Story Published:
Aug 14, 2006 at 5:26 AM PST
Story Updated:
Aug 31, 2006 at 7:32 AM PST
LACEY, WASH. - An anti-tailgating strategy on Interstate 5
backfired in the form of unexpected traffic jams, state
transportation officials have discovered.
Officials from the state Transportation Department and
Washington State Patrol planned to meet Monday to reassess the
$35,000 Two Dots To Safety pilot program on a two-mile stretch of
the freeway north of this Thurston County town. Similar programs
are in use in Maryland, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.
Road crews painted dots 80 feet apart and posted signs telling
drivers to stay at least two dots - 160 feet - from the vehicle
ahead, based on the traffic safety principle of being at least two
seconds behind another vehicle when going 60 mph.
Long backups developed Saturday, the day after the program
began, when drivers slowed down because of heavy traffic and
continued to maintain the two-dot separation, although that much
distance was not necessary at slower speeds, said Lisa Mordock, a
Transportation Department spokeswoman.
Road crews covered the signs later Saturday pending
reconsideration of the program, including the wording on the signs,
Mordock said.