Parking under an overpass.

[James K]

I like to go on radar & look at storms even if they're nowhere near me,

This is part of a tornado warning from yesterday. Note the part I highlighted...
I'm starting to see that message show up occasionally in storm warnings now.

 

[Warren Faidley]

It's just a matter of time before this plays out in a tragic event. It's coming.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I almost got trapped on 141 and I-70 on Wednesday due to this situation developing again in the STL metro. There was no hail, only a tornado warning. I know everyone is gun-shy after May 16th but was a little surprised to see that the message hadn't apparently been received at all (local media really did a good job of chiding the ones who blocked I-170 during the May 16 tornado).

A generous laying on of the horn and flashing high beams got them to move, thankfully. Any tornado would have been to my west, but I had no visual and certainly didn't want to get stuck.

One thing I do see when chasing in a big city is that during a tornado warning, there is a bit of "every man for himself, there are no rules" so you just don't know what people are going to do when they think they are in survival mode. That's probably going to be pronounced here for a long time until the May 16 effect wears off.

 

[Warren Faidley]

Like I suggested during a recent media interview, if you see a block in front of you (e.g., taillights and slowing traffic), take the off ramp, go over the top and take the on-ramp to avoid the block.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Yeah normally that would have been the option, but this happened right as I got to the underpass in the left lane. A semi in the right lane also helped by blasting them with their horn.

 

[Dave C]

Like I suggested during a recent media interview, if you see a block in front of you (e.g., taillights and slowing traffic), take the off ramp, go over the top and take the on-ramp to avoid the block.

Certainly a good idea in some scenarios as long as:
1) the blockage isn't already back beyond the off ramp as it often is
2) there is an off ramp. Plenty of bridges cross highways with no connection
3) visibility permits this tactic
4) the blockage doesn't start with a couple cars in front of you as Dan mentioned

I will reiterate that this behavior needs severe punishment. ANY intentional blocking of transit arteries by people hiding from weather, protesting, whatever other reason is a huge safety and commerce issue and should be license revocation and impoundment if done in a vehicle, or arrest if done in person- with very large fines on the order of 10K and up (more than an average hail insurance claim). There is never, ever an acceptable reason to block transportation arteries. With a little planning, people can be somewhere else if they want to avoid the storm. Only a severe deterrent and education is ever going to reduce or stop this behavior. Most agencies do nothing, but a few have written out tickets to large groups, which is a start.

If it was up to me, I would design a bridge that crushes stopped cars, has lasers or gattling guns, or all three (joking obviously).

 

[Jeff Duda]

If it was up to me, I would design a bridge that crushes stopped cars, has lasers or gattling guns, or all three (joking obviously).

You mean like these?

 

[Jesse Risley]

Certainly a good idea in some scenarios as long as:
1) the blockage isn't already back beyond the off ramp as it often is
2) there is an off ramp. Plenty of bridges cross highways with no connection
3) visibility permits this tactic
4) the blockage doesn't start with a couple cars in front of you as Dan mentioned

I will reiterate that this behavior needs severe punishment. ANY intentional blocking of transit arteries by people hiding from weather, protesting, whatever other reason is a huge safety and commerce issue and should be license revocation and impoundment if done in a vehicle, or arrest if done in person- with very large fines on the order of 10K and up (more than an average hail insurance claim). There is never, ever an acceptable reason to block transportation arteries. With a little planning, people can be somewhere else if they want to avoid the storm. Only a severe deterrent and education is ever going to reduce or stop this behavior. Most agencies do nothing, but a few have written out tickets to large groups, which is a start.

If it was up to me, I would design a bridge that crushes stopped cars, has lasers or gattling guns, or all three (joking obviously).

I'm going to be that guy because I feel as strongly about this as I do so-called left lane campers that refuse to keep right except to pass out of their own hubris or righteous sense of indignation: make it a criminal misdemeanor on par with a DUI where you are taken into custody (I want you arrested right then and there) and the vehicles are towed at the owner's expense. The fine should be in excess of $1000 with a suspension of your license, upon conviction, for at least 6 months. For what it's worth, while not a moving violation, I also personally feel that littering fines should start at a minimum of $1000 too although neither left lane campers nor litterers are germane to the discussion directly at hand here. Yes, I realize that from a practical standpoint law enforcement likely has neither the manpower nor the desire to enforce this but in an ideal scenario that's how I'd prefer it be handled. I'm not apologizing for my belief that consequences for these offenses should be swift and extreme.

 

[Dave C]

You mean like these?

Exactly like those.


One of my favorite movies, I just wish it didn't now seem like a documentary instead of a comedy.