RANT: Dangerous Driver(s) on Spokane St.

[JustSarah]

I commute on a scooter and for safety reasons take the Spokane St./low bridge route toward downtown. Every day on my ride home, I have to turn left off the bridge, go past Chelan Cafe, and head down Spokane. Every day, there’s at least one driver that feels he has the right to get in the inner turn lane (which just turns and does NOT feed to Spokane), and cut over in front of everyone who got into the correct lane to turn left, then right onto Spokane. This always P!$$#$ me off, because I can tell they know exactly what they’re doing when they rocