The I-15 widening project is going to make those surface streets very busy, so the agency that controls the valley’s traffic signals is planning a massive effort to try to speed the flow.

Planners say the traffic diverted from I-15 is expected to flow into areas well beyond the actual construction zone. So managers at the valley’s traffic light network — called Fast — have a plan to adjust light timings to try to speed things along on the surface streets.

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What do you think about how Las Vegas traffic lights are timed? Add your comments.

California is now hands free!  The new law took place July 1st.   And YES, it applies to you too once you enter the state of California.   Nevada does not have this law yet.

I moved here from Upstate New York and I lived there when the cell phone law was implemented years ago.  It all seemed crazy at first, but let me tell you, it is much safer.  And don’t think for a second that police won’t pull you over if they see you holding that phone to your ear.  I have a long list of friends who have been fined for doing so.  

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“I know I’m going to die in a car accident.”

That’s what one of my friends told me on Sunday while we discussed driving in Las Vegas.  He and his wife went on to say that in the last week they have watched people run stop signs and cut them off several times.  I guess they feel enough happens to them every day, to make them believe, they will someday be in a bad accident because of someone else. 

Isn’t that awful? 

But, you know what.  I feel the same way.  It’s my worst fear.  When I grab the handle of the passenger side door, it’s not because I feel my husband is a terrible driver, it’s because I fear what the person next to us or driving toward us is going to do.

It’s very sad that we feel this way.   I thought maybe it was ME, because I work in Traffic and I often see terrible accident scenes.  But now, I have started to hear it more and more from other people.

This alone should make us all want to be better drivers.

I drive defensively.  People make fun of me…. but I don’t care.  I try to be as alert as possible at all times. 

I admit, I get caught answering my phone if it rings while I am driving… changing a CD… or reaching for my lipgloss out of my purse.  All these things can take my focus off the road and I shouldn’t be doing it.  

Have any of you taken your eyes off the road for a second… and then all of a sudden seen brake lights in front of you? Brake lights that weren’t there before!  That has happened to me in the past, but I learned my lesson quick! 

Listen, anything can happen.  But we should all be more cautious overall and be kinder on the roads.  Don’t cut people off, don’t hold your hand up and scream or honk your horn in anger…. just think twice.   We can all benefit. 

And maybe we can stop saying, “I know I’m going to die in a car accident.”

Wouldn’t that be nice?

I usually just pull up and fill up.  But… I must say, lately, I too am noticing and hesitating when it comes to filling up my tank. 

Recently, talked about our high school graduation year on our morning show.  I graduated in 1993.   This prompted me to search and see what gas prices were back then.  I couldn’t believe what I saw!  The price fluctuated from like 99 cents to $1.10 — this shocked me! 

Can you imagine???  A buck to fill up!?  How great would that be!? 

It costs me about 50 dollars to fill up these days.  And I have a 4-dour sedan.  I dread filling up now.  I think to myself as I fill up and watch the numbers roll higher, “there goes the cost of my monthly gym membership, plus my favorite wrap from tropical smoothies, and that magazine I like to buy, oh and the movie I wanted to see this week!”

But then again, I guess I wouldn’t get to any of those things if I coulnd’t drive there… so then I calm down. 

We are inching toward $4.00 right now.

Did you see that gas giveaway? The lines of cars down Flamingo waiting for a chance at a free tank of gas.

CLICK HERE to see the video and read the story, it’s amazing how many people lined up for that!  I did find it entertaining to watch.  Especially the people that pushed their cars into the gas station!  I understand it caused quite a traffic mess though… which was probably frustrating for people who were not in line.

This video shows how much people are in need of something FREE right now.

I hope we can all get through this.  

I know there are ways to save on gas.  ( i.e. by using your Vons card, buying a certain amount of products from the gas station store, etc.)  But feel free to share your tips with everyone… the more we know… the more we save!

No, I am not talking about a type of sushi here… I am talking about drivers that do NOT come to a complete stop at stop signs and when they are turning right on red.

I see it all the time.  And according to Police, they see it too!  I am from Upstate New York orginally, so I had never heard of a “California Roll.”  To me, it sounded like something I would choose when I stand in line at the sub shop!   But I later learned it’s just a name for a bad driving pattern… and it’s named after California drivers, who are famous for doing it.   Rolling through the stop sign or red light.

