerving in and out of lanes so they can drive faster. People need to relax when driving on the interstate move to the left if you are going to be on the road for a while move to the right when you are getting near your exit as opposed to trying to swerve all 5 lanes in the last 1/2 mile to try to get to your exit.

For those who don’t know, speed limits are posted based on drivabiltiy with the worst possible vehicle(typically a semi or box truck) They can’t accelerate, slow down or turn near as well as your car. You can complain all you want, but they are statistically the best drivers by a large margin (accidents per mile driven), and the lifeblood of our consumer driven economy.

Before opening a large bottle of whine, look at the situation from more than just your angle. It is easy to complain about a problem, it is pointless unless you have a solution.

By JohnM

January 9, 2007 01:30 PM | Link to this

Dave - So what if it costs $100 million a mile? ONE new interchange @ I-85 & 316 is a whopping $146 million! Roads don’t pay for themselves - why does everyone expect transit to? As far as the safety factor, I’m on the trains every day and see plenty of women - young & old, riding in total safety.

By John

January 9, 2007 01:35 PM | Link to this

Sorry Craig O and Jeff, but any cop will tell you otherwise. Speed kills. And I’ve been tailgated too many times when I’m going 45 in a 35 residential area to believe that slow drivers are the main cause of tailgating. Or when I’m going 75 in the slow lane of the interstate. Yeah, you see some people driving too slow and doing so in the fast lane, and these people should be cited, but by far the main problem out there is fast driving. Just look at how many accidents are single vehicle. Lots. There is an unfortunate speeding mentality that is prevalant today. It is disrepectful and dangerous and wrong and we should not tolerate it.

By Trackboy1

January 9, 2007 01:36 PM | Link to this

Wow, thanks to the Guvna for speaking up on this issue…most politicians ignore it.

It’s about 3 things: good legislation, good education, and consistent enforcement. Georgia has decent but not great laws on the books. We have to get tougher on young drivers AND their parents. Once parents start getting fined or even going to jail when they let their 16 yr old take out a car with five other kids and then someone gets killed, things will change overnight.

GDOT and the Guvna’s Office of Highway Safety stinks when it comes to educating the public on anything other than seat belts and drunk driving. Those two are vital, but there’s more. 1/3 of Georgia drivers don’t put their lights on in the rain. ..That’s solely the fault of GDOT and the GOHS. Work at a school? You’ll see a ton of parents who don’t know child seat or booster seat laws, especially with our Latino population (sorry, but it’s true).

And then it comes to enforcement on the roads, and it’s beyond pitiful in this state. Gwinnett actually does a nice job. But find a state trooper on a GA highway during am or pm rush hour??? I once heard a DeKalb Co. precinct commander tell 400 people that his officers had better things to do than enforce traffic law. Every single police officer and state trooper in Georgia has to do a better job with enforcing traffic law, or things will never change.

Once again, nice job Sonny for saying what needed to be said.

By joe

January 9, 2007 01:42 PM | Link to this

Synchronize the lights, increase the speed limits, yell at the hispanics and Professor Elrod. No matter what the issue, cause or resolution, remember…It’s still all Jimmy Carter’s fault!

By Jan

January 9, 2007 01:48 PM | Link to this

Speed is not the problem.

• Cops hidding in the bushes making people slam on brakes. Speed traps kill. These cops are making quota not serving and protecting or serving us.

• No curtains at accident scenes for rubber neckers

• GA400 4 lanes until you get close to the city, then 1 lane (Johnson Ferry at the river same genious issue)

• No round-abouts (proven to work all over more congested Europe)

• Never ending construction projects. Why can’t all efforts be put to one project at a time, complete it get in get out and start the next. Do it in serial them in serial (with all your resources) not parallel.

• Realistic speed limits. GA DOT has great road design for the most part. We can drive fast as long as slower traffic yields to the right and we all use a turn signal here or there. The German Autobahn is safe and well organized. SLOWER TRAFFIC ON THE RIGHT.

By Snoo

January 9, 2007 01:51 PM | Link to this

Sonny - If you really want to slow everyone down, introduce some legislation that will prohibit cell phone use while driving a motor vehicle. Simultaneous Holding a cell phone to one’s ear while operating a moving vehicle is one of the gravest threats on the road today, causing inattentiveness and increased speed. Do it, Mr. Perdue!

By CJ

January 9, 2007 01:51 PM | Link to this

Do you want to know the REAL reason people are driving like morons? Cell phones! Every time my husband and I see a driver do some idiotic thing on the road-like swerve and almost hit and almost run into another car, 99% of the time they have a phone stuck on the side of their faces. Outlaw driving with cell phones I say!

