Houston drivers BEWARE!!!

[loNfastNSX]

This new "Ride Safe" policy is crap! The Houston mayor has inacted a new policy of getting all stalled and broken down cars off of the freeways by having the car towed. Ok, good idea. But to have a 6 min time frame is rediculous. Certain tow companies and many many independant towtruck drivers have been asked to have a 6 min responce time to a vehical on the side of the road. The mayor has given liberties to the towtruck drivers to present a paper to the owner if they are on sight and tow the vehical. No matter what the trouble is. This means that if you have a flat tire, run out of gas, overheat, anything at all, your going to be towed at your expence. I can understand if a car has been on the side of the road for 24 hrs or something, go ahead and tow it. The owner should have taken care of it by then.

Now, this is where it gets good. A lady was changing her tire on the side of the road and a while doing so a tow truck backed up to her. He presented her the policy and towed her car while the police were present. Her car was towed even after the tire was changed!!! To me that is stealing my car. I dont know about you guys but to me this really pisses me off. I have a mother, sister and a fiance that commute to work everyday on the freeways. I dont want some towtruck taking their car when I could easily fix the problem and be on our way.

Anyway, just had to vent and wanted to get some views from other drivers about this new policy. Its been on all the radio shows all morning.

 

[Briank]

I can understand getting broken down cars off the freeway. Cars parked on the shoulder inches away from traffic speeding buy at 70 MPH is an invitation to disaster. Also parked cars are a distraction to other drivers and should be addressed as soon as possible but 6 minutes is insane. On the other hand cars in poor repair should not be on the freeway and running out of gas is just plain stupid.

The Police just have to follow the rules or in other words do their jobs but it looks like the tow operators are just taking advantage of an opportunity to make money. I wounder what would happen if an NSX needs to be towed and the tow truck that shows up is not a flatbed.

 

[MarkB]

If, in fact, the tows are allowed even if a repair has been or shortly will be completed, then the policy is crap and should be challenged. It sounds to me like the tow-truck-lobby has put some money in the mayor's pocket.

 

[NSXrebel]

I too think this is some kind of scam to bring in money. Here in So Cal there's a free service to tow your car if you break down on certain freeways. I5 around the Camp Pendleton area has this.

 

[Yellow Rose]

My Opinion

As always, I have one. Sitting down? I think it is a good idea.

You wrote "I have a mother, sister and a fiancé that commute to work everyday on the freeways. I don’t want some tow truck taking their car when I could easily fix the problem and be on our way." How long will it take you to drive to where they are broken down and fix the problem? I'd be willing to bet a margarita it will be a lot longer than six minutes.

Last comment, and frankly I thought you would bring this one up - if an NSX is sidelined and a conventional wrecker shows up, can you send him away and insist on a flatbed wrecker?

 

[MarkB]

Re: My Opinion

The main issue that I have with this policy is the timespan involved. Six minutes is barely enough time to put your coat on and take a leak. It is definitely ludicrous.

 

[loNfastNSX]

Re: My Opinion

Last comment, and frankly I thought you would bring this one up - if an NSX is sidelined and a conventional wrecker shows up, can you send him away and insist on a flatbed wrecker?[/QUOTE]

Good point Andy. That was my first thought when I heard of the new policy. Actually I think the first to respond hooks you up and goes. Not 100% sure. True enough I couldn't get there in six minutes but I can say that the problem would be fixed with great haste. Definately within an hour or so. The idea itself is actually a good idea but it is going to need alot of refinement.

 

[Casper91]

I couldn't change a tire in less than 6 minutes!

 

[Yellow Rose]

I couldn't change a tire in less than 6 minutes!

And you wonder why no race team will hire you as a pit crew member. :biggrin:

 

[Meeyatch1]

This new "Ride Safe" policy is crap! The Houston mayor has inacted a new policy of getting all stalled and broken down cars off of the freeways by having the car towed. Ok, good idea. But to have a 6 min time frame is rediculous. Certain tow companies and many many independant towtruck drivers have been asked to have a 6 min responce time to a vehical on the side of the road. The mayor has given liberties to the towtruck drivers to present a paper to the owner if they are on sight and tow the vehical. No matter what the trouble is...

I know this is kind of a backwoods thing to say, but if some jagoff in a towtruck came and tried to tow my vehicle while I was changing my tire, he is going to get his butt kicked!! No way I am letting some fool tow my car like that.

As for the lady that got towed WHILE THE COP WAS THERE.....WHAT THE HECK IS THAT ALL ABOUT???? You would think that the towtruck driver or cop would have enough human kindness to NOT tow that ladies car. I hope that the people down there revolt and get that jerk out of office and the law repealed.

