On my my drive home (about a 15 mile drive) from work yesterday, traffic came to a stop on the highway about 3 miles from my home. I could sense that many people stuck in this "parking lot" were very frustrated. Given that I knew there was no construction in the area, I also sensed that something terrible may have caused the backup.
I was able to get off an a different exit and make my way home just a few minutes later than usual. I told my wife that I thought something terrible happened. I turned on the radio to see if I could find out what happened. The highway I was on has three lanes going north. A team of county workers was doing routine cleaning in the left lane. There was a "street-sweeping" truck in front of a "warning" truck. The "warning" truck has a very bright sign on it with a blinking arrow directing drivers to merge into the two right lanes. Unfortunately, a man in a pick-up truck driving in the left lane was not paying attention and slammed into the back of the "warning" truck with such force that the "warning" truck slammed forward into the "street-sweeping" truck. The driver of the "warning" truck was killed instantly. The driver of the pick-up is has numerous charges against him. He was not drunk. He just wasn't paying attention.
I am one that may push the speed limit a bit (but really, not too much) EXCEPT whenever there is construction, utility, lawenforcement activity near the road. Then I always drive at a speed that is a bit lower than the posted speed (including special speed zones related to construction).
I feel badly for the victim and the driver of the pick-up truck that now has to spend the rest of his life dealing with the fact that his lack of attention resulted in the death of another human being.
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