Last night, like quite a few others in the past years, I spent 50 minutes to go roughly ten miles on I-95 in Delaware. There was no accident, and traffic normally runs smoothly on other days despite a two-lane exit project leading up to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. However, after many such nights of brake-tapping, I think I figured out what happens to tie up the line of northbound traffic.
The vehicles entering I-95 come from the Delaware Turnpike exit and about four on-ramps from other major roads. Two right lanes are designated for entering and lining up for the exit to the bridge, so sometimes the number of cars is greater than the traffic flow and the line slows down.
What really slows it down more than necessary, however, are those drivers who either speed through the two left lanes or slip out of the two right lanes, move up to the “last chance” entrance point where the divider begins, then play innocent and convince other drivers waiting in line to let them slide in ahead of them.
In kindergarten, this was called butting in line. In adult life, it’s simply being a self-centered, careless jerk.
The semis, thank goodness, stay in line and are very polite when drivers enter the lane from an artery. They don’t tend to bully their way around, even though they certainly could considering their size. Some of my fellow commuters, however, seem to feel they have a right to cut in front and, by proxy, extend the wait for the other honest folks who are waiting their turn. If not for the line-jumpers, I think the wait would be a minimum of 10-15 minutes, but on a day like yesterday I spent 50 minutes getting to a bridge which normally takes 15.
The alternative route would be to continue up I-95 to the Commodore Barry Bridge, but it is an extended drive north that few choose to take when the other bridge is so close and they can just jump the line to get home sooner. There really should be a way to stop such practices, but I know the wonderful Delaware officers on those roads have enough on their hands already, so they shouldn’t have to play kindergarten playground monitor for adults who should know better.
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