August 2022 – The Wise Drive

August 25, 2022July 18, 2024

Walkers and Riders (and Robots) on the Sidewalk

Q: Since pedestrians and bicycles share sidewalks who has the right-of-way? I was at a sidewalk intersection and almost didn’t see the bicycle speeding toward me. At 80 years it is not easy to make an abrupt stop. When I chided the rider as he swept past me his reply indicted he thought he had right-of-way. If bike riders want to tangle with a car, truck or bus that is their problem. If they hit me, I will probably break something and that could be very serious for me.

A: The bigger and faster you are, the more responsibility you have for safety. That’s not in the law, at least not officially, but it’s a good principle to keep in mind, especially if you’re the bigger, faster one on the sidewalk or road. Building on that concept, I’d like to introduce you to something called “hierarchy of right-of-way.” That’s a term I just made up, so again, not in the law. Stick with me for a minute though, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

August 18, 2022July 18, 2024

Passing (and Not Passing) School Buses

Q: If a northbound school bus on a four-lane road stops to drop off kids before an intersection and I’m traveling south and intending to turn west, do I have stop for the bus What if it’s raining and I’m parallel to train tracks? And how many 3^rd graders does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: Okay, no one sent that question, but I’ve received many oddly specific questions about passing school buses. However, they all fit into the categories of either “I’m confused” or “other drivers are confused.”

August 11, 2022July 18, 2024

Impairment and the Mellanby Effect

Q: I’ve seen “plan ahead” messages to prevent impaired driving. They suggest having a designated driver, calling a cab, or letting someone sleep on your couch, which are all good, but might not be an option. Why don’t they suggest sleeping it off in your car?

A: I have an additional question that I think can get us to an answer: How much do you trust drunk you? Of if this doesn’t apply specifically to you, how much do you trust an impaired person to make a sound decision? If after drinking alcohol or consuming other drugs a person truly only had the option of either sleeping in their car or driving home, sleeping it off in their car is clearly the better choice. But that doesn’t make it a good choice (or a legal one).

August 4, 2022July 18, 2024

Insurance for New Drivers

Q: My son has his learner’s permit. Do I need to get him an insurance policy now, or do I wait until he has his driver license?

A: There’s actually a simple, law-based answer as to who needs insurance: everyone who drives*. The law states (edited for readability and brevity), “No person may operate a motor vehicle subject to registration in this state unless the person is insured under a motor vehicle liability policy, is self-insured, is covered by a certificate of deposit, or is covered by a liability bond.” One way or another, if you drive a vehicle with a registration, you need proof of financial responsibility. *There are a few exceptions: mopeds, ATVs and some collector vehicles.