How is this possible?

Three cars all driving side-by-side down the highway all doing 60mph, which is technically the speed limit, but how did they end up next to each other? If they're all doing the same speed shouldn't they be spread out along the road? Do they slow down and wait for one another? And the most important question is... Why am I always the behind them? I hope my theory that this is the sheriff''s  new way to control traffic is wrong, wrong, wrong.

Always Choose the.....

Driving in Florida? Pulling up to the red light? Got a choice of lanes into which to pull, right or left? Always go with the shorter lane. Doesn't matter, right or left. Go short. Why? Fewer cars means fewer opportunities for some asshole to be on their cell phone. We are the worst. The only caveat to this rule is if there is a 7-11 on the other side of the intersection. If the lane lengths are about the same I'll avoid the right lane because I know there's someone in that right lane, sometimes even the left, who's gonna need to pull into the 7-11 and get some smokes.  

Well, I'm Not Surprised...

The toll road near my home in Tampa is the Veteran's Expressway. Currently undergoing a major renovation, adding lanes North and South. What was a surprise to many is that the toll authority was adding 2 new lanes in each direction, one of which has an additional toll and is "high speed." I don't remember getting a vote on that change. Driving home last Saturday I delighted to find out that they've already opened up part of the highway to three lanes. And just as fast I was disheartened to remember that I live and drive in Florida. Just as I got to the new extra lane/third lane. The "left lane cruiser" slid right on over and effectively blocked the third lane, driving side-by-side with the two cars next to them. Don't get me wrong. I love doing 59 mph in a 60 zone. Oh hell. I hate doing 59 in a 60 zone. But this is Florida and that's what we do. I'm thinking that the "high speed" lane isn't going to work any better when the 59er gets in over there and then you can't get out for miles and miles and miles. There will be blood.

This IS What I Should Have Told You...

This is one of those driving lessons that you just internalize after being in Florida for a while and forget about until it gets thrown back in your face. In Florida while driving just remember that everyone has the right of way. Doesn't matter that you are doing 45mph people will pull out in front of you and expect you to stop. Red light? Not for me. I only tell you this as a warning to please be careful while driving here in Florida. As tempting as it might be to actually hit them because it would be their fault. Remember, they probably don't have insurance and they are probably armed.

Maybe I Shouldn't Be Telling You This...

I'm an early riser. Usually up at 3:30/4:00 am. Unfortunately, my wife and daughter don't share my delight in the early mornings. Meaning that they like to sleep and I can't make any noise nor turn on any lights. What to do? What to do? I know I'll go to the 24hr gym and see who else is working out at 4am. The best part of going to the gym is that here in Tampa at 4am all of the traffic lights are set on sensors and as soon as you pull up to the intersection the light changes to green and off you go. The problem? And I know I discussed this in an earlier blog, but it happened again this morning. As I was approaching an intersection this morning a car pulled up at the cross street and my light changed to red forcing me to stop. The light turns green for the car at the cross street and they don't move. And don't move. And don't move. They have the green light. So now I'm looking closer and I can see their face in the blue glow of the smartphone. So I toot my horn. No response. I beep my horn. No response. I honk my horn and now they look up and into their rearview mirror. Don't see anyone and go back to the phone. Now I'm really honking. They check the mirror again and then look around confused as to who might be honking at them and why. Then they look at the traffic light which has been green for at least a minute and they slowly drive through the intersection still looking at their phone. This is why I am NOT allowed to carry a gun in the car.

Try a Little Tenderness... or a Canadian Club

This is one of those little, or not so little things in life that drive me nuts. When you pull into a parking space and get out of your car please do NOT bang your car door into the side of my car. Seems simple enough but it it is apparently too tough for many people to manage. I drive a Honda Element. One of the things that I like is the wide sweep of smooth black paint that makes up the sides of the car. Only not it looks more like the surface of Mars with all of the dings, scratches and yes, gashes in the paint. This might be annoying enough in and of itself but I make an effort to park out and away from others and I still get dented. By the way this is NOT strictly a Florida problem. However, I would call it a United States problem. Why? I've been fortunate enough to make three extended trips to the Great White North, Canada. One out West to the Canadian Rockies and two to the East Coast, Halifax and St.John. In the collective 2 months that I was driving my rental cars around and parking in Canada I suffered no dings, dents or even scratches. The first trip I thought it was a fluke. The second time just good luck. The third? Damn, those Canadians are just the nicest most conscientious group of people. And they are.

Yes.. I Did Just See That

Don't be surprised by what you may see while driving down the road here in Florida. Today? It was a Hummer with a complete snow plow mounted on the front. It was a strange enough sight that I had to pull over to allow the Hummer to pass so I could look at the license plate and see where they are from, Florida. Now I think the Hummer only gets 4-5 miles per gallon so what could be better than adding a thousand pounds of useless steel to the front of your car? Maybe they could just throw out and anchor and pull that around behind them. Well, I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune the next time it snows here in Florida and I can't get out of my driveway.

