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Use both lanes

Use both lanes

Use both lanes

(OP)
Anyone notice the June IEEE article about intelligent traffic control systems? The accompanying picture showed a reader board advising the drivers to "use both lanes." The drivers of the vehicles in the photo (wisely) seemed to be ignoring this instruction, since each vehicle was only using a single lane. Seemed like a rather intelligent system to me.

RE: Use both lanes

Unless one is expected to weave like a formula 1 driver warming up the tyres, I suspect it should be, as it sometimes is elsewhere, "Use Either Lane".

It ought, perhaps, to have the suplimental instruction: "Pick a lane and stay in it" for those prone to lane changing at  unpredictable moments and who usually only manage to use their turn lights (if at all) to signal something that is already happening or just happened.

JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
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RE: Use both lanes

(OP)
My temptation would not be to weave, but to simply stradle the line and "use both lanes."

RE: Use both lanes

The Pennsylvania Turnpike uses an electronic toll collection system known as EZ-Pass.  However, not all toll lanes are equipped with the necessary readers.

At many exits there is a sign stating what lanes accept EZ-Pass.  A typical example would be "EZ-Pass Lanes 6 & 7.

Unfortunately, at some exits the lane numbers increase from right to left, while at others they increase from left to right.  

RE: Use both lanes

Tsk tsk! It seems that there are no standards any more.

JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
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Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

RE: Use both lanes

It can get worse (better?) in multi-lingual countries.  In South Africa, you will see signs on the roads saying "Slegs Only".  If you are familiar with Afrikaans, you will  have no difficulty, but it certainly confused at least one overseas visitor I talked to!  'Slegs' means 'only' in Afrikaans.

Bung
Life is non-linear...

RE: Use both lanes

My favorite Australian roadsigns:
      ONE WAY
     <------->
(and it works; on a circular plantation in a one-way road at Woomera AUS thus
     ->-
--->| O |--->).
     ->-

      CAUTION
  Kangaroos abound
   on this road
    next 10 km
(Some spoilsport replaced these by a graphic)

RE: Use both lanes

Since, as the above examples have illustrated, it is not very practical to expect each individual driver to use both lanes, I have to conclude that the instruction on the sign is adressed to all the drivers present, as a group. It is incumbent on the individual members of the group to behave in a manner that assures that, as a group, the instruction will be followed.

Furthermore, since it is being discussed here by a gathering of what I believe are relatively bright individuals, and there still seems to be some confusion, I have to conclude that there exists some shortcoming in the way the intended meaning is expressed. As a remedy, I propose the following.

The sign should be changed to read: USE BOTH LANES, Y'all.

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