Road Warrior

The in basket: Rod Gross of Poulsbo writes, “I so often see cars that fail to use their turn signals for not only

actual turns right or left, but also for simple lane changes, that I wonder what the laws dictate in that regard.

“Is it in fact illegal NOT to use your turn signal when turning or changing lanes, and how often do the local, and state police actually stop and ticket people for failure to signal?

Also, what are the penalties for failure to signal?  Arguably they are insufficient because the practice  of failing to signal is literally rampant.”

The out basket: Yes, the law requires signaling any turn or lane change, even while entering or leaving a freeway or entering a turn lane.

Signaling while entering or leaving a roundabout is recommended by the state, but it is my understanding that a Port Orchard court case that nullified a DUI arrest says otherwise at single-lane roundabouts. The initial reason for the stop was failure to signal a lane change at the Highway 166 roundabout, so the driver didn’t change lanes.

If that ruling has been overturned, I’m hoping someone will set me straight.

I added to Ross’s inquiry when I passed it along to State  Trooper Russ Winger, spokesman for the patrol here. It admittedly was self-serving because 69-year-old me is a text-book example of an aged driver who regularly forgets to turn off his turn signal after a lane change.

I asked if that is a violation, if the signal must continue throughout the lane change or turn or can be stopped as the turn begins, when I’m more likely to remember.

Russ said, “The law states that you must signal for ‘not less than the last 100 feet traveled’ prior to turning or moving left or right. Could you turn the signal off after 100 feet and then move left or right ? According to the RCW, yes, as long as you immediately start the movement into the other lane. Any lengthy delay  -a second or two at most – would give another motorist reason to believe that the driver either mis-signaled or decided not to change lanes.

“The whole idea behind signaling a turn or lane change is to alert other drivers that SOMETHING is about to occur with a vehicles path or direction of travel.”

Bad news for me on the leaving-the-signal-on front. “Yes,” Russ said, “it is a violation to leave your signal on long after a lane change is complete. Again, driving down the roadway with your signal on with no intent to do anything is hazardous to other motorists due to the false expectations it creates.”

Signaling violations, including that one, carry a $124 fine. “Yes, we do stop motorists for failing to signal, improper signal, no signal, on a regular basis,” Russ said.

“To an officer, this is valid reason to stop and talk with this driver. It could mean several things. Possibly the driver just did not signal. Possibly the driver has an equipment problem, light out or signal indicator not functioning. Possibly the driver was impaired and did not realize the signal was left on or notice a lamp problem.

“Drivers that do not follow basic safe travel rules of the road create a hazard for everyone on the road,” Russ said.

The in basket: Ann Sevaaetasi e-mailed me to say, “I was turning left from Lund onto Jackson (in South Kitsap) and in the left-hand turn lane. The left-turn arrow turned yellow blinking.

“I understand that it is legal to make a left, after checking traffic. My problem was that the straight away signal turned red, (but) I still had a blinking yellow turn arrow.  I felt very uncomfortable turning left with the yellow arrow while the traffic signal was red.

“This is the first I had ever seen the light turn red with a left yellow arrow. Should I have made the left turn?”

The out basket: Ann was lawfully able to make the turn through the blinking yellow after yielding to other traffic. The signals next to yellow flashing left turns will display red for through traffic when a car using the opposing left turn light got there in time to get a green arrow, providing a protected opportunity to turn.That protection is provided by holding oncoming through traffic at a red light.

Ann evidently didn’t arrive in her left turn lane in time to get a protected turn with a green arrow, so got a flashing yellow signal and had to yield to oncoming traffic, which would have had a green light.

The in basket: Rob Shafer of Yukon Harbor in South Kitsap writes, “The other day I was traveling west on Mile Hill Drive approaching Woods Road when an ambulance approached from the other direction.

“It appeared that all of the through traffic lights had been triggered to red as cars were stopped in both directions and my light was red. However, the left turn arrow on Mile Hill was still flashing yellow where an inattentive driver could make a turn directly in front of the emergency vehicle.

