| rexxrally |
So, speeding fines double in construction zones when workers are present. Understandable, and acceptable.
But, what about when workers are not there (especially at night)? Do the construction speed limits still apply, or can you do the regular speed? |
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| stybscelica |
They apply and are in effect if the signs are in place. So slow down even at night. Now if the sign states Max 50 (when passing workers) then you can do regular speed if there are no workers. I will bet $10.00 that the sign is a regular speed limit sign stating maximum ?(what ever speed) any where in the city. Passing workers signs are usually used on hwy construction.
Cheers |
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| Vive le Quebec |
same speeds are in effect 24/7...only fines double when workers are on site (regardless of time).
the justification for this is that there might be construction equipment that would otherwise pose a hazard at higher speeds (i.e. not being able to respond appropriately at 80 kmh compared to 50 kmh) |
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| MX5 Miata Guy |
Geez Dave...when did you forget so much about :google: ? First your metric torque question and now this one. Since getting out of the computer biz, it's like you've gotten forgetful in your old age.
Go to the Alberta Infrastructure & Transportation website and read it yourself.
This site http://www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/ gets you to this site http://www.saferoads.com/ which gets you here: http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200607/202...5ECE7618E8.html which gives you the REAL GOODS on the answer.
Either that or go HERE to learn about the fancy thing called the internet. |
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| albertarc |
quote:
Originally posted by Vive le Quebec
the justification for this is that there might be construction equipment that would otherwise pose a hazard at higher speeds (i.e. not being able to respond appropriately at 80 kmh compared to 50 kmh)
The other thing to remember is that the road condition itself may not be good enough for normal speeds: narrowed lanes, poor surface material, pot holes etc ... day or night.
Jimbo:drama: |
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| rexxrally |
quote:
Originally posted by MX5 Miata Guy
Since getting out of the computer biz, it's like you've gotten forgetful in your old age.
I think you're suffering from Alzheimer's or something, Rich. I didn't get out of the computer biz. I'm still in it.
Right now, I'm in the process of moving, while working, and doing 2 after-hours projects. I just don't have the time to look up the answers for myself. |
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| quadraphonic |
| Hmm.. that's a drag on Yellowhead from about 50th all the way east to Highway 21. The crews have been dragging their asses on finishing the surfacing. Good to know about the limits, even if enforcing them at night is more cash grab than anything. |
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| dtjohnst |
| There was a segment on the news yesterday about it. The EPS relations guy talking mentioned for all you know workers may be behind a building somewhere. He plainly hinted that the double fine was in effect at all times, which is clearly not correct. |
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| MX5 Miata Guy |
quote:
Originally posted by rexxrally
I think you're suffering from Alzheimer's or something, Rich. I didn't get out of the computer biz. I'm still in it.
So, you're no longer the "Beat the Taxman" guy with Dwight? :dunno: Your career path is anything but simple isn't it? :rolleyes:
However, my point still stands. For the amount of typing you did to post your initial message, you could have typed "Alberta Transportation" into Google, and with three mouse clicks, had your answer. Far simpler. :thumbup: |
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| rexxrally |
quote:
Originally posted by MX5 Miata Guy
So, you're no longer the "Beat the Taxman" guy with Dwight? :dunno: Your career path is anything but simple isn't it? :rolleyes:
However, my point still stands. For the amount of typing you did to post your initial message, you could have typed "Alberta Transportation" into Google, and with three mouse clicks, had your answer. Far simpler. :thumbup:
Whatever (how's that for short?) |
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| Inzane |
I should post up a Car & Driver editorial from last year that makes some interesting counterpoints to this whole construction zone speed fine (doubled) issue, which has occured in the US as well.
I'll have to dig it out and scan it (if its not up on the web already). |
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| rexxrally |
quote:
Originally posted by Inzane
I should post up a Car & Driver editorial from last year that makes some interesting counterpoints to this whole construction zone speed fine (doubled) issue, which has occured in the US as well.
I'll have to dig it out and scan it (if its not up on the web already).
I know the article you're talking about. I read it, too.
Unfortunately, there's no point to it. The general public have already (knee-jerked) formed their opinion. Don't bother confusing them with the facts.......
Personally, I fail to see why I have to slow down on Hwy 21 when construction workers are driving 100 ton earth movers, 300 yards to the left of the highway. If we were to collide, it certainly wouldn't be the construction worker killed. As it is, I slow down and almost get plowed into from behind by the other drivers. How is this safe, exactly?
If construction workers are working at the edge of the road and are on foot, then, yeah, I see the point, but a lot of the times, slowing down for a construction zone is useless. |
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| Vive le Quebec |
quote:
Originally posted by Inzane
I should post up a Car & Driver editorial from last year that makes some interesting counterpoints to this whole construction zone speed fine (doubled) issue, which has occured in the US as well.
I'll have to dig it out and scan it (if its not up on the web already).
i'd be very interested in reading this article if you happen to find it. please post it if you do. |
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| dtjohnst |
quote:
Originally posted by rexxrally
I know the article you're talking about. I read it, too.
Unfortunately, there's no point to it. The general public have already (knee-jerked) formed their opinion. Don't bother confusing them with the facts.......
