May 2024 – The Wise Drive

May 30, 2024July 18, 2024

Leaving Kids Alone in Cars

Q: I don’t know what the Washington State law is, but I watched a police program, state and city unknown, that said a child of six years old can be left unattended in a locked car if not more than 15 minutes. Is that true?

A: The rules vary from state to state, but it certainly wasn’t Washington. Our state doesn’t have a broad prohibition on leaving kids unattended in cars. Yes, you read that right. We have a couple laws for limited situations, and I’ll get to the details of those shortly, but if you’re not going to a bar or leaving the engine running, (and it feels uncomfortable to write this) it’s currently legal.

May 23, 2024July 18, 2024

Terrible Turn Signal Design

Q: Whose bright idea was it to start putting the rear turn signal lights on the bumper area a foot below the rest of the rear lights?

A: I’m going to abandon all tact and just say it. Low-mounted turn signals are dumb. Oh, and your opening pun is brilliant. As to whose idea it was, I have two answers: one wrong, one right, both not great.

The conspiracy theorists will tell you that big auto, big insurance, and big government have colluded to increase rear-end crashes through poor vehicle design. Car companies reap massive profit from parts and service on vehicle repairs, insurance companies jack up rates for more frequent crashes, the government gets to tax all that revenue, and the senators get paid off by the lobbyists. That’s the wrong answer, in case you’re wondering.

May 16, 2024July 18, 2024

Worn-Out Road Stripes

Q: Has road striping paint changed? When I’m driving at night and in the rain it’s tough to see the lines. It doesn’t seem as reflective as it used to be.

A: You’re probably not looking for a history lesson on road paint, but it’s a cute story so I’m going to tell it. In 1911 Edward Hines was following a milk truck down the road as the truck leaked milk from its cargo hold. The stripe of white milk in the middle of the road inspired Hines, a member of the Wayne County Road Commission in Michigan, to paint centerlines in Wayne County to separate two-way traffic. The folks in Michigan call it the most important traffic safety device in the history of auto transportation. The rest of us think the seat belt claims that title, but it’s still a great idea.

May 9, 2024July 18, 2024

Drinking in a Parked Car

Q: I know it’s not legal to drive with an open alcohol container in the car, but is it legal for a driver to drink alcohol in a parked car? Assuming the driver doesn’t drink enough to be impaired, have they broken the law?

A: Before I tackle the question about the law, I’d like to clear something up. There isn’t an okay amount of alcohol in your system when driving. Washington’s per se law sets the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at .08, but a driver can be affected by alcohol at well below that limit. And impairment begins earlier than you might think.

May 2, 2024July 18, 2024

Left Turns and Right-of-Way

Q: When two cars are at stop signs that face each other and have a road going between them that doesn’t stop, does a car going straight have the right-of-way, even if they come to the stop sign after the left-turning car?

A: What if I said nobody has the right-of-way? It’s sort of a trick answer, but it’s also sort of true. The law doesn’t give people the right-of-way; it tells you who is required to yield the right-of-way. It might sound like the same thing, but it matters as a point of driver responsibility. Assuming you have the right-of-way can get you into trouble, even if the other person should have yielded.