Technology, Please Save Me

So, I suggested in an earlier post that perhaps there was a way to take advantage of the large gaps in traffic created by people who were texting while driving. My friends, the odds are against us. The sheer number of people texting while driving is more than we can handle. I'm starting to think that I might be the only person left who is actually driving the car while driving the car. Now I have a new suggestion. Embedding sensors into the lines on the roads to create texting lanes. You can only text while in the curb lane. The left lane is for driving only, all other uses of this lane are strictly prohibited and electronically enforced. No further action is required on your part.

Simple Solutions

It's so simple, yet so hard to do. Letting people merge. We are so afraid to let someone get in front of us that we would rather sit in a mile long queue than make room for the person who is brave enough to drive all the way to the traffic obstruction before getting over. They're right! The way they are doing it minimizes the obstruction. A car accident or broken down vehicle should take up about fifty feet of roadway. When we start getting out of the blocked lane too early we are just extending the fifty foot obstruction to ??? Miles? I have had the personal experience of a longgggg... line of cars in one lane and nothing in the other. So I got into the empty lane and drove by almost a mile and a half  of stopped/stop and go traffic before moving over to travel over a single lane bridge. Be brave. Take the empty lane and drive until you can drive no further. If the first couple of cars won't let you in you'll still be far ahead of where you would have been if you had joined the herd at the end of the line. And, you will have done all of us a favor by moving traffic ahead just that much faster. 

We Love the Queue

It's not you. In Florida we love to sit in lines of traffic. There's no other way to explain it. A red light two lanes of traffic. One lane has ten cars sitting in it. The other? Empty. You pull into the other lane and wonder "What's the problem?" There isn't one. It's just us. Florida. Welcome.

The Text Gap

I haven't quite figured out how to take full advantage of this new phenomena yet, but I'm getting lots of opportunity to practice. So what is the "text gap?"  It is that large gap in traffic created by a driver who is texting and driving. To be safe while they are breaking the law they leave an unusually large gap between themselves and the car in front. I'm now watching for these gaps as they tend to be consistent in terms of a pattern that continues as the traffic moves on down the road. Watch for them and use them to move up in the queue. At a minimum use them to get ahead of the knucklehead texting and driving. The funny thing is that they always seem so annoyed that you had the nerve to get in front of them while they were texting, I mean driving.

What Is It With Us?

Show a little consideration for your fellow man or woman. I was reminded of that lesson this morning by the guy driving the giant dump truck that was pulling out of a driveway in front of me. Instead of continuing out ahead of me and leaving me behind him on a two lane road he stopped and waved me on ahead. A quarter of a mile further on he was already out of sight behind me. Now he could have just kept pulling out and I would have been stuck behind him for a very long and slow drive; but, no. He did me a small favor and I thank him.

I do usually try and drive this way as well and I'm sure most people don't even notice. If someone is trying to get out into traffic and I'm the only car they're waiting for I'll change lanes so they can pull out. People need to merge? Let's go. I slow down and open up big gaps and let the people go. I do try and keep moving as not to aggravate the drivers directly behind me; but traffic moves a lot better if we can all keep moving forward. If we could all see our way to being kind drivers and allowing others to join the queue we might all get there a little faster.

If you are looking to speed up your life get a Tolltraxx and skip the toll booth (if you can find one)

These Boots Were Made For Jaywalkin'

Here in Tampa we've spent thousands upon thousand of dollars to create safe crosswalks for pedestrians, without success; flashing lights, rumble strips, big neon signs and still the carnage continues. The problem? They didn't put the crosswalks where people actually cross the street. Make one from the McDonald's to Burger King across the street. Why? I don't know but that's where I see the people cross.

When I drove through Dunedin yesterday they have crosswalks every ten feet or so and the people use them. Believe me I know. Put the crosswalks where the people cross the street.

Why do I call this problem to your attention? You'll see the fancy, expensive crosswalks and assume that there is where the people are going to cross the street. Wrong. While driving in Florida you need to watch for pedestrians everywhere, all the time. 

I used to joke about the "invisible" pedestrian, dressed all in black at night. Here, that is the reality. Remember, black is very slimming, especially in death.

Save money and skip the rental car transponder. Get a Tolltraxx transponder and enjoy driving without worrying about any "toll shock" when you get home.

How Did I Miss This One?

If you are going to be driving in the Tampa Bay area this is probably the one tip that will save you from thinking that you've lost your mind. We change the name of the road you are travelling on every few miles. Start on Bearrs  Avenue, change to Ehrlich Road and then Gunn Highway without ever leaving the road or even changing direction. Happens all of the time without rhyme or reason. Good luck. It's us not you. For a less expensive trip leave the rental car transponder and get a Tolltraxx transponder, save time, hassles and money. What could be better?  I'd vote for ice cream.

On a Serious Note

Florida and Tampa have had an epidemic of wrong-way drivers on our highways and byways and it has not ended well, much much worse. We will be saying goodbye to Deputy Sheriff John Kotfila this Friday (3/18/16). He was killed by a wrong-way driver while doing his job and saving the life of another. You can read about it here.

This is a big problem here in Tampa; whether it is you or them, if there is oncoming traffic on your side of the highway PULL OVER and call 911. If there is more than one car coming at you don't move until the police arrive. Be safe. Drive happy. Say a prayer for Deputy Kotfila. Remember his sacrifice before taking that drink and getting behind the wheel. 

