[PRCo] Re: Wabash Tunnel in Operation

[Fred Schneider]

I guess my problem is the lack of proper training in the United  
States compared with European countries.   I've noticed, and I'm  
certain that Ed Lybarger will agree with me, and perhaps anyone else  
who has put in a lot of miles on European roads like we have, that  
the average European knows the width of his vehicle precisely in  
traffic.  You can tell, Joshua, just by following some people across  
the Pennsylvania Turnpike that many of our drivers have no clue how  
wide their vehicles are when they get to a tunnel and slow down to 30  
mph.   Will it fit?????  My God.  The truck semi ahead of you went in  
with no problem.  And they inch along at 30 for the entire length of  
the tunnel, and then they speed up to 85 when they get out and they  
have 10 feet on either side of them.    I tend to blame the problem  
on permitting kids to get licenses after being trained by parents,  
friends, aunts, uncles, boy friends, girl friends, many of whom are  
also clueless.  And they would have trouble driving between the  
elevated columns in West Philadelphia or Chicago with a compact  
car.   Ad John Swindler or Jim Holland would not have a problem doing  
it with a 40 foot bus.

On Jan 19, 2007, at 7:45 PM, Joshua Dunfield wrote:

>
>> On Jan 19, 2007, at 6:23 PM, trams2 at comcast.net wrote:
>>
>>> The lawyers have to make it safe for everyone, remember?
>>> Especially PennDOT lawyers.  People might run into each other and
>>> then claim that it's the state's (or Port Authority's) fault
>>> instead of their own.
>>> The problem is that these people often prevail.
>>>
>>> Ed
>
> It's not that unreasonable to think that people accustomed to "modern"
> lane widths -- which is most people, except maybe the ones who drive
> the Turnpike every day -- might well run into each other.  And blaming
> the people involved doesn't un-maim or un-kill them, or their kids in
> the back seat.  Nor does blaming those oh-so-villainous lawyers.
>
> (I don't think it's that reasonable, either, risk management and all.
> People slow down if it doesn't feel safe, and being in a tunnel with
> narrow-by-modern-standards lanes, facing oncoming traffic, doesn't  
> feel
> particularly safe.)
>
> Fred Schneider wrote:
>> The SPEED BUMP cartoon tonight was particularly appropriate.   Man
>> walks down street and observes sign painted on law office window.
>> It reads:   "Peterson, Peterson, Peterson and Peterson.    ATTORNEYS
>> SPECIALIZING IN ENRICHING THE PETERSON FAMILY SINCE 1961."
>
> That's right.  Lawyers should work for free (just like motormen).
> Or is your point that they shouldn't work at all?
>
> -j.
>