By G-Man

January 9, 2007 01:51 PM | Link to this

Here are some more observations to solve the traffic congestion:

At the scene of an accident stop rubber necking…just put your hands at 10 and 2 and look straight ahead.

How many police officers does it take to investigate a traffic scene? I see at least 3-5 patrol cars and severals officers standing and talking nearby not directing traffic. In my opinion: Sonny and other city leaders each patrol car should have a push broom to move the debris away and reopen the lane after 10 minutes of arrival.

**Also put the ram-bumper on the police vehicles (like NYC and Miami) to move the disabled vehicle off to the shoulder once its determined that individual(s) are not hurt.

Instead of have a cop posted to write tickets he/she should stationed at least one or two mile intervals during rush hour to immediately respond to traffic snares.

By CJ

January 9, 2007 01:52 PM | Link to this

I’ve lived in Atlanta for 3 years and have noticed that traffic has only gotten worse. There’s no such thing as a reverse commute up GA-400 anymore.

Realize that for every new condo tower built in the city, that’s several hundred more residents & their cars on the already packed roads.

I want to know what genius way-back-when decided it was smart to have three major interstates converge in the center of the city!!! Traffic would be a lot more tolerable if I-75, I-85, and I-20 formed an H around Atlanta rather than the current X shape with all hell converging in Downtown.

By DJ

January 9, 2007 01:54 PM | Link to this

Expand the existing roads… You allow to build new neighbourhoods, and receive lots of taxes, but yet leave a pitiful one-lane-each-way for us to commute (i.e GA-140). It takes me sometimes more than one hour hour just to get to 400, and I do speed after that, because I want to make it to work at least in 1 hour (and it is only 18 miles drive). If you take my money, give me something in return or stop building new neighbourhoods along 140! Traffic lights are not working properly, and intersections and ramps are not planned well. Hire better road consruction consulatants! Introduce benefits for companies that provide flex-hours to relief rush-hours. Do something beside slowing down, dude!

By Greg

January 9, 2007 01:55 PM | Link to this

Wow- there are some country folk postin’ on this topic, aren’t there?

Put a Georgia State Patrol car every three or four miles on the highways, and traffic will slow down to a safe speed. Easy. If you don’t have enough state patrol, hire more. Easy. While their out there, they could also crack down on these selfish people who risk the lives of strangers by tailgating at 75 MPH. Sonny may not be a genius, but those people are the real morons.

By EJ

January 9, 2007 02:04 PM | Link to this

Everyone who can should take the bus, I only have to drive 20 miles for the entire week.

By JG

January 9, 2007 02:15 PM | Link to this

At least drive the speed limit in the neighborhoods! How fast people drive on the highway and surface roads is less of a concern to me. I drive 25 MPH in my neighborhood and have been passed several times in the last year.

While we are at it, let’s ban the honk back!

By JG

January 9, 2007 02:23 PM | Link to this

Has anyone considered that the traffic flows are a function of speed. If you try to merge from 400 to 85 or 285 to 400 and the lane runs out after a 1/4 mile. You can’t shuffle traffic efficiently with one group going 80 and another going 50. It is going to cause a back-up.

By edgeorgian

January 9, 2007 02:30 PM | Link to this

As has been hinted at by others in their posts, the cause of interstate traffic problems is those who deviate from the flow of traffic. Those who exceed the flow of traffic cause problems by tailgating, weaving, cutting people off, etc. However, those who fail to keep up with traffic flow (and stubbornly remain in the left lane), cause just as many problems. The lesson to be learned here is that of the lemming—go with the flow. If traffic on the interstates normally flows at 75mph, set the speed limit and the speed minimum there and enforce it against those who deviate either way.

One other comment, when it rains, please do turn on your lights but refrain from engaging the “idiot indicators.” (turning on your hazard lights). While it is helpful to the rest of us that you identify yourself as someone who cannot drive in the rain by turning on your hazards, you also make it impossible to warn others when you intend to change lanes, as the hazards necessarily disable your turn signals. Merely ensuring that your headlights are on is sufficient to make your vehicle visible to other traffic.

By kent eckman

January 9, 2007 02:41 PM | Link to this

If cops don’t have their blue lights on they should drive the speed limit and set a good example for everyone else.