A Little Off Topic, But Not Too Far

It always amazes me when we complain that the government can't afford to keep the streets fixed, potholes filled, blah, blah, blah. And yet we have nothing to say when the government has the money to glue fake bricks to the street at different intersections.

Or, when they install speed limit signs that are electronic (solar) instead of the old school painted metal. What's the life expectancy on the electronic signs? I've seen problems crop up within 2 weeks of installation, the sign clocked me at 79 mph, I was doing 35 mph; the old sign, it's probably been ten years since someone ran it over.

And the last one are the new electronic highway signs

There is nothing better than sitting stopped on the interstate, this is Tampa, rush hour is 24 hours a day and you look up at the sign as it changes to tell me the travel time to the next exit. 5 minutes later I'm still sitting there reading the same sign wondering how long until the next update.

How about the added cost associated with these new signs? How many people does it take to monitor and update these signs? And best of all isn't everyone driving around with their cellphone in their hand? Carrying with them all of the traffic information that they could possibly need, in real time. I recommend Waze. It's the driving app used by the Uber drivers in New York City. At least the one's I rode with while I was there and it works great in Florida.

When you visit Florida get a Tolltraxx transponder for your rental car and skip the expensive rental car transponders.

This post is more like my posts on http://semiseedlesswatermelons.blogspot.com/ for stupid things examined. (Coming to a blog near you.)

What I'm Thinking is Not What...

You're thinking. So, I've just finished an on-line class offered by edx.org (a great site for an education on any subject) called

The Science of Everyday Thinking

and the major take away from this class is that when something happens to us or we see something happen we often apply what is called the Fundamental Attribution Error. Essentially, we don't judge the circumstances of the situation we judge the personality of the person. When we make a similar mistake we justify our actions based on our circumstances. Them: "That guy cut me off becauses he's a jerk." Us: "I had to cut in here because I'm running behind and can't be late to work again."  Personality vs.situation.  I'm working hard myself not to rush to judgement and following advice from another edx class 

Becoming a Resilient Person: The Science of Stress Management and Promoting Wellbeing

That is like Conscious Discipline for adults. The best take away from this class and as simple as it sounds is: look for beauty. When I'm sitting in traffic wondering what in the ... is happening I stop and just look around, clouds, cars, people you'll always be able to find something to help you chill out until it is time to go. Drive safely. Get a Tolltraxx transponder and drive better.

Random Lane Changes

Now, this is something that does seem to be uniquely Florida; people changing lanes for no apparent reason. You'll be driving along no one in your lane about to pass someone when the blinker comes on and they change lanes to drive in front of you. Maybe they were planning on making a left turn in the next ten miles, who knows. So, you move over to the right lane to pass them and carry on. Happens all the time. Welcome to driving in the sunshine state.

If you are renting a car, skip the rental car transponders. Get a Tolltraxx transponder and save. Buy that jumbo Margarita instead. Just don't drive afterwards. 

How is This Even Possible?

Took a road trip from Tampa to Port Charlotte today. Because of time constraints I didn't get to make my usual detour to Yoder's for lunch and the Selby Gardens for an afternoon visit; both in Sarasota and both well worth the visit. If there is time we always stop at the Ringling Museum; that is a great day, a trifecta, so to speak. Anyway, driving south and north on I-75 was an adventure, as always. The thing I can't figure out is how two, in this case three, cars can end up driving side-by-side at the same speed. Usually the speed limit, or slightly below, 63 in a 65 zone, 69 instead of 70. If they're all going the same speed how did the catch up to one another? Doesn't seem physically possible. And for those people driving as part of this rolling blockade, I would like to refer you to my earlier post here about being part of the problem and not part of the solution.

If you're visiting Florida and renting a car get a Tolltraxx  transponder to pay your tolls. Save money, avoid the lines and enjoy your vacation.

Sure You Can Merge, Get In Line Behind Me

Welcome to America. This issue seems to be more American than Floridian. We just don't know how to merge. We all drive up to the obstruction and then hope someone will let us in, but they never do. So we sit with our blinker on slowly, slowly inching over until someone finally relents and lets us over. Of course this behavior just screws up both lanes; because we know that no one will let us merge we get out of the blocked lane way before it's necessary. Making a small obstruction into a major conga line of traffic. If we could learn to merge we could  use both lanes right up to the obstruction and then quickly merge to one lane pass the problem and then get get back to two lanes. 

I've had the opportunity to watch how they handle merging in other countries. My favorite two are Italy and Mexico. General rules of the road seem to be in short supply but the traffic flows along because people allow the other cars to join the queue at any point and let them right back out again. The closest analogy I can give is swimming as member of a school of fish; swim left, swim right, the school shrinks at one intersection, grows at another, but it never stops moving.

The wackiest merging, if you can even call it that was in the Soviet Union, wait make that Russia. On the way in from the airport to Moscow I kept trying to figure out how the highway traffic was flowing. Cars were six across, two across, ten across I couldn't figure out what the traffic flow should look like. Then I noticed that there were no lanes painted on the roadway. People just made their own lanes as needed. Less like merging and more like roller derby.

