Q. What is included in the bar code on the back of our driver's license? Last fall, I had a clerk scan it -- the first time ever. When I asked her about it, she said it has personal information on it. The people behind me were surprised at her action, too. -- Marlene Kouba, Regent, N.D.
A. I asked Jamie Olson at the North Dakota Department of Transportation to look into it. Here's what she said: "The bar code on the back of your driver's license contains only the information that is on the front of your card, excluding the photo. No other personal information is contained in the bar code."
Q. Has the DOT ever considered marking/striping North Dakota highways with a color that is more reflective in winter? The yellow center line marking is adequate, but the white outer lines are not visible when covered with snow and ice. And when the wind is blowing snow across the highway and the ditches are full of snow, you definitely are unable to tell where the road edges are. -- Marlene Jorgenson, Devils Lake
A. Once again, I turned to Jamie Olson from the North Dakota Department of Transportation to help out with an answer. Here's what she said:
"The North Dakota Department of Transportation follows federal highway requirements for pavement markings on all state highways, which requires the markings on the outer line of the roadway to be white. All state transportation departments follow these federal requirements.
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"On some two-lane highways in North Dakota, the NDDOT has installed edge-line rumble strips and center-line rumble strips. The rumble strips create noise and vibration, alerting the driver that they are about to cross into the oncoming lane.
"When visibility is poor, it has been found that drivers are able to recognize if they go outside of their lane due to the placement of the rumble strips. Also, during inclement weather, research has found that the pavement marking within the rumble stripes are easier to see because they have greater reflectivity.
"It is the intent of the NDDOT to install center-line and edge-line rumble strips on all two-lane highways throughout the state as funding becomes available."
Send questions on North Dakota state government by e-mail to politics@wday.com (Subject: Ask your government) or to Teri Finneman c/o Forum Commun
ications, Press Room, State Capitol, Bismarck, N.D. 58505. Please include name, town and a phone number to reach you.
