More odds & ends, readers’ feedback
Questions should lead to answers, but at times, answers lead to questions. The subjects of travel through school zones, and the use of two-way left turn lanes, prove the premise. Readers have recently provided input on these and other topics of interest.
More on School Zones
As I’ve stated before, not all school zones are alike. There are full-time zones, part-time zones (designated by flashing lights or specific posted hours), and the “when children are present” zones. Readers H.S. and P.H. have questions about that latter kind, and so do I. After digesting state, county and city research material, I must say that there is some confusion there as well. A statement at one of the Websites notes, “School zone rules can be confusing, so when in doubt, proceed with caution and drive 20 mph near a school.” I prefer more definitive answers than that.
A summation of my reading and discussion with law enforcement officials sheds some light on the subject. The “when children are present zones” are for crosswalk areas not immediately adjacent to school property. The “children present” refers to when kids are on sidewalks and in crosswalks — instances when the speed limit is 20 mph. As always, laws with gray areas are subject to interpretation by traffic officers and courts. Have a solid premise for your driving behavior within these zones — you may have to explain your actions to a police officer or a judge.
More on Two-Way Left Turn Lanes
Speaking of gray areas, State RCW 46.61.290 addresses two-way left-turn lanes. Early this month, I mentioned that I was once told by police that these were not “waiting lanes” for entering traffic. This is not specifically stated in the RCW, so if I were ticketed for this violation, I would state my case in court. J.L. of Newport, would probably go to court too — he also wonders why these can’t be “entrance” lanes. The law states that these lanes are to be used by vehicles making left turns from the roadway — also providing that they are not to be used for passing, and that travel within them must be limited to 300 feet. It does not state whether they can be used for waiting to enter traffic. Reading between the lines, I suppose that using them for excessive waiting could inhibit their use for the main purpose of left turns. Apparently, when you leave a parking lot, the lane(s) you are crossing, the two-way left turn lane, and the lane you wish to enter all must be clear before you proceed. Using them as a temporary refuge before traffic clears could earn you a citation.
Mirror Monitoring
Astute readers D.A. of Spokane, and S.R. of Chewelah, want to remind us to set our mirrors properly, and use them. Adjust your rear view mirror so that you have a full view out the back window, and if it’s a day/night version, be sure it’s in the right mode. Set your side mirrors so that you can see a small amount of the side of your vehicle when you lean forward slightly. Both of these readers watched drivers ignore emergency vehicles approaching from the rear on the highway. Please scan your rear view mirror often, and move over for vehicles with flashing lights on emergency runs — police cruisers, fire trucks, and ambulances.
Possible Solution
D.W. took the dangerous situation at the US195 and I-90 eastbound entrance ramp to heart — he wonders what other readers think of his solution. Eastbound I-90 traffic could be funneled into the two left lanes, leaving the right lane to exit-only to 195 southbound. That would open a lane that the northbound 195 traffic could use to safely enter I-90 eastbound. I think the idea has merit, especially with increased development along 195.
Laws
Spokane reader D.M. sent some comments about rules of the road. He feels that they are complex, hard to find, and sometimes ambiguous. I’d say all of the above is true — each state must write its own laws, along with each municipality (city). The driver’s guide for Washington attempts to paraphrase these codes in a user-friendly format. The State RCW (Revised Code of Washington) is viewable on the Web, and at the Library, as is the Spokane Municipal Code. When it comes to rules of the road, the Spokane Code mirrors the State Codes nearly verbatim. We must do our best with what we have available, but it certainly is not all black and white (back to that “gray” thing).
Miscellaneous
D.M. also asked about the speed law for passing on two-lane highways. For Washington state, at least, RCW 46.61.290 states, “…a person following a vehicle driving at less than the legal maximum speed and desiring to pass such vehicle may exceed the speed limit … on highways having only one lane of traffic in each direction, at only such a speed and for only such a distance as is necessary to complete the pass with a reasonable margin of safety.” Other states have other rules, and this one is subject to varied interpretation as well — typically, common safety sense must prevail.
Please continue to send your comments and questions. Eventually, most of them end up on this page. Thanks.