Tag: signs

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Stop, Don’t Stop

I recently encountered this pair of signs while driving through an unfamiliar area.

Let’s count all the ways this is so wrong:

  1. Conflicting directions: Do I stop? Do I never stop? Is this a quantum physics problem where matter can travel multiple paths simultaneously as long as it’s not being observed (by the police)?
  2. Too many words: The first time I drove through the intersection I actually didn’t have time to read the small print. I was too busy looking for cross-traffic to focus on all that text. All I read was, “Stop – No stopping any time.” I had to go through the intersection a second time to read it all. (And a third time to pull over and get a picture.)
  3. Distracting: Intersections have more crashes than any other part of the road system. Signs should be about safety. If you’re worried about people trying to sell their cars, put that sign somewhere else.
  4. Confusing: Should I run the stop sign if I’m trying to sell my car? What does this sign pairing want me to do? I was driving a rental car at the time so I’m pretty sure I was supposed to just drive straight though (not really.)

It’s rare that we encounter traffic signs this absurd, which is a credit to the traffic engineers who almost always get it right. But not this time.

And I should point out that this wasn’t local (which you probably figured out from the clear blue sky and the high desert terrain.) So don’t be teasing our local traffic engineers about this.

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How to Respond to a Yellow Light That Flashes You

Q: I have a question about the lights on Bakerview Road at south-bound I-5 exit 258. When you are in the left turn lane there is a flashing yellow arrow that comes on, then it turns to solid yellow. I have stopped on the yellow arrow, both when it is flashing and/or solid and there are a lot of people who go through on it. The other day I got there just after the signal had changed to red, then while I was waiting for the green arrow the light changed to the flashing yellow arrow again. What should a person do? Continue reading “How to Respond to a Yellow Light That Flashes You”

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Why You Shouldn’t Drive Through a Flooded Road

Q: I noticed Whatcom County Public Works added a note to a recent road closure notice, reminding people not to drive past those temporary closure signs for flooded streets. Sometimes the county has put so many out that it takes a while to pick them back up. Drivers see the road doesn’t have much or any water over it, so they ignore the sign and go past it. Is it illegal to ignore those temporary signs?

A: This time of year it’s not uncommon to encounter flooded roads, so it’s a good idea to review the rules about road closures due to flooding. Since the signs that notify drivers of flooding follow the same guidelines as other road closure and warning signs, this will be more a review about traffic signs (in the context of flooding.) Continue reading “Why You Shouldn’t Drive Through a Flooded Road”

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Signs That Don’t Make Sense

Here’s a one-question quiz: Are there more road signs on local, state and federal roads in America, or more Americans who admit to getting lost by not reading the road signs? I actually don’t know the answer to that, but I’m confident that the number is in the millions for both. Given that there are so many road signs, I’m actually surprised at how infrequently we encounter signs that cause confusion. However, thanks to reader submissions, this week we take a look at three signs that could use some explanation. Continue reading “Signs That Don’t Make Sense”

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White Lines and What They Mean

Q: What are the rules on crossing white lines? Solid white lines, double white lines, white lines on the shoulder of the road; some of you have been wondering about when it’s okay to make lane changes across white lines.

A: Let’s start with where white lines are found and the types of white lines you might encounter while driving. White lines are used to separate lanes traveling in the same direction or to mark the shoulder of the roadway. They can be broken, dashed, solid or solid double and each type has a reason and some rules. Continue reading “White Lines and What They Mean”

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Freight Trains and Soda Cans

Q: I have a few railroad questions: Where do I stop for a railroad crossing? On crossings without gates, once I’ve stopped for the flashing red lights, can I cross if the train is still not too close? Can I stop on railroad tracks while waiting for traffic to clear? Why can’t I walk down the railroad track?

A: For those of you who sometimes wonder if these questions are real; yes, yes they are. Usually I get questions directly but, in this case, they were passed on to me by an employee of BNSF Railway. They are questions he has encountered, and I intend to answer them. Continue reading “Freight Trains and Soda Cans”

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Driving From Private Property to Public Roads

Q: If I leave a parking lot that is private property and a sign on the property says right turn only, can I get cited for make a left turn, even if there is no oncoming traffic?

A: Yes, but I think I understand where you’re coming from. Outside of a few criminal violations like DUI and reckless driving, traffic laws are not usually enforced on private property. There are a few exceptions, which I covered in a previous Road Rules article. However, it’s a little different when the private property meets the public roadway. At a minimum, the law requires drivers coming from a private road or driveway to yield to traffic on the public road. Continue reading “Driving From Private Property to Public Roads”

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Disabled Parking And The Law

Q: What is the law concerned handicapped parking spaces? Must a handicapped person always be present to justify their use? Can abuses be reported, and to whom? Is there a fine that can be imposed to those who misuse a permit?

A: Working backwards through the questions; yes, yes (the police), yes, and you’ll find the laws in chapter 46.19 of the RCW. That’s the super-short summary; now let’s dig in. To start with, I know that we usually use the term “handicapped parking”, but the Revised Code of Washington titled the chapter “Special Parking Privileges for Persons With Disabilities”, and throughout the chapter refers to “special parking privileges” so I’ll be using that term here. I just wanted to point that out so we all know we’re talking about the same thing. Continue reading “Disabled Parking And The Law”

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Navigating Through Construction Zone Signs

Q: Are there any requirements for the use and/or placement of signage to warn drivers when construction affects the flow of traffic? Who is responsible for setting up the signs?

A: Oh yes, there are requirements. Pages and pages of requirements. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which Washington has adopted as its rule book for signs, signals, road markings has nearly 200 pages devoted to what it calls Temporary Traffic Control (TTC). That’s the official term for signs used during construction or other scenarios that require a short-term change in traffic patterns, such as a crash that blocks traffic or a truckload of salmon that spills onto the highway. Continue reading “Navigating Through Construction Zone Signs”

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What’s a HAWK, and How Does It Work?

Q: More education appears to be needed regarding the “HAWKS” on Alabama Street. Two days ago, two police officers in Bellingham patrol cars were observed traveling in opposite directions on Alabama. They both stopped at an activated hawk and were each first in line in their respective lanes. Once the hawk began flashing red and the pedestrians had cleared the crosswalk, the officers remained stopped until the hawk entered the OFF mode. Should they not have proceeded once the crosswalk was clear and the hawk was flashing red?

A: Clearly, if some of our local officers are unsure of how to proceed through HAWK signals, the message of navigating the HAWKs has not penetrated deep enough into the community. The City of Bellingham has some great HAWK-related resources on their website, but I’ll try another way of explaining it that helps me remember what to do at a HAWK. Continue reading “What’s a HAWK, and How Does It Work?”