Traffic in the express lanes not so smooth

Whether it's ignorance, insolence or idiocy, life in the fast lanes along the resort corridor of Interstate 15 is not going smoothly, representatives of the Nevada Highway Patrol and Nevada Department of Transportation stressed Monday.

It's not just a case of drivers crossing the line - but of crossing double lines.

Drivers are indiscriminately crossing the double solid white lines that separate express traffic from commuter traffic between Sahara Avenue and Silverado Ranch Boulevard, resulting in safety issues for the 250,000 vehicles that travel the north-south corridor daily and hefty tickets for those who are caught violating the law.

The two six-mile express lanes in each direction were established in August 2010 at a cost of $21 million. Until June, they were separated from exiting traffic from Spring Mountain to Tropicana Avenue by plastic lane delineator posts - commonly known as traffic candlesticks.

Those posts were taken away in May and the double solid white lines became the rule of the road .

"When you see the dotted white line, that's when you cross. When it's solid, you can't cross. It's as simple as that," said trooper Jeremie Elliott, NHP public information and education officer.

And the double solid white lines will remain the rule of the road - at least along that stretch of I-15. Damon Hodge, public information officer for NDOT, said there will be no return of the traffic candlesticks, which were abused by drivers who realized they would do no damage to their vehicles if they simply drove over them.

"The delineators seemed to cause more problems than they were worth," Elliott agreed.

The express lanes also reduce the number of commuter lanes where heavy lane-changing creates accidents. Fewer lanes to change results in more drivers planning ahead for their exits.

Elliott said it was too early to determine what reduction in accidents, if any, has come from the addition of the express lanes, but, "in theory, that should lessen the frequency of accidents."

Drivers not already in the two left-hand lanes can access the express lanes by crossing a mile of dotted white lines before the lanes go into effect. Signage alerts drivers to the beginning and end of the lanes.

Drivers then can exit or enter the express lanes only at dotted white lines, such as ones providing access to the Las Vegas Beltway.

The only instances when a double white line can be legally crossed, Elliott said, are for an emergency that requires negotiating a vehicle to the right-side shoulder or to allow an emergency vehicle to get by.

Violators who cross the double solid white lines illegally risk a minimum fine of $190, Elliott said. Other tickets can be added for violations such as an unsafe lane change.

Contact reporter Joe Hawk at jhawk@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2912. Follow him on Twitter: @LVroadwarrior.