Everything Traffic Safety
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.
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?
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?
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”
Q: I noticed Whatcom County Public Works added a note to a recent road closure notice, reminding people not to drive past those temporary closure signs for flooded streets. Sometimes the county has put so many out that it takes a while to pick them back up. Drivers see the road doesn’t have much or any water over it, so they ignore the sign and go past it. Is it illegal to ignore those temporary signs?
A: This time of year it’s not uncommon to encounter flooded roads, so it’s a good idea to review the rules about road closures due to flooding. Since the signs that notify drivers of flooding follow the same guidelines as other road closure and warning signs, this will be more a review about traffic signs (in the context of flooding.) Continue reading “Why You Shouldn’t Drive Through a Flooded Road”
Q: Considering the money invested by the auto industries to make automobiles safer and traffic crashes more survivable, how can it be legal for individuals to raise their pickup trucks such that in a crash they will impact above a standard automobile’s bumper? How can it be legal for the drivers of these pickup trucks to embellish the front bumper of their vehicle with massive steel custom bumpers which ensure that anyone struck by their truck will suffer maximum damage and/or injury? If such modifications assist in off-roading or farm activities, then why are these vehicles not restricted as are tractors and other farm implements? It is inconceivable to me that such modifications can be considered street legal or in any way safe.
A: As we’ve seen before, and I’m sure we’ll see again, street-legal and safe are often related, but not always equivalent. Some of those jacked up trucks may be legal, but many of them are not. You’re right about the potential for damage and injury from mismatched bumper heights. And raising (or lowering) a vehicle causes more problems than just bumper issues. We’ll look at the risks and the rules related to modified vehicle heights. Continue reading “Jacked Up – Is It Worth The Risk?”
Q: My friend and I have a disagreement. On a 3 lane highway with very light traffic, which lane should a 60 mph driver choose? I say the far right. My friend says the middle. My reasoning is because if I’m going 65 mph and need to pass the middle lane driver, I am required to pass on the left. Meanwhile, the right lane is wide open and it’s discourteous for the 60 mph car to be camping out in the middle lane. Slower traffic keep right, correct? My friend says the middle lane is a thru lane and if you’re going the speed limit, it’s fine to be there. The second part to this question: There is a 60 mph car in the middle lane. I am going 65 mph in the right lane. Do I pass him on the right? Or should I pass on the far left?
A: First of all, if 60 mph is the speed limit, why are you openly admitting to speeding in a question to a traffic safety guy? I’ll do my best to set that aside for a moment to answer the question. Continue reading “Is The Right Lane Always The Right Lane?”
Q: I ride a bicycle and drive a car. While riding my bike in town, I confront the following situation on a regular basis: I am riding on a side street, come to an intersection, and stop at the stop sign. A well-intentioned driver on the main road will come to a stop, even though he is not facing a stop sign, and motion me to cross, even though I should wait until traffic has passed. Usually I cross, providing traffic from other directions has also stopped. I would like all motorists and bicyclists to follow the law; i.e. if the car has the right-of-way, then it should go. What is the appropriate way for me to handle this situation?
A: Like you, I both ride a bike and drive a car. Not at the same time, obviously. And like you, I’ve been in a similar situation – getting the “go ahead” wave from a driver who has stopped for me, even though I’m the one with the stop sign. I know people even experience it occasionally when driving a car. Continue reading “Cyclists and “The Wave””
Q: In regards to a statement in a previous article about pedestrians crossing the street at unsafe locations, what is safe versus non-safe? I think a pedestrian crossing at any intersection is safe but some people think only marked crosswalks are safe.
A: The problem with the word ‘safe’ when talking about traffic is that it can misrepresent the risks, and lead us to believe that because we’ve chosen a ‘safe’ behavior a threat doesn’t exist. When people ask me about my job, my answer generally includes ‘traffic safety’. Maybe instead I should say that I work to make getting where you’re going less dangerous. Continue reading “The Most Dangerous Way To Cross The Street”
Q: Is it legal for a car manufacturer to show a car doing an illegal driving maneuver in a commercial?
A: It depends on which illegal driving maneuver you’re talking about. There is a law that prohibits the advertisement of speeding on public roads, but we’ll get to that in a moment. First I’d like to touch on a broader topic that your question brings up. It seems like there’s an arms race going on between car manufacturers, but instead of firepower, they’re competing on horsepower (which generally translates into speed). Continue reading “Is it Illegal to Speed in a Car Commercial?”