Thursday, August 28, 2008

Are you kidding me?!

MODOT (Missouri Dept. of Transportation) is generally doing a good job with a lot of the major decisions relating to the construction on 64/40, with a few major exceptions (what genius thought it would be a good idea to put a stop sign any place where you have cars merging into 55 MPH traffic? [from Ballas Rd. to I 270 North for example]).

I just spent an extra 15 minutes in the car (burning fossil fuels the whole time) because the ramp from Kingshighway to 64/40 West is closed (though all the signs say it's open and funnel you right into a row of reflector-less cones).  So I got stuck in the middle of the intersection and had to turn onto 64/40 East and drive all the way to the Market street exit where I had to make a U turn to get back on the interstate going the right way--ARRGH!!

And while I'm on the topic of senseless squandering of fossil fuels, let me ask what Einstein came up with the red left-turn signal?  Do they really think we're too stupid to wait for a break in traffic before turning?  Not only do these signals encourage lazy driving (which kills far more people than reckless driving) by suggesting to us that we're just supposed to be on autopilot when we're behind the wheel, they also waste tons of fossil fuels nationally every year (next time you're out driving count the number of cars you see waiting to make a left at empty intersections because they have a red left-turn signal; now think about how many drivers all over America are waiting at such signals.  Even if it's only a few seconds per car per light, that compiles into a whole lot on a national scale).