Novice drivers hit the streets

Published 9:00 pm Sunday, June 20, 2004

School’s out, so watch out for kids on the road. And I’m not just talking about kids on foot, or on bikes – you also need to watch out for teens behind the wheel.

The start of summer means there’s a host of new and inexperienced drivers trying to find their way on our busy streets.

So be careful.

“I don’t think beginning drivers are a hazard,” said J.C. Fawcett, an instructor and administrator at Defensive Driving School of Everett and Snohomish. “Most of them are very careful.”

Not only do new drivers take care to be careful, they’re usually in the company of an adult who reminds them to be careful.

Fawcett said those who pose the biggest risk on the road are the teens who want to show off once they get a little bit of driving experience under their belts.

The surest way to help a young person make the transition to a safe, full-time driver is to give them lots of time to practice.

“Parents keep them from situations that are going to get them in trouble,” Fawcett explains.

Even more important, parents need to help their kids develop good habits at the beginning of their driving careers.

Usually young drivers are well aware of the obvious need not to speed and to stop at stop signs, Fawcett said, but they often forget to look in their blind spots before turning, or fail to flick on the blinkers when turning.

Boulevard of screams

Question: I live on a side road off Mukilteo Boulevard in south Everett called Forest Drive. It’s a dead end road with only one access – Mukilteo Boulevard.

Trying to pull out onto Mukilteo Boulevard is becoming more and more challenging. I contacted the city of Everett months ago regarding the increase in traffic and the speed at which the cars travel, especially around a blind corner in front of my street.

Warning signs and turning restrictions have not worked very well. A couple of weeks ago there was an accident with a motor bike and a vehicle at the base of our road, and I’m surprised there hasn’t been more.

Often traffic coming around the blind corner nearly hits us if we are trying to turn onto our road. They swerve around us, and then flip us off and honk at us for making a turn onto our road. There have been so many close calls here it is frightening.

Yvonne Lampi, Everett

Answer: The city recognizes that traffic patterns change with population increases, and we appreciate information from residents that can help us identify problem locations.

Our traffic engineers investigated the intersection and reviewed its collision history. We have concluded that the intersection operates safely as is.

Because of visibility limitations, drivers are not permitted to make a left turn out of Forest Drive onto Mukilteo Boulevard. However, drivers can turn left from Mukilteo Boulevard onto Forest Drive, and that may sometimes delay drivers waiting behind them.

There is adequate visibility for eastbound drivers traveling at reasonable speeds to see such a left turn in front of them. The movement of vehicles making the turn is quick and causes little delay. Police officers patrol the area.

Ryan Sass, Everett city engineer