By Withheld

January 9, 2007 02:41 PM | Link to this

It’s only going to get worse and worse and worse. Atlanta grew way too fast and couldn’t keep up with the roads. They are still building like crazy all over Gwinnett County and that is just going to add to the problems. Especially when you want to put up two 25 story condo buildings at Steve Reynolds and 85. Forsyth County just issued a moritorium on building and rezoning for 90 days, because they are growing fast and need to take time to plan, very smart move. I admire them for that. I wish Gwinnett county would put a moritorium up. But we have Wayne Hill to thank for that. His last thing to do before we booted him out of office, was to approve every single request for builders and developers. I pesonally hold him responsible for raping Gwinnett county. Why not, it’s not his problem anymore.

By Juan

January 9, 2007 02:43 PM | Link to this

let’s see ….. slower traffic = more congestion = more distracted drivers = more accidents = more congestion.

Sonny’s a genius! The hypocrite can’t stop speeding himself and he’s going to tell ME slow down?!

I say stop the wreckless drivers (people weaving lane to lane in rush hour traffic) and speeding (90 mph +) and ban cell phone use (without a headset).

By Carolyn

January 9, 2007 02:46 PM | Link to this

Long commute time is usually due to an accident that is closing one to several lanes. Accidents are most often caused by speeders and tailgaters. Isn’t it logical then, to conclude that if we obeyed the speed limit and put some distance between us and the next car, we would all, on average, cut our commute time?

By Withheld

January 9, 2007 02:51 PM | Link to this

edgeorgian AMEN!!!! However, I encounter alot of drivers who have the “daytime running lights” on, but not the rear lights. I have come up on so many dark cars without tail lights on in the rain, their head lights are on, but no the tail lights. I used to turn my lights on and off to let the approching driver know they need to turn their lights on. They just don’t get it. I even see people at 6:30 in the (dark) mornings with NO lights on at all, and I have to ask, can you even see your dash board????? Morons.

By Ellis Leslie

January 9, 2007 02:52 PM | Link to this

I have lived in a lot of places, but none where the drivers (yes, me included) typically go so very fast. I have also never lived in a place where there is so very little regular, consistent traffic enforcement and highway patrol presence. I remember reading in the AJC 4 or 5 years ago that South Carolina had, per capita, 3 times the number of highway patrol officers on regular duty. It’s not enough to put a speed trap out on Ga. 400 on Sunday morning (the only time I ever see the highway patrol on that road at all). If the governor wants to get Georgians to slow down then he will have to commit Georgia to sufficient highway patrol manpower to consistently and constantly remind drivers to slow down and that tailgating someone who’s already doing 80 MPH in front of you is really tempting both the laws of physics and fate. I stress here the term consistent — a one week show of strength is useless. It took decades for speeds in Ga. to creep up this high (I’ve been around since 1977), and it will take decades of highway patrol presence to slow them back down to a more reasonable and less deadly level.

By FredKl

January 9, 2007 02:58 PM | Link to this

This whole subject is a joke. Anyone with two eyes (or one for that matter), can see everday on the roads that the people on their cell phones are by far the most dangerous drivers. Anytime I see a car driving way too slow or weaving in their lane, they are on the phone or trying to dial. The focus on speeding is just pandering to the simpleminded.

By Hustler

January 9, 2007 03:11 PM | Link to this

The only reason I would quit speeding is to slow down enough to throw the cell phone I am talking on at the slow drivers in the left lane with his hazards on.

I then could safely drive my car at excessive speeds not on the phone and not obstructed by that slow driver.

Hopefully I can get behind Purdue as he is probably following a more obnoxious driver in one of those big poorly handling American grandpa cars with blue lights on it.

By Ga Liberal

January 9, 2007 03:11 PM | Link to this

The number of drivers speeding is not going to be greatly affected by enforcement. Certain people drive fast because they are self-centered aholes who believe their needs are way more important than anyone elses. It has nothing to do with the ‘flow of traffic’ or ‘synchronized stop lights’ or hiring more cops or expanding the roads. Just look at the comments posted here. FYI folks; you can drive in any lane in Georgia. There is no ‘passing lane’. Also, all the signs about slower traffic keeping right are not enforceable.

By Ga Libertarian

January 9, 2007 03:18 PM | Link to this

Man I wish Ga Liberal would move to San Francisco. It could drive all the way there in the left lane.

Bring the Autobahn to GA!

