Thank you for the interesting description of traffic mishaps, safety and police work on the Outer Ring Road. (“Outer Ring Road reality check, June 9”)
The emphasis on a driver’s responsibility to adjust speed to road conditions cannot be hammered home too often, but I think there is one other factor that contributes to the confusion and some accidents on the Outer Ring Road: the overhead signage.
The signs generally direct thru-traffic to the left lane. This leaves the right lane for better management of exit and entrance traffic. These directions and practices are not typical on roads in our province.
Many drivers refer to the left lane as the fast lane and consider the right lane as the slow lane.
I have often been driving the speed limit in the thru-traffic lane and had vehicles come up behind me, the driver flashing lights, making gestures and indicating I should move to the right lane. I have had conversations with many and the interpretation of the signs is diverse. It might even be interesting to conduct a mini-survey about this issue. It might raise awareness of the confusion.
The advice in the article that drivers watch others and adjust their speed is good. Some clarification regarding the signage with a bit of public awareness might help as well.
Rick Singleton
St. John’s
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