Fading Stripes and Rolling Stops

This week readers want to know who to call for restriping roadways, whether there's a radio station that gives accurate and timely traffic reports and what a "rolling California right turn" is. And the Road Warrior discovers the best traffic jam in the valley.

Neil Schwartz asks: When does restriping take place? Many of the older streets are void of any striping. Is their a number that you can report this condition to and will they fix it?

Wear and tear on striping is a chronic problem in desert climates, said Bobby Shelton, spokesman for the Clark County public works department. After the striping goes down, the vibrancy of the color can fade in a few weeks, Shelton said.

The main causes for the discoloration are the sun and dust, Shelton said.

Each valley government agency has a phone number to call for striping requests. When you call, workers will go out and take a look at the road and then decide if it needs re-striping.

Here are the numbers:

• Clark County, 455-7544.

• City of Las Vegas, 229-6331.

• North Las Vegas, 633-2658.

• Henderson, 267-3200.

• Nevada Department of Transportation, 385-6500.

Linda asks: Is there a radio station in town that has 15-minute updates on traffic? In New York City I had 1010 WINS, which updated often.

Ahhhhh ... "1010 WINS -- you give us 22 minutes, we'll give you the world." I know it well. That radio station would give traffic and weather updates every 10 minutes, guaranteed.

Unfortunately, I don't know that any radio station in the valley really fits the bill. It seems to me to be hit or miss when it comes to traffic reports. In my time here I haven't heard any station advertise a specific time frame for when those reports are aired.

But there are some options around that can help you besides the radio. Live traffic video feeds are available on the Freeway and Arterial System of Transportation's Web site, www.nvfast.org/trafficcameras.html. The Nevada Highway Patrol and the Metropolitan Police Department also have Web sites that update accident information regularly, www.nvdpspub.gov/nhp/roadhazard.aspx and www.lvmpd.com/cgi-bin/traffic/traffic.pl.

Several of the television news stations have helicopters buzzing around offering accurate traffic information. That information usually airs at the top of the broadcast.

But, of course, those options work only if you have access to a TV or the Internet.

Robin writes: After over 50 years of driving, I still cannot do the "rolling California right-turn" stop. Can you please help me? Also, is it a legal stop and turn?

So you're the one the rest of us have to wait behind when you stop and wait the "appropriate and legal" three seconds before turning right at a stop sign or red traffic signal.

Some people ...

My understanding of the term "rolling California right turn," is that it describes when a driver slows down at a stop sign or red light and proceeds to turn right without stopping.

No Robin, it isn't legal. Clark County code states that drivers must come to a complete stop and look out for pedestrians and oncoming traffic. I can't say for sure that California is to blame for the syndrome; I've seen people do it all over the nation and once in Ecuador.

And another thing. A few weeks ago I addressed a question about motorcycles splitting traffic, an illegal practice in Nevada, but legal in California.

Las Vegas police Capt. Tom Conlin wanted to clarify that motorcycle officers sometimes are allowed to split traffic, though it is risky. Officers who need to get to the scene of a crash quickly but don't need to use their sirens can split traffic, Conlin said.

Officers also can go to the front of traffic stopped at a red light to catch red-light runners.

Hit 'n' Run: My father, visiting for the holidays, remarked that he found the "best traffic jam in Las Vegas": Traffic moved at a turtle's pace; strangers came up to your car and asked for money -- some even offered drinks; windows were rolled down, blaring music; and there were desert sharks everywhere.

My girlfriend and I took Mom and Dad McCabe to the Gift of Lights display at Sunset Park over the weekend. The light show featured the Christmas shark, Hanukkah dragons and the Kwanzaa dinosaurs (I'm not kidding). Take the kids, the grandparents, the dog, the cat, the whole family!

The drive-through light display continues through Jan. 1 and costs $13 per car. Visit www.giftoflights.com to learn more.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2904.