By DBH 1

January 9, 2007 03:25 PM | Link to this

To Withheld, it is amazing to see morons driving at 6:30 in the dark without lights. But as far as seeing your dash, many car manufacturers now build their vehicles to have an illuminated dash regardless of whether or not the headlights are on. So this could be part of that problems. As far as slower traffic keep right, slow left laners, etc., remember the left lane is not the fast lane but the passing lane. Use it to get around someone and then get back over one lane. If cars are passing you on the right, get over again. Repeat as needed. Of course no matter how fast you go, there is always going to be a jerk going faster. Same thing for cruising slow in the far right lane, you’re always going to come up on someone going slower. And is someone is tailgating you, don’t worry about them, just slow down. They’ll pass you at the first opportunity.

By G

January 9, 2007 03:27 PM | Link to this

Speed certainly can kill. I agree with many of you that the “slow” drivers are already going 75 mph. The fast drivers who can handle driving in a straight line are fine. It’s the aggressive idiots that weave in and out of traffic who cause the accidents. Not the “slow” people. It’s your own fault if you can’t handle going a safe speed and do all you can to get around the safe drivers. It’s not often I have ever come up behind someone going less than 70 mph on 85. People are just too impatient. Yes, the roads are congested and that is so irritating. But forcing people to go excessively fast to make you feel more comfortable is a stupid notion. Just go 70 or 75. I think most people can handle that speed.

By ericMann

January 9, 2007 03:29 PM | Link to this

causes for atlanta traffic nightmares-

1) Cellphones

2) Not using turn-signals

3) excessive speeding

4) nobody in this town, know’s how to merge into traffic, at all.

5) not enough people use ‘mass-transit’ of course, i would’nt either if i felt like i was gonna get, shot,stabbed or maybe robbed…

just my thoughts

By imdmr

January 9, 2007 03:32 PM | Link to this

Hey Elrod, since when does kindergarten let out at 11am?

By obeying the law

January 9, 2007 03:35 PM | Link to this

When I am driving the speed limit in the left lane there is no reason for me to move over so you can break the law.

By Mare

January 9, 2007 03:39 PM | Link to this

Just one quick and simple comment - Bold LEAVE THE CELL PHONE AT HOME - Wow that would lower the traffice accident rate tremendously. I have seen more stupidity on the roads of metro Atlanta then anywhere else I have been because people are busy jawing on their phone and talking with their hands instead of driving and watching what is going on around them.

By Renee

January 9, 2007 03:50 PM | Link to this

There are no cops to regulate speed because they’re all policing the HOV lanes. LOL!!!

By CJ

January 9, 2007 03:52 PM | Link to this

Add this bumper sticker to your car: Hang Up N’ Drive!. Visit www.HangUpNDrive.net for more information! www.HangUpNDrive.net

By Debra

January 9, 2007 03:52 PM | Link to this

Georgia should lower its speed limit back to 55mph. People have a problem driving 65mph safely. All you speed experts should remember the test done by those GA. State students on ga. 400. They drove the speed limit all lanes across and nobody had a wreck. I drove in California for years and this 85 mph is just highway murder….legallized. The buildings that you’re all trying to arrive at will still be standing there whether you arrive or not.

By Dale

January 9, 2007 03:55 PM | Link to this

I drive fast because I can do it safely. Fast drivers are only part of the problem. What we need to enforce are the rules of the road: slower traffic to the right (this means you speedlimit-goer).

The people that drive fast do it all the time, they’re used to it, slow drivers should just stay over or get over.

We should tear a page out of Europe’s Travel Ediquete.

By harold

January 9, 2007 03:58 PM | Link to this

When Harold speeds, it is not because he is late, nor is he entitled. He is simply trying to stay awake. If Harold vehicle is moving at the same pace as surrounding vehicles, it feels as if Harold is standing still and Harold falls immediately asleep. So, Harold speeds for everyone’s safety.

By harold

January 9, 2007 04:00 PM | Link to this

“not enough people use ‘mass-transit’ of course, i would’nt either if i felt like i was gonna get, shot,stabbed or maybe robbed…”

idiot.

45,000 Americans are murdered by cars each year. countless millions are injured annually bad enough for a trip to the hospital.

whenever anybody gets killed on a subway it makes national news. it happens what, 3 or 4 times a year, maybe?

idiot

By tired of it

January 9, 2007 04:03 PM | Link to this

The roads are built WRONG. How in the hell can you expect a reasonable flow of traffic when people merging onto the expressway is a joke? People merging onto the expressway have to fight their way over 3 exit-only lanes to get onto the expressway while at the same time people on the expressway are fighting them to get OFF on that same exit. It’s ludicrous.

