How do you determine who got there first? Really, you're in the middle of the block. Brian Parman of the Portland police Traffic Division, "is to be the polite one and scooch over if it doesn't look like the other guy is going to do it. After all, we're all adults out there, right? But, as everyone knows, we don't always act like adults on the road. If you get into a scraper, it's hard to say with whom the insurance company will side probably the driver with the most sympathetic witnesses.
So, try to be the graceful one. As a believer in traffic karma, I like to think your actions -- good and bad -- will catch up to you. A caller left a voice message asking,. What are they telling us? Just when I think people other than my mom and a couple friends from my college day are reading my blog, the "HM sign" questions arrive. Even though.
But who you gonna call to help you get where need to go without having to worry about those cryptic placards hanging over your windshield? The initials stand for hazardous materials. Basically, the Oregon Department of Transportation installed the signs as an extra reminder that explosive and toxic materials aren't allowed between Oregon and Interstate The idea is to keep them away from a possible catastrophe in the Vista Ridge Tunnel.
Many regulations apply to truck and train transportation of potentially harmful elements, including special licensing for drivers. The Federal government maintains a list of the federally recognized HM routes , but not every driver can easily look up every road before every journey.
States identify these routes based on different criteria, such as population density or institutions that could be seriously harmed if contaminated by dangerous substances. Some states, such as California and Texas have many restricted routes, while other states do not regulate routes. New York state only regulates routes for hazardous elements within New York City, and the rest of the state has no such regulations.
Shipping hazardous materials through high population areas has proven to be deadly. A accident in the Bronx that involved a tanker and a car at a busy intersection killed five people and destroyed many businesses. In April , a truck hauling gasoline overturned in Rochester. One person died and at least nine people were injured.
No-HM routes keep trucks off unsafe routes. States regulate routes within their districts, but the mandate for HM and No-HM routes is handed down from federal guidelines.
To be listed as a No-HM route, there must be a documented reason, but not every route that is potentially unsafe is marked as a no-HM route. Most municipalities have updated their road signage, but the HC sign was in use for many years. I don't want to break the law! Answer: Much too often, people assume that just because they don't understand a sign, the sign must not pertain to them.
This often leads to many safety concerns. This is like school. When someone doesn't ask the questions, there are many others who had the same questions and were afraid to ask.
So, I want to thank you for asking the question. The sign you describe is called R It has a white background with a red circle and slash through the black letters "HM" and is posted where the transportation of hazardous materials is prohibited, applying primarily to commercial trucks. Thanks for the question and wanting to comply with traffic laws and regulations rather than just disregarding the sign.
If you see any other road signs you are unfamiliar with, the Federal Highway Administration's Web site www. Jim Cousins, president of the Peoria Police Officers Association, answers questions about public safety. E-mail questions to askacop q. Because of the number of queries it may be several weeks before your question is addressed.
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