Q: I often drive on Interstate 880 and see trucks not stopping at the weigh scales. How can they get away with this?
Kate Spencer
A: The drivers are most likely using a prepaid option which enables them to avoid having to stop many times along their route to pay fees.
Q: The San Jose Police Department could make a lot of money at the intersection of Foxworthy Avenue and Almaden Expressway, where traveling westbound on Foxworthy across the expressway is supposed to be prohibited. Drivers routinely ignore the sign that says so and proceed straight across.
I believe this was prohibited several years ago as a traffic-calming measure, but it isn’t working as well as it should.
Enforcement aside, I think a simple fix to the signal would discourage this behavior. Currently, the signal just displays a green light. Changing this to a red signal with a green left-turn arrow beneath it might be more effective. If this worked, you could also allow left-turning traffic from eastbound Foxworthy to proceed at the same time, which would be convenient for people, like me, who live on the west side.
Can it be done?
Peter Schwarz
A: Westbound cars aren’t allowed to go through the intersection, but bikes area — which is why there is a green light, rather than a red light with a green arrow.
The city and county are working to get funding to modify this intersection. The objectives are to make it a standard intersection with all four crosswalks, to remove free right turns by squaring the corners, and to enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Q: I have a 2011 Ford Ranger with five-speed manual transmission. It has 185,000 miles on it and runs great. I’ve had it about five years and am putting about 100 miles a month on it.
If I wait for 3,000 miles to change oil, that would be a few years. If I change it once a year, it’ll only have about 1,000 miles. My question is how often I should change the oil and filter.
Stan Lewandowski
A: Jeff-the-Roadshow-Mechanic said, “Call me old-fashioned, but I’d change it every six months, minimum. I might stretch it to a year, if, and only if, I used full synthetic oil.”
Q: I take the Camden exit heading toward San Jose from Highway 17 and can never remember how many lanes turn left, go straight ahead, or turn right. The lanes aren’t marked until you are about to turn onto the street.
A: This has been confusing for a long time. It’s possible that when an upcoming paving project is completed in this area, signs and new striping will improve this situation.
Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Source: www.mercurynews.com