The in basket: While I was researching a Road Warrior question,
I came across this law in the RCWs, number 46.61.205, which reads,
“The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross a highway from a
private road or driveway shall yield the right of way to all
vehicles lawfully approaching on said highway.”
Does this mean, I wondered, that we aren’t required to come to a
full stop when entering a road, street or highway where there is no
stop sign or signal?
The in basket: While I was researching a Road Warrior question, I
came across this law in the RCWs, number 46.61.205, which reads,
“The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross a highway from a
private road or driveway shall yield the right of way to all
vehicles lawfully approaching on said highway.”
Another law, RCW 46.61.365, says “The driver of a vehicle within a
business or residence district
emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall stop such
vehicle
immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk or onto the sidewalk
area extending across any alleyway or driveway, and shall yield the
right of way to any pedestrian as may be necessary to avoid
collision, and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right of
way
to all vehicles approaching on said roadway.”
Does this mean, I wondered, that we aren’t required to come to a
full stop when entering a road, street or highway where there is no
sidewalk and no stop sign or signal?
The out basket: That would appear to be the meaning of the law,
says Deputy Scott Wilson of the Kitsap County Sheriff’s
Department.
“I believe that it would be a legal defense to contest an
infraction if one is issued to a driver for failure to stop (under
those circumstances).”
” HOWEVER (and I say that with all capital letters),” he
continued, “common sense prevails here. In both statutes, a
driver entering a
roadway or highway from a private road or driveway, alley,
building,
etc., is required to yield the right of way to all approaching
traffic.
Common safety sense should alert the prudent and reasonable driver
to
stop first before entering any roadway, regardless of whether or
not
there is a pedestrian sidewalk crossing in front.
“By not stopping and double-checking, the driver will save, at
most, how much time? Maybe five to ten seconds. On the
other hand, if a driver doesn’t stop and becomes involved in
collision, that five to ten seconds saved will become enormously
expensive.”
Individual cities may have ordinances that require such stops, but
if not, it sounds to me like a lot of rolling (California) stops
aren’t as illegal in this state as I thought.
