Questions, answers on ‘Precision Driving’

Feedback from you is welcome and encouraged; it’s a great way to take the pulse of Inland Northwest drivers. Over the preceding few months, I’ve enjoyed the pet peeves, accounts of road rage, criticism, praise, and topic ideas that have been sent to me via e-mail. Thanks to all readers and respondents!

Those e-mails also have contained many questions. Today, I will answer some of those questions to prove I’m listening, and enlighten other readers.

L.S. wrote: “Another gripe is when people park on the opposite side of the road facing traffic — especially at night when their lights are still on. I am sometimes blinded by headlights on both sides of the road and it is unnerving. A meter maid once said the car parked like this (whether occupied or not) is accountable if someone should hit it. Is this true?”

And G.C. asked: “Would you investigate and report to your readers whether or not it is legal to park on the left side of the road, facing traffic? I notice it all the time — especially at night when headlights are pointed at me from both sides of the road.”

L.S. and G.C.: You’re not the only ones annoyed by this practice — fortunately, state and municipal law enforcement don’t like it either. To summarize the Revised Code of Washington 46.61.575: Vehicles may park on the RIGHT-HAND side of a two-way roadway with their RIGHT-HAND wheels parallel to and within 12 inches of the curb. Vehicles may park on a one-way roadway only in the direction of travel. The law is clear, and that meter maid is right — owners of illegally parked vehicles are liable for the problems they cause by doing so.

Now is a good time to mention a few other parking particulars set forth in RCW 46.61.570: No person shall park a vehicle on a sidewalk or planting strip, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, within 20 feet of a crosswalk, within 30 feet upon an approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic control located at the side of roadway, within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station, or within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing. If you get a ticket, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

R.M wonders: “Are hand signals still legal? I’ve used a stop signal when I indicate I want to stop before backing into a parking space. I’ve had drivers behind me almost land in my trunk. How about signals for left or right turns using an arm signal?”

Keep up the good work, R.M. The current Washington Driver Guide still lists three hand signals as legitimate methods of letting other drivers know of your intentions — arm straight out left for left turn, arm pointed up for right turn, and arm pointed down to slow or stop.

S.M. asked (regarding road rage): Who do we call when we see this or experience it?

Just dial 911, S.M — they will quickly dispatch your call to the appropriate state police department, which efficiently takes these all-too-common reports.

R.H. ponders: Should left-lane driving be addressed for letting waiting vehicles on the right to enter the roadway? When I do it, traffic behind me often does not.

R.H., that is one of the four provisions of RCW 46.61.100 permitting left-lane driving: 1) passing another vehicle, 2) traveling at a speed greater than traffic flow, 3) WHEN MOVING LEFT TO ALLOW TRAFFIC TO MERGE, and 4) when preparing to make a legal left turn. You are doing the right thing to aid traffic flow — too bad others don’t.

You Call that ‘Driving’?

And finally a question of my own: Would the woman “driving” the white Kia Sportage please step forward to defend her inappropriate actions, and apparent ignorance of road rules?

This weekend, my wife and I were about halfway across Grand Avenue, at 30th Street, walking west, in a crosswalk, when I heard the engine of a tiny SUV red-lining through the gears, heading south, toward us, from 29th Street. It was still over a half-block away, but we picked up our pace to cover the last two lanes of our trek. We weren’t quick enough, though, as the incessant horn-honking 4x4-SUV-econobox was upon us as we jumped to the curb.

I don’t think that there can be a good reason for this behavior — I assume she didn’t know the crosswalk was there, but she still had to hurry to get to us. And what’s with the extended horn honk? Will this woman’s relatives please consider confiscating her license? A bus pass is as close as this unaware driver should get to a driving privilege — I’d even pay for the pass to have her off of the streets. Please poor drivers, try to become more familiar with the rules of the road, and become familiar with some of your vehicle controls other than the accelerator pedal and the horn.

Thanks again for your questions and comments!