If you're coming to Florida for a visit and renting a car. Get a Tolltraxx transponder to pay your tolls. Skip the rental car company transponders, avoid the fines for missing a toll, save money and enjoy your vacation. 

Perpetual School Zones

I know that these problems are not exclusive to driving in Florida, but... Here is one of my least favorite problems you might run across on your visit to the Sunshine state. School zones are everywhere, seemingly when there is no school within sight. One of my favorites is the school without sidewalks from the school to the street. No one walks home from that school yet here we sit crawling along. Just to add to the fun they actually have two driveways each with its own school zone separated by about fifty feet. But wait don't order yet it gets better. Another 500 feet down the street is a Junior High School with a school zone. Now these schools don't dismiss at the same time so the flashing lights announcing the school zone are not on. But people don't pay attention to the lights or lack thereof so they continue to drive all the way to and past the Junior high at 20 miles an hour, essentially turning what should be two short school zones into one horribly long one.

Another favorite is the school on one side of the street and the fire station on the other. So what you say. Well, the driveway for the fire station has its own traffic light to stop traffic so the emergency crews can get out. Makes sense to me. So why am I complaining? When the traffic signal is not being used it just hangs there flashing yellow and people driving along think they are in a school zone and drop it down to 20 mph creating a school zone that last about 12 hours a day.  

And then there are the days when everyone just feels like driving 30 mph in both lanes, side-by-side. That's Florida.

If you're coming for a visit be ready. Renting a car? Don't get ripped of by the rental car transponders. Get a Tolltraxx transponder, save your money and enjoy your vacation. 

The Best for Last? I Don't Think So.

Sometimes it seems that all of the different rental car companies are actually owned by the same company. Similar prices, policies, rules and regulations; maybe it's just a coincidence and I'm still hoping that it rains marshmallows. These might be the best of the bunch for transponder charges, you can check my math here. But even these rates pale in comparison to a Tolltraxx transponder.

Alamo Rental Cars

$3.95 fee per usage day (24 hr. interval) that customer incurs tolls, plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)

National Rental Cars

$3.95 fee per usage day (24 hr. interval) that customer incurs tolls, plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)

Enterprise Rental Cars

$3.95 fee per usage day (24 hr. interval) that customer incurs tolls, plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)

All Together Now

$19.75 maximum fee per rental period plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)

Nothing to decide at time of rental.

What Do I Do Now?

So you've just driven through the toll plaza in your rental car without a transponder, now what? I haven't tried this personally. My brother did this up in Indiana or maybe it was Illinois when he realized the error of his ways he contacted the toll authority with the time, date and toll plaza number. They allowed him to pay the tolls on-line and he managed to avoid the rental car company fees. That was there and this is Florida. If you've already made the mistake you are doomed. The toll authority does not offer any way for you to pay for your missed tolls. You are now in the hands of your rental car company. What's this going to cost you? Here are a couple of other blog posts with the costs detailed. Hertz here. Thrifty and Dollar, here and Avis and Budget, here.

Who is Responsible for this? No One Knows...

So, even though I've lived next to the Veteran's Expressway in Tampa, FL  for over twenty years and have been a driver on the toll  road since its inception how did I miss the fact that the toll authority was adding an express lane? Oh, that's right they forgot to tell us. I thought they were adding additional lanes both northbound and southbound and then this article appears. Who? What? Where? May as well add why? As if we as a country weren't splitting apart fast enough; now the Mercedes and Lexus' can drive away and leave the Toyotas and Hondas in the slow lanes. I have often thought that the right-of-way should be based on the cost of your car. Yo. Cadillac. You go first. I'll just wait here in my little Chevy. Which Chevy is cheap? Oh, that's right they all are. 

A Two for One Deal

Just when you think you've seen it all or maybe it's just fresh in my mind from having recently written the blog entries today offered a new twist. I wrote about the timing of the traffic lights changing based on location, time of day and traffic. Well this morning the guy at the light across from me waiting to make a left turn did a good job of timing the light and was out in the intersection in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, his red arrow changes to green at the end of the cycle not the beginning so ended up sitting in the middle of the intersection. The other problem is the guy behind him in the turn lane probably expected the first guy to back up out of the intersection, so he didn't pull up to the white line. Now, no one was sitting on the sensor to trigger the light which I  wrote about here. On a positive note both cars were gone an hour later when I went back through that intersection.

Change is happening all around us and often without our knowledge or permission. Things like the toll roads changing to electronic tolls only.  Who agreed to that change? The rental car companies have been making a killing since the switch was made; even though they blame the 

State and everyone but themselves.

Skip the rental car transponders.

You're better off with a Tolltraxx transponder. A one-time $7.50 service fee ($3 of which is refundable) and a $.50 fee per toll. Use it a lot, use it a little, don't use it at all. No daily fees, ever.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign

If you are driving along with miles and miles of empty road ahead of you, look in your rearview mirror. If there are fifty cars queued up behind you that's a sign to get out of the way; you are now officially part of the problem.  If five cars pass you in the right lane, you are part of the problem; move over to the right lane and carry on. If the car in front of you has driven away and you don't move until the car behind you hits the horn, you are part of the problem. Put down your phone and drive. The biggest problem with traffic today is us. We don't know how to drive. Add in the fact that the whole act of driving has changed and nobody bothered to tell us doesn't help the situation. 

