Q: Are you concerned about the role of robot cars in the future?
Robot Cars – Safer Than Humans?
Can You Ever Really Have The Right-Of-Way?
Q1: At a two-way stop intersection where cross-traffic doesn’t stop, what is the protocol if cars approach the stop signs at different times during heavy traffic, and have conflicting proposed motions? If I am taking a left turn from one stop sign, and waiting for cross-traffic to clear, and a car comes up to the other stop sign opposite me, wanting to go straight, who is required to wait for the other? Would I be required to wait for the opposite car, even though I arrived at the intersection first?
Continue reading “Can You Ever Really Have The Right-Of-Way?”
Can You Be Too Cautious?
Q: Why don’t you write about drivers that are too cautious? Numerous times I’ve witnessed drivers that drive 45-50 MPH on the freeway, stop at the top of the ramp before entering the freeway, refuse to turn left against oncoming traffic until the left turn signal light returns, drive 10 car lengths behind another car in a 35 MPH zone, drive 25 MPH in a 35 MPH zone, and stop 60 feet before a crosswalk startling the car behind them.
Continue reading “Can You Be Too Cautious?”
Parking, Mailboxes and Neighbors
Q: Is it legal to park in front of a mailbox? My neighbor keeps parking in front of mine, and I’m missing mail deliveries. Asking him to park somewhere else hasn’t worked because there is a shortage of parking spaces in the neighborhood, so I’m hoping there is a law that can be enforced.
Distracted Driving Makes You Dumb (For Real)
Q: Last summer the state passed a tougher distracted driving law. Is it working? It doesn’t look like it to me.
Continue reading “Distracted Driving Makes You Dumb (For Real)”
Arrests and Impounds
Q: My friend got pulled over for a traffic infraction. The officer found drugs on him and in his backpack. He got arrested and they let me go. However, they wouldn’t let me take the car, even though I have a valid driver’s license. Why wouldn’t they let me take the car?
Passing Transit Buses
Q: I was driving on a two-lane road and stopped behind a WTA bus that was at a bus stop waiting for a passenger walking fast to catch the bus. A vehicle came up behind me, waited for about 5 seconds, and then passed my car and the bus using the oncoming traffic lane. Was that legal?
Schizophrenic Cyclists
Q: It’s my understanding that if a bicyclist rides on the sidewalk, he should use the pedestrian crossing and should get off the bike in order to cross the street. Am I wrong?
Daylight Saving – The Next Traffic Disaster?
This week’s column isn’t prompted by a question; instead, it’s inspired by the calendar. If you’ve followed this column on a semi-regular basis you may have noticed that the topics sometimes correspond to events and seasons – rules about school buses at the start of the school year, impaired driving during the holidays – those sort of things. But what event is coming up next weekend that could possibly have a tie to traffic safety? There isn’t holiday, a change of season, or some other community-wide festival. But there is something to be aware of: Daylight saving.
Continue reading “Daylight Saving – The Next Traffic Disaster?”
Headlights Aren’t Just For The Dark
Q: I am concerned about the significant number of drivers I see on our roads that do not turn on their headlights at dusk or when visibility is poor during the day light hours. Many drivers seem to refuse to turn on their headlights when there is fog, drizzle, or other poor lighting. I’m sure they think that they can see just fine, but often I don’t see them until they have gone by in the oncoming lane. It seems to me that if drivers had their headlights on at all times (night and day) we might have fewer accidents during poor visibility conditions. What is the law on this? Continue reading “Headlights Aren’t Just For The Dark”