 

[sjs]

Re: My Opinion

As always, I have one. Sitting down? I think it is a good idea...

You can't be serious. Are you really one of those over-zealous over-reacting so-and-sos that infuriate me? Where do you people come from???

BTW, if you break down on some of the freeways here, within that same six minutes you will probably be greeted by a service truck offering to help, for FREE. They don't even accept tips according to my Dad who had a flat and barely had the spare out when help arrived. I've seen these guys changing tires, adding water, etc. in all kinds of foul weather. And if they can't get you going they'll help you get a tow, let you call home, give you a lift to someplace you can wait, whatever. Sure, it comes out of our taxes somehow, but I've seen my money spent is far worse ways. The SFB people responsible for the law in Houston should be chased out of office and forced to serve out their term in a roadside assistance service vehicle.

 

[loNfastNSX]

Last nights news had a story about the police giving the tow truck companies a hard time now because they are finding it hard to get to every breakdown or disabled vehical within the six minute time limit. Further action will be taken against the tow companies if they cant comply. CRAZY!!!

 

[Yellow Rose]

You can't be serious.

Are you really one of those over-zealous over-reacting so-and-sos that infuriate me?

Where do you people come from???

1 - I am dead serious.....you should know me better by now. Granted, the six minutes is a bit tight, but the concept of towing disabled vehicles from the freeways is a good one.

2 - I don't think that I am an "over the top" type of person, but if my opinion of endorsing the towaway policy infuriates you, well, you are entitled to your emotions.

3 - From Houston.

 

[loNfastNSX]

Andy- I called a towing company and was told that I could not request a flatbed over the traditional tow truck due to restrictions set by the city. So I guess if an NSX, 360, Lambo, or any other lower than "normal" car has a problem on the road, we have to just sit and watch as they DRAG our car away. I know the tow companies are just trying to comply with the city set rules but that is going to open a flood gate of law suits. Not where I want my taxes going.

 

[RP-Motorsports]

Like Mitch said. "over my dead body" Even if I was not there, I would tell my wife over the phone to put it into park, put the E-brake on ALL the way, and lock the doors. What are they going to do "drag" the car onto a flat bed, or drag it in gear with the e-brake on with my wife still in it? My lawyer is better than theirs. Even if I can NOT get there in time, it will be MY F'N tow truck, NOT theirs. I would accomplish this in UNDER an hour. 6 minutes is crap.

Note if involved in an accident, blocking traffic, or in a dangerous place, I can understand the 6 min rule. All others should NOT apply.

 

[loNfastNSX]

Like Mitch said. "over my dead body" Even if I was not there, I would tell my wife over the phone to put it into park, put the E-brake on ALL the way, and lock the doors. What are they going to do "drag" the car onto a flat bed, or drag it in gear with the e-brake on with my wife still in it? My lawyer is better than theirs. Even if I can NOT get there in time, it will be MY F'N tow truck, NOT theirs. I would accomplish this in UNDER an hour. 6 minutes is crap.

Note if involved in an accident, blocking traffic, or in a dangerous place, I can understand the 6 min rule. All others should NOT apply.

Very well stated!!! :biggrin:

 

[bling]

I think the idea is good, but the time limit has to be extended. Most people can't change a flat tire in less than 6 mins. I wonder how they set that limit.

Aside from that, I want to say "WHEN WILL ALL THE FREEWAY CONSTRUCTIONS BE DONE????" I've been living in Houston for 5-6 years now and I've NEVER seen the 610/59 intersection without some sort of construction work going on.

Talk about stupid things, could someone explain to me why the city is tearing down the section of 59 close to spur 527 while it was LESS THAN 2 YEAR OLD? That spur is closed until 2007 and that means that section will be remain clogged for the next 2 years....

Sorry, I just can't seem to understand the logic.

 

[loNfastNSX]

The more they tear up the more the spend in repairs. The more they spend on repairs, the more the city budgets for the next year. The mor the city budgets the more they have to spend on things that have no merit to our city. Like city cars, expensive lunches, and trips out of the country to "conduct city business" on the beaches of St. Thomas. Or they just have there head up there ass. You choose.

 

[paladin]

having driven in LA quite a few times, i can touch upon a couple important points here. People break down in traffic all the time. its not unusual to see some old minivan or pos car broke down in a center lane. In cases like that, it has to go. On the other hand, the traffic jam caused by said breakdown slows traffic speed down to a point where nobody can get there in 6 minutes.

 

[sjs]

1 - I am dead serious.....you should know me better by now. Granted, the six minutes is a bit tight, but the concept of towing disabled vehicles from the freeways is a good one.

