Memorial Day Traffic

Those of you on the highways this past weekend probably encountered the kind of mind-numbing traffic that every beach and monument saw. But it's nothing like the jam surrounding metropolitan Charlotte, N.C., over a race weekend. With more than 150,000 people expected in a town that wasn't much bigger than that 20 years ago, the highways can't hope to be up to speed. Electronic signs warned me as I passed through before race weekend: "ALERT! Race Weekend Traffic May 26-May 30. Alternate Routes Advised!" So even though it will add a few hours to the drive back from Washington, maybe I need to take the mountain highway this time.