"Emergency Vehicle"

Back when we were doing a lot of traveling (NOT interstates) in the
midwest and east, every once on a while we would see a large official
sign by the side of the main road proclaiming EMERGENCY VEHICLE. There
would be some sort of cutout or dirt road leading to some unknown
destination, and there was ALWAYS some sort of ancient rusted wreck nearby.

We've pondered these signs for decades, with no conclusion. Anybody
know WTF these signs actually are for and why there are always wrecks
nearby?

--
Cheers, Bev
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\
"He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already
earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by
mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice."
-- Albert Einstein

The Real Bev > wrote in
news
> Back when we were doing a lot of traveling (NOT interstates) in the
> midwest and east, every once on a while we would see a large official
> sign by the side of the main road proclaiming EMERGENCY VEHICLE. There
> would be some sort of cutout or dirt road leading to some unknown
> destination, and there was ALWAYS some sort of ancient rusted wreck
> nearby.
>
> We've pondered these signs for decades, with no conclusion. Anybody
> know WTF these signs actually are for and why there are always wrecks
> nearby?
>

My first guess would be that there is hidden residence(s) down that road and
the sign is to show emergency vehicles where to turn if they are trying to
get access.

A less likely second guess could be that a volunteer fireman is down that
road and the sign is to warn you that an emergency vehicle could come out to
the main road there.

Can't explain the wrecks, though.

On 12/12/2017 12:13 AM, Jeff wrote:
> The Real Bev > wrote in
> news >
>> Back when we were doing a lot of traveling (NOT interstates) in the
>> midwest and east, every once on a while we would see a large official
>> sign by the side of the main road proclaiming EMERGENCY VEHICLE. There
>> would be some sort of cutout or dirt road leading to some unknown
>> destination, and there was ALWAYS some sort of ancient rusted wreck
>> nearby.
>>
>> We've pondered these signs for decades, with no conclusion. Anybody
>> know WTF these signs actually are for and why there are always wrecks
>> nearby?
>
> My first guess would be that there is hidden residence(s) down that road and
> the sign is to show emergency vehicles where to turn if they are trying to
> get access.
>
> A less likely second guess could be that a volunteer fireman is down that
> road and the sign is to warn you that an emergency vehicle could come out to
> the main road there.
>
> Can't explain the wrecks, though.

Perhaps people who didn't get out of the way of the emerging emergency
vehicle fast enough...

--
Cheers, Bev
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the
majority, but to be insane in such a useful way that
they can't commit you." -- Mark Edwards

Hi!

On 07.12.2017 19:49, The Real Bev wrote:
> Back when we were doing a lot of traveling (NOT interstates) in the
> midwest and east, every once on a while we would see a large official
> sign by the side of the main road proclaiming EMERGENCY VEHICLE.* There
> would be some sort of cutout or dirt road leading to some unknown
> destination,

Here in Germany, there are plenty of small access roads to Autobahns
marked (with the German signage equivalent to) "no passing for any
vehicles except emergency vehicles". They're for letting local
fire departments et.al. to enter the Autobahn in case of a crash
there, without needing to take the long way via the next official
entry/exit. Usually they lead to some acticultural road, which
from the other end is marked as no access accordingly.

> and* there was ALWAYS some sort of ancient rusted wreck
> nearby.

Maybe the tow trucks dumped the wrecks near the access roads after
having dragged them off the main road, when it seemed foreseeable
that no-one would come to claim them and pay the towing bill?

Unrelated side note: I just resubscribed to rec.autos.driving after
a decade or so of absence, and got only nine postings. Is this
group dead, or is something wrong with my feed?

Yours,
Ermel.
--
Nach 10 Jahren oder so zurück im Usenet.
Schmeckt wie früher.

