That was quite a gully-washer that swept through Baltimore during the morning commute today. Upon getting to work I heard a number of complaints about how terrible conditions were on the roads this morning.
I guess I missed it. I was on U.S. 1 this morning to gas up, so missed the usualy I-95 follies. When the deluge struck, I was getting on I-95 on Caton Avenue. The interstate seemed no worse than usual except for the pickup truck stalled out at I-395 just before Conway Street. But the drivers in the left lane showed atypical courtesy and I got by just fine.
So did Dave Buck, spokesman for the State Highway Administration, whom I turn to for the official word on whether it's been a really bad morning in traffic terms.
It turns out that in terms of collisions, it wasn't that bad at all. "We didn't have that many coming though this morning," he said. Nor was there an unusual amount of congestion, he said.
Buck saiid it was fortunate that the rains came at a time when many people are on vacation. He said traffic levels are typically down 8-10 percent between July 4 and Labor Day -- easing the pressure when a "weather event" occurs.
Maybe it was different on county roads.
A reader who goes by the handle TW gives an account indicating it might have been worse for those coming south.
The Inner-Outer loops in the north end and the JFX were a mess. The cloud seemed to hang over the City/County line. A 25-minute commute turned into an hour and five minutes. . . Two disabled vehicles southbound and an ambulance on the northbound JFX didn't help matters. I've always known Baltimoreans can't drive in the snow, but now I'm learning that rain is challenging.
My usual complaint with Baltimore drivers in the rain is that a significant percentage of them ignore the weather completely and keep to the same breakneck speeds at which they drive when it's dry and sunny. Then you inevitably have a rash of collisions, leading to lane closings and backups.
I'm impressed that Baltimore drivers slowed down enough this morning to avoid that. And thanks to the truck drivers who didn't jack-knife their tractor-trailers this morning. It seems that weather like this morning's usually brings at least one of those. Bottom line, we're not meant to get to our destinations as fast in a heavy rain. Just get there in one piece.