Personally, I fail to see why I have to slow down on Hwy 21 when construction workers are driving 100 ton earth movers, 300 yards to the left of the highway. If we were to collide, it certainly wouldn't be the construction worker killed. As it is, I slow down and almost get plowed into from behind by the other drivers. How is this safe, exactly?
If construction workers are working at the edge of the road and are on foot, then, yeah, I see the point, but a lot of the times, slowing down for a construction zone is useless.
Not all laws exist to protect others, some laws are there to protect you. Sure, slamming into an earth mover might not hurt workers, but that doesn't mean the law shouldn't try to protect you.
It's not really feasible to change the signs or indicate in some other way that the speed limit is reduced only while workers are nearby the road. I could just imagine how many people would get pulled over and then argue they "didn't see the workers". It exists as it does because it's the simplest in terms of signage and notifying the public, easiest to enforce (no arguments) and should in theory take the guess work out of things, allowing drivers to just get used to the modified speed while construction is ongoing.
Whether or not those goals are achieved is another matter altogether, but regardless, the system that's in place is the simplest for almost everyone, and only upsets drivers. But let's face it, if the city wanted they could set the limit to 50km/h for every street in the city. I honestly don't understand why people get upset they have to drive slow for such short stretches of road. |
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| rexxrally |
quote:
Originally posted by dtjohnst
It's not really feasible to change the signs or indicate in some other way that the speed limit is reduced only while workers are nearby the road.
It's really easy. If the job involves the workers working a long way from the road (like Hwy 21 at 23rd Ave) then don't put signs up. Real easy.
quote:
Originally posted by dtjohnst
I honestly don't understand why people get upset they have to drive slow for such short stretches of road.
Because of all the other people who don't slow down and then almost plow into the back of me. I've had several times where a guy coming roaring up behind me, changes lanes at the last second (like he's trying to teach me a lesson or something) and the guy right behind him almost plows into me because he's speeding, too, and doesn't have much reaction time. THAT'S why I get upset about driving slow for such a short stretch of road, when it's unnecessary, and almosts kills me. |
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| dtjohnst |
quote:
Originally posted by rexxrally
It's really easy. If the job involves the workers working a long way from the road (like Hwy 21 at 23rd Ave) then don't put signs up. Real easy.
Well, I can't speak to that. Maybe sometimes they do go near the road. I don't know what to tell you.
quote:
Because of all the other people who don't slow down and then almost plow into the back of me. I've had several times where a guy coming roaring up behind me, changes lanes at the last second (like he's trying to teach me a lesson or something) and the guy right behind him almost plows into me because he's speeding, too, and doesn't have much reaction time. THAT'S why I get upset about driving slow for such a short stretch of road, when it's unnecessary, and almosts kills me.
Don't get mad at workers because people are speeding. I think the enforcement needs to be better. I've seen 2 police cars doing traffic in construction zones all summer. Seems to me if this measure is to prevent injuries, they'd be keeping a better eye on them. I understand the EPS is stretched thin and short staffed, but if it's so unsafe that fines need to be doubled, why aren't they enforcing it more?
I always slow down and I've never encountered the problem of people almost hitting me. So again, I don't know what to tell you. Bad luck maybe. |
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| SilverNeonRacer |
I used to work highway crew, we had out 50km/h signs, our slow fresh oil signs(even when we wheren't using tar or oil, covers out ass if their car gets dirty). You would not believe how many people would speed through our sites.
I was a flag person 90% of the time, and what I started to do if somebody was going to fast I would motion for them to slow down, and if they didn't slow down, I'd flip my slow sign to stop. Most started to stop, once they hit an appropriate speed, I'd flip it back to slow, and if they ran my stop, I wrote the plate # down and handed the numbers to the rcmp that night, the RCMP said they would issue tickets and if they ppl plead not guilty I'd have to go to court.. never had to go to court.. so either they didn't issue tickets or nobody fought them.
We put a guy in the ditch once.... buddy sped past me still doing 100+, I radio;d to the truck, he hit the horn, the guys actually working ran to one ditch, the guy int he truck, moved it to block the whole road, and the guy ended up in the other ditch from the one the workers where in... The guy yelled and screamed at the foreman, the foreman just said, "Thats why we have signs telling you to slow down, you wanna go tot he cops, go for it, they'll just laugh at you"
Twas great... sorry for the sorta off topic though... not 100% sure, but I think it'll illegal to honk in a construction zone too. |
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| Vive le Quebec |
werd silverneon.
seems culture in alberta is one of "finishing the business". there's not enough time in the day for anyone, so everybody's always rushing, and their schedules more important than the person next to them. it's always on their schedule that everybody has to work around. you see it in people's driving habits, you see it when people take carts of 100 items at the grocery store into the express lane because they're in a rush...it's sad, but true. |
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| Stainless |
How about the Henday across the river? Can someone please explain to me why it is 60 across there? I have been driving to and from work down that stretch for a month, and have not seen ONE construction worker, or piece of equipment. The cops are there often of course though.
Someone one night went and knocked down all of the pylons and barriers though, that was good for a chuckle. |
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| Vive le Quebec |
quote:
Originally posted by Stainless
Someone one night went and knocked down all of the pylons and barriers though, that was good for a chuckle.
:eek:
what if somebody drove off the bridge/embankment/whatever the pylons and barriers are blocking... |
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