On 05/16/2018 04:14 AM, Erik Meltzer wrote:
> Hi!
>
> On 07.12.2017 19:49, The Real Bev wrote:
>> Back when we were doing a lot of traveling (NOT interstates) in the
>> midwest and east, every once on a while we would see a large official
>> sign by the side of the main road proclaiming EMERGENCY VEHICLE. There
>> would be some sort of cutout or dirt road leading to some unknown
>> destination,
>
> Here in Germany, there are plenty of small access roads to Autobahns
> marked (with the German signage equivalent to) "no passing for any
> vehicles except emergency vehicles". They're for letting local
> fire departments et.al. to enter the Autobahn in case of a crash
> there, without needing to take the long way via the next official
> entry/exit. Usually they lead to some acticultural road, which
> from the other end is marked as no access accordingly.
>
>> and there was ALWAYS some sort of ancient rusted wreck
>> nearby.
>
> Maybe the tow trucks dumped the wrecks near the access roads after
> having dragged them off the main road, when it seemed foreseeable
> that no-one would come to claim them and pay the towing bill?
>
> Unrelated side note: I just resubscribed to rec.autos.driving after
> a decade or so of absence, and got only nine postings. Is this
> group dead, or is something wrong with my feed?

Nope, this is the new 'normal'. The only really active groups, at least
of the 30 or so I subscribe to, seem to be computer-related. Everyone
else seems to have migrated to facebook, which is a real shame. It's no
substitute.

At least I still check usenet every day and even post spontaneously
sometimes.

Are there still no speed limits on the Autobahn? The highest speed
limit I've seen in the US is 80 mph on I-15 in southern Utah. Texas has
an 85 mph limit somewhere.

--
Cheers, Bev
"I just realized how bad the economy really is. I recently
bought a new toaster oven and as a complimentary gift,
I was given a bank." -- L. Legro

Hi!

On 16.05.2018 17:52, The Real Bev wrote:
> On 05/16/2018 04:14 AM, Erik Meltzer wrote:
>> Is this group dead, or is something wrong with my feed?
>
> Nope, this is the new 'normal'.* The only really active groups, at least
> of the 30 or so I subscribe to, seem to be computer-related.* Everyone
> else seems to have migrated to facebook, which is a real shame.* It's no
> substitute.

Nothing that's controlled by a company is a substitute, by definition.
They'll all disappear some day. Usenet won't (it might keep getting
smaller, but there'll always be a geek with a newsserver somewhere).

> Are there still no speed limits on the Autobahn?

Most Autobahns are unlimited, but those most travelled typically have
a 120 km/h limit these days. Some have adaptive speed limits: huge
illuminated signs that can show different speed limits (and other
signs like "no overtaking for trucks" or "fog" etc.) according to
conditions. When conditions are good and traffic is light, most of
those are unlimited too.

But most drivers seem to have slowed down. I don't see nearly as
many speeding past me with 200+ km/h as I did a decade ago. I don't
think fuel prices are the reason; they haven't risen that much.
Probably a combination of more traffic and more thinking? Well,
maybe I'm just being optimistic.

My feel-good speed varies between 100 and 160 km/h (60 to 100 mph)
depending on circumstances and conditions.

Yours,
Ermel.
--
Nach 10 Jahren oder so zurück im Usenet.
Schmeckt wie früher.

On 05/16/2018 09:04 AM, Erik Meltzer wrote:
> Hi!
>
> On 16.05.2018 17:52, The Real Bev wrote:
>> On 05/16/2018 04:14 AM, Erik Meltzer wrote:
>>> Is this group dead, or is something wrong with my feed?
>>
>> Nope, this is the new 'normal'. The only really active groups, at least
>> of the 30 or so I subscribe to, seem to be computer-related. Everyone
>> else seems to have migrated to facebook, which is a real shame. It's no
>> substitute.
>
> Nothing that's controlled by a company is a substitute, by definition.
> They'll all disappear some day. Usenet won't (it might keep getting
> smaller, but there'll always be a geek with a newsserver somewhere).

