What are those strange markings in my lane?
Q. Hi Honk: I recently saw some unusual road markings on a transition linking the 133 and the 405 freeways. They are about a foot long each and, horizontally, extend from the solid lines on each side of the lane. At the beginning they are spaced six to eight feet apart and gradually get closer to one another, to about three to four feet apart. What are these lines for? I’ve only ever seen them at this one location.
– Dan Savage, Lake Forest
A. Think Houdini, Dan, or better yet Criss Angel.
Those lines are an illusion, signaling to motorists they are going too fast – which they might in fact be – so they think “Whoa!” and slow down.
They are called speed-reduction markings and are added to encourage us to take it easy so we don’t get into accidents. They are put in areas where traffic engineers believe we can use a little extra help.
Honk dug this out of a Federal Highway Administration report: “As spacing between bars gradually narrows, drivers sense they have increased speed and will slow down to keep the same time between each set of bars.”
The strategy has become more popular in recent years, but you probably won’t see them used a lot: As that report puts it, “overuse could jeopardize the visual effect.”
Dan did a solid job of describing the markings. Still, a good photo always helps, and awhile back a resident of Honkland provided one showing some speed-reduction markings, so you can see them online if you like (The web address is below).
Q. Dear Honk: Please use your vast resources to help me understand: How is it possible to show different colors to reflect the speed of traffic on freeways and surface streets all over the world? How can satellites so far away monitor cars and trucks at every intersection?
– Jon Giberson, Orange
A. Sensors embedded in freeways and probably in some streets have allowed websites for years to show how fast vehicles are moving.
But now these apps seem to be able to monitor even off-of-the-beaten-path streets.
Honk is a big fan of Waze and has used the app for years and is shocked at how accurate its projected driving times are, even for long hauls. So he reached out to Waze for answers, and the company, through a representative, passed along some info.
The app says that more than 130 million people use Waze each month and that 30,000 volunteers all around the globe help ensure the maps themselves are accurate.
When users have the free app open, Waze sees their routes and speeds.
So those on that stretch of road provide data that feeds an algorithm, which then computes the numbers and shoots back all of that input to our cellphones – providing that valued intel.
Honkin’ update: Last week a reader asked Honk the odds of getting Caltrans to pay for her windshield that cracked after a truck with the agency apparently kicked up a rock. Statistically speaking, Caltrans doesn’t pay off very often on claims filed with the Orange County office.
But Angela M. Madison, a Caltrans spokeswoman, called up Honk after that Q. and A. appeared online and in print with a tip: If you believe the agency made a mistake and somehow cost you money, provide as much pertinent info as possible on the claim form to help Caltrans’ investigation.
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk