Some lesser-known rules of the road
Based on e-mail, in-person comments, and witnessed driver behavior, I’ve found that there are certain traffic encounters leaving drivers with questions and uncertainties. These situations come up regularly, and they consist of vehicle interactions with pedestrians, school buses, and emergency vehicles. Some of the confusion might be alleviated with another glance at the rules of the road.
Pedestrians
With crosswalk emphasis patrols, pedestrian decoys, and other attention over the last couple of years, some drivers are nervous around foot traffic. Since this apprehension is due, in part, to lack of crosswalk-rule knowledge, let’s look at some rules.
We all know a marked crosswalk when we see one, but, in the absence of markings, there is an unmarked crosswalk that we must visualize and respect at every intersection as well. Pedestrians have all of the same rights at an unmarked crosswalk as a marked one.
Spokane Municipal Code article listing 16.61.235 describes when to stop. It states that the operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian or bicycle to cross the roadway within an unmarked or marked crosswalk, “when the pedestrian or bicycle is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning.” The listing goes on to state, “For purposes of this section ‘half of the roadway’ means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel, and includes the entire width of a one-way roadway.”
A study of that wording should help us decide what law enforcement expects of us in order to be in crosswalk compliance, but there are some more rules that drivers and walkers need to know.
The same Code listing prohibits a pedestrian or bicycle from suddenly leaving a curb, and walking, running or otherwise moving into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to stop. Further, 16.61.240 states, “Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway,” and, “Between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except a crosswalk.” So it’s OK for walkers to cross at a non-crosswalk if they yield to traffic, but illegal to do so if it’s on a block with stoplights at each end.
Finally, there’s a “catch-all” meant to keep drivers vigilant — listing 16.61.245 pressures drivers with, “Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this chapter, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused or incapacitated person on a roadway.” I’m glad they have that last part in there to protect me.
School Buses
I’ve had some e-mail questions about the requirement to stop for school bus stop signs. Code listing 16.61.370 makes things fairly clear: Section 1 states the requirement to stop for a school bus with its flashing lights and fold-out stop sign when you approach from either direction. I think just about everyone knows that.
Sections 2 and 3, however, clear up the gray areas I’ve been asked about: “The driver of a vehicle upon a highway divided into separate roadways need not stop upon meeting a school bus which is proceeding in the opposite direction and is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging children.” And, “The driver of a vehicle upon a highway with three or more marked traffic lanes need not stop upon meeting a school bus which is proceeding in the opposite direction and is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging children.”
Emergency Vehicles
I’ve seen some really odd behavior during these encounters of the third kind — interaction with police vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances. Sure, doing the right thing takes a few moments out of your busy day, but these vehicles are on their way to help someone with bigger problems than yourself at the moment.
Here’s what the law says in listing 16-61-210: “Upon approach of an authorized emergency vehicle with audible and visual signals, every other vehicle shall yield right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection, and shall stop and remain in position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.”
Keep Your Opinions Coming
Sorry, our readers simply can’t muster any sympathy for the driver who hates premature single filing at narrowing construction zones. Everyone seems to feel that traffic moves just as well when people leave the soon-to-be-closed lane as soon as they can, and that the only offshoot of doing it the other way (expecting a “let-in”) is increased driver aggravation.
Please keep your driving thoughts and opinions coming.