Caltrans To Crack Down On Freeway 'Jumping' Drivers Looking To Avoid Marin Traffic
MARIN COUNTY (KCBS) -- A common tactic by frustrated drivers to momentarily avoid freeway traffic - getting off the freeway only to get right back on - is the subject of a crackdown in Marin County.
Often dubbed "freeway cheating" or "freeway jumping," Caltrans says it can cause problems for local residents.
Spokesman Bob Haus told KCBS that there have been enough complaints from residents who live on side streets around the San Quentin exit of eastbound I-580, near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, to warrant a change in the off-ramp that's being used by "freeway jumpers."
"The problem is that a lot of people are taking the San Quentin off-ramp and then getting immediately back on to the on-ramp as way of moving past the cars. This is in the afternoon during the afternoon commute times. So there doing this as a way to get in front of the line or to move up several spaces," Haus said.
More Stories:
That off-ramp has two lanes: one is a right-turn-only lane; the other, the left lane, is what's been used by the jumpers. Within the coming months, however, signs will be posted advising that the left lane is becoming "left turn only." This means motorists will be unable to get OFF at the San Quentin exit and proceed straight to get back on before the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
Haus said that the tactic is widespread.
"You see that at some other intersections in the Bay Area too and really just about everywhere there's an off-ramp and an on-ramp that goes right back on. If there's stop-and-go traffic in the morning or afternoon commutes, they'll use that as way to get ahead," he said.