Tag: intersection

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HAWK Spotting

This week I’m attempting to exercise my psychic abilities by answering a question before it gets asked. Here’s the question I’m expecting to arrive in my in-box any day now: What am I supposed to do with the crazy new lights that just got installed on Lakeway Drive?

The city of Bellingham is completing four more HAWK traffic signals, located along and around Lakeway Drive, and while there are already a few of them in Bellingham (on Alabama Street) they may still be unfamiliar to a lot of drivers. Or maybe you recall hearing something about the HAWKs a couple years ago when the first ones went in, but since you don’t drive on Alabama you either ignored or forgot about HAWK signals. Either way, here’s a refresher on the HAWK traffic signals.

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Blocking the Crosswalk

Q: At an intersection, after I’ve stopped at the stop line, is it okay to pull forward for visibility if I end up blocking the crosswalk? If this is legal, do pedestrians have to wait until I leave the crosswalk to cross? When I did this someone walked out in front of me well outside the crosswalk.

A: This week we might get a little law-heavy trying to answer this question. That’s because there isn’t one specific law that gives us the complete answer. Instead I’m relying on four separate traffic laws (along with a reference from the Washington Driver Guide) to get the full picture. Some, or maybe all, of these laws are familiar on their own, but mixing together this legal cocktail is what makes it work.

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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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What’s The Real Speed Limit?

Q: After turning onto Portal Way to go north from Grandview Road the speed limit is 50 mph. Then in about a quarter mile it drops to 35 mph and then in about 50 feet it changes back to 50 mph. At first I thought it was because of the cars driving in and out from the storage units. But after I went back and double checked I saw it goes back to 50 mph before the driveway into the storage units. What’s the point of having the speed drop down to 35 mph? Are we supposed to slam on our brakes to slow down to 35mph only to have to accelerate again back to 50 mph?
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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?

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How to Respond to a Yellow Light That Flashes You

Q: I have a question about the lights on Bakerview Road at south-bound I-5 exit 258. When you are in the left turn lane there is a flashing yellow arrow that comes on, then it turns to solid yellow. I have stopped on the yellow arrow, both when it is flashing and/or solid and there are a lot of people who go through on it. The other day I got there just after the signal had changed to red, then while I was waiting for the green arrow the light changed to the flashing yellow arrow again. What should a person do? Continue reading “How to Respond to a Yellow Light That Flashes You”

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Cyclists and “The Wave”

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””