Posted on 12/27/2004 12:01:19 PM PST by MississippiMasterpiece
Well, that's why (whenever I've had a flat) I've always slowed down and got off at the next exit. Failing that, I tend to pull off into the grass! When I lived in Miami, I avoided the highways like the plague, and kept my car in top shape.
BTW, since I'm a chick, I've never had to wait for hours for help. *grin* It never hurts to wear a skirt!
Sexist, but what the hey. I can change my own tires, (heck I've replaced my radiator by myself before!) but I decline to put on a free show if I can help it, if you kwim!
I do think this will end up being a real issue.
I can just see it: Xenalyte is driving down the road minding her own business when "BANG! Flop-flop-flop-flop..." the tire blows out, and she pulls over to the side of the road. Without hesitation, she gets out, sees the flat, and hurries to the trunk to get the jack and spare. Within three minutes, the car is jacked up, the flat is off, and she is just about to put the new tire on when a vulture in a bright yellow truck pulls up behind her.
What the hell are they going to do? Use physical force to stop her from finishing the task? Assist her in completing the task and then charge her $75? Try to attach the tow truck to the vehicle anyway and drag it with one tire missing?
Everyone with car problems will suddenly be acting like an amateur NASCAR pit crew.
Oh I realize that my state taxes pay for this service, but I still have a say over who tows my truck. I am not told by the city who will tow it. The rates also seem a bit steep, much steeper than here in Missouri. I'm not familiar with tow truck pricing in Texas though, so it might be the standard fees.
The Motorist Assist program is run by the Missouri Department of Transportion and on the Kansas side of the state line, the program is run by the Kansas Highway Patrol. Not bad programs if you ask me.
I-45 is THE major highway through Houston running North to South. Been there, done that.
Wonder if this program will go away with this new policy? Motorist Assist is a good program and from the looks of it from the link you provided, it would be a shame to waste a good program like this with the new policy.
However, they could use the money to fix the congestion on 1960 turn lanes. I mean taking 1 hour to get 5 stop lights is ridiculous. Does anyone suppose they might take a look at the real problem which is the system?
No, that would be doing the right thing. Although, I wouldn't expect them to fix it or even know how to fix it because they just don't care except to make their stolen taxpayer money. Just another lesson in graft where everyone including a select group wins except the common ordinary taxpayer.
Elected officials real jobs are to think of how many ways they can screw the taxpayer, and then to implement them.
Another reason CA is broke. ;-)
I beg to differ. I once had an in-duh-vidual come to a FULL STOP in front of me on the freeway to watch someone change a tire.
Now that you mention it, there was an outcry recently by some small towing companies at the city "zoning" freeways such that only one towing company at a time has the right to tow vehicles per stretch of highway. This must have something to do with that new ordinance.
"The LA freeways are patrolled by contract tow trucks who give you gas, water, fix your flat tires and tow you off the road for free."I admit I'm no MBA, but I wonder how they make a profit.
Volume business.
Hmmm. I don't have $75 but I do have comprehensive.
My car is going whether I want it to or not.
Do I put a match in the gas tank and walk away?
Maybe I push it out into 65 mph traffic?
Hmmmm.
Glad I don't live in Houston anymore. Shalom
Let's look at it logically. Before if you had a flat, you would pull off to the shoulder. This might slow traffic flow momentarily, but it would resume after you were off the road.
Now, we will have a second slow down when the wrecker gets there and he has to stop/slow down on the highway to get in front of you. This will cause a more noticeable disruption in traffic and possibly cause accidents that would not have happened. Plus you will have a wrecker/tow vehicle which will have some sort of warning lights going which will definitely bring traffic to a stand still as the rubbernecker look for bodies.
Bet she's hell with a lug wrench.
}:-)4
Sounds to me that Missouri believes in helping it's citizens whereas Houston seems more interested in screwing them.
I was just pointing out an example of the human tendency to "rubber-neck" as it's so affectionately referred to. I'd be willing to bet that this scheme will make things worse. Since it was hatched by bureaucrats instead of the free market, it was doomed to fail.
Who needs lug wrenches? That's why God gave me teeth and nails!
They do that because having a ton of traffic moving at 45 mph down FM 1960 scares the cops. They use the lights to break up the flow from the Willowbrook mall clear to I-45. Problem is, they designed that system back when there was a break in the flow. Now it's continuous because of the people getting on FM 1960 at each of those lights.
Bummer, but there you are. Traffic planning is always about 10 years behind.
Shalom.
Was it a woman changing the tire in a mini-skirt?
Shalom.
But your disabled car is costing other people far more than $75 in frustration, delay, and increased risk of accidents.
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