Month: December 2016

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You Won’t Get A DUI For Being High On Life

It’s the holiday season, and in the world of traffic safety that coincides with extra emphasis patrols for impaired drivers. DUI patrols are happening all across the state, so I thought I’d share one of the PSAs that we’re using right now to get out the message that DUI is not just for alcohol. Impairment includes legal drugs, illegal drugs and prescription medications. If you’re just high on life, you’re still good to drive. That’ll make more sense after you watch the video.

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Pedestrians and Christmas Lights

Q: Recently, I was walking on the sidewalk at night to a grocery store and I crossed the crosswalk at the entrance to the store. As I was walking, a car tried to pull in, and then noticed me, which left her stuck in traffic. She then proceeded to say, “Maybe you should wear bright clothes”. I had a near white jacket on, so I don’t know how much brighter I could of been, unless I wore some Christmas lights around my neck.

My question: Is it required by law to wear bright clothing while walking legally on the sidewalk at night? Isn’t this the responsibility of the driver to look for pedestrians at crosswalks, no matter if it is day or night? Continue reading “Pedestrians and Christmas Lights”

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Local Attorney Creates Impaired Driving Radio Spot

Ziad Youssef at MyTrafficMan.net is a local attorney who focuses, as you may have guessed from his website name, on traffic law. He’s also the attorney that connected me with Rochelle, the first person featured in the Real Driving Stories series. Ziad has put out a radio spot for the holidays, and his message of keeping your holiday season great by not getting a DUI is right on, so I’m sharing it here:

I know this section of the website is for PSAs, and this straddles the line between PSA and commercial, so I’m counting it. I appreciate when local businesses spread safe driving messages. Which brings me to my next point: If you’re a local business and you have a radio or TV spot or a print add for your business that encourages people to drive safe, I’ll gladly feature it here at TheWiseDrive. We can all work together for safe driving in our community.

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Wheelchairs in Bike Lanes

Q: Is it legal for a motorized wheelchair to use the bike lane?

A: Maybe. Let’s start with the story of Ian Mackay. Last August, this man rode his wheelchair from his home in Port Angeles across the state to Portland, OR for a total of 335 miles. Ian rode trails, bike lanes or road shoulders, depending on what was available to him. He has an inspiring story, which you can read at iansride.com. Continue reading “Wheelchairs in Bike Lanes”

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Real Driving Stories – Rochelle

Every year during the holidays we launch our impaired driving emphasis patrols and remind everyone of the dangers of impaired driving. Rather than hearing it from me, I thought it would be better to let someone who has experienced a DUI arrest tell her story:

I want to publicly thank Rochelle for her willingness to tell her story. It takes courage, and courageous people change lives. Thanks also to Ziad at MyTrafficMan.net for collaborating on this project.

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Disturbing Trends in Impaired Driving

When it comes to impaired driving, how are we doing? Since the 1970’s, the message has consistently been, “If you drink, don’t drive,” and “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.” The laws have become stricter, the penalties have become steeper. But has it worked?

A few years ago I could have confidently answered yes, or at least had an optimistic outlook. We were on track, with fewer fatalities from impaired driving every year. But then the situation changed. What happened? The answer is pretty simple: Continue reading “Disturbing Trends in Impaired Driving”

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Can Postal Carriers Park Wherever They Want?

Q: Is it legal for mail carriers to park their vehicles in front of a fire hydrant? Right in front of the no parking zone sign?

A: As clearly stated in RCW 46.61.570, drivers shall not stand or park a vehicle within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant. Wait, maybe that isn’t clear. What’s the difference between standing and parking a vehicle? I’ll skip the legal jargon and instead offer a simple explanation. You could legally stop your car in a no-standing zone to allow passengers to get into or out of your car. Any other reason for stopping would be considered “standing”. In a no-parking zone, along with allowing passengers in and out of your car, you could also load or unload property. Both exceptions to standing and parking are limited to the actual time it takes to load or unload passengers or property. Continue reading “Can Postal Carriers Park Wherever They Want?”

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Bloody Legend

It might take a few views to understand the accent in this PSA from New Zealand. Kind of like how it takes the first few minutes of a Shakespeare play to get a handle on the old English. Or trying to follow the hillbillies in Deliverance. But the dialect is intentional; it’s meant to connect with young indigenous men in New Zealand. The audience is specific, but the message is universal: If your friend is too drunk to drive, do something about it.

Holiday impaired driving patrols start this weekend. No matter where you decide to party, whether it’s New Zealand or northwest Washington, be safe and drive sober.

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Angle Parking and Bike Helmets

Q: Could you address the rules and regulations on angle parking? In Fairhaven big trucks seem to hang out into the narrow street when they’re parked in the diagonal parking along the street.

A: The rule you’re looking for is in Washington Administrative Code 308-330-433. You’re not allowed to park a car in such a way as to leave less than ten feet of roadway available for traffic. Continue reading “Angle Parking and Bike Helmets”