Author: DOUG DAHL

Q: Are there rules for where no-passing zones have to be placed? Is it just totally to the discretion of traffic engineers or are there regulations to follow? I ask because I find it rather odd that not all intersections are worthy of a no-passing zone.

A: If it turns out that the determination for no-passing zones was “just totally to the discretion of traffic engineers” would that be a bad thing? I’m wondering, who else would you prefer made that decision? Your barber? Your retirement planner? The quarterback from your favorite team? I have as much interest in watching a football game with team rosters made entirely of traffic engineers (I’m sure they’re great, really) as I do consulting with a roomful of NFL players on what zone to set up (assuming we’re talking about road design and not defensive strategies). Generally, I’m a fan of letting the pros do what they’re good at.

Continue reading “No-Passing Zones”

Q: Who has the right-of-way if one direction of traffic has a “right turn yield” and the opposite has “left hand yield on green”? People always act like they have the right-of-way going in both directions, often nearly causing crashes.

A. In life (and in driving) we’re in an ongoing pursuit of understanding. At the same time, perfect understanding is unachievable. A Sisyphean task, to be sure. I lead with that in order that we might have grace and patience for the people we share the road with when they fall short of understanding how to properly yield the right-of-way.

Continue reading “Dealing with Dual Yields”

Q: Is it legal to have a strobe light on the front of your bicycle? In my experience, the strobe light is distracting and dangerous, and cyclists need to realize that while the driver is distracted by the flashing light, everything else disappears. Like a moth to a flame, drivers are drawn to flashing lights and nothing else.

A: Do you want to be noticed, or do you want to be understood? I know, it sounds like some faux-philosophical question posed by an aspiring Instagram influencer. Really though, it’s a question about lights.

Continue reading “Flashing Headlights (on Bicycles)”

Q: In a construction zone with a speed limit of say 35 mph, where the speed limit is normally 55, once through the construction when does the speed limit change back to 55? Is it at the “end road work” sign, or not until you see the next 55 mph sign, which could be miles away?

A: Somebody just read the last part of this question and thought, “come on, miles away? You’re just being dramatic.” Not necessarily. The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Traffic Manual specifies where speed limit signs should be prominently located “for maximum awareness.” It includes the places you’d expect: when the speed limit changes, at major interchanges or intersections, and at state and city limits. Oh yeah, there’s one more on the list. In rural areas, speed limit signs are spaced at 10-to-20-mile intervals (for maximum awareness.) No, that’s not a burn on WSDOT. There’s a science to proper sign placement, and they know what they’re doing.

Continue reading “Construction Zone Speed Limits”

Q: I was on a state highway and saw what I thought was a stop sign posted on the side of the road, not near an intersection. As I got closer, I saw that the sign actually said “shop” and was in front of a store. Other than the change from ‘t’ to ‘h’ it looked like an official stop sign. Is that legal?

A: There’s a line somewhere between clever marketing and criminal behavior. Remember the Fyre Festival? That was the once-in-a-lifetime music festival on an island in the Bahamas with luxury accommodations, gourmet meals, and a line-up of famous bands. Sounds like catnip for influencers, right? In reality, attendees were housed in disaster relief tents with rain-soaked mattresses, served pre-packaged cheese sandwiches, and the bands didn’t show up. That kind of misleading marketing gets you a six-year prison sentence and 26 million dollars of restitution.

Continue reading “Illegal Traffic Signs”

Q: Do electric cars have a sound added to them? I heard one drive past me the other day and it sounded like something from Star Wars.

A: In 1886 the Benz Patent Motor Car made its debut as the first car powered by an internal combustion engine. Ever since then, nearly every car you’ve encountered has had a similar inherent safety feature: they’re noisy. Particularly for pedestrians, the engine noise generated by a car is an effective warning. Before you even see a vehicle, you can make a decent guess about how close it is, how fast it’s going, whether it’s approaching or moving away from you, and even how big it is.

Continue reading “Your Car Sounds Like a Spaceship”

Q: I have an old car with broken air conditioning, and I’ve found that driving with the windows down hurts my ears (and I’m concerned with long-term hearing loss). I assume people with convertibles might suffer this same issue. Is it legal to wear earplugs while driving? And if so, do you recommend anything in particular?

A: Assuming you’re not willing to keep your windows up while driving (and I understand why you might not – a closed-up car on a summer day can get unbearably hot,) I feel like there’s not a perfect answer to this question. It’s a trade-off between long-term hearing loss and immediate driving safety.

Continue reading “Driving with Earplugs”

Q: How do you properly adjust your side mirrors? I think most people adjust them so they can see the side of their own car, but I read something years ago where you should adjust your mirrors outwards which will more effectively cover their blind spot. Is there a recommended method?

A: Yes, there is a recommended method. In fact, I know of two recommended methods. Now that’s a problem, isn’t it? There’s also a method that’s not recommended but frequently employed.

Continue reading “Adjusting Your Mirrors”

We’re hours away from our most patriotic day of the year, so here’s one from the archives for anyone planning to fly the flag on a moving vehicle.

Flags on Pickup Trucks – Can You or Can’t You? (Or Should You?)

Q: I just heard about something called a ‘right hook,’ and that’s a situation I want to avoid. Can you explain how to make a right turn when there’s a cyclist on the road?

A: Right now all the boxing fans reading this (they’re a big part of my demographic) are confused; what does a punch to the side of your opponent have to do with driving near cyclists? And the Australians think they know what I’m talking about, but they don’t; down under, a right hook is a legal driving maneuver that has nothing to do with cyclists.

Continue reading “Avoiding the Right Hook”