I love sleeping in a Florida rainstorm. Well, not actually in the rain. In a bed, under a roof, cozy and dry while sheets of rain pummel my windows. That’s an Ivory soap moment – 99 and 44/100 percent pure pleasure.
Driving in a Florida rainstorm, however, is not my idea of fun. One minute you’re bopping along with rain sprinkles on your windshield, the next instant you’re deluged with enough rain to raise the lake levels six inches, and you’re lucky if you can see two feet in front of you.
Which, amazingly, doesn’t stop most of our Florida motorists. In fact, it seldom even slows them down. They plow nose-first into that blinding rainstorm with more guts, confidence and determination than professional bullriders focused on an eight-second ride (you know who you are).
I was thinking about that the other day as I, like a sheep, was barreling right along with the other drivers during one of those pelting rains. It seemed safer to stay with the flow than try to slow down and pull off the road and get rearended in the process. Yeah, right, that’s it.
The scenario got me to thinking about what ingredients make up a Florida highway. I know in cold climates, such as Montana (where they only have two seasons – winter and July), they add materials to make the highway resistant to damage from freezing. In places like Death Valley, Calif., the roads are resistant to damage from sizzling heat. So, do they add anything to Florida roads to help them bear up under excessive water?
Not really wanting to lie in bed awake all night debating the question or, worse yet, falling asleep and dreaming about roads (unless, of course, they are leading to Hawaii), I talked with Christine McDonald, public information officer with the Florida Department of Transportation. She said Florida’s roadways are designed to remove water from the driving surface as quickly and as safely as possible. Also, the roads use mixtures that include anti-strip agents or hydrated lime that are tested at the design stage to ensure that they meet the minimum moisture requirement.
She didn’t say anything about roads being designed to withstand speedmania, but we have that under control, right? Right.
More red-light enlightenment
In The Loop reader Chris Dohrmann wondered what the traffic laws say about turning left on a red light if you are on a one-way street with two lanes and are turning onto a one-way street with two lanes.
Our ever-patient answer man, Florida Highway Patrol trooper Larry Coggins said yes, that is the one exception to the turn right on red rule. You can turn left on red if both streets are one-way and the usual three conditions apply. Those conditions, you’ll remember if you read my previous column, are 1) the motorist comes to a complete stop; 2) there is no oncoming traffic; and 3) there is no sign saying you can’t turn on red. Coggins said it doesn’t make any difference how many lanes the one-way streets have.
Current roadwork
u Fletcher Avenue at 42nd Avenue and North Palm Drive in the USF area, eastbound/westbound lane will be closed during daytime only for roadway widening/improvements and signal work. The completion day is Aug. 15.
u Dale Mabry at Hudson Lane will be closed 24 hours a day through Feb. 16 while drilling work is being done. Motorists will detour on Dale Mabry, Floyd Road and Orange Grove Drive.
Today’s bumper sticker
Advice – don’t give it. The wise don’t need it; the fools don’t heed it.

Carole Dickey is a staff writer. who lives in Pasco County.  Send your rants and raves about traffic and motorists in the Land O’ Lakes/Wesley Chapel/New Tampa areas to .