Things like the toll roads changing to electronic tolls only.  Who agreed to that change? The rental car companies have been making a killing since the switch was made; even though they blame the State and everyone but themselves.

Skip the rental car transponders.

You're better off with a Tolltraxx transponder. A one-time $7.50 service fee ($3 of which is refundable) and a $.50 fee per toll. Use it a lot, use it a little, don't use it at all. No daily fees, ever.

A Driving Tip to Save You From Yourself

When you're visiting Florida, cruising around in your rental car or private vehicle visiting our beautiful beaches there are things to watch out for. I can't say that they are all Florida or even Tampa specific  but that's where I live and that's where I see them. One recent quirk is in the timing of the traffic lights. The light cycle, left turn arrow first, one direction first, etc. changes depending on the day of the week and time of day. Just when you're used to making your left turn first at the intersection, the turn arrow stays red. Don't panic, wait for the light to cycle through. If you're still sitting there through a couple of light changes, check to be sure you're sitting at the big white line painted on the street, or not sitting in front of it. That line is the spot that the sensors look for to determine whether to change the light; either pull up to the line or back up, carefully. 

If you're driving on any Florida toll roads or thinking about it, remember that many are now all electronic. Skip the rental car transponders.

You're better off with a Tolltraxx transponder. A one-time $7.50 service fee ($3 of which is refundable) and a $.50 fee per toll. Use it a lot, use it a little, don't use it at all. No daily fees, ever.

Opting into Your Wallet, Automatically

Avoiding excessive toll charges can be difficult when you don't have a choice in the matter as with these three companies.

Avis, Budget and Payless Rental Cars

Automatically opted in

Avis: $3.95 fee per rental day plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates) $16.75 maximum fee per rental month (30 days) plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)

Budget: $3.95 fee per rental day plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)

  

Payless:  $2.95 fee per rental day plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)    $14.75 maximum fee per rental month (30 days) plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)

Visit Florida and save your money when you use one of our many toll roads with a Tolltraxx transponder. 

Fox Rental Cars, Different Name Same Results

This fee is applicable to each day of the rental and cannot be purchased only on certain days. Maximum PlatePass fee of $134.85 per rental agreement (15 days). If not enrolled at time of reservation or at the rental counter, and user incurred toll charges by utilizing a dedicated or express lane, customers will be charged an administrative fee $15 per toll plus the cost of each toll, with a maximum admin fee of $90 per rental agreement. These fees and tolls are charged separately after the completion of the rental. Customers may add the service when they return their vehicle for the original daily rate, but they must do so by returning to the rental counter BEFORE the rental agreement has closed.

Hello Dollar and not so Thrifty Rental Car Companies

$10.49  flat fee per rental day.

$52.49 maximum weekly fee.

PlatePass® All-Inclusive Tolling must be sold for the length of the rental contract. It cannot be purchased only on certain days. PlatePass® All-Inclusive Tolling is a duration-based model and provides unlimited toll road access for a low daily fee per the length of the rental agreement.
  
Customer must either OPT-IN or DECLINE at time of reservation or at the rental counter. All daily charges are included on their receipt when they return the car. No billing is done after the fact unless they fail to select the tolling option and still uses SunPass. EPASS or LeeWay ONLY Lanes.

If not enrolled at time of reservation or at the rental counter, and user incurred toll charges by utilizing a dedicated or express lane, a $15.00 administrative fee + toll is assessed for each infraction to a maximum fee of $105.00. These fees and tolls are charged separately after the completion of the rental.

$10.95 a day for all of your tolls sounds pretty good until I tried to figure out how far I would have to drive to make this plan worthwhile.  I didn't check to see if this plan covers bridge tolls, if it does I would use it to go visit Sanibel Island, a $6 toll.  Of course once on the island I'd remember that I needed something at Publix, over the bridge I go. Once I got back to Sanibel I would get a hankerin' for an Egg McMuffin at 2 in the afternoon, hello mainland. Going to one of the beautiful Sanibel beaches, better go get that bikini wax I've been wanting... you get the idea. You're better off with a Tolltraxx transponder. A one time $7.50 service fee ($3 of which is refundable) and a $.50 fee per toll. Use it a lot, use it a little, don't use it at all. No daily fees, ever.

Next Up, Hertz and Firefly

These two rental car companies have the same rate schedule on the Sunpass website. Here's the information:

$4.95 fee per rental day plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)
$24.75 maximum fee per rental month (30 days) plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates)  Opt-in decision is made when the driver elects to use EXPRESS, SunPass ONLY, E-PASS ONLY or LeeWay ONLY lanes.
Nothing to decide at time of rental.

So, in an effort to figure out what's going on here and what I'll ultimately end up paying I started working the phones. First I called Hertz which can't tell me what the toll rate is; they did offer to connect me to the Sunpass site, which disconnected me after 17 minutes on hold.

