Q: I learn your column about carpool lane abuse and puzzled when you might give these of us who was once common informal carpoolers a plug. As COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted, and vaccination and boosting charges are up, hopefully extra individuals will really feel protected providing or accepting rides at designated websites and occasions.
I discovered informal carpooling to be a faster, extra economical technique to get to work in San Francisco and had some attention-grabbing conversations en route.
Larry Forsberg, Oakland
A: Informal carpooling is likely one of the methods to get precise carpoolers in carpool lanes. Go to sfcasualcarpool.com for extra data, together with decide up websites across the East Bay.
Q: My husband and I used the HOV/categorical lane close to Livermore. Our FasTrak was dinged and we acquired a $1.25 invoice on our account.
We thought we certified as a carpool, so mustn't have been charged. A FasTrak consultant stated it was our downside as a result of we had not switched our tag to “2” to point two passengers earlier than we entered the HOV lane.
We don’t have a swap on our FasTrak tag! The rep stated we have to replace it, which prices $20 for every tag. Now we have to pay the $1.25 charge and a $20 replace cost?
How had been we presupposed to know that?
Barbara Williams, Berkeley
A: It's essential to have missed the various warnings about the way to use the categorical lanes. You must get a FasTrak flex tag to point how many individuals are in your automotive earlier than you enter the lane.
Q: I'm going over Freeway 17 and was just lately hit by a speeder there. Because of security enhancements to the street and in fashionable vehicles, nobody was significantly damage, although each vehicles had been totaled.
If not for the median barrier, shoulder barrier, seatbelts, ABS, crumple zones, airbags, and many others., all of us might have been killed. I’d be glad about decrease speeds, however drivers gained’t change their habits anytime quickly, it doesn't matter what.
Susan McLean
A: It’s so good you survived a really harmful accident. I’m afraid you're proper about most drivers’ resistance to altering their habits.
Q: There are three lanes that finish on the mild from southbound Interstate 880 at McCarthy Ranch Highway. Two are for turning left into Milpitas.
The appropriate lane has a number of pink lights, one with a pink/inexperienced arrow. Solely just lately has there been an issue turning proper after stopping. There are not any “No Activate Crimson” indicators. Is it unlawful to show proper on the pink arrow, when there are not any indicators prohibiting a flip?
Stacie Thomas, Fremont
A: Sure, it's unlawful. You can't flip proper on a pink arrow.
Search for Gary Richards at Fb.com/mr.roadshow, or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.