Q: I commute northbound on San Tomas Expressway to Walsh Avenue, then turn right. Due to the slope of the road over the Caltrain tracks and with many vehicles merging onto San Tomas from Monroe, I sometimes shift into the carpool lane prior to crossing Monroe.
I was pulled over recently for driving in the carpool lane, even though I explained to the officer that I was going to turn right on Walsh. The officer said that driving more than a quarter-mile in a carpool lane as a single driver is enough for a ticket, but am I really at fault?
M.
A: Yes, sounds like you are. I got this question a few years ago and my answer then is still valid now: Enter the diamond lane once past the previous intersection with a traffic signal and when it can be done safely. This might be about 200 to 500 feet from your turn.
In general, police will ticket solo drivers who pass through a signalized intersection in the carpool lane. I shift lanes only when traffic ahead is at a crawl and I feel it is safe to move right. Sometimes this is near my turn; sometimes it is several hundred feet away.
Q: You published a reader’s advice about making sure your high beams are not on. In my experience, newer Teslas have their low beams aimed too high, possibly illegally high, and blind oncoming drivers as if high beams were on. There is a menu adjustment to lower them, but that should be done by a service center to get it correct.
In my opinion, Tesla (and some Audis with new LED headlights) should issue a recall to properly aim their low beams. They are dangerously bright when maladjusted, as they seem to be delivered from the factory
Edward Oates, Portola Valley
A: And…
Q: I have also noticed the problem with high beams for quite some time now. I am 74, and this is so troublesome for me that I have cut down my driving in evening hours.
I believe the problem is the auto high-beam technology used in new cars. The car normally runs with high beam and switches to low beam as it detects an oncoming car. However, this switch only happens when the oncoming car is about 50-100 feet away, which is too late for the driver of the oncoming car who is already blinded. In my opinion, this is not suitable for a metro area with high traffic density, and the DMV should do something about this.
Ravinder Singh, Fremont
A: An interesting point. It seems backward if the design errs on the side of high beams.
Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.