I called Sunpass directly. Now, they do warn you that Monday's are the busiest. I'm currently at 22 minutes and counting. (it took 30 minutes to reach someone) It wouldn't be quite as bad if the didn't keep repeating the same hold message every 2 minutes about taking a survey and offering my opinion about their "world class service" I'm thinking third world class service, maybe Bolivia.

If you drive on the toll road it is the toll-by-plate rate, currently a $1 toll will cost you $1.30 for toll-by plate; plus a one time $2.50 administrative fee per bill. No one could explain what constitutes a bill. I've been hit with several administrative fees because each toll showed up independently of the others over the course of a week in a test rental car. I was using a different rental car company at the time of my testing.

So, $4.95 a day up to $24.75 a month; plus at least one $2.50 administrative fee and then a higher toll rate. Did I mention that even if you make a mistake and end up on the toll road there is no turning back? The meter is running. Tolltraxx offers you complete toll coverage for a $7.50 service charge (a $3 credit is applied for returning the transponder) and a service charge of $.50 per toll, use it once, use it a lot, don't use it at all. You are in control.

I'm Not Picking on Anyone

So, not being the king of cut and paste, trying to collect and transfer all of the multitude of charges that rental car companies hit you with if you dare get on a toll road was not a one day job for me. Or maybe it was the 24 t-shirts I had to dye for reading night at school. Either way I didn't finish my mission. I do however have one example to share and I will get to the rest of them.

The Sixt program offers a flat fee for opting into Sixts’ "Express Toll Service". If not enrolled at time of reservation or at the rental counter, and user incurred toll charges by utilizing a dedicated or express lane, a $5.00 administrative fee + toll is assessed for each infraction. These fees and tolls are charged separately after the completion of the rental.   $7.99 flat fee per rental day (plus tax)

Huh? Well, I'm glad we cleared that up and this is not the worst...by far. Get a Tolltraxx, a $7.50 service fee gets you the lowest posted toll rate plus a $.50 charge for each toll. That's right fifty cents per toll. Just a little better than $5.00 per toll and $7.99 a day. We even give you a $3 credit when you return the transponder.

Toll Rates Explained

I didn't have time to transfer all of the different rates and charges today but I did a little math, very little and have come up with the formula for how toll rates for rental cars are determined:

Toll = c(s-1) + distance of the quadrangle

A3y = x3 +a2x2 + a4x where x = Ocala

(E/Fp) = exp (high % of your credit card E = (1 – a T + pT) / (1 – T)

(E/Q, s) = II (1 – aP-s + 3) = T + 1 =

greatest rate possible x 2 

That should explain everything.

What is this all about?

I recognized that there was a big problem with The Florida toll roads as they transitioned to electronic tolls. And, we are not alone in this transition, Denver, California... the list grows. The problem is what happens if you don't have a transponder and you end up on these toll roads either through ignorance or mistake. Once on you can't get off. There's nowhere to pay even if you wanted to. If you are in a rental car the problem is compounded. I'm sure that most people like me would assume that if I run the toll that I'll just have the toll added to my rental charge. What I didn't realize is how much that toll would cost me and it is the same for every single toll. It's not a one time charge. The fees are applied to every single toll you run.

So, seeing a problem I came up with a solution. Tolltraxx.com. I bought transponders. Registered them. Tied them to a payment method and I'm offering them to tourists to use. Your cost? A one time $7.50 charge for the transponder. $3 of which is applied to your toll balance if you return the transponder and a service charge of $.50 per toll.

Tomorrow we'll look at what the rental car companies charge.

The Truman Show, Live!

If you've never seen the Jim Carrey movie The Truman Show you should check it out on Netflix. When you get to the scene where Truman tries to escape by jumping in the car and driving away, pay attention. You've just entered the Florida zone. It's a lot like the Twilight Zone only more frustrating. Just when you've finally gotten around that slow driver with the perpetual left blinker on; you can see the next slow moving car pulling out right in front of you. 

When you enter the zone there is only one thing to do. Accept your fate. Helpful suggestions to overcome road rage are as follows...breathe...deep, slow breaths. And this suggestion is one that will help in all aggravating, frustrating, depressing... situations. Think of it as a general tip to improve any situation. "Look for beauty." In Florida it is easy to do. Clouds in the sky. A sunrise/sunset. Birds roosting in the trees. The list is endless. But focusing and appreciating a moment of beauty takes your focus off of the stupidity in front of you. 

Less Tip, More Sanity Check

Here are a couple of things to watch out for when driving in Florida.

The most aggressive drivers are also often the slowest. Don't be surprised when that car that pulls right out in front of you and then  can't even get up to the speed limit. It's not you, it's Florida.

 You'll pull up to a red light, there's no cross traffic in either direction and you wait and you wait and you wait some more. Just when you think the light might be out of order look up and down the cross street. Chances are you'll see a large number of cars headed for the green, no wait, yellow; no, now red light. Away you go. The average wait when nothing is going on is two and a half minutes. It's not you, it's Florida. 

