#1 Reason to avoid flex barrier HOV lanes...

"TheDutchTexan" (TheDutchTexan) 12/05/2015 at 22:24 • Filed to: HOV, Wreck, TheDutchTexan

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So last Saturday I was on the way back from the black forest bakery in Dallas. No, not to get cake or bread... I was there to stock up on Dutch “Sinterklaas” sweets. I had taken my daughter with me because she loves to go places in the car, and she likes the sweets to. So it’s a double win for her.

On the way back I tell her we are taking a special road called the HOV. A road you can only take if you have two or more people in the car. We are trucking along with another car in front. We are going roughly the same speed, and all is well.

This particular HOV lane has no shoulder to speak of, so the flexible barriers are a must in case of an accident. Unfortunately that flexibility has one major drawback. People can enter it from the main highway, and do so frequently because they don’t want to wait.

We hit congestion, and in the back of my head I was thinking what unfolded moments later right in front of me.

Everyone involved did not seem to have any injuries which I relayed to the 911 dispatcher, and after police arrived I was on my way. Stay safe out there, and keep your eyes open when you use an HOV with a flexible barrier and come across congestion on the main highway.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > TheDutchTexan 12/05/2015 at 22:33

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What a dumbass

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > TheDutchTexan 12/05/2015 at 22:35

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Yup....people are idiots....glad everybody was OK!

HammerheadFistpunch > TheDutchTexan 12/05/2015 at 22:40

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I’ve never seen a barrier like that, we have HOV lanes but they are either full open or full closed. Mostly open except on ramps and a few select spots. Why do it that way?

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > TheDutchTexan 12/05/2015 at 22:46

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Had an Uber driver in the HOV lane realize he was going to miss the exit, so he came to a full stop then drove over the flexible barriers.

Chariotoflove > HammerheadFistpunch 12/05/2015 at 22:51

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Cheaper. We have two kinds of HOV barriers. On I30, they have the concrete blocks that the machines can move for morning or evening traffic. Up on 635, we have these flex markers that require everyone to be on their honor and respect the lane. Problem is, Texans don’t always worry about little nuisances like traffic rules.

Frenchlicker > TheDutchTexan 12/05/2015 at 22:55

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If it happens that often the state should look into replacing them with these.

Our state has them mainly in the middle of interstates.

Chariotoflove > TheDutchTexan 12/05/2015 at 22:55

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What's also astounding is how often single drivers grab the HOV and risk getting caught.

scoob > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire 12/05/2015 at 23:01

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Ridiculous...

scoob > TheDutchTexan 12/05/2015 at 23:03

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Something something Camry driver.

Steve in Manhattan > TheDutchTexan 12/05/2015 at 23:06

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When I head south on 95 to visit the family in MD I prefer to travel on the side of the divided highway that prohibits trucks. However, sometimes the traffic is such that I can’t get to the ramp before the highway splits. There are cut throughs (sometimes cops lurk there) yet I have never been tempted to try and change sides to save time or increase my measure of safety (don’t like big rigs too close to me). I’d rather be remembered for being squashed by a Peterbilt than causing a huge accident.

TheDutchTexan > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 12/05/2015 at 23:22

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Same here. Accidents are accidents, and I prefer people can learn from them.

TheDutchTexan > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 12/05/2015 at 23:23

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Agreed

TheDutchTexan > Chariotoflove 12/05/2015 at 23:24

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That’s the thing though, there is virtually no risk at all. That is why 90% of the people on the HOV during rushhour are those single occupant dingbats.

TheDutchTexan > Frenchlicker 12/05/2015 at 23:25

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Not possible. That HOV has no meaningful shoulder at that area. Those flex barriers are there so people can get out of dodge. Unfortunately the side effect is this crap.

Chariotoflove > TheDutchTexan 12/05/2015 at 23:34

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I’ve seen them get caught down on 30, where they do put rush hour spotters, and there’s no escape from the concrete barriers once you're in. Also, doesn't it say something about our culture that 2 people is considered high occupancy, and hardly anybody qualifies even with that low bar?

they-will-know-my-velocity > TheDutchTexan 12/05/2015 at 23:41

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I do love the Black Forest Bakery but I just spiral out of control if I go there and end up going to Half Price and taking out a loan for books.

Frenchlicker > TheDutchTexan 12/05/2015 at 23:52

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At my current job we are always taught to think “there has to be a better way.” I think there is a better way to be had but it's just not coming to mind.

Zyrtec just kicked in, yo > scoob 12/06/2015 at 00:03

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It WAS a Camry... :D

CAR_IS_MI > TheDutchTexan 12/06/2015 at 00:21

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Why is it always a Toyota?

We used to have these same barriers out here in Vegas except they were spaced much closer together. People out here pay so little attention to the road that they would wind up driving on these to the point that the posts were getting tangled on the undercarriage causing more accidents. It got so bad that they ended up removing these barriers completely. Sad.

whiskeybusiness NOW A DANGER TO CROWDS NEAR YOU > TheDutchTexan 12/06/2015 at 00:29

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Glad you didn’t get involved. I’m sure that persons text messages or whatever the hell made them decide that was a good idea was worth it.

Itsmemupos > TheDutchTexan 12/06/2015 at 01:06

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What time was that? There was another collision just after the bush merger in the north bound lanes around 3/3:15 that I can only imagine was caused by that. I'm guessing based on the lighting and location

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > TheDutchTexan 12/06/2015 at 01:08

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That was,’t an accident, that was a jackass

WhiskeyGolf > TheDutchTexan 12/06/2015 at 01:12

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Came for the driver education, stayed for the Sinterklaas treats. I have my chocolate letters for the office ready to go for Monday.

TheDutchTexan > they-will-know-my-velocity 12/06/2015 at 01:39

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Hahaha! I was lucky that my wife wasn’t with me... We’d lost two days worth of pay then!

TheDutchTexan > whiskeybusiness NOW A DANGER TO CROWDS NEAR YOU 12/06/2015 at 01:40

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I think the claim “I didn’t see you” will be applied.

No, but you sure as hell noticed that barrier when you crossed it illegaly.

James > TheDutchTexan 12/15/2015 at 10:30

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I moved to Dallas and I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE the drivers. Some of the worst driving I’ve seen in my life. And I realize it’s a city of transplants. It feels like someone tilted the map and all the good drivers hung on and the shitty ones all fell down here lol.