By satch7

January 9, 2007 04:19 PM | Link to this

atlanta and the state of georgia has the worst drivers of any state as a whole.way too many people driving 90-100 mph because there are no fears of traffic enforcement.go to the states with a heavy state police prescence on the interstates and notice how many folks you see driving 90-100 mph almost none.i moved out of atlanta and enjoy driving again.

By Joe

January 9, 2007 04:26 PM | Link to this

By ponce

January 9, 2007 04:32 PM | Link to this

how about not making left hand turns across solid, yellow double lines? isn’t it illegal to cross over solid lines of any color?

of course, having that off-duty police officer direct traffic into McDonald’s on Ponce is a fitting example of a problematic traffic solution fixing a persistent traffic problem (ignored laws, misappropriated resources, aggressive driving, political myopia, etc.).

By aimeeciszek@hotmail.com

January 9, 2007 04:36 PM | Link to this

1.) SYCHRONIZE TRAFFIC LIGHTS

2.) MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE TO TALK ON CELL PHONES WHILE MOTOR IS RUNNING ON A PUBLIC ROADWAY.-IF YOU MUST, THEN PULL OF THE ROADWAY.

3.) GET ILLEGALS OFF THE ROADWAYS-IF A PERSON GETS CAUGHT EITHER DRIVING W/OUT A LICENSE OR DRIVING W/OUT INSURANCE, THEY SHOULD HAVE TO SPEND TIME IN JAIL. IF YOU DON’T HAVE AUTO INSURANCE YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT HERE LEGALLY, OR ARE A BAD DRIVER AND DO NOT QUALIFY FOR IT, OR CANNOT AFFORD IT-SO GET A CLUE AND GET OFF THE ROAD! IT IS NOT FUNNY TO USE UP MY RESOURCES AT MY EXPENSE.

By Atlanta Driver

January 9, 2007 04:52 PM | Link to this

How about actually cracking down on the HOV lane violators? Just today, a single driver was in the HOV lane and saw a policeman - the car swung into the left lane to pass the policeman, then proceeded to get back in the HOV lane. The policeman didn’t do anything. The HOV car just about caused a wreck, but our “boy in blue” didn’t so much as flash a light.

And how about making slow drivers move to the right???? This is a BIG problem on Atlanta highways!!!!

By Dave

January 9, 2007 05:01 PM | Link to this

I just wish that law enforcement officers would be positive examples. I see them running stop signs, speeding, talking on cell phones, etc. Aren’t teachers expected to lead by example. Why can’t cops?

By John

January 9, 2007 05:06 PM | Link to this

It’s not the speeders causing problems. It’s the idiots that can’t get yeild to faster traffic or that lack the sense to know when they should or shouldn’t put out into traffic or that generally are not aware of their surroundings. These are what cause accidents, not speeding. Speeding just make the damage worse when someone does something stupid.

By Margaret

January 10, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this

How does Purdue propose changing where the money from a speeding ticket goes? I always thought that it went to the jurisdiction in which you are cited even if the State Patrol issues the citation.

By CHIIEF

January 11, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

GOOD THING HE IS A IDOT, RELECT HE AGAIN!!

By TG

January 12, 2007 01:31 PM | Link to this

I am sick of the-cell-phone-is-causing-the-traffic-problems argument. Why is there such a problem with drivers using cell phones behind the wheel, why is there not as much of a problem changing the radio station or tending to your kids in the back seat or eating or shaving or putting on make up or talking to other people in your vehicle. All of these things are distractions, too and they have been the cause of accdents long before cell phones were a part of our world.

By Stu

January 12, 2007 02:07 PM | Link to this

The issue with cell phones is that it has been shown that cell phone use during driving is as debilitating as alcohol. Many briefly turn the station or turn to check on their kids while others spend their entire commute on the phone - with the effects being a diminished capacity to react to certian situations. Multiply those effects by an entire commute and it does not seem unrealistic to assume that the hoards of cell phone using drivers represent a serious threat to those of us who actually pay attention to the road.

By TJ Jackson

January 12, 2007 03:04 PM | Link to this

The great thing about speed-freak yankees like “Joe” is that we will soon be rid of him, either through hydroplaning or heart attack.

Keep driving 55+ in a deluge and hating Southerners, buddy!

By Larry

January 23, 2007 03:11 PM | Link to this

Wow, again. Talk about self-serving and self-centered. Do you think you have all the answers? This is a multi-faceted problem with a multitude of reasons or causes to be factored in. There is no single reason or cause. You being a self-centered ahole is not one, thankfully.