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Traffic Signals and Traffic Jams

Q: Have the traffic lights in Bellingham been professionally set up, that is adjusted to allow for the best flow of traffic? I do not understand how the city doesn’t have the ability to have the lights synchronized on some of our busiest roads.

A: This question is adapted from a stack of questions about signal timing in Bellingham. The top three locations where drivers get frustrated by traffic lights are, in order, Sunset Drive, Guide Meridian and Lakeway Drive. Of those three, Sunset Drive has a dominating lead in the complaint column. Continue reading “Traffic Signals and Traffic Jams”

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Fences, Shrubs and Traffic Laws

Q: My view of oncoming traffic when making a left turn onto a busy street is obscured by a tall fence installed very close to the street. I cannot have a full view of cross-traffic without moving up very close to the busy street. This seems quite dangerous. Are there rules about fences or shrubs blocking views of traffic at corners where drivers are making turns?

A: I think most drivers at some point have encountered an intersection like you’ve described and asked the same question: “Isn’t there a law about this?” If you searched through the traffic section of the Revised Code of Washington you wouldn’t find anything. And if you expanded your search into other sections of the RCW the best you might find is a law that allows the Department of Transportation to remove obstructions from the side of state highways. Continue reading “Fences, Shrubs and Traffic Laws”

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How To Get Through a Yellow Light (Without Getting a Ticket)

Q: What is the standard for judging whether to continue to proceed through an intersection with a yellow light? If a police officer was going to issue a citation, what would they look for? There seems to be a whole continuum and sometimes it is hard to judge whether to make a fast stop or proceed.

A: The classic yellow light dilemma: Do I floor it or slam on the brakes? I’ve heard people say, “Red means stop, green means go, yellow means go faster.” That’s obviously not helpful advice, but in observing drivers at intersections, some people have readily accepted that flawed guidance. In this column I hope to bring a more balanced perspective to the yellow light discussion. Continue reading “How To Get Through a Yellow Light (Without Getting a Ticket)”

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Bicycle Rules and Myths

Q: You state that “Target Zero is Washington’s plan to eliminate fatality and serious injury crashes by 2030,” which is laudable. When it speaks of “fatality and serious injury crashes” does that statement include those crashes where bikes are involved? I ask this because here in Bellingham there appears to be absolutely no laws affecting cyclist and their driving behavior.

A: The author of this question continues with a series of situations and statements involving cyclists. I’m going to work my way through the letter affirming laws, dispelling myths and trying to put cycling in perspective with the overall problem of fatalities on our roads. I can’t respond to all of them, but here are the highlights. Continue reading “Bicycle Rules and Myths”

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Should You Get Your Speeding Ticket Deferred?

Q: I just got a speeding ticket. How do I get it deferred? Is that a good idea?

A: For some drivers, deferring a traffic infraction makes sense; for others, not so much. It depends on the kind of driver you are. I have a little quiz that can help, but first let’s explain what it means to defer a traffic infraction.

For those of you who have been given an infraction, you may recall that the ticket you received listed several options on how to respond. You can see the options in the image above. Continue reading “Should You Get Your Speeding Ticket Deferred?”

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A Distracted Driving PSA With No Cars and No Phones – And It’s Incredible

The first time I watched this PSA, I was a guest in a classroom of high school students. Part way through the video, I could feel the tone of the entire classroom shift. You’ll feel it too. By the end there were students in the class responding  a lot like the students in the video. Powerful. And real.

AT&T has created many excellent distracted driving PSAs through their It Can Wait campaign. I think this is one of their best.

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Jumping The Queue – It’s What Buses Can Do

A few days ago I received a question, or actually a report of complaints, by way of the folks at Whatcom Transportation Authority. It seems that people have been calling them to report bus drivers running red lights at a couple of locations in Bellingham. Maybe you’ve also seen bus drivers sneaking ahead of the traffic on Lakeway Drive at Lincoln Street or on Alabama Street at James Street.

What you’re seeing isn’t actually a violation of the law; at those two intersections WTA has worked with the City of Bellingham to set up queue jump lanes. Perhaps you’re not familiar with queue jump lanes. If that’s the case you’re not alone. Besides the angry calls to WTA, I heard a rumor (I won’t give up my source, but I’m pretty sure it’s true) that a police officer, unaware of the queue jump lanes, stopped a WTA bus driver intending to give the driver a ticket for running a red light. If queue jump lanes create so many complaints, why do we have them? The simple answer: they solve a problem. Continue reading “Jumping The Queue – It’s What Buses Can Do”

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Running From The Cops

Q: Not that I plan on doing it, but what would happen if I tried to outrun the cops on a traffic stop?

A: Let’s work from the assumption that you’re being pulled over for a simple traffic violation and that you’re not a suspect in a heinous crime. Understandably, cops make a greater effort to catch suspects that by their very freedom present a risk to the community than they do for someone who doesn’t use a turn signal. Continue reading “Running From The Cops”

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Back-to-School Driving Reminders

I’ve been hearing from folks who, as the school year starts up again, have not so much a question as a common request: “Can you please remind people to drive safe, especially around schools?” Of course I can. As requested: “Hey drivers, be safe on the road, and watch out for the kids.” I’d also like to go a couple steps further by expanding our concept of “kids” and why this time of year is extra-risky for drivers. Continue reading “Back-to-School Driving Reminders”