Ignorance increases traffic

As a driver who relies on steady movement on our downtown streets to provide expeditious travel in the city, I believe I have discovered the main causes for our never-improving congestion. It is not the people driving below the speed limit. You can in most cases pass them.

The drivers who fail to take advantage of free right turns against red lights hold up long strings of motorists that have to sit and wait until the light turns green. I have observed this so many times that it makes me wonder how they were able to secure a driver’s license without some basic knowledge of what their responsibility is to help avoid the congestion.

Most of these people are unaware that a left turn from a two-way street onto a one-way street against a red light is perfectly legal. I refrain from honking and gesturing as an attempt to educate these drivers to make good choices to help us keep the traffic moving, but some days my patience becomes very strained on what the best approach might be. Maybe some public service messages on television or radio would be a good beginning.

Ray Moss

Spokane