Will new carpool lane rules worsen traffic in other lanes?
Q Now that drivers with green or white carpool stickers can no longer use the carpool lanes, I fear that will make traffic even worse in the other lanes. Right?
— Frank Alvia
A Let’s find out. Starting next week, tell me about your experience. Are carpool lanes flowing more freely now that 220,000 drivers have been booted out? Are the turtle lanes more crowded? It may take a few days or weeks to assess the impact. You’ll need red stickers or have a carpool to stay in the HOV lanes. Q I have a 2014 Prius plug-in with green HOV stickers that are no longer valid. I also have a FasTrak transponder with three settings: “1, 2 or 3.” Until now, I have set the transponder to “3” because of the green stickers. How should I reset my transponder now? My guess is on “1,” unless I have passengers. Is that right?
— Larry V.
A You guessed right. Solo drivers willing to pay the toll can use the express or carpool lanes if they have FasTrak set to the “1” position. If they have a carpool, set it to “2” or “3.” Q With bridge tolls up by $1, how will the increase be applied to “multi or combination” vehicles defined as those vehicles towing trailers?
— Gene Dangel, Walnut Creek
A The toll increases $1 for four-axle vehicles. Q I had an interesting drive on Interstate 680 to San Ramon the other day. I entered the freeway behind someone driving 5-10mph below the speed limit. So I checked the lanes to my left, and a goodly distance back saw a fastmoving gleaming black car and no one in the fast lane for hundreds of yards both behind and in front of Crazy-Fast.
In the middle lane, a big van was going the speed limit, so I moved in behind it. The fast black car, rather than moving into the empty fast lane, pulled up behind me. I was a bit surprised as all of us were far slower than she/ he was driving. She/ he pulled up so close behind me I could only see a foot or two of his/ her hood. Then she/ he inched closer. Stayed there for a minute while I was thinking, “holy crap!” Weird.
Then she/ he pulled out and hit the gasmoving so fast she/ he was out of sight in seconds. Wow! Someone was fired/divorced/ humiliated that morning, I guess. Why would my taking a spot in a lane slower than his/ her speed be so challenging? My husband suggested an impulse control problem.
— Sue Bovee, Pleasanton
A This would be very high on Mrs. Roadshow’s complaint list. And I never disagree with her. Q Now that the DMV has switched to touchscreen tests, how often are screens sanitized?
— Bob Pedretti, San Jose
A The machines are sanitized each night, and as needed during the day. Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920- 5037.