State Lowers Speed Limits on Highways
First responders and other vehicles will also have to abide by the 45 mph limit.
Citing wind and safety concerns, Maryland state highway officials announced that speed limits on interstates and US routes will be cut to 45 mph as Hurricane Sandy passes through the region.
According to a release from the State Highway Administration, Maryland State Police and Maryland Transportation Authority, the reduction—which is indefinite and effective immediately—also applies to police, fire crews, ambulances and utility crews.
“Lowering the speed limit is necessary since speed and high wind is a dangerous combination. By reducing speed limit, our goal is to keep our emergency responders safe. For all members of the general public, we can’t stress enough the importance of staying off the roads as this unprecedented storm strikes Maryland,” Maryland State Highway Administrator Melinda B. Peters said in the release. “Stay home. There are more than 12,000 people responding along state and toll roadways. By staying home you allow them, utility crews and police to do their jobs.”
Earlier in the day, state officials announced closures of the Bay Bridge, Hatem bridge and Tydings bridge due to high winds.
The eye of Hurricane Sandy is expected to make landfall in southern New Jersey later tonight.
Linda Hoffecker
3:37 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
Hi!
Thanks for the updates! I have a boat there on the hard but am concerned about it and all of the boats at the marinas. Do you have a pipeline to them and could you report on what is going on there? Thank you!! Linda
Dan Broderick
4:02 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
Yesterday driving back from the VA Eastern Shore, about 20% of the drivers in a glare filled rain storm were driving without headlights. Visibility was about 20-30 feet. Who are these morons? Wipers on- lights on. It almost drove me crazy because we could not see them, coming or going.
Rob J
4:30 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
if you cant see a car or truck coming in the daylight maybe you should not be driving
Bob
10:37 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Rob J - You do know MD Law requires headlight use when windshield wipers are used, don't you?
Jeng G.
4:55 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
Sometimes people have to drive regardless of the weather. If everyone had their headlights on as required by the law then it would be a lot safer.
Dan Broderick
7:39 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
It's the LAW, like seatbelts, speed limits, drinking and driving. The headlight on law when windshield wipers are on is not so you can see better. It's so people can see you. Yes it was daytime, very cloudy and pouring rain all the way up Route 13 and Route 50 to the Bay Bridge. So according to Rob J if the conditions are bad and 25% of the drivers are inconsiderate of others I should just abandon my trip. What a total Jerk.
Tina T
8:10 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I agree with Dan and Jeng. Rob J, you are probably one of the morons not using headlights when your wipers are on. It shouldn't need to be a law. It is just common sense and courtesy.
Joe
11:15 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
What if you use RainX and don't need your wipers are you braking the law?
The law says if your wipers are on, not if it is raining.
Soco original
5:03 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
Since it was raining, I would guess there was not daylight. Added to that, it is also the law in MD, and several other states, because visibility is reduced and headlights help you to be seen. Good rule of thumb is that if most people have their headlights on, you should probably have yours on, too.
If you can't read the post above yours, perhaps you shouldn't be replying.
Steve
5:08 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
So, how are they going to enforce it? I don't see many State Troopers getting out of their cars in a Hurricane to write a ticket.....
Joe
5:15 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
If I may ask, where in the law or Maryland Constitution do the people delegate 'Maryland state highway officials' as the legislature who sets speed limits?
Do the 'Maryland state highway officials' actually have the power to change posted speed limits on our roadways state and local?
Now I believe it is the responsibility of the fool out there tonight but who died and left the 'Maryland state highway officials' in charge?
PerryHallCrafter
5:21 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
I can't believe that someone would actually challenge reducing speed limits to potentially save lives during a hurricane situation. I am sure that some guy just didn't wake up this morning and say, "I have an idea!". I'm sure that officials were consulted and I think it's a great idea. I think the Maryland State Highway Administration should Administrate the Maryland State Highways.
Steve
5:22 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
Oh the Tyranny of it all! I think I will powder my wig and write them a damning letter!
Joe
8:00 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I CAN believe someone would NOT question authority when they think it is being abused. Sheeple live in Perry Hall too I see.
Joe
8:00 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I CAN believe someone would NOT question authority when they think it is being abused. Sheeple live in Perry Hall too!
Bart
8:11 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
speed limits............laws.................constitution?
It's only common sense to slow down when the road conditions are dangerous.
Oh by the way, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY of the State Highway Officials to set the speed limits on the highways.
Get ovet it.
Richard Hertz
7:37 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
@PerryHallParent: You know, we could save lives every single say, not just during a hurricane, by lowering the speed limit to 5 mph. Why do you only want to save lives during a hurricane?
theadore mann
7:10 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
I would guess the "state of emergency" enables them to make temporary safety regulations... Or am i just using to much common sense?
Judge
10:02 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
Theadore you are right the "state of emergency" does give them the powers. And it is people like "Joe" that we need them to have those powers. I am sure he is one of those booking down the road at 60 plus with no head lights on.
Joe
11:23 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Freakish idiot! I SAID in my post "Now I believe it is the responsibility of the fool out there tonight"
And to question who has the power to set speed limits is a legitimate question in the day and age of power hungry politicians and bureaucrats. Look at the Obama regime for proof of power grabs almost daily.
to NOT question the power hungry pols is ABDICATING your responsibility as a citizen fool!
