Tunnelitis — AJ Cole, Sr.

Ever notice how traffic slows upon approach to a tunnel? It's been explained as a natural human reaction to the "closing down" of the peripheral vision as you enter the tunnel. It's the culprit behind many a traffic deadlock between Peninsula and Southside or vice versa.

Complicated and expensive solutions have been postulated over and over. However, a simple and relatively inexpensive solution was proposed a long time ago that would solve the problem.

Install Christmas Tree Running Lights at the entrance to the tunnel, timed at 60 miles an hour. Your brain will try to keep up with the lights.

Need to slow traffic down due to maintenance or an accident? Slow the lights down to 25 miles an hour. Your brain will try to keep up with the lights.

Ever notice how traffic slows down upon approach to 2 lanes from 5 lanes? What if the lights were timed at 75 miles an hour at the 2 lanes and 65 miles an hour at the 5 lanes?

Ever notice how traffic slows down upon approach to 1 lane from 2 lanes and the driver behind you speeds up to pass you on the right only to slow down to less than the speed limit once in front of you and creating a traffic hazard? What if the lights they saw were blue and rotating?

Originally published on AJ’s Rambles. Preserved with its original wording and publication date.