Swirling potpourri, other loose ends

There are some salient subjects, addenda, and reader comments swirling in my head this week, so it’s time to tidy-up some loose ends.

Old Business

A reminder of my mission here: to enlighten and entertain readers with real-world information regarding rules of the road, vehicle knowledge, and driving skills. Vehicles of every type have caught my fancy for life, and I’ve devoted much of my work, hobby, and leisure time to this wheeled-world. I have always considered the operation of a vehicle to be a tremendous freedom and privilege, and I truly love it. Since I place so much importance on driving, it is natural for me to work at doing it well. My goal is to get others to place more of their attention to the task at hand while within their vehicles — driving them.

In the past, I’ve thanked drivers who try to drive well, but according to my observations, our numbers are too few. Driving with attention, knowledge and skill is not all that difficult, but does take some devotion and concentration. We may all make mistakes, but please try to learn from them, and minimize their recurrence, for self-preservation and the safety of others. But many drivers just use poor judgment.

The driver I watched during a round-trip to Vancouver, Wash., recently reminded me why the WSP is getting serious about road rage (I wrote of the subject last week). A 1988 Corsica cannot safely perform the high-speed stunt-driving-like lane changes its driver was trying. As I drove along the four-laner, with cruise set about 73 mph, in the “slow” lane, a young woman in a Corolla was making her way past at probably 75. Her pass was evidently too tedious for the driver of the Corsica following her, though, because the moment she cleared my vehicle, the Corsica careened through the narrow slit behind her, passed her on the right (in front of me), then made a near-two-wheeled drift back in front of her — that, folks, is road rage. At least three near-simultaneous infractions: following too closely (literally fewer than 3 feet), speeding, and reckless driving.

It’s unnerving to be out there with such angry individuals, and that’s why the WSP is working to curtail aggressive driving. This problem really is spreading. Witness the NASCAR race in New Hampshire Sunday past, when the drivers actually endured a red-flag “time out” for overly aggressive driving for the first time ever.

School Stuff

Reader G.T. wants to remind everyone about school zones. While she wants drivers to go 20 mph when they are supposed to, she doesn’t want them doing 20 when it’s not required.

Not all school zones are alike — drivers must pay attention to the wording on the warning signs. Some are in effect when children are present along the roadway, some are indicated by flashing lights, others are signified by a flag attached to the sign, and many are in effect during certain posted hours (like 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.). Whenever in effect, these are meant to be safety zones for the students — please be aware. Speeding fines in school zones are $177.

Also remember to heed the flashing lights and stop signs on stopped school busses — you must stop behind, and for oncoming busses that display these warnings. According to State RCW 46.61.370, however, you need not stop for an oncoming bus when you are on a four-lane, or divided roadway; but use plenty of caution. Violation fine is $363.

Reader Reminders

S.S. is tired of two-way left turn lane misuse. Often, when she is about to turn into such a lane, some vehicle is coming out of the parking lot to use the lane for entering traffic, or traveling a long distance in the lane. Well, S.S, I remember a State Patrol officer telling me, when I was only 16, that those are not “waiting lanes” for entering traffic. So, your reminder has merit. Also, the State Driver Guide states that these lanes cannot be traveled for more than 300 feet.

The rubbernecking at accident scenes really bothers S.M. You’re not the only one, S.M., many are bothered, and some even killed by that phenomenon. It’s the No. 1 accident-causing drivers’ distraction. Let’s try to change that!

I’ve spoken often about pre-drive light checks, but reader N.H. wishes more of us would check the high-mount brake light — he sees many non-illuminated examples.

Addenda

•R.B. has supplied some worthy information regarding the previously printed pet peeve of drivers failing to make free right and left turns when allowed. He is a school bus driver, and writes that his employer forbids free right turns for the busses. This reminded me that some fleet operators have special rules, which their drivers must follow, although tolerance for turning busses should be a given.

•R.B. also mentioned that the two on-ramps at U.S.-195 & I-90 westbound, and at the Maple Street Bridge northbound, have “yield” signs in place. I believe the state is just trying to help overcome the shortcomings of those too-short chutes by reminding drivers that, yes, they must ultimately yield in this roadway-entrance situation. The entering traffic must always yield (even in the more-normal absence of such a sign) when entering a roadway from a ramp, but usually if one checks roadway traffic while on the ramp, a merge can be accomplished without making a complete stop. Sometimes, courteous drivers even move to the left lane to make it easy for traffic to enter from the right, when possible.

Feedback

I appreciate the feedback I’ve received from you — be it questions, answers, rage encounters, peeves, praise or criticism, I welcome it. Thanks!