Bill Worthington
10:49 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
In a driving rainstorm, to not have your headlights on (to be seen!) is the highway equivalent of being the weak, slow wildebeest on the Serengeti Plain. Lions lie in wait for the herd. Those with their headlights on make it safely home. Those without headlights (at the back of the pack) get their rear ends eaten for lunch by mother lion and her cubs. Don't feel the need to put headlights on in rain? Your call.
PerryHallCrafter
11:09 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Good to delete my comments regarding that childish poster and get back to the topic at hand. Bill Worthington, you bring up a valid point. While it took a while for the law to catch up with the obvious, I can't imagine not using headlights in the rain. I think for the most part, sensible and cautious drivers take it down a notch when driving in any inclement weather, but I'm glad to see the level of prep the state did and how they altered things (bridge closures and speed reductions) in accordance with the escalation of the storm.
TRAFFIC OPERATIONS
9:06 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
"I can't imagine not using headlights in the rain"
Brilliant. Who can a level 50 psyduck? Gosh
"I think for the most part, sensible and cautious drivers take it down a notch when driving in any inclement weather."
Well duhh there princess don't you think they would take it down a notch in hurricane weather.
The roads werent even that bad you just need to know that it's all about knowing the area and reading the road. Chances are, if you drove behind someone else in this tropical depression you'd get owned by the rain coming off their tires. Therefore sometimes you need to speed buy the tractor trailer blocking your vision of all the lanes. People like bart and perryhallparent would of just followed omalleys rules and been a subject to the state and missed out.
Signed
A Highway Operations Technician
PerryHallCrafter
10:37 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
The reason I made that comment about not imagining driving without headlights in the rain is because of the close calls I've had in heavy rain with drivers not using them. Well duhh there, no I do NOT think people would take it down a notch because most people aren't sensible and cautious, hence my comment. I wouldn't have known if the roads were bad or not because I stayed home. I didn't "follow omalleys rules" (sic) but well duhh, if I had been out on the road I would have sped by the tractor trailer if need be. What the heck is "who can a level 50 psyduck" supposed to mean?
Also, if you had seen the original comment I was referring to, it was in response to some idiot who said that he blew down the highways doing 65 and didn't care. He was bragging about how fast he drove. "subject to the state and missed out" What did I miss out on? You are so idiotic.
PerryHallCrafter
10:41 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Oh and just in case you (and Joe, who called me a "sheeple" above) might need to know to understand me, my family was killed in a car crash, in the rain, due to someone speeding, so before calling me a "sheeple" or a "princess", know that there are things such as unimaginable loss that drive a person's strong opinions.
barney
10:41 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
of course their lights were off. the electric went out
PerryHallCrafter
10:45 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Umm, we are talking about automobile lights, headlights on during rain.
TRAFFIC OPERATIONS
11:13 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
perry hall parent just stop. Cmon woman your a grown up no need to call people names. I'm a idiot but if you wreck your car ill be the one their pushing your prius to the shoulder or helping you load in a medi vac. I actually operate the highway with computer programs that would have you playing number munchers!!! So tell me how' im an idiot. SHEEPLE thats just what you are sheeple. And whats 2 blame a kid or a olderman in his teens or his elder years if they go 65 on a highway thats a 65 highway. 95 north 65 is the speed limit and just because someone is a skilled enough driver if they want to flip its their choice, but just because you probably drive like a turd, dont mean you need to call someone a blithing idiot. Stop being an Ignoramus on the board.
PerryHallCrafter
12:40 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
No actually, my spouse will be the one loading me into the medi vac. He's a first responder. After losing my family in a car crash, you learn how to drive well. I wouldn't own a Prius if you gave it to me. You called me a "princess" first, so don't talk to me about name calling. I never called you an idiot. Your comments were idiotic and incomprehensible. 95 North is not 65 at all until you go North past White Marsh and Perry Hall. I am commenting on speeds related to people who live int he area of PERRY HALL while commenting on the PERRY HALL Patch. Did you actually read what you typed? "just because someone is a skilled enough driver if they want to flip its their choice" and then you proceed to insinuate that I "drive like a turd" yet you tell me to stop name calling. You're a piece of work. Hilarious. So, they are skilled enough to flip their vehicle? I couldn't write better comedy than this.
Joe
6:00 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
OT, you did what you accuse TO of doing don;t you?
And for all we know a "A Highway Operations Technician" can be like a refuse removal engineer who rides on the back of the local trash pickup truck. That terminology requires a few more bucks an hour and a few more benies to the union negotiations.
Joe
6:01 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
And I forgot Other Tim, if he is who he says he is I hope to hell you don't need that "clown".
TRAFFIC OPERATIONS
11:15 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
o and i work on 95 i 70 inner and outer loops. WHERE REAL SHTT HAPPENS. You ever carried a dead person from a car in a body bag? Nah.. Nope and No
PerryHallCrafter
12:43 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Yes, my spouse has and has administered CPR to a dying teen because of some idiot driving in the rain and slammed into her. She was 16 when he put her in the body bag. You really don't have a clue about anything. As far as spelling comments go, it's hard for some people to read when the grammar and spelling is so bad that you can't even understand the point someone was trying to make.
TRAFFIC OPERATIONS
11:39 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Their Theyre There. waiting for the spelling comments as if spelling matters on the perry hsall patcc
Joe
6:05 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
I lkie waht yu did wtih your wrods.
PerryHallParent, cn yu read ths as fst as nrml??
"Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteers be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511177,00.html