I’m my own worst enemy when it comes driving on the freeway at this time of year.
The sun sets early.
The skies are gray no matter what time of day.
There’s a steady sheen of gray muck that shoots up at our windshields, obscuring everything and ruining wiper blades.
Lane markings are nonexistent on the freeway in Everett, thanks to ongoing construction.
All this, and I choose to drive a gray car.
How did I end up in this predicament?
It’s like I’m invisible on the road.
And I’m not the only one.
Every other car on the road is gray or silver, or some other camouflage color that you can’t see as the weather blurs through 16 shades of gray each fall, winter and spring.
Whatever happened to red and yellow?
At least I turn on my lights.
Many of my fellow camouflaged drivers take things too far, trying to hide out on the road with their lights off.
I cannot comprehend why anyone would drive with their lights off in these conditions.
So either pour a bucket of colorful paint on your car, or turn on your lights. Drivers behind, in front and alongside will appreciate it.
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Perry Young of Everett reminds drivers to be careful around school buses, but not to gum up traffic by stopping when it’s not necessary.
“It’s very frustrating when cars stop when they’re not required to, backing up traffic needlessly,” Young said.
The only situations where you must stop for a school bus when its lights are flashing is when you’re behind the bus and when you’re coming at the bus in the opposite direction on a two-lane road.
“When there are three or more lanes, only traffic flowing in the same direction as the bus is required to stop,” Young said.
That means you don’t have to stop (again when you’re driving in the opposite direction) when there’s a turn lane in the middle of the road.
“It’s perfectly legal, and more importantly, perfectly safe to pass by in the opposite direction at these times,” Young said. “School bus drivers will not let children cross the street in front of the bus when there are more than two lanes.”
Christine Anthony from the state Department of Licensing says Young is right on the money, and that drivers should take heed.
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Have a question about traffic or street rules around Snohomish and Island counties? We can help find an answer. E-mail Street Smarts at stsmarts@heraldnet.com.
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