Police target young drivers this week

Ah, those first days with a brand, spanking new driver’s license … it’s a new world full of exhilaration and freedom.

Just watch out if the car is filled with teenagers more interested in chatting than watching the road.

That’s why the local police will be conducting special emphasis patrols this week to make sure teens are following Washington’s intermediate driver’s license rules, targeting areas around local high schools, shopping malls and other places teens gather.

“The old saying is, ‘The more teenagers you stuff in a car, the lower the average IQ.’ You’re talking to your buds, and there’s more things going on,” said Spokane Police Lt. Dean Sprague.

Though teens make up just 7 percent of Washington’s licensed drivers, they account for 15 percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes.

Sprague said violating the rules is a secondary infraction.

That means police can’t ticket for it alone, but can add a ticket if a driver violating the rules is pulled over for another traffic infraction.

The restrictions, adopted in 2001, apply to drivers under age 18. In their first six months with a license, these teens are prohibited from driving passengers under age 20 unless they are immediate family members. After six months, these drivers can have a maximum of three unrelated passengers under age 20 in their vehicle.

All drivers under age 18 are prohibited from driving between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or licensed driver at least 25 years old.

If after a year of driving, the teen has no accidents and has committed no traffic offenses, he or she can drive at any time of day.

Most teens follow the rules, said Sprague, who added that many parents add their own restrictions.

A recent survey by PEMCO Insurance backs up that statement.

The company found that almost 80 percent of parents institute their own “house rules,” including requiring their children to maintain good grades if they want to drive.

Others forbid driving in bad weather or eating or talking on the cell phone in the car.

“With teen drivers you’ve got to remember mom and dad are picking up the insurance cost,” said Sprague.

It must be spring

After being briefly opened and then closed again for nine days, the North Cascades Highway is again passable.

The Washington State Department of Transportation opened the pass on March 10 – its earliest opening ever – only to have to close it down 16 days later because of snow slides.

The area around Washington Pass is closed every winter because of dangerous conditions.

Here’s hoping that the pass will remain open until next winter.

56 reasons

Every year the Washington State Department of Transportation reminds motorists to be careful around work zones. And every year, you can almost hear the answer, “Of course we will be careful.”

Well, the sad reality is that drivers aren’t careful enough. Since 1950, 56 WSDOT workers have been killed in work zones.

And that doesn’t even include all those injured.

The WSDOT last week set up a memorial at the state capital to remind drivers of the price of work zone carelessness, setting up a cone, hardhat and pair of boots for each worker killed.

Please drive safely.

Watch pedestrians, too

Tulips are pushing up in some neighborhoods, “20 is plenty” signs in others.

It’s Traffic Awareness and Pedestrian Safety Week again, an event organized each year by neighborhoods.

Last year the Rockwood Neighborhood pushed a new program for pedestrians, urging them to stick a hand out to signal their intention to cross the street.

That emphasis is being expanded to the entire city this year, said Marilyn Akerhielm, a member of the All-City Traffic and Transportation Committee.

And those “Neighbors drive 25” signs can be purchased at Spokane’s Office of Neighborhood Services.

Call 625-6730.

Clean streets

Spokane street sweepers are still on the move.

This week they head to areas bound by: Lincoln, Francis, Ash and Indian Trail; Francis, Wellesley, Monroe and Ash; Maxwell, Bridge Avenue, Monroe and the Spokane River; Mission, Trent, Greene and Helena; Havana, Perry, Second and Trent; Grand, Monroe, 14th and 8th; and 5th, Rockwood, Southeast Boulevard and Rockwood.

Move those vehicles off the street.

Slow going

The traffic aggravation begins anew at the Argonne Bridge this week, when it’s reduced to one lane in each direction as crews finish work there.

The plan is to complete it by mid-June.

The state is adding left turn lanes at Helena and State Route 290 (aka Trent).

There may be lane restrictions at times.

Aubrey L. White Parkway will be closed starting today in front of the city’s sewage treatment plant for installation of a new water line.

Perry Street will also be closed this week just north of Trent.