Dillingham Haggblom

Commute—08/25/10, way home

After several of Quality’s gravel tracks passed me going northbound on the Lake Road last night, and after the last truck to pass me was out of sight ahead, I heard a truck honk their horn, several times.  I thought a truck was approaching behind me, but no traffic was approaching behind me.  I realized then, it was further up the road, and it sounded like it was the intersection with the Nerka Loop Road. I theorized that something or someone was in the middle of the road for the driver to honk.  A child perhaps?  A loose dog?  Another bicycle commuter? A motorbike rider?  A four-wheeler? All of the above?  Did I want to know? I knew I didn’t want to see it.  I was fortunate in that my ride home was uneventful and there was no collision or accident trying to prevent one. 

At 45 mph, which is defined as high speed in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (published by the Federal Highway Administration), it takes 360 feet for a passenger (light) vehicle to stop on dry pavement.  That’s a long ways.  It’s also why some traffic control plans include a 360’ buffer zone between the beginning of the work zone and their equipment/workers—in case a motorist blows through the upstream taper and doesn’t put on the brakes until they hit the cones.  There’s at least a chance, then, that there won’t be a collision.  More fun traffic facts to come.