Did you know, you are not only suppose come to a complete stop at a stop sign, but you are also supposed to stop at the stop bar…. then pull forward…. look both ways… and only go if it’s safe.   How many drivers do you think do that? Not many!!

I always find it interesting when I see accident scenes at four way stops.  How can that happen? Nobody is going fast… so there should be plenty of time to realize you could crash… right? I guess not.  I just don’t get it.

At a four-way stop, police say you are supposed to let the person to your right go first.  That’s how a four way works.  If we all did this, there would be some kind of order.  But instead, it’s who can skip through without having to wait. 

The rules of the road are there for a reason.  Share your thoughts and tell me your stories.  I am sure many of you have one (or two, or three, or four…..)

Someone posted a comment on my blog about something I recently covered.    It’s called “due care.” 

What it means is that drivers must use care when driving, and if they don’t… they can be responsible for breaking the law or the cause of an accident.

I recently went out with the North Las Vegas Police and watched them give out warnings to drivers at the intersection of Cheyenne & Losee.   It was unbelievable!!  Laws broken every minute, literally!  Many of them blamed on drivers not using due care.

For example:

Yes, you can use the shoulder area if the road is wide enough and there is not a painted line… BUT you can’t go speeding southbound down Losee passing everyone as you try to get to the light at Cheyenne.  You must use due care.  Take it slow, watch for other vehicles and drive defensively.  That–  is due care.

 If you were to look up due care it would say:  the care that a reasonable man would exercise under the circumstances.

Shouldn’t we all use Due Care? I think it would make our roads much safer

Horses on the road.  Yes, in a city as big as Las Vegas, we still see people that ride horses for transportation.   Many times you will see this in North Las Vegas or in the Northwest part of the valley. 

So a viewer asked me…. are they allowed in the road?  

Well, here’s the answer.  There are no clear cut laws on this, but basically, police say horse riders must follow the same rules of the road as bicyclists.

Pedestrians have the right of way.  You must walk your horse across the cross walk. 

And, most importantly, police say you MUST pick up after your horse!!  If you know what I mean!

I know a lot of horse lovers in town, and we want every one of them to be safe. 

I received many emails from people after I aired my What’s Driving You Crazy?! segment on this. 

Susan from Pahrump made a good point!  She says, “Not just here, but all around the U.S. people are using their horses as A means of transportation. Why? The increase of fuel stops alot of us from doing alot of the things we used to enjoy. If you need A loaf of bread and the store is only A couple of miles away it is more fuel efficient to hop on your horse instead of in your car. ”

I love it!

I’m sure we have all thought about this one!   

 You are driving along and you get to a section of roadway that is really wide… but it’s only striped one lane down the middle.

Meanwhile, cars are zooming past you. 

Some are all over the place. 

And others are driving down the middle. 

You think to yourself, “is this one lane or TWO?”

Well, here’s the deal.  It is CONSIDERED one lane.  BUT, if the lane is wide enough to accomodate two cars side by side, safely, without leaving the roadway… it is permissible.  That is according to both North Las Vegas Police and Metro. 

I wanted to share that with you.  A co-worker recently asked me that question and it’s something that crossed my mind in the past as well. 

I can only imagine… it’s crossed yours too!

A viewer from Las Vegas is extremely frustrated with all the signs posted at intersections.  

Garage Sale signs, For Sale signs, Liquidation Sale signs… etc.  

The viewer feels this should be illegal.  He says it’s not only an eyesore, it also impairs proper vision when driving through the intersection.  He feels posting at sign on a STOP sign should be against the law. 

I agree, and guess what.  It is!

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I received an email from a 10 year resident of Las Vegas.  She wanted to know why the I-95 is referred to as Northbound and Southbound…. when it clearly goes Westbound and Eastbound in some parts.   So, I have an explanation.

 First…. I’m surprised a 10 year resident is calling it I-95.  It’s actually a U.S. Highway… so it’s called U.S. 95.   That’s okay… common mistake. 

Did you know… odd numbered highways are Northbound and Southbound and even numbered highways are Westbound and Eastbound?  That is WHY we use the descriptions that we do. 

U.S. 95, for the most part, runs Northbound & Southbound… but form Rainbow Blvd. to Charleston Blvd… it appears to run Westbound and Eastbound.  That’s where the confusion comes in! 

Read this.  I found it helpful.  If you good the highway numbering system, there are many articles you can read and learn from.

Wait… there’s more… here’s some information I found on the numbering system as a whole.  I found it very enlightening!