Category: Road Rules

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You Can’t Change Lanes in an Intersection, Or Can You?

Q: I have a question about the rule about changing lanes when going through an intersection. I see a lot of drivers change lanes when making a right or left turn going through an intersection. Is that legal?

A: At a minimum, changing lanes while turning through an intersection is sloppy driving. It might also be lazy driving; instead of making the effort to complete two separate maneuvers (driving through the intersection and then changing lanes) the driver is rolling it all into one. Some might call that efficient, but I stand by my word choice from the beginning of the previous sentence. I’m willing to state that it’s unpredictable as well. We expect cars to stay in their lanes as they drive through intersections. Why? Because that’s what we’ve been taught, which is why I was confident that I could find support from the Revised Code of Washington to show that it’s also against the law. Turns out, that’s tougher than it sounds. I’ll get to that in a bit. Continue reading “You Can’t Change Lanes in an Intersection, Or Can You?”

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Free Right on a Red Light Isn’t Really Free

Q: In other states in which I have lived, cars are required to come to a complete stop before turning right on a red light. However, here so many cars do not stop; I was wondering if the law is different here. I did a very unscientific survey at an intersection I regularly crossed and found about half of the cars did not stop. Police did better, with only one-third that didn’t. One group I must compliment is city buses; I never saw one not stop. The one semi that I saw at the intersection did not stop.

A: Most drivers are probably familiar with the expression, ‘free right on red.’ However, if you were to ask a room full of economists, I’m pretty sure they’ll tell you that nothing is free. I’ll get to one of the costs of the ‘free’ right on red in a moment, but first let’s review the law. Continue reading “Free Right on a Red Light Isn’t Really Free”

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Traffic Enforcement: Do We Have Enough?

I’ve received a number of questions focused on various traffic violations that end with a similar refrain: Why don’t the police do more enforcement of (fill in the blank)? Collectively all these questions hint at the larger question: Are we doing enough traffic enforcement in our community? Instead of answering that question with a yes or a no, I’ve done some research on how much enforcement is happening in our county. I’ll give you the numbers and let you reach your own conclusion. Continue reading “Traffic Enforcement: Do We Have Enough?”

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Just Put Them at 9 And 3

Q: I was taught to keep my hands at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel, but I’ve heard that if your car has airbags you should keep your hands at 8 and 4. Is that right? It feels weird.

A: Allow me to split the difference and recommend 9 and 3. Back before airbags, 10 and 2 was the standard hand position on a steering wheel. But once car manufacturers started installing explosive devices in the steering wheels we realized that our hand position needed to change. (At the risk of stating the obvious, steering grip position is generally described by visualizing the steering wheel like the face of a clock. Hand position corresponds to the numbers on the clock’s face.) Continue reading “Just Put Them at 9 And 3”

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Church – A Sanctuary From Traffic Crimes?

Q: If you were pulled over and you had to pull into a church parking lot is it legal for the officer to arrest you on church property?

A: Back when I was a kid, when we played tag we’d often designate a base; let’s say it was the tetherball pole. As long as you were touching the pole, the person who was “it” couldn’t tag you. In present day United States we don’t have a legal equivalent to “base” in the game of tag. If you could travel back in time 800 years and get yourself to England, you might be able to benefit from the sanctuary laws at that time that would allow a criminal to seek temporary refuge at a church. But 800 years ago in England you wouldn’t have been driving in the first place. Continue reading “Church – A Sanctuary From Traffic Crimes?”

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When Your Stuff Gets In The Way

Q: Is it illegal to obstruct the view of the driver out the side windows? On my bicycle I have been nearly hit more than once by mail delivery drivers. They have right hand drive and stack mail on a shelf opposite them blocking their view out the left window. When they are making a right turn they can’t see me on my bike and pull out in front of me. If not illegal it’s dangerous. 

Continue reading “When Your Stuff Gets In The Way”