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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!rochester!ritcv!ccice5!rdz
From: rdz@ccice5.UUCP (Robert D. Zarcone)
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.travel
Subject: Northeast Driving Observations
Message-ID: <914@ccice5.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 19-Sep-85 09:01:15 EDT
Article-I.D.: ccice5.914
Posted: Thu Sep 19 09:01:15 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 22-Sep-85 13:12:43 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: CCI Central Engineering, Rochester, NY
Lines: 51
Xref: linus net.auto:7145 net.travel:1537

I have just returned from a vacation that involved driving through
New York, Pennsylvania, Deleware, Maryland and D.C., and I thought
some observations of driving conditions in these areas might be
helpful to others on the net.

New York:
With all of the problems we may have in this state, I still insist
we have one of the BEST road systems in the region!  Highways
traveled were I-390, I-81, I-90 and state 17.  All in good condition
except I-81 southbound.  Average cruising speed - ~65, average passing
speed - ~75.  Did not see ANY speed traps. (I-90 toll still too high)

Pennsylvania:
Great going east-west, IMPOSSIBLE to go north-south. I-81 is a joke!
This thing has been under construction since before statehood. NE
extension to the Turnpike is a "must take". (toll very reasonable)
I-76 and I-95 around Philly are equally bad.  East-west expressways
from York to Scranton good.  Average cruising speed - ~60 east-west,
<50 north-south.  Average passing speed -~70 east-west, N/A north-south
(how can you pass on a TWO lane Interstate?)

Deleware:
This is the only state that does not have an Interstate highway (unless
you count the tiny network around Willmington).  But they do have 113 and
13, north-south highways that serve the same purpose.  It just takes
a while to get used to looking out for traffic lights while doing 70.
Average cruising speed - ~60, average passing speed - ~70.

Maryland:
There seems to be a split personallity here.  Off the Interstates one
can flow with the traffic (sometimes >70).  On the Interstates the limit
is 56, PERIOD.  This lightens-up somewhat on I-86 north of Baltimore.
Average cruising speed - ~65 on expressways, 56 on Interstates.  Average
passing speed - ~75 on expressways, N/A on Interstates (would you pass
if you saw TEN radar traps in <20 miles?).

D.C.:
This is not a place to drive if you are not used to or don't like big
city rush hour traffic!  Speed limits and rules of the road do not apply.
I found it to be almost a reverse of Boston, you go fast and crazy on
the city streets but slow and cautious on the expressways.  But then,
some of the city streets were wider than the expressways!  Not hard to
get around in IF you play by their rules.

General observation:
The Mid-Atlantic states (excluding Pennsylvania) have a road system
comperable to the Northeast.  Interstates good and fast, secondaries
usually more than adequate.  Now if you could only drive directly from
New York to Maryland...

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