“Is there some fault with the emergency system where it does not turn all lights red on the approach of the emergency vehicle? This is not the first time I have seen this,” he said.

The out basket: Jeff Shea, traffic engineer in Kitsap County Pubic Works,

says the signal was working as intended and explains what Rob has seen.

“Emergency vehicle drivers are trained to watch out for motorists that make illegal movements, such as turning in front of an oncoming vehicle on a flashing yellow arrow,” Jeff said.  “We held several discussions with emergency vehicle operators to go over this situation and make them aware of what the signal configuration will (be).

“When a signal is ‘preempted’ for an emergency vehicle the whole intersection does not go red.  The direction the vehicle is traveling will go green while the side and opposing traffic will get red indications, except for the flashing yellow arrow in the opposing direction.

“The reason the flashing yellow arrow continues to flash is to avoid what is called the ‘yellow trap.’  The yellow trap occurs when a left turning vehicle with a green ball or yellow flashing arrow gets a steady yellow ball and assumes that oncoming traffic is also getting the yellow ball and turns in front of that vehicle assuming that it is coming to stop for the upcoming red light.  This condition caused so many collisions that the federal guidance manual, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, specifically restricts agencies from configuring signal systems to allow this.

“Therefore, we continue the flashing yellow arrow, and hope that motorists obey both the legal requirements not turn in front of traffic, or an emergency vehicle with its lights and sirens on.

“There is another option which requires us to terminate all the movements that are going at the time of preemption.  In this situation, also, the MUTCD is very clear that we cannot shorten any of the clearance times – the yellow and red times.

“So, by the time all those clearance times are complete and the green ball comes back up for the preempted direction the emergency vehicle may already be at or beyond the intersection making the preemption.  We felt this was not a good option.”

The in basket: Keri Heber was stuck in traffic on Bremerton’s 11th Street Oct. 30, caught with other drivers behind someone waiting to turn left onto Naval, while the westbound lanes were reduced from three to one.

“While commuting home at about 5 p.m. westbound on 11th,” she wrote, ‘I found myself in a backup, all the way to High Street, because left turns are still allowed from 11th to Naval. Since there is only one lane, any car turning left and waiting for westbound traffic to clear will hold

up the eastbound traffic. And then the backup gets worse for those of us patiently waiting, as cars come across High Street in the right lane to

jump into the waiting line.

“Why are left turns still allowed onto Naval?” She asked. “There are plenty of streets prior to Naval, such as High, where left turns could have been routed.

The out basket: Bill Davis, project engineer for the sewer main work that caused the reduction to one lane, says, “We discussed whether to restrict the turn from westbound 11^th to southbound Naval extensively, taking into consideration that traffic would likely back up on 11^th Street at times.

“Ultimately, our decision was informed by our experience of the traffic revision at  6^th and Warren earlier in the project, where we received several complaints because we restricted turns at that location.  Based on our experience at that intersection, we decided to minimize restrictions for this temporary revision at 11^th and Naval and continue to allow the movement.

“Unfortunately we’ve been delayed with getting the intersection back open because we are unable to asphalt pave during heavy rain,” he said.

The in basket: Byrd Thibodaux and Tom Wisniewski both e-mailed me in June about the short green light they were getting in the double left-turn lane on southbound Silverdale Way to eastbound Bucklin Hill Road.

Byrd estimated it to be three seconds, and said, “In the afternoon, there is quite a line of cars in the two lanes.  With this light only being three seconds, many frustrated drivers continue through the light on red.  Why can’t the county add a couple of more seconds to this light?”

Tom wrote, “You get an arrow long enough for three cars (four if someone runs the yellow/red) before the light goes red.

“I thought a big study was done in Silverdale last year to correct these kind of problems,” he said. “Someone needs to do more studying at this intersection.”

The out basket: I watched that signal in operation three times in the intervening weeks and found that it actually was allowing six seconds of green before going to yellow.

I’m surprised that only Byrd and Tom have complained about it. Tom’s estimate of three or four cars is close. I found that five cars could get through on the green and red combined  – IF none of them dawdle.

