Whatcom Answers
Editorial Forum
Rules of the Road
Bellingham, WA 98225
David Wright is a retired officer from the Bellingham Police Department who is now serving as the Target Zero manager of the Whatcom County Traffic Safety Task Force. Target Zero, a goal of the Washington State Strategic Highway Safety Plan, is to achieve zero deaths and disabling injuries on state highways by 2030. He will answer your questions about the rules of the road, safe driving habits and general police practices.
Most Recently Answered Questions
Questions 1 - 10 of 279 (Page 1 of 28)
Submitted by Susan from Bellingham
Q: Is MERGING into freeway traffic no longer required? I was taught that when entering freeway traffic you were required to enter only as space allowed, hence the provided on-ramp, allowing you to get up to speed AND judge whether or not it was safe to merge or wait until it was. It has been my experience, lately, especially at the Sunset on-ramps, that drivers think once they are on the on-ramp everyone else needs to make room, regardless of traffic. I have seen drivers on the freeway slamming on their brakes, nearly causing accidents, to allow an approaching car to merge. If you run out of space on the on-ramp shouldn't you stop and wait until traffic clears?
A: You are correct, the vehicle on the on-ramp is required to safely merge into the freeway traffic. The vehicles on the freeway have the right of way and are not required to take action, but if space and speed allows, they can move to allow an easier merge. If you are paying attention to the traffic on the freeway, you should always be able to merge safely.
Answered 02/09/12 12:09:33 by David Wright
Submitted by Susan from Bellingham, WA
Q: With the recent snow I was wondering if there were any laws about sledding in the streets. I live just outside city limits and have a very steep hill that I have to navigate to reach my home. I am very concerned about injuring someone as the hills are very slippery and the sledders often don't see the cars until they are almost right on them or even if they do they just barely move to the side of the road. On occasion, I have not been able to get up the hill as I have not felt I have room to maneuver safely.
A: I went looking thru the RCW's but could not find anything that directly addresses the issue. Inside the city limits of Bellingham however, BMC 11.15.020 - USE OF COASTERS, ROLLER SKATES, ROLLERBLADES AND SIMILAR DEVICES RESTRICTED, does. I copied it for you to look at.
A. No person upon roller skates, rollerblades, or riding in or by means of any coaster, skateboard, toy vehicles, or similar device, shall go upon any roadway except while crossing a street on a crosswalk; and when so crossing, such person shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians.
In any case, the people on the sleds are taking a very large and dangerous chance by using the roadway. They would also need to follow the pedestrian rule to yield to vehicles on the roadway since they would not be crossing at a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
Answered 01/24/12 12:56:50 by David Wright
Submitted by Lonnie Vaughn from Bellingham, WA
Q: On the Guide where there is a turning lane marked with a solid yellow line both directions, can one pull from a business into the turning lane to go left and then access the lane when clear? (ex. Hilltop Cafe to go north on the Guide)
A: The short answer is yes you may. The longer answer is you are entering the roadway from a driveway or private road, so you must yield to any vehicle legally on the roadway.
Answered 01/16/12 11:01:04 by David Wright
Submitted by Dennis Marynick from Bellingham, WA
Q: I live just outside the Bellingham city limits. My home is at an elevation of 1200 ft. Right now, there is 1 foot of snow on my property. To get into the city, I must use chains. Assuming there is little or no snow in the city, is it legal to drive with chains, or do I have to remove them before I enter the city? Thanks in advance.
A: I don't know of any law that would require you to remove them. There are still some roads in Bellingham that have snow on them. The disadvantage to not removing the chains is a loss of traction on bare pavement (which can contribute to a crash), damage to the roads, and the expense of repair or replacement of chains more frequently.
Answered 01/16/12 10:55:58 by David Wright
Submitted by Randy from Lynden
Q: Do Police officers have the right to stop drivers for no apparent reason. Let's say someone is driving home in the early morning hours after a night out. Not speeding, no lights out, not driving eratically. The officer stops you and ask for drivers license and registration. The only thing he says is that it is pretty late. Do I have the right to insist on a legitimate reason for the stop before submitting these things?
A: It is very difficult to answer "What if questions". I can only tell you that I always had a legitimate reason to make any of the stops I initiated. My suggestion would be produce the documents and then be on your way. Between the equipment laws, the lane travel laws, the speeding laws, and the Intermediate Drivers License rules, there are lots of reasons to find to stop someone.