Do Not Fear the Horn

I'm kind of shy by nature and try not to to stand out in a crowd. If there's a quiet way to fix something or get it done that's the way I usually go. 

Here's another only in Florida, but it probably happens everywhere. You just miss the light and as you pull up to the now red light you see the light change green for the cross traffic but the car at the light doesn't move. And you sit and you sit and you sit... The problem? The car sitting over there at the green light doesn't have any moving traffic to trigger them to look up so they just sit there texting away. The traffic light sensor thinks there is traffic moving in that direction when it is just one car sitting. The solution? Use the horn. There are different ways to use your horn. I suggest the European method. What is that you ask?

In Europe they use the horn completely differently than in America. When they beep the horn in Europe the message seems to be "Hey you what do you think your doing? Don't you see me here? Move along please." vs the American use of the horn which usually says "*$@$!^&!%%$^" in all CAPS. I know it's frustrating but don't lay on the horn. Just tap it to get their attention. When they hear it they'll look up check the rear view mirror and wonder who's beeping at them and then drive away. If that doesn't work use the American horn method.

Don't Stop Now, I'm Driving

I can't swear this is a uniquely Florida problem but I see it here all the time. It could be called the "Killing you with kindness problem." The traffic light's green, the car in front of you slips into the right turn lane gets up to the green light and stops to allow the car waiting to make a left turn to go first.  Not expecting the car to stop, slow down certainly, but not stop you have to slam on the brakes to keep from killing them and you. Remember that what you do while driving affects what's going on behind you more often than in front. 

As long as we are fixing things...

Here's a suggestion to fix all of our traffic problems. An app. I call it Asleep at the Wheel in honor of that great Texas band. (I know, originally from W. Virginia but I know them from Austin.) The app is packaged with a small camera that attaches to the windshield and looks for traffic lights. When you are sitting there in traffic at the red light with your head down texting and the light changes from red to green you get a flashing green light on your phone. Look up. Drive away. Thank you, Jesus! This app isn't for you. It's for me. The guy sitting in traffic behind you waiting for you to finish doing whatever it is you're doing that's not driving. Which is what you should be doing. 

Red Light Camera Fix

The big complaint is the the red light cameras cause more accidents than they prevent. I think the accident problem is caused by the large signs just before the intersections announcing the cameras presence. Get rid of the signs! If people are going to run the red light let 'em. You don't get a warning before you rob a bank that they'll be taking your picture and it can and will be used against you in a court of law. 

The Green Light is Waiting

Here's a problem to watch out for as you drive the roads in Florida. I call it the right turn, yields to left. The light's green the car in front of you is going to make a right turn and when they get to the intersection they stop to let the car waiting at the light to make a left turn to go ahead. I believe that being courteous is the only thing that separates us from the apes. That and the apes tend to peel the banana before they eat it. But, if the light is green and you have the right of way don't stop. Think about what's about to happen behind you. A six car pile-up. If you have the right of way use it. Everyone behind you will expect you to and drive accordingly.  

Driving in Florida Requires an Insanity Check

It's bad enough that people are texting while driving; but when they don't pull away when the light turns green and you hit the  horn, twice, they hold up the phone and shake it like "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" I also heard a colleague complain that she is not required to make a right on red if she doesn't want to because she was trying to finish a text and thought it would be safer to sit at the light and finish. Don't worry about the people behind you waiting to turn to get to work or Dunkin Donuts.  Wow! After I explained my thoughts, we aren't on speaking terms anymore.

Less a driving tip and more of a sanity check

If you are new to driving in Florida there are a few things to get used to. Now I do most of my driving in the Tampa area but I've traveled all over the state many, many times and these truisms apply everywhere.

No. You're not crazy. If you miss that first traffic light you can expect to miss every subsequent light while driving on the same street. 

No. You're not crazy. You'll often have to sit through multiple light cycles to get through the intersection. Made much worse since the advent of texting.

"No Passers" No. You're not crazy. People will catch up to you while driving and then refuse to pass you. There must be something enjoyable about your blind spot. Even when you can get them to pass you they'll just catch up to the next slowest moving vehicle and then drive in their blind spot. This happens to me most often when I'm taking my time and driving the speed limit in the right lane; messing up the traffic flow for everyone else. 

Drive Safe Out There

• On a two lane road, if there is a car parked on your side of the road do not pull out into the other lane to go around the parked car if cars are traveling in the other direction. It is not first come first served; if the parked car is on your side you need to yield to the oncoming traffic. 

Avoiding Toll Violations

There are several ways to avoid a toll violation while driving a rental car in Florida.  You could stay off of the toll roads. Funny how the most convenient way to get somewhere is also the most expensive. Hello, Orlando I'm talking about you. Staying off of the toll roads is certainly doable, not easy or pleasant but doable.  Rent a transponder from your rental car company. $7.95 a day plus tolls, per rental depending on which company you use. Skip the transponder and hope for the best. Your "best" bet is if you're driving your own private car and go through the toll plaza. The state will run your plate and send you a bill for the toll plus and administrative fee of $2.50 per toll; so your $1 toll is going to cost you $3.50. In a rental car the state sends your toll bill to the rental car company which hires a third party to track you down and charge you. All of this increases your $1 toll to (again depending on the rental car company) $14 per toll.  Why does the rental car company need a third party to track you down? After all the rental car company knows when you had the car, it's in your contract. They should be able to figure out which tolls belong to you pretty easily. But, no. Adding another company to the mix dilutes the blame for the excessive charges. "It's not our fault."  And you get screwed. The worst part is that most people don't even realize what is happening or is going to happen to them when they drive through the toll plaza. Which is what makes offering a solution to this problem so difficult. Most people don't know it's a problem until it's too late to fix. 

