We have all done it before, we see other drivers do
it all the time as well, and it frustrates everyone who is stuck sitting in
traffic. Some refer to the move as “dive-bombing”
because a driver will get in an exit only lane or on the shoulder and then cut
back over to get ahead of the traffic.
Cars will “dive” in and out of traffic in an aggressive, and often
illegal, manner. If a driver takes the
exit only lane all the way to the end and cuts back over across double white
lines, it is illegal and the driver can be ticketed. The biggest issue with this maneuver is the
safety implication. When cars are “pulling
out of heavy traffic, speeding up, and then cutting back into the lane,” the
risk of an accident increases substantially.
Stop and go traffic is already dangerous enough with sudden stops and
starts, but when drivers are suddenly cutting over from exit lanes or
shoulders, an accident is almost guaranteed to occur. This dangerous maneuver also creates a
problem for those drivers who are actually trying to exit, but the car in front
of them is blocking the lane because they tried to sneak ahead of the traffic
and cannot back over.
Commuters
in Maryland and Virginia have voiced their disapproval and anger over these
moves, saying it is “unsafe and unfair.”
However, there are some who are defending the maneuver as a “good move
because drivers are spreading out and using all available asphalt. Traffic engineers argue that it is effective
for drivers to use all parts of the roadway in terms of alleviating traffic. As a result, highway officials are allowing
drivers onto the shoulders during peak travel times to “expand” the highway
without physically making any changes to the road. For example, Maryland started opening up the
shoulders on route 29 to bus traffic at peak travel periods, and Virginia did
the same move on I-66 inside the Capital Beltway. Green arrows will illuminate over the
shoulders when it is legal to drive on them.
The use of shoulders on the inner loop of I-66 will be coming later this
spring. In addition, areas of I-95 in
Maryland and I-66 in Virginia are increasing the length of merge lanes to help
with traffic, but as a result, these lanes will have a more drastic cut off for
drivers to get over.
While
there will always be drivers throughout Maryland and Virginia that use this
maneuver to get ahead in heavy traffic, other drivers should be reminded to be
extra cautious when driving in traffic.
Not only do drivers need to watch for sudden stops by cars ahead of
them, they also need to be on the lookout for cars to their left and right who
might look like they are exiting, but will suddenly cut in front of them.
If you or a family
member has been injured or killed in an accident caused by a traffic cutter in
Maryland and would like to consult an experienced personal injury attorney for
free, contact us at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our
office locations throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/
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