Often a lead driver wouldn’t even start forward until two or three seconds of green have elapsed, which could cut the put-through at three. When I watched it on weekday afternoons, many cars that were in the turn pockets when the light changed didn’t get through.

Del Gann of the Kitsap County signal shop said the light was supposed to be providing nine seconds of green. That probably would double the  number of cars getting through.

But even the nine seconds amazed Tom Wisniewski. “NINE SECONDS,” he replied when I told him what Del Gann thought the light was providing for left turners. “They have got to be kidding. This is a major intersection in Silverdale and they think nine seconds is enough time for left turns.”

That’s what the computers said would be appropriate as part of the coordination of all the lights along Silverdale Way, which he reinstated this spring, Del said.

“If the signal is running nine seconds of green time that means that at least 14 seconds is dedicated to that movement after you add in the yellow and red time.  One might then say, well, 14 seconds isn’t a lot of time either, but you have to consider the big picture.

“The corridor is running a 130-second cycle length for coordination. This is what is determined to be the best to optimize the progression of traffic through the corridor. So the 14 seconds is over 10 percent of the total cycle length. (The amount of time the signals can’t be serving other movements)

“To further complicate this the current configuration of the signal serves eastbound separately from westbound and the time dedicated to those movements is dictated by the time needed for pedestrians to cross the street.

“Then finally you have to take into account the volume of traffic that is on Silverdale Way (the coordinated movement) and need to make sure the green time is sufficient.

“When you look at the volumes for the intersection the current timings (considering necessary pedestrian crossing times) allow for the most effective movement through the intersection for all traffic, he said.”

But I finally convinced Del that what he wanted there wasn’t what was happening.

Tuesday he told me he’d watched it do what I said it was doing. “Because of the way the signal is sequenced,” he said, “that phase will be abbreviated if any other runs over at all. That explains why the shorter green is occurring at the busy time of the day.

“I have added three seconds to that movement as a temporary fix so I can bring the intersection into the shop and test it to find out where the error is,” he said. “This will ensure that the movement will get all of the time that is programmed.”

The in basket: Glen Ring of Poulsbo says he and his wife have a minor dispute going over whether a driver has to activate his turn signal when in a left-turn lane. He contended that it’s not required because you have no option but to turn, and she disagreed.

The out basket: Yes, the law requires a signal in a turn lane, even though it’s clear what you plan to do. RCW 46.61.305 says “no person shall turn a vehicle or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety nor without giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided.”   It further says, “A signal of intention to turn or move right or left when required shall be given continuously during not less than the last one hundred feet traveled by the vehicle before turning.”

State Trooper Russ Winger says, “There are several different situations that a motorist  encounters when using a left turn lane. For example, the intersection of Burwell and Callow Avenue (in Bremerton). This is a signal-controlled two-way left turn lane where the right lane can turn left, go straight or turn right. The left lane has no other option than to turn left. You certainly need to be signaling your intent here so motorists to the rear are aware of your intent. A motorist that has driven up from the rear on another vehicle in this right lane needs to know the leading vehicle’s intent.

“Another situation occurs when a vehicle is in the left-turn lane of a controlled intersection utilizing flashing yellow turn arrows. This motorist needs to signal his intent to oncoming motorists that may have the right of way, even though this vehicle has ‘no option’ but to turn left – legally speaking.

“Failing to signal or failing to properly signal are accident- causing and -contributing violations” Russ continued. “Law enforcement can and does stop for these violations on a regular basis. “For the most part officers will use this as an educational situation and not issue a citation unless there is a pattern of continued violation of the law and/or the driver exhibits lack of regard for the merits of using turn indicators.

“Many a DUI or unlicensed driver has found themselves in a jail cell or with a criminal ticket in hand after getting stopped for failing to or improperly signaling  turns and lane changes.

“The bottom line is that motorists should always signal turns and any lane changes (including exiting and merging) to freeways. Not just because it’s required by law but because it decreases the potential for collisions and makes driving much safer for all motorists.”