24 hours, maybe. Six minutes isn't a little tight, it's just plain idiotic, and yanking it even while someone is taking action to get it going is pure unadulterated BS. Anyone who thinks such a law is justifiable for "safety" reasons might as well pass laws requiring a roll cage, helmets, Nomex, fire suppression system, and a speed limit of 15 mph, any one of which would have a far greater impact reducing traffic injuries. And don't give me the moron's line of "If it saves just one life..." because that could be applied to the same list and a lot more. Personally, I think we should all be forced to where those cycling helmets whenever we're walking around, or hell, even in bed just in case we fall out. Please, someone pass more laws to protect me from myself because I'm too dumb to survive without them!!!

 

[Ojas]

Blocked lane usually NOT the cause of traffic jams

I’m curious: Beside the obvious safety issues which have been mentioned here, are there other factors behind this? Could it be that a major factor is to minimize the impact a stalled vehicle (even if pulled off on the side of the road) could have on traffic congestion?

I’m sure everyone’s experienced it: You’re stuck in stop-and-go traffic. When you finally get to what apparently caused the delay: It’s not an accident or even a blocked lane - It’s some distraction (like an accident on the other side of the highway that captures the attention of rumberneckers) or hazard that does not necessarily block any lanes of traffic (like someone working on a stalled vehicle on the side of the road).

If there’s someone on the side of the road working on a car, most good drivers do not whizz by them like they are not there - they hit the brakes or at least slow down.

Again, I’m sure everyone has experienced what happens next: In heavy, but flowing traffic, some guy taps his brakes. The driver behind hit the brakes, often a little harder. The driver behind that one does the same. Soon, a wave of slowness forms, travelling in the direction opposite the flow of traffic. Soon after that you have people stuck in traffic that barely moves. There is great loss in productivity, at least when you consider the tens of thousands of motorists who each spent, say a half an hour stuck in traffic when they could have been doing something else.

I absolutely don’t think it’s fair for the guy who just got a flat. However, I don’t think it’s fair for tens of thousands of motorists to be stuck in traffic because nitwit thinks the side of the road is the ideal spot to spend an afternoon repairing his car.

It seems like some reasonable period to get the car running would helps strike some sort of publicly-acceptable balance. From an enforcement point-of-view, I don’t think ascertaining how long a particular vehicle has been disabled would be a major hurdle considering the number of traffic cameras that monitor the freeways these days. However, not only is six minutes not reasonable, from what I understand, you can’t even call the six minutes a "grace period" to the driver of the stall vehicle. It is simply the time in which a tow truck should respond. There is no grace period. That just seems absurd.

 

[Ojas]

More thoughts

Also, I am also curious what research the policy designers performed on the change in the actions drivers take when they have a problem.

Certainly, they don’t expect everyone to pull over at the same rate they always have. With this policy, when the car is partially disabled, but still drivable, the driver may think the risk of a little more driving (at least to a location that does not require disabled vehicles to be towed) is less than the financial risk and hassle of a tow. So, it seems like there would be a few cases of cars with a flat tire slowing down traffic, with overheated engines, etc.

I have no idea if the danger of having a few more unsafe vehicles on the road outweighs the benefits of this policy. Thought it was worth mentioning, though.

 

[95NSXT]

thats kind of scary giving tow truck people even more liberties than they have now because who can really stop them now. they're crazy i tell ya, crazy

 

[sjs]

I’m curious: Beside the obvious safety issues which have been mentioned here, are there other factors behind this?...

I suspect you are correct, they probably justified it from several angles including traffic flow and the “unsightliness” of beaters alongside the highway. But a car on the shoulder won’t delay anyone 30 minutes anyplace I’ve driven. Do I fume when traffic slows the way you so aptly described? Absolutely, but even with the multiplier of all my fellow motorists I can’t justify the action they’ve taken in Houston. As for discouraging someone from pulling off with a flat tire, the last thing we need is someone trying to limp along in traffic with a flat. Talk about a rolling hazard! And why temp some poor (literally) soul to make a bad day worse by continuing to drive and overheating car, risking a toasted engine to avoid the cost of a tow.

If they are so anxious to get the cars off the shoulder, let them pay for it.

 

[V12NSX]

.... and yet a few more points to consider. Last time I checked, my taxes paid for these roads. And most of the roads we are discussing are STATE HIGHWAYS. They are required to have an EMERGENCY SHOULDER (for emergencies - you know). So now I am helping to pay for an emergency shoulder that I am unable to use? Also, we have a state law requiring motorists to stop and render aid in cases of an injury accident. So.... suppose I pull over onto the emergency shoulder to stop and render aid (as STATE LAW requires) and my vehicle is towed (due to a CITY ORDINANCE)? I think our local attorneys are briskly rubbing their hands together for a chance at the next big class action suit against the city.

S.L.