Answered 01/09/12 14:40:45 by David Wright
Submitted by s.n. from Bellingham,WA
Q: Can a person with a suspended driving license, get a special permit to drive an elderly, disabled relative to dr. appointments and shopping, etc.?
A: I don't believe there is an exception for the reasons you provided. Your most accurate source of information for this would be to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles - Licensing division and ask them. There are a number of WAC and RCW codes that deal with this and they are the experts.
Answered 01/09/12 14:29:02 by David Wright
Submitted by Melissa from Tacoma WA
Q: I would like to know if there is a specific RCW law in Washington stating what the maximum speed limit would be for over taking a slower moving vehicle. I.E. using the far left (passing lane) to over take a vehicle. I recently received a ticket for traveling 5mph over the speed limit (60mph zone)in this passing lane (in order to pass a vehicle.) I had heard that you can travel up to 10 miles over the speed limit in order to pass. Also, is it necessary to use your brakes to slow back down to the posted speed limit as soon as you have completed the passing process? I always thought drivers were not to use their brakes on the highway unless they absolutely had to. Thank you for your time!
A: There is no specific RCW that defines the maximum speed limit for passing another vehcile. RCW 46.61.425 provides some of the guidelines; ...a person following a vehicle driving at less than the legal maximum speed and desiring to pass such vehicle may exceed the speed limit, subject to the provisions of RCW 46.61.120(is it safe to pass) on highways having only one lane of traffic in each direction, at only such a speed and for only such a distance as is necessary to complete the pass with a reasonable margin of safety.
A couple of thoughts; was the car you were passing doing at least the speed limit (technically, not legal to pass). Were you actually only 5mph over, or is that what the officer wrote you back to? Be safe. The added few miles per hour really don't affect how long it takes to get somewhere.
Answered 01/03/12 21:36:06 by David Wright
Submitted by Deb Corbett from Ferndale, WA
Q: When I studied and passed my WDL exam (over 30 yrs. ago) one of the questions pertained to yielding to EMT vehicles, and recognizing the exclusive signals they may use to identify themselves as being officials. Besides the obvious light bars and sirens, they may also flash their high beam headlights to signal the cars ahead to pull over and allow them to pass safely. That was the only entity who has the legal authority to do so, according to the DOL's publication, or at least that was how I interpreted it.
Within the past year or two, I have had several instances where vehicles appear suddenly in my rear view mirror, flashing their high-beams. I pull over to the side of the road to yield, only to realize the approaching vehicle is NOT an official emergency response vehicle, but rather a young kid with a lead foot!!
The last time this happened to me, I'd had all I could tolerate so I called 911 and gave them a description of the vehicle. The 911 operator wasn't helpful at all...he asked why I thought the driver was "impersonating a police officer", which wasn't even what I'd said.
Can you please answer whether the law I'm referring to is still in effect and if so, is it enforceable?? Thank you.
A: I am not aware of the law you are referring to. The only authorized emergency lights are the red and blue on police vehciles and the red on fire vehicles. Volunteer firefighters may use green lights, but that is only a request to grant right of way. You will see emergency vehicles with their headlights alternating back and forth (wig-wag). This is only designed to catch the attention of the drivers so that they will see the flashing red or blue lights. Those drivers that you speak of need to take their driving to the Autobahn.
Answered 01/03/12 21:19:24 by David Wright
Submitted by Joel from Custer
Q: A car was stopped on Garden st and Holly at the red light.{GARDEN IS A TWO WAY ST.} While the light was red he made a left turn onto Holly. I thought you could only do this if you are on a one way street. I see this very often in Bellingham.
A: RCW 46.61.055 (3) Steady red indication the vehicle operators facing a steady circular red signal may, after stopping... or a left turn from a one-way or two-way street into a one-way street carrying traffic in the direction of the left turn; unless a sign posted by competent authority prohibits such movement. Vehicle operators planning to make such turns shall remain stopped to allow other vehicles lawfully within or approaching the intersection control area to complete their movements. Vehicle operators planning to make such turns shall also remain stopped for pedestrians who are lawfully within the intersection control area as required by RCW 46.61.235(1).
Answered 01/03/12 21:07:44 by David Wright
Submitted by Jay Brandt from Bellingham
Q: What is the law regarding the small "traffic circles" such as at the intersection of West and North streets? when making a left turn, well over 90% of the cars turn in front of the circle. Is that legal?
A: Those small circles are called traffic calming circles. They are placed in an attempt to slow down traffic. The proper way to use them is to circle them in a counter-clockwise direction.
Answered 12/12/11 11:43:43 by David Wright