SOS
03-16-2013, 10:51 PM
LAKE NORMAN, N.C. -- As the weather heats up, so does Lake Norman -- and we don't mean the water temperature.
"Oh yeah, a lot of boats with a lot of people on them. And, well, it causes trouble. Some of the things you see driving along the road out there, like the girls flashing, it definitely causes trouble," said Christopher Russell, who drives Interstate 77 through Lake Norman daily.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation believes antics from boaters on the lake near the interstate are contributing to the traffic issues on I-77 in the Lake Norman area.
"That has slowed traffic down quite a bit. I've actually seen some things, where people riding with me climb over to the other side of the truck to see what they're showing," admitted Russell. "I mean, if it's there you're going to look."
The DOT is now trying to prevent drivers from getting a good look. It installed buoys around the causeway with signs that state no boats are allowed to stop or dock between that point and the interstate.
The move is part of the DOT's effort to curb rubbernecking by taking away outside distractions, like flashers on a boat or minor accidents on the road. It has also installed signs for Accident Investigation Sites at certain ramps so drivers can move minor accidents away from high traffic areas.
Traffic 'flashers' prompt changes on Lake Norman | WCNC.com Charlotte (http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/DOT-making--197249581.html)
"Oh yeah, a lot of boats with a lot of people on them. And, well, it causes trouble. Some of the things you see driving along the road out there, like the girls flashing, it definitely causes trouble," said Christopher Russell, who drives Interstate 77 through Lake Norman daily.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation believes antics from boaters on the lake near the interstate are contributing to the traffic issues on I-77 in the Lake Norman area.
"That has slowed traffic down quite a bit. I've actually seen some things, where people riding with me climb over to the other side of the truck to see what they're showing," admitted Russell. "I mean, if it's there you're going to look."
The DOT is now trying to prevent drivers from getting a good look. It installed buoys around the causeway with signs that state no boats are allowed to stop or dock between that point and the interstate.
The move is part of the DOT's effort to curb rubbernecking by taking away outside distractions, like flashers on a boat or minor accidents on the road. It has also installed signs for Accident Investigation Sites at certain ramps so drivers can move minor accidents away from high traffic areas.
Traffic 'flashers' prompt changes on Lake Norman | WCNC.com Charlotte (http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/DOT-making--197249581.html)