The in basket: Kay Wilson e-mailed me after reading the recent Road Warrior about Bremerton introducing some flashing yellow left-turn lights this year, to say, “Every time I sit behind a car waiting to turn left while the yellow light is flashing, I think of retired Bremerton police officer Tom Pratt. When I worked at the city of Bremerton, I was privileged to take at least three driver education refresher courses from Officer Pratt. Later, he was replaced by instruction videos, which never felt quite as useful, because he was always happy to entertain questions and comments.

“One of the things I remember him advising was that, when waiting in a left-turn lane to turn left, you should pull out into the middle of the intersection and be ready to turn as soon as there was an opening in the traffic. If everyone would do this, he said, more vehicles would be able to make left turns than if they were to wait at the stop line.

“I see some cars doing this at the yellow flashing lights now, and assume it is still legal and recommended, but it would be nice to know for sure.”

The out basket: Well, it’s not ILLEGAL, but puts a driver in a possible bind that could lead to an infraction.

Trooper Russ Winger, public spokesman for the State Patrol here, said, “You can be in the intersection waiting to turn left. However, that light will eventually change to red and if you are stuck in the middle blocking the intersection on red because you failed to estimate oncoming traffic – that is not OK or legal.

“Motorists need to observe oncoming traffic as well as light timing,” he continued. “Driving requires you to assess the situation at all times because it is not static. I encounter flashing left-turn lights and I do just that. I have to make an assessment whether I may get caught with nowhere to go. I personally do not enter the intersection unless I am sure I will be able to complete the turn legally.

“It is not OK or legal to block any intersection (where) other motorists have the right of way, controlled by signage or traffic signals. Many intersections have signs that say just that – Do Not Block Intersection.”

Russ didn’t address it, but a common practice when oncoming traffic keeps drivers from making the turn before their light goes red is to make sure the last oncoming car isn’t going to hurry through and hit them when they turn, then complete the turn on red. Illegal, yes, but not unusual. And with the one-second delay most traffic signals have between going red in one direction and green in the other, you might not even delay anyone.

Of course, a variety of things might hold you up for several seconds after your light turns red, increasing the likelihood of a citation for blocking traffic, or for running a red light, or both. And if you misjudge the intentions of that last oncoming car, you could get into a head-on crash.

The in basket: The Road Warrior column gets lots of requests to see the flashing yellow left-turn signals that Kitsap County has deployed in South Kitsap and Silverdale put to use at other intersections, including those in Bremerton. So far, Bremerton has declined to go to the expense.

But a major traffic headache coming to Bremerton this spring and summer will have as a happy by-product the introduction of the flashing yellows turn lights at four intersections where there are left turn pockets on Sixth Street between Wycoff and Warren avenues.

The city is having to close one of its busiest thoroughfares – 11th Street – between Montgomery and Naval avenues for the months of June and July, to replace a failing sewer line. Sixth Street will be the designated detour and the flashing yellows will provide the most green light time for the increased traffic on Sixth.

Another major street, Naval Avenue, will be closed to through-traffic between 11th and 13th streets for a period  to be determined. That also will add to the load on Sixth Street.

The flashing yellows will remain in place after the sewer work is done, said Gunnar Fridriksson of the city street engineers. Details about the sewer project can be found online at www.ci.bremerton.wa.us/articles.php?id=1864.

As for the yellow flashing signals,  “City crews will begin installation of the heads and hardware on the 15th of May, with activation by the end of the month,” Gunnar said .

The sewer project not only provides the need for the new style turn signal, it also is the source of the money to pay for them, he said.

For those who haven’t encountered the flashing yellow lefts, they mean that left turns are authorized but those turning must yield to oncoming traffic. They mean the same thing as the signs you’ll see at some Bremerton intersections that depict a green ball signal and say left turners must yield when the light is green.

They DO NOT mean left turners have the right of way. Only a green arrow means that.

The in basket: At a recent class in East Bremerton for older drivers, sponsored by AARP, the conversation turned to the legality of stopping at the end of a line of vehicles that had filled a left-turn lane, leaving the backside of your car sticking out into the inside through lane.

