Comments for Road Warrior

Comment on Move Byron Street signal to Carlton, says Silverdale commuter by Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:38:32 +0000

If you look at the comments in the first blog about the round about I said the same thing… all we are going to get is one backed up roundabout.

Comment on Move Byron Street signal to Carlton, says Silverdale commuter by Ken

Ken — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:58:36 +0000

My wife and I had this exact discussion just a couple days ago. The roundabout won’t help the backups into Silverale, but an extra lane from the freeway to Byron would be very beneficial!

Comment on New Silverdale eateries create pedestrian worries by Tom Wisniewski

Tom Wisniewski — Sun, 20 May 2012 22:32:21 +0000

In a related matter, is it legal/safe for Chung’s Teriyaki to block off a portion of the drives around these restaurants with huge concrete blocks? This is part of an ongoing peeing contest about who is allowed to park where. Blocking a driveway with huge blocks seems a bit of an overreaction.

Comment on Move Byron Street signal to Carlton, says Silverdale commuter by Traci

Traci — Sun, 20 May 2012 03:55:37 +0000

The lovely Paula Crane is right. I’ve long wondered what city planning genius thought the roundabout at Chico would fix traffic problems. The roundabout will be pretty but it’s not going to fix the back up issues caused by the lights on either side of Chico.

Comment on Waiting in the intersection before turning left is OK, until the light changes by Kay Wilson

Kay Wilson — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:13:06 +0000

I recall Officer Pratt explaining that even if there was no break in the oncoming traffic during the green light, you would have a few seconds to turn left between the moment when your light turned red and the time when the cross-traffic light turned green.
However, this was a long time ago, and back then it wasn’t as common for people to run the red light as it is now. Whether those bold folks would think twice about running the light if they saw your car sitting in the intersection, signaling to turn left, is another question.

Comment on Teenage drivers are limited for first year after getting a license by Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:29:17 +0000

Bill, I think you’re reading it backwards. “The driver INTENDING to turn left…SHALL YIELD to opposing traffic.”

The vehicle established in the roadway always has the right of way unless it’s specifically signed or signaled otherwise. Vehicles entering the highway yield to traffic already in the road, the car already in the lane has the right of way over the car trying to change lanes, and vehicles travelling straight always have the right of way over the turning vehicle.

Comment on Teenage drivers are limited for first year after getting a license by fletc3her

fletc3her — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:30:02 +0000

Bill, is your idea that you can make a left hand turn on flashing yellow regardless of oncoming traffic? If so you are mistaken. That is the meaning of a green arrow. The flashing yellow requires you to wait until there is a safe interval in which to turn.

I think a common sense idea of whether you are yielding the right of way is to ask whether the other traffic has to slow down or stop in order to accommodate your traffic maneuver. If so you are not yielding.

As to the anecdote in the story. I see cars do this all the time, assuming that they can follow me closely since if I have room then they must have room. But they are relying on me being conservative enough to pick a big gap. If I turn into a gap just big enough for my car then they are in danger.

Comment on Teenage drivers are limited for first year after getting a license by Bill O'Rourke

Bill O'Rourke — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:24:14 +0000

I also placed this comment under the wrong heading on this blog. being new to this, humbly apologize.

Comment on Waiting in the intersection before turning left is OK, until the light changes by Bill O'Rourke

Bill O'Rourke — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:18:05 +0000

Dear Travis,

I would like to suggest that the information given to you by Trooper Winger, regarding a flashing yellow left-turn light was not correct. The advice given in your column dated May 16, 2012 may also be in error. Here’s why….

When a vehicle passes under a flashing yellow left-turn light and is legally in the intersection, that vehicle being safely in the intersection has the right of way to proceed under caution to complete the left hand turn.

Since the vehicle in the intersection maintains right of way until the turn is completed, even after the light changes to red, (which by the way, is not up to the driver to estimate) , other vehicles must yield until the turn is completed and the intersection is cleared.

From the Washington State Traffic codes:

Chapter 46.61 RCW
Rules of the road

RCW 46.61.065
Flashing signals.

(b) FLASHING YELLOW (CAUTION SIGNAL). When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent
flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.

RCW 46.61.185
Vehicle turning left.

The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or
driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within
the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.

The rules above seem to apply.
RCW 46.61.065 seems to apply to the flashing left-turn signal and if followed, places a vehicle legally in an intersection.

RCW 46.61.185 tells when the turning party yields the right of way. That infers that once a driver is legally in the intersection that he has the right of way except for the period during which there is “any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within
the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard” .

Simply put, the person entering an intersection under a flashing yellow left-turn light has the right of way except in the case where it is relinquished under the rule until the turn is completed. They also, therefore can not be blocking an intersection as all other vehicles are to wait until the left hand turn is completed.

Thanks,
Bill O’Rourke

Comment on Teenage drivers are limited for first year after getting a license by Bill ORourke

Bill ORourke — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:06:29 +0000

I meant to write, and did not intend the double negative.

Thanks!

“I would like to suggest that the information given to you by Trooper Winger, regarding a flashing yellow left-turn light was possibly incorrect”.