My ISP discontinued its newsserver subscription years ago. Apparently
it was expensive and not used all that much. Toward what I assume is
the end, the helpdroids didn't even know what usenet was. One of them
thought it was maybe some sort of satellite service.

I don't know how news.eternal-september stays in business, but we owe
him/them a lot.

>> Are there still no speed limits on the Autobahn?
>
> Most Autobahns are unlimited, but those most travelled typically have
> a 120 km/h limit these days. Some have adaptive speed limits: huge
> illuminated signs that can show different speed limits (and other
> signs like "no overtaking for trucks" or "fog" etc.) according to
> conditions. When conditions are good and traffic is light, most of
> those are unlimited too.
>
> But most drivers seem to have slowed down.

The freeways are miserably crowded in the Los Angeles area now.
Doubling the number of lanes would only -- at best -- cut the traffic in
half, and that would still be miserable. Just too many people now, and
I don't see any way to improve that. 'Rush hour' now lasts from 6am to
10am or later and 3pm to god knows when. We're all doomed :-( Even
thinking about speed limits most of the time is silly.

> I don't see nearly as
> many speeding past me with 200+ km/h as I did a decade ago. I don't
> think fuel prices are the reason; they haven't risen that much.
> Probably a combination of more traffic and more thinking? Well,
> maybe I'm just being optimistic.
>
> My feel-good speed varies between 100 and 160 km/h (60 to 100 mph)
> depending on circumstances and conditions.

Sounds reasonable. It depends on lack of crowding and time traveled at
a high speed -- after a while it begins to seem slow and I speed up
without thinking. Easy to drive on autopilot if the highway is good and
nobody else is using it. I love Utah.

--
Cheers, Bev
"On the other hand, I live in California so I'd be willing to
squeeze schoolchildren to death if I thought some oil would
come out." -- Scott Adams

On 05/16/2018 07:14 AM, Erik Meltzer wrote:

> Unrelated side note: I just resubscribed to rec.autos.driving after
> a decade or so of absence, and got only nine postings.* Is this
> group dead, or is something wrong with my feed?

It's been effectively dead for the last 2 years or so. None of the
regular posters have been on here for quite a while. What I mostly see
in this group is cross-posted spam.

Hi!

On 16.05.2018 18:57, The Real Bev wrote:
> My ISP discontinued its newsserver subscription years ago.* Apparently
> it was expensive and not used all that much.* Toward what I assume is
> the end, the helpdroids didn't even know what usenet was.* One of them
> thought it was maybe some sort of satellite service.

Heh.

> I don't know how news.eternal-september stays in business, but we owe
> him/them a lot.

I think it's a labour of love mostly.

> The freeways are miserably crowded in the Los Angeles area now. Doubling
> the number of lanes would only -- at best -- cut the traffic in half,
> and that would still be miserable.* Just too many people now, and I
> don't see any way to improve that.* 'Rush hour' now lasts from 6am to
> 10am or later and 3pm to god knows when.* We're all doomed :-(** Even
> thinking about speed limits most of the time is silly.

Eventually, I think you'll have to go back to public transport.
Big cities here (nowhere near as big als LA, although I think
the Ruhrgebiet, which is a continuous metropolis consisting of
dozens of big cities might come somewhat close) rely on it, and
despite constand moaning and bitching it seems to work quite
well. Car ownership in big cities is on the decline too -- I
understand it's similar in NYC, is it not?

[Erik Meltzer previously wrote:]
>> I don't see nearly as
>> many speeding past me with 200+ km/h as I did a decade ago.* I don't
>> think fuel prices are the reason; they haven't risen that much.
>> Probably a combination of more traffic and more thinking?* Well,
>> maybe I'm just being optimistic.

I have since come up with another theory: speeding is less fun
in SUVs, which are regrettably on the rise over here too, albeit
not nearly as much as in the US from what I read.

