Digital Subscription

tool name

close
tool goes here

Rules of the Road: Which lane has to merge on Sunset Drive?

DAVID WRIGHT; FOR THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Published: Dec. 31, 2012 at 12:00 a.m. PST
0 comments

Question: When traveling west on Sunset Drive in Bellingham after crossing James Street there are two lanes that eventually merge into one. When merging, which lane should yield? I see no signs to indicate which lane has the right of way.

Answer: As you approach that intersection and the merging lanes on Sunset Drive, there is (or has been) a sign that shows the right lane ending. The vehicle in the right lane needs to signal and merge into the left lane. I frequently see drivers in the left lane make it difficult for the vehicles in the right lane to merge. This just seems to bring everyone to a crawl instead of allowing the merge to happen and being delayed to the next stoplight by seconds.

Q: Do drivers have to yield to pedestrians in store entryway cutouts? I was nearly hit by a minivan while I was walking through a cutout. The driver didn't even appear to see me, nor did she acknowledge my yelling at her to pay attention. Was she right to ignore me or should I have reported her to the non-emergency number?

A: To clarify, if by the entryway cutout you are referring to the section that allows a vehicle to enter into a parking lot from a street, then yes, the driver needs to yield to you. Those "cutouts" are in the sidewalk where the pedestrian has the right of way. It sounds like the driver was not paying attention to driving.

As far as reporting her, no enforcement action would be taken. It might help the police department to pattern an area that this happens in to increase some patrol.

ABOUT RULES OF THE ROAD

Rules of the Road is a regular column with questions and answers on road laws, safe driving habits and general police practices.

Answers come from David Wright, a retired officer from the Bellingham Police Department who is now serving on the Whatcom County Traffic Safety Task Force.

To ask a question, go to http://www.bellinghamherald.com/ask-a-question/.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here

We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.

SPORTS
SOUTH SOUND
BLOGS
CONTESTS

Similar stories

  • Rules of the Road: Which lane has to merge on Sunset Drive?

    Question: When traveling west on Sunset Drive in Bellingham after crossing James Street there are two lanes that eventually merge into one. When merging, which lane should yield? I see no signs to indicate which lane has the right of way.

    Answer: As you approach that intersection and the merging lanes on Sunset Drive, there is (or has been) a sign that shows the right lane ending. The vehicle in the right lane needs to signal and merge into the left lane. I frequently see drivers in the left lane make it difficult for the vehicles in the right lane to merge. This just seems to bring everyone to a crawl instead of allowing the merge to happen and being delayed to the next stoplight by seconds.

  • Can I legally park a car in a motorcycle spot?

    Question: There are a few metered parking spots downtown that say "motorcycle only." I see cars parked there all the time. Is this legal?

    Answer: No.

    Q: When biking, you are supposed to be as far to the right as you feel safe. You also are supposed to obey traffic laws. If the right lane is about to be a right-turn-only lane, how soon is it appropriate to move into a middle lane?

  • Rules of the Road: What's the law for passing a parked patrol car with lights flashing?

    Question: Could you please explain the correct way for vehicles to pass a patrol car sitting on the shoulder of the road with lights flashing and an officer writing a ticket, for example. I've heard new rules had been instituted in recent years due to several serious accidents related to situations like this, and the fines for violation are quite hefty. How about when an ambulance or aid car has lights flashing while parked on the side of the road?

    Answer: The RCW is fairly lengthy but covers quite a bit of valuable information. I have copied it below. The law covers not only emergency vehicles, but also tow-truck operators and highway workers. The basic premise is, you need to change lanes away from them if you are on a multi-lane road and it is safe to do so. If you cannot change lanes, you need to slow to at, or below, the posted speed limit as you pass them.

    RCW 46.61.212 Approaching emergency zones - Penalty - Violation.

  • Rules of the Road: Is it legal to ride horses on Whatcom County roads?

    Question: Is it legal to ride and walk horses on the roads in Whatcom County? I have a neighbor who runs a therapeutic riding center and she walks horses up and down the road with small children all day long five days a week.

    Our road is fairly busy and a 35-mph zone. There are no shoulders on the road. This seems dangerous to the children, the horses and other drivers.

    Answer: The Bellingham municipal code prohibits riding horses on most city streets. The Whatcom County Code prohibits riding horses on Birch Bay Drive from spring until fall. The RCW only says that people walking or riding horses must be granted the same right of way as vehicles. There may be some other rules/regulations/codes that apply, but these are the only ones I found.

  • Traffic Q&A: How to negotiate those pesky two-lane roundabouts

    When there’s more than one lane inside a roundabout, which lane are you supposed to be in when you want to make a left turn, relative to the point where you entered?