The Wise Drive

May 20, 2021July 18, 2024

How Far Right Do I Have To Go to Keep Right?

Q: My question is about driving on limited-access freeways such as I-5. I try to drive as consistently as possible. On a three lane freeway, my understanding is the left lane is for passing, and the other two lanes are general purpose, which I’ve always understood to mean one lane isn’t supposed to be faster than the other. Typically I’ll drive in the center lane. The right lane usually goes slower but not always. Is there a legal requirement that says if I’m in the center lane with others passing me on the right, I must move to the right? If not, is it a courtesy I’m not aware of?

A: First off, I appreciate your intention to both do the law-abiding thing and the courteous thing. I think sometimes we overlook how driving courtesy can make the world a better place. And I can understand how you’ve reached the conclusion that the left lane is for passing and the other lanes are “general purpose”, despite that not actually being correct.

May 13, 2021July 18, 2024

Yielding at Uncontrolled Intersections

Q: I’d like to know who has the right-of-way at an intersection with no stop signs. In this case, it’s an urban collector street that crosses a short local street with cul-de-sacs at each end. I have argued that the urban collector street has the right-of-way because it crosses a street with dead ends, so it doesn’t matter about the person to the right having the right-of-way.

A: Sometimes what feels right in your gut doesn’t align with what’s actually in the law. I think you know where this is going. Before we get to the answer though, you mentioned that one road is an urban collector. Maybe we should be clear about what that means.

May 6, 2021July 18, 2024

Replacing a Worn Out Seatbelt

Q: My seatbelt seems to be wearing out. The buckle doesn’t always work right and the belt has some frayed spots on it. Are there any rules about replacing it? Can I just go buy one a used one from a wrecking yard?

A: I’d like to begin by acknowledging your regular seatbelt use. You didn’t come right out and say it, but a seatbelt doesn’t get worn out if no one ever pulls it out from its retractor. So after years of doing the right thing, your seatbelt is showing some wear.

April 29, 2021July 18, 2024

Interstate Travel – On A Scooter

Q. Personal transportation options are great but as an Oregonian, I can’t ride my gas scooter in Washington. It clearly meets all of Oregon’s rules, but only part of Washington’s rules. Can you guys come closer to allowing out-of-state spec scooters that ride in for a visit?

A. I sometimes wonder: if the founding fathers knew every state would create their own traffic laws, would they have been so excited about the tenth amendment and states’ rights? They probably still would have; it does have its merits. However, it may cause some hiccups with interstate travel.

April 22, 2021July 18, 2024

Running In The Road May Be Hazardous To Your Health

Q: What are the rules regarding pedestrians walking on the roadway when there is an obstruction-free sidewalk available? Runners and joggers tend to prefer using the asphalt over the concrete sidewalks available on just about every street in my neighborhood. I have heard that some runners claim asphalt is more forgiving on their joints but I believe that is unsupported by any data that I could find.

A: I’m no running expert, so I took a look at a few studies to see if there was any validity to the claim that running on asphalt is better for your joints than running on concrete. The studies were inconclusive so I sought out the input of experienced runners. Advice ranged from “Concrete should be avoided like the plague, to “The thickness of your socks has a greater cushioning effect than the difference in hardness between concrete and asphalt.” Again inconclusive. But from the perspective of traffic safety, here’s my take: Any perceived benefit from running on a slightly more forgiving surface is offset if that surface is shared by multi-ton vehicles that you can’t outrun. Yes, athletes have reason to be concerned about training injuries, but your most likely injury while running in the roadway is probably getting hit by a car.

April 15, 2021July 18, 2024

Traffic Signals – Making The Best of Efficiency and Safety

Q: I see changes in the way traffic is flowing at some larger intersections where I live. It used to be the turn lanes from the opposite sides would go at the same time. That way the through traffic from each side could go as soon as the opposite turn lane was complete. Now in many intersections, both the turn lane and through traffic from one side goes while the opposite side has all the cars for through and turn lanes waiting and idling. This does not appear to be as efficient as before. Why the change?

A: There’s that scene in the 2003 movie The Italian Job when the thieves we’re supposed to be rooting for take back the stolen gold from the double-crossing thief we’re supposed to root against. (Besides the ethical quandary of choosing which bad guy to root for, how can you ever root against Edward Norton?) A key part of their strategy involves hacking into Los Angeles’ traffic control computer system and manipulating traffic lights to direct the truck full of gold to their desired location.

April 8, 2021July 18, 2024

Delivery Trucks Parking in the Road

Q: We were following a delivery truck heading east on a county road. The driver stopped in the road, put his flashers on, and got out of the truck to deliver a package. We were close to a curve in the road and it was difficult to pass safely. On our way back a short time later he was parked in the westbound lane again blocking the road. Is this legal?

A: By the letter of the law, this is an easy answer. No, it’s not legal. The Revised Code of Washington states that “Outside of incorporated cities and towns no person may stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, upon the roadway.” There are a few exceptions, but none of them apply to delivery trucks. For the curious, here they are:

April 1, 2021July 18, 2024

Window Tint – Too Much Of A Good Thing

Q: I’m pretty sure that Washington has a regulation for how dark front passenger and driver side windows can be tinted. If so, why do I see so many vehicles with windows that are almost totally blacked out? Why is it not enforced since it is definitely a safety issue?

A: Window tinting is one of those cases where if a little is good, more is not better. And let me explain what I mean by “better.” People get their windows tinted for a variety of reasons, but when we’re talking about any modification to a vehicle, safety has to be the primary measurement determining what’s better. Dark windows might look more stylish, keep the interior of your car cooler when it’s parked in the sun, and increase privacy, but none of those things positively influence the core function of driving: getting safely to your destination.

March 25, 2021July 18, 2024

How Kids Can Help Improve Your Drive

What if I could guarantee you a 47 percent improvement in the quality of your daily commute? Yeah, I can’t do that, but it would be great if I could, right? That doesn’t mean there’s no hope for a better drive, especially if you’re a parent or you regularly have kids in the car with you. No, I’m not suggesting you leave them home 47 percent of the time.

My kids are adults now, but I still remember that not every drive with the kids was perfect. Sure, we had plenty of drives that involved singing songs together and talking about our day, but there were also the ones that involved lines like, “Dad, his hands are on my side of the seat. Make him stop!” Followed by, “No they’re not. I’m touching the center part. That’s no man’s land.” This inevitably resulted in both kids putting their hands in “no man’s land” and literal hand-to-hand combat.

March 18, 2021July 18, 2024

Parking: Backing in Versus Backing Out

Q: In a parking lot, I observed another driver stop and then back into a parking space. The driver behind him shook his fist because he had to wait. One organization for which I’m a volunteer driver recommends backing in because they say it’s safer to pull out of a space rather than backing out. What are your thoughts about heading in versus backing into a parking space?

A: Let’s start by acknowledging that backing up isn’t natural. For thousands of years we’ve walked forward. If we want to change directions we don’t walk backwards; we turn around. About the only time we walk backwards is when we get the bad end of the deal moving a couch. But in cars, we’re stuck with the design restraints and sometimes we have to back up. It’s less than ideal. Visibility is poor and, unless you’ve practiced a lot, maneuverability is, well, you’ve probably seen someone make nine consecutive attempts at parallel parking.