Illegal merging a problem exiting from express lanes

QDriving southbound in the fast lane (averaging 20 mph) on Interstate 880 during morning rush hour, just before the San Mateo Bridge and after the express lane divider turns into solid double lines, and with a CHP cruiser directly to my right, three vehicles in quick succession illegally merged from the express lane into the regular fast lane right in front of me.

I motioned to the CHP patrol car to get them for illegally crossing the solid double lines and making express lane driving dangerous. The CHP officer did nothing.

Another mile down the road, a CHP cruiser was parked alone against the divider with his red lights flashing, presumably to deter express lane drivers from illegally merging into or out of the regular lanes. Right in front of that stationary CHP cruiser, a car merged right out of the express lane and into regular traffic. The CHP did nothing.

Scofflaws of the express lanes are rampant. Every time they merge illegally, it causes drivers behind them to slam on the brakes. Scofflaws also continue to turn merge lanes of about 1/4 mile into passing lanes, so much so that traffic comes to a dead stop where the lanes merge. That only encourages more people in the regular lanes to move left into the merge lane to gain 4-5 car lengths while tying up traffic even more.

With no enforcement, there is no incentive to do the right thing.

— Brian Foster,

Castro Valley

AYes, this is a big problem on I-880 and with other Bay Area express lanes. It will be interesting to see what drivers experience on Interstate 80 in the North Bay, where express lanes have just been added.

QWhile traveling on 880 between San Leandro to Fremont and back, I notice cars constantly changing lanes, causing cars in front to brake heavily or slow down. I believe this could be a major reason I observe so many rear-end accidents on 880. The majority of cars changing lanes cause other drivers to brake heavily. I will put this out for other drivers to think about.

— Leslie Hatakeda

A This is another obnoxious problem.

QPlease remind everyone to stop at a malfunctioning traffic light.

I was at the exit on 880 south at Industrial. The light was not working. No blinking red, no nothing. Cross traffic was zipping through the intersection like blood from a nosebleed. I waited until traffic cleared and then proceeded into the intersection. I got home and called 911. The dispatcher responded that Caltrans was sending someone.

A

When traffic lights are not working, the intersection needs to be treated like a four-way stop.