It then turned to a similar situation, when the drivers behind the last car that fits in the left turn lane occupy an area out of traffic but striped to indicate it’s not a place to drive.

The out basket: Trooper Russ Winger, spokesman for the state patrol here, says that being part of a backup into through traffic is legal, but occupying an area striped as a non-driving area is not.

“It is not an infraction to stop and wait for room to fill the left-turn lane,” he said, “You should have your turn signal on, alerting motorists to your intent, however. Traffic often backs up at certain intersections during heavy traffic and requires vehicles to wait, due to the fact that the turn channels are relatively small. Most commuters are aware of this and if they are not turning left, use the right lane – if (there are) two lanes or more.

“And, no, motorists are not advised to back up into an area not intended for vehicles,” he said.

“They should wait until such time as traffic flow allows proper entry into the left- or right-turn channels, such as at the right-turn channel southbound on SR-303 at the Bentley (in front of Wal-Mart).

“Traffic often backs up at rush hour and vehicles have to wait in the right lane until they can get over to the turn lane. You (also) are not allowed to move over onto the shoulder and proceed – or wait for traffic ahead of you that has done the same thing,” Russ said.

The in basket:  Charelaine Hampton and Mike McDermott both say they’ve seen drivers who are used to turning left from Myhre Road in Silverdale to go downhill to Costco, Petsmart and the other stores in that area pulling a U-turn just past the barrier the county put there to prevent those left turns.

Those drivers then come back and turn right legally into the access. But in the meantime, their U-turns create an accident hazard, both said.

Charelaine says the U-turners use the exit from Harrison Hospital’s Silverdale location and endanger drivers coming out that exit. She sees it almost weekly, when she goes to the hospital for a regular meeting, she said.

Mike described what he saw  one day in October.

“As I turned from Ridgetop onto Myhre there were two cars in front of me. The first one pulled into the center lane before the barrier so they could still make the left turn. The other car went just past the barrier and went into the bus stop on the right side of the road and made a U-turn right in the middle of Myhre to get back to the lane down to Costco.

“Obviously, this deterrent to turning left near Petsmart is going to cause more problems if this is what people are going to do,” he said.

“All people have to do is continue down Ridgetop another block to Mickleberry and turn right,” he said.

The out basket: I would hope that the problem would abate in time as more drivers learn those left turns are now forbidden and plan an alternate route.

I was surprised to discover that just a couple hundred yards further ahead on Myhre is another left turn that still is open that leads down to Costco with hardly any greater travel time, though getting back to Petsmart would require a little more extra time. Until then, I thought it would be necessary to drive all the way down to the next traffic signal on Myhre.

And by continuing straight on Ridgetop, as Mike suggested, a driver not only can turn right at Mickelberry, but has two even earlier right turn opportunities to get to where the now-forbidden left turn used to take them.

Asked about the U-turns and other driver reactions to the barrier, Kitsap County Traffic Engineer Jeff Shea chose to reiterate the reasons the barrier went up in the first place.

“The Sheriff’s Department presented me with nine collision reports for about a one-year period (2010) at this location,” he said. ’They asked if anything could be done to reduce the collision frequency.

“…Most of the collisions were the result of a motorist either turning left out of the approach or turning left into the approach.  The logical counter-measure was to restrict the vehicle movements to right-in right-out only.

“Knowing that a sign alone would not preclude motorists from turning left, we decided to put the curbing in.

In addition to the sign and curbing, flexible delineators (posts) were installed and the yellow striping was reconfigured to an 18-inch solid line, which state law prohibits motorists from crossing.

“There are  two (other) convenient accesses to this commercial property, one further north on Myhre or eastbound motorists on Ridgetop Blvd can stay on Ridgetop and make the first right turn.

“U-turns are not illegal if done in a safe manner, but if problems arise we will address them.”

State law forbids U-turns in certain locations, like on hills, but none of the prohibitions clearly apply on Myhre. Part of the law says they are illegal, “where such vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of any other vehicle approaching from either direction within five hundred feet.”