That's why I came up with Tolltraxx. I bought the transponders, activated them, tied them to a payment method and I'm offering them to visitors to Florida. Pay a one time $7.50 handling fee . Get your transponder in 3 business days, USPS First Class mail. When you get to your car send us a picture of the back of the car. Put the transponder on the windshield and you are good to go. We manage the tolls, you enjoy the trip. When you're done send us a text. When the final tolls come from the state we add them up, add our fee, $.50, that's right fifty cents per toll and make a one time charge to your payment method on file.  Use it a lot, use it a little, don't use it at all; you only pay for the tolls plus $.50. That's $2 less than the state charges. And if you return the transponder we'll credit your account $3. It's a great way to travel.  

Make a Left at the Light

I originally started a page of Driving Tips on Tolltraxx.com but decided that a lot of it is really just my opinion and not the law. Well, maybe but I can't say that I looked it up before spouting off. So I moved Driving Tips to the blog pages including this one. Here's to a better driving experience. 

This one of those rules that needs pictures to explain. If you are waiting to make a left turn sitting there in your left turn lane and you get a green arrow, go! You have a protected left turn and on-coming traffic has to wait for you. As usually happens in Florida the green arrow doesn't hold long enough to let all of the cars turn. So what happens now? If there is a red arrow illuminated on the traffic light sorry you'll have to wait for the next light (green arrow). If the signal changes from a green arrow to a yellow arrow to a regular old green light you are still allowed to make your left turn but now you lose your right of way to the on-coming traffic. You can still turn left when it is safe to do so!  Remember that there are people behind you waiting. Don't make missing the green arrow your excuse to sit there and check email or text. Keep it moving people. But please do it safely. No one ever got special treatment when they arrived at the Pearly Gates and told St. Peter "But I had the right-of-way."

We Call It Tolltraxx

How to pay your tolls while visiting Florida and driving a rental car, without getting screwed is the question. There are several bad solutions. You can stay off the toll roads, certainly doable, but not always easy. Yes. I'm talking to you Orlando. You can rent a transponder from your rental car company. $4.95 a day and up, whether or not you actually travel on a toll road, and you still pay the tolls plus an administrative fee. You can skip the transponder, drive on a toll road and expect to pay the toll-by-plate charge; which by the way carries a $3.50 administrative charge per toll. The problem with toll-by-plate and rental cars  is that when the State runs the plate they send the bill to the rental car company, not you. The rental car company charges their fee then they use a third party company to track you down and that company adds their fees and by the time they get to you your $1 toll can end up costing you $14. And that's for each and every toll you run.

So... What's the answer? I thought I could use the toll-by-plate to create a commercial account and allow renters access to register their rental cars and actually get the toll-by-plate rate and leaving the rental car companies out of the process. The State took care of that by changing the system to only allowing one car per toll-by-plate account.

Now what? I opened a Sunpass commercial account; purchased a bundle of mini-transponders, activated and manage them for renters. The problem is getting the transponder into drivers' hands. I'm currently using First Class mail which requires a little forethought so the renters need to order  one before they actually travel to Florida, Georgia, or North Carolina; with enough time to allow for the Post Office. I'll probably offer an overnight option for the last minute shoppers. When you add up the savings using Tolltraxx you'll still be way ahead in savings.

Tolltraxx.com is where to get one.

It's Happening Everywhere

I've had the pleasure of this toll problem without suffering the pain. On a trip to Denver I was strongly, STRONGLY encouraged to get a transponder for my rental car at a cost of only $7.95 a day; whether I traveled on a toll road or not. I told the young lady I wasn't planning to drive on any toll roads while I was in Denver. She told me that the entrances to the toll roads were not always well marked and I could very easily end up on the road without even knowing it and if I did there was no way to get off without going through a toll plaza which could result in a $125 fine. Well, we went back and forth for a little while longer and I didn't take the transponder and I did manage to stay off of the stealthy toll roads that ring the city but what the experience did do was make me paranoid. I did not enjoy driving while I was in Denver. I was always expecting to end up on the toll road and be fined. The whole episode made my trip a lot less enjoyable. If Tolltraxx had been an option that is what I would have done, if only to make my life less stressful or at least one less thing to worry/think about.

Here We Go

Well... It has been a year since I thought I could fix this excessive toll road fee problem for people driving rental cars in Florida. I started with an app. After six months and twenty three pages of "wire frame" development later I realized that an app was not the way to go. I changed my plans to a website that was optimized for mobile. That should do the trick. Next came testing the concept. My first thought was to use the toll-by-plate system to solve the problem. The State had other ideas.