Holiday traffic patterns creates confusion for drivers

WASHINGTON – Holiday travel patterns created commuting confusion this morning
and the hiccups are expected to continue during the afternoon drive home.

“We were getting conflicting reports from state police and state highway as to
whether the HOV restrictions were lifted on (Interstate) 270 or not,” says WTOP’s
Traffic
director Jim Battagliese.

The Maryland State Highway Administration says they don’t know if the HOV lanes
are open on I-270 for the holiday.

“The biggest thing about holidays is that people tend to see lighter volume and
fly down the road. Anything you encounter is likely to be a surprise,” says Bob
Marbourg.

Commuter confusion is a common occurrence on federal holidays when a portion of
the
workforce still has to commute to work. When a holiday falls on a Tuesday, many
drivers
going into work tend to forget that the reversible lanes aren’t available,
creating last-minute lane changes and near misses,
especially in the District.

“On Rock Creek Parkway, it’ll be two-way traffic tonight. If you’re used to it
being one way, it’s not going to be one way tonight. Same for Canal Road,”
Battagliese says.

HOV lanes are clearly marked in Virginia, Battagliese says.

“On (Interstate) 66 in Virginia, you’ve got the red X lane that’s usually green
for rush hour. It’s really in the District where you have the confusion,” he says.

While it’s easy to drive on auto pilot on the way home, he says watch for the
directional signs.

“Some of the most serious crashes we have are on holidays when drivers are
traveling at speed and don’t expect to slow down,” says Marbourg.

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