>> My feel-good speed varies between 100 and 160 km/h (60 to 100 mph)
>> depending on circumstances and conditions.
>
> Sounds reasonable.* It depends on lack of crowding and time traveled at
> a high speed -- after a while it begins to seem slow and I speed up
> without thinking.* Easy to drive on autopilot if the highway is good and
> nobody else is using it.* I love Utah.

This is the country of high speed differentials -- big rigs are limited
to 55 mph, suggested speed (where unlimited) for passenger cars and
light trucks (under 3.5 metric tonnes GVW) is 80 mph, and even twice
that is to be expected, albeit rarer than it used to be. And still,
for the most part, we get along fine.

Which means that you can choose to go slowly, if you so desire. It is
not advisable to go slower than the big rigs, lest their drivers get
irate and/or the police pull you over to inquire what is wrong with you
and/or your vehicle. But it's no problem to go 60 or 70 mph if you
feel like it. And if there's time, I like to do so.

Of course, you can go even more slowly -- just not on the Autobahn.
There's a network of Bundesstraßen and Landstraßen on which you can
avoid ever touching an Autobahn at all and still travel long distances.
On travel weekends, I usually take the time to do that -- it's way
slower, but it makes up for it in stress relief and sightseeing, at
least in my book.

Yours,
Ermel.
--
Nach 10 Jahren oder so zurück im Usenet.
Schmeckt wie früher.

On 05/21/2018 03:48 AM, Erik Meltzer wrote:

> On 16.05.2018 18:57, The Real Bev wrote:

> Eventually, I think you'll have to go back to public transport.
> Big cities here (nowhere near as big als LA, although I think
> the Ruhrgebiet, which is a continuous metropolis consisting of
> dozens of big cities might come somewhat close) rely on it, and
> despite constand moaning and bitching it seems to work quite
> well. Car ownership in big cities is on the decline too -- I
> understand it's similar in NYC, is it not?

Apparently, but I live in the suburbs of Los Angeles and public
transportation is woefully inadequate for general usage. I can drive to
my daughter's house ~30 miles away in half an hour. It would take 5
hours by public transportation. There are just too many places to go
to/from here to make this practical.

Uber is suggested, but I don't see how that makes a difference. A car
on the road is a car on the road. Period. It solves the parking
problem, of course.

> I have since come up with another theory: speeding is less fun
> in SUVs, which are regrettably on the rise over here too, albeit
> not nearly as much as in the US from what I read.

Worse gas mileage = more expensive, but I don't think that matters as
much as time. You can see further in an SUV than in a Corolla, which
would seem to indicate that you could drive faster...

> Which means that you can choose to go slowly, if you so desire. It is
> not advisable to go slower than the big rigs, lest their drivers get
> irate and/or the police pull you over to inquire what is wrong with you
> and/or your vehicle. But it's no problem to go 60 or 70 mph if you
> feel like it. And if there's time, I like to do so.

Pretty much the same here, although you're not allowed to drive
small-displacement motorcycles and other slow-by-design vehicles on the
freeways. Theory has it that slow drivers use the rightmost lane and
fast drivers use the leftmost, but slow drivers don't seem to understand
that concept. These are the same people who apparently can't read the
SLOW VEHICLES USE TURNOUTS signs on narrow mountain roads.

> Of course, you can go even more slowly -- just not on the Autobahn.
> There's a network of Bundesstraßen and Landstraßen on which you can
> avoid ever touching an Autobahn at all and still travel long distances.
> On travel weekends, I usually take the time to do that -- it's way
> slower, but it makes up for it in stress relief and sightseeing, at
> least in my book.

'Interstates' are generally not all that interesting for pleasure trips,
although they're fine for speed once you get out of the cities. Older
Federal and State highways are much better and more interesting and
those are what we used for most of our cross-country driving.

BTW, your English is perfect. If you're not a native English speaker
I'm impressed as all hell!

--
Cheers, Bev
"In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime
is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin
is stupidity." -- H.S. Thompson