Left exits

I have read all I could about why a bus from out of town would plow right up an exit, thinking he was still on the diamond lane.
I think I know, but would like comment on my theory.
The driver from out of town had noticed, I'm sure, the diamonds painted in the HOV lane in which he was drivng for miles. The last sign he sees before the exit is a left arrow saying "exit" and it also has a diamond on the sign.
Now, I don't know about you but if I'm driving on I-75 and a sign shows a left arrow and also says I-75, I take it if I want to stay on I-75!
Would it not be simple for the sign to say "exit to Northside Dr" with a left arrow also. No diamond is needed!
At the speed that buses travel, it would have been hard to stop the bus when the stop sign showed up even if he saw it.
There were no skid marks because with anti-skid brakes (ABS) there aren't many, if any.
It seems that our lives these days are filled with "coverups," in this case the transportation people who saw no way to improve the signage and then proceeded to improve it some. They did however leave the diamond.
No one will be disciplined or fired,be assured because they admitted nothing. If someone had been brave enough to admit anything, he would have been instantly fired. Only the truth gets punished.

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The I-75 HOV lane bus accident
mapleleaf's picture
Submitted by mapleleaf on Wed, 03/21/2007 - 10:09am.

The accident happened about 6 a.m. This bus was driven from Ohio, heading for Florida. I have the impression it was driven all night. Couldn't the 67-year-old driver have been tired and sleepy? Logic tells me that might have been an important contributing factor in this accident.


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"Fresh" driver
bad_ptc's picture
Submitted by bad_ptc on Wed, 03/21/2007 - 10:29am.

"Fatigue, however, is not believed to be a factor in the crash, he said. Officials said a fresh bus driver took over about 4:30 a.m., about an hour before the wreck."

As per CNN article


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I've been down this stretch thousands of times..
Submitted by McDonoughDawg on Wed, 03/21/2007 - 9:15am.

I've never thought about taking the ramp at full speed all the while ignoring the posted exit signs (at least 2) for Northside Drive, then ignoring the stop sign at the top of the ramp. Apparently this bus was the first to try it. It was a tragic accident, without doubt.

The diamond is in place because it is the standard sign for HOV lanes, etc. It is an HOV exit and is marked as such.

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Dawg: HOV exit?
Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Wed, 03/21/2007 - 10:46am.

Well then in that case shouldn't all I-75 exit signs just say "I-75 Exit (with a right arrow?) I think they say "Pechtree City Exit."
He didn't want to exit from the diamond lane!
Not many places have diamond lanes, you know?

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I assume you've been by this exit..
Submitted by McDonoughDawg on Wed, 03/21/2007 - 11:47am.

I'm also assuming you haven't been tempted to hit it at top speed. Maybe I shouldn't assume. An exit is just that, an exit. It is marked exit to Northside Drive, more specifically, as an HOV exit to Northside Drive. Any commercial driver worth his salt could read these signs, obviously, they do it every day.

I stand by my statement that it was a horrible accident, and not sure more signage would have prevented it. Accidents happen, and it's a miracle that more didn't get killed.

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Assume Dawg
Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Wed, 03/21/2007 - 6:58pm.

Yes, been by the exit and others that are left hand.
Yet, I'm still uncomfortable every time I pass it---not for me for others.
It is like the signage in downtown Atlanta: if you are not familiar with driving there it is hard to find an interstate entrance by the signage. It shouldn't be.
There are thousands of stupid signs all over Georgia, and other states, due to either stupid road engineers designing them or stupid regulations that are wrong or obsolete.
Some signs even are designed to run one through a shopping area rather than around it.

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Dawg: Exits
Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Wed, 03/21/2007 - 12:31pm.

I'm sorry, but it is evident that you are covering up your mistake.
The last sign just at that exit only says "exit" with a big diamond on it. You also didn't answer my question as to why right exits off I-75 dont say "I-75" Exit?

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???
Submitted by McDonoughDawg on Wed, 03/21/2007 - 12:43pm.

What else are you exiting? An exit off of I-75 is just that, an exit off of the interstate. How much more complicated does it need to be? All signs right at the exit say "exit". Some have numbers etc.

I recommend you stay off of this stretch of road for the safety of others. Smiling

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Well an exit off the diamond is just an exit...
Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Wed, 03/21/2007 - 7:02pm.

If the diamond lane exit has to be identified as a diamond exit, then an exit off I-75 has to be labelled as an I-75 exit! They are not.

Or, don't you consider the diamond lane as part of the Interstate system?

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So in your world.
Submitted by McDonoughDawg on Wed, 03/21/2007 - 7:46pm.

are you always this confused?

I stand by my last statement. Go ahead with the last word, I would expect nothing less.

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