Why Am I Not Surprised?
Why Am I Not Surprised?KAKE Blog Listing
Why Am I Not Surprised?
Topic Author: Jared Cerullo
Posted: 8:28 PM Jul 8, 2009
Replies Posted: 2 comments
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Here is the story:  http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/50241317.html

I found it very ironic that this was one of the stories we covered today.  As I walked into the newsroom, I was still fuming from a driver who had made me mad on the way in to work.

Why is it that people get to the top of entrance ramps and STOP?  I see it all the time at Kellogg and I-235.  Drivers get to the top of the ramp, stop, and then begin looking for an opening to merge into the lane.  It irks the heck out of me every time I see it!

I don't want to sound all preachy, but people need to stop doing this.  When you stop on an entrance ramp, you are creating an even greater hazard... not to mention, you're making all the people behind you mad.  If you're stopped, you have no momentum.  It takes you MUCH longer to accelerate to a safe highway speed once you do eventually get into the highway lane of traffic.  So if you stopped up at the top of the ramp, not only did you make the people on the ramp behind you mad, you've just aggravated the people on the highway who have to slam on their brakes since you have now entered a highway lane at 20 mph.

Don't stop on those ramps!  It doesn't matter how heavy traffic is, either.  That ramp is YOUR lane.  Keep on going and merge into traffic while looking over your shoulder.  There is plenty of room for you to keep accelerating while drivers wanting to exit can either merge onto the exit ramp ahead of or behind you.

If it all fails, fine... then go around the clover leafs and make your way around and try it again.  I've had to do it myself.  But you know what?  I didn't stop at the top of the ramp and create a huge hazard that not only endangered my own safety, but everyone elses on the road.

Thank you.  I'm done preaching now.  :-)

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  • by Anonymous on Jul 11, 2009 at 10:18 PM
    I am a state trooper and you are absolutely correct. Nobody should be stopping on those highway entrance ramps. This is also a problem at 47th and I-135. Has been for years.
  • by Jeff Location: Wichita on Jul 9, 2009 at 10:31 AM
    Jared, 235 and Kellogg is a nightmare anyway. I avoid that area at all costs. they should be working on that area instead of 135 and kellogg. But i do agree with you NO ONE should be stopping in a merge lane that is the whole purpose of MERGE. Of course all other drivers need to realize this also.
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