Drivers’ random acts irk plenty
Published 9:00 pm Sunday, January 16, 2005
Apparently I’m not the only one fed up with overly polite drivers and their dangerous “Random Acts of Safety.”
Published in a recent column, my notion that Washington drivers are so courteous that they are often a danger on the road struck a chord with Herald readers.
Readers sent in so many examples of drivers committing “Random Acts of Safety” that I decided to include their suggestions in future columns.
Here are a few examples to get us started. E-mail me if you witness a “Random Act of Safety” that you’d like to share.
Stoplight standoff
Politeness goes too far when drivers coming from opposite directions on a two-lane road come to a traffic light where they both want to make a left turn. When the light turns green both “politely” stop and wait for the other driver to make their left turn.
Folks, both of you are supposed to make the left turn at the same time and both of you have the right of way. I’ve seen these standoffs last for the whole light cycle.
Scott Bader, Everett
Left-turn blues
It just scares the hell out of me to think drivers will let people waiting to make a left turn actually attempt the turn across three full lanes of traffic.
Years and years ago my brother-in-law was waved to go across the southbound lanes of Highway 99 in Lynnwood from the driver in the inside lane only to be slammed by a driver in the outside lane. He got a huge ticket for failure to yield. I think the idiot drivers who wave these people through should get a ticket for reckless endangerment.
Linda Solbeck, Lynnwood
Move it on over
If drivers would not pace others and if the slower cars would drive in the right lane there would be room for many more cars on the roads and more lanes would not be needed. Think of all the money that could be saved if the traffic lanes were used as they are supposed to be.
Pat Murphy, Marysville
Old center line confusing
Question: I have driven Highway 92 to Granite Falls numerous times and still can’t understand why the recent work that was performed to make this road safer has actually left it more dangerous.
When you drive westbound toward Highway 9 after dark the glare off the oncoming headlights makes the old center line marker more visible to you than the new line. This is very dangerous and will result in accidents.
I commend the effort to make this road safer but this appears to be a deadly oversight.
Duane Wiseman, Everett
Answer: State Department of Transportation project engineer Amir Ahmadi was aware of this issue and scheduled crews to remove the faded striping and old centerline. The work was completed on Jan. 3.
Myly Posse, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman
Ask us about traffic
Have a question about traffic or street rules around Snohomish and Island counties? We can help find an answer. E-mail The Herald at stsmarts@heraldnet.com.
Ask us about traffic
Have a question about traffic or street rules around Snohomish and Island counties? We can help find an answer. E-mail The Herald at stsmarts@heraldnet.com.
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