Tag: parking

Posted on

The Problem With Angle Parking

Q: Backing out of angle parking is tricky. Without the aid of backup cameras (or even with them), if the person backing up is hit by oncoming traffic, who would be at fault? This assumes oncoming traffic is not speeding, texting, or otherwise doing something that could contribute to the crash.

A: Before we get to the “Whose fault is it?” part, let’s take a moment to acknowledge that most angle parking has a fundamentally flawed design. Pulling into a parking spot is easy, but the problem becomes apparent when it’s time to leave. Depending on who parked next to you, you might need to back half your vehicle out of the parking spot and into the lane of travel before you can see if there’s another car coming. At the risk of stating the obvious, that’s a bad thing. The problem is that when backing out of an angle parking stall, the driver is positioned at the wrong end and wrong side of the vehicle to see oncoming traffic.

Continue reading “The Problem With Angle Parking”
Posted on

Can You Leave Your Engine Running on an Electric Car?

Q: I have Chevy Bolt EV and during the recent heat wave I left the vehicle “on” while parking in order to leave the air conditioning running. The car is designed so that it can turn itself “on” in order to cool the battery, so turning it “off” doesn’t mean it’ll necessarily stay “off”. Making the vehicle move when it’s “on” still requires that you have the fob, have your foot on the brake, your thumb on the shifter button while shifting out of park, after taking off the parking brake. So, in my opinion with all these interlocks, it’s perfectly safe. But is it legal in Washington?

A: Back in 1965 (and probably even earlier, but that’s far enough back for the purposes of this article) we had a law in Washington that stated, “No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key and effectively setting the brake . . .” Fifty-five years later, our current law on unattended vehicles starts with the exact same sentence.

Continue reading “Can You Leave Your Engine Running on an Electric Car?”
Posted on

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:

Continue reading “Delivery Trucks Parking in the Road”
Posted on

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.

Continue reading “Parking: Backing in Versus Backing Out”
Posted on

Parking Lots – A Place To Practice Kindness

Q: What is proper etiquette when in a parking lot? Are there rules about how to handle other drivers and people walking to and from their cars?

A: With a few exceptions, traffic laws in Washington are written for road users on public highways. They mostly don’t apply to private property like a shopping mall parking lot or the field at your uncle’s house where you learned to drive a tractor. The exceptions include more serious traffic crimes like impaired driving. While most of the rules here apply only to public roadways (and their associated public parking spots) that doesn’t mean we can’t learn something from the law about how to drive in a private parking lot. It’s just that what we take from the Revised Code of Washington will work more like a recommended best practice rather than something you’re legally obligated to do.

Continue reading “Parking Lots – A Place To Practice Kindness”
Posted on

Blocking The View

Q: Is there a rule or law about the distance of visibility delivery trucks must leave for motorists entering a road from adjacent roads when they are parked delivering goods? I’ve encountered delivery trucks that block the view of oncoming traffic making it difficult to pull onto the highway without cutting someone off.

A: I’ll start with what I already know: Obstructed views contribute to traffic crashes. Obvious? Yes, but also supported by data. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) studied various contributing factors to collisions in intersections and confirmed what is clearly evident. But they were able to express it in a percentage. In an analysis of a nationally representative sample of 787,236 intersection collisions, turning with an obstructed view contributed to 7.8 percent of the crashes.

Continue reading “Blocking The View”
Posted on

Illegal Parking at an Imaginary Address

Q: I received a parking ticket on a private road, at an address that does not exist. Is this arguable before a judge?

A: We are fortunate to have a justice system that allows us to appeal our case to a judge, so technically, yes, you could argue before a judge if you so choose. I think though, the real question is, “Could I beat this ticket in court?” On that question you have reason to be less optimistic. We’ll deal with this question in two parts; first the private road issue, and then the non-existent address. Continue reading “Illegal Parking at an Imaginary Address”

Posted on

Angle Parking: If it Sticks Out, It Doesn’t Fit

Q: What are the rules for a parked vehicle that obstructs the flow of traffic?  The area where I see this often is on Harris Street in the main part of Fairhaven. People with crew cab trucks and RVs park in diagonal spots, with their vehicles often extending well into the flow of traffic.

A: Wouldn’t it be nice if there was one rule that applied all over the state when it comes to some of these traffic issues? Of all the topics we’ve covered in these articles, parking in a way that obstructs traffic holds the dubious position of having the least consistency I’ve found so far in municipal codes. Here’s why. Continue reading “Angle Parking: If it Sticks Out, It Doesn’t Fit”

Posted on

Can Postal Carriers Park Wherever They Want?

Q: Is it legal for mail carriers to park their vehicles in front of a fire hydrant? Right in front of the no parking zone sign?

A: As clearly stated in RCW 46.61.570, drivers shall not stand or park a vehicle within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant. Wait, maybe that isn’t clear. What’s the difference between standing and parking a vehicle? I’ll skip the legal jargon and instead offer a simple explanation. You could legally stop your car in a no-standing zone to allow passengers to get into or out of your car. Any other reason for stopping would be considered “standing”. In a no-parking zone, along with allowing passengers in and out of your car, you could also load or unload property. Both exceptions to standing and parking are limited to the actual time it takes to load or unload passengers or property. Continue reading “Can Postal Carriers Park Wherever They Want?”