From: Floyd Rogers on
"John David Galt" <jdg(a)diogenes.sacramento.ca.us> wrote
> Brent wrote:
>> ...
> That section of law sounds like it was written to deal with the old
> two-way
> passing lanes, AKA "suicide lanes". I haven't seen one anywhere since
> 1980
> and I doubt they still exist; they're too dangerous.
>
> Added MTR in case someone there knows of such a lane today.

US 97, Blewett Pass in WA state, and on US 97 Satus Pass, other locations
(in WA State) that I can't remember right off-hand.

FloydR


From: Floyd Rogers on
"Floyd Rogers" <fbloogyuds(a)hotmail.com> wrote
> "John David Galt" <jdg(a)diogenes.sacramento.ca.us> wrote
>> Brent wrote:
>>> ...
>> That section of law sounds like it was written to deal with the old
>> two-way
>> passing lanes, AKA "suicide lanes". I haven't seen one anywhere since
>> 1980
>> and I doubt they still exist; they're too dangerous.
>>
>> Added MTR in case someone there knows of such a lane today.
>
> US 97, Blewett Pass in WA state, and on US 97 Satus Pass, other locations
> (in WA State) that I can't remember right off-hand.

I might mention that KRETP is the law in WA state, partly to enable
safe passing in these locations.

FloydR


From: bugo on

"Larry Sheldon" <lfsheldon(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
news:84gei2FoifU1(a)mid.individual.net...
> On 5/6/2010 13:35, John David Galt wrote:
>
>> That section of law sounds like it was written to deal with the old
>> two-way
>> passing lanes, AKA "suicide lanes". I haven't seen one anywhere since
>> 1980
>> and I doubt they still exist; they're too dangerous.
>
>> Added MTR in case someone there knows of such a lane today.
>
> I agree that it is talking about "suicide" lanes.
>
> And there still are a version of it around--I've seen several (and can
> picture some of them in my mind but I don't remember where on the planet
> they are).
>
> The version I have seen will have three lanes, two uphill, one down
> hill. The double-yellow will be dashed on the down-hill side.

That's a "shared 4 lane" highway, a poor man's 4 lane. I agree they are
dangerous, but the middle lane is not a suicide lane.

From: Harry K on
On May 6, 8:09 pm, "bugo" <bugonos...(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
> "Larry Sheldon" <lfshel...(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:84gei2FoifU1(a)mid.individual.net...
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 5/6/2010 13:35, John David Galt wrote:
>
> >> That section of law sounds like it was written to deal with the old
> >> two-way
> >> passing lanes, AKA "suicide lanes".  I haven't seen one anywhere since
> >> 1980
> >> and I doubt they still exist; they're too dangerous.
>
> >> Added MTR in case someone there knows of such a lane today.
>
> > I agree that it is talking about "suicide" lanes.
>
> > And there still are a version of it around--I've seen several (and can
> > picture some of them in my mind but I don't remember where on the planet
> > they are).
>
> > The version I have seen will have three lanes, two uphill, one down
> > hill.  The double-yellow will be dashed on the down-hill side.
>
> That's a "shared 4 lane" highway, a poor man's 4 lane.  I agree they are
> dangerous, but the middle lane is not a suicide lane.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

They were commonly called 'suicide lanes' way back in the early 60s
due to the number of head-ons caused by two vehicles traveling in
opposite direction pulling out to pass at the same time.

Harry K

From: John David Galt on
Larry Sheldon wrote:
> I agree that it is talking about "suicide" lanes.
>
> And there still are a version of it around--I've seen several (and can
> picture some of them in my mind but I don't remember where on the planet
> they are).
>
> The version I have seen will have three lanes, two uphill, one down
> hill. The double-yellow will be dashed on the down-hill side.
>
> And the center lane will be occupied by a single vehicle going up-hill.

I've seen plenty of those, but that is not a true suicide lane because it
gives a clear priority to one side. Though Richard Moeur and others have
pointed out that they are still dangerous because someone on the uphill
side might pull out to pass a large truck or bus at just the wrong time.

I'd still rather have them available if the alternative is not to allow
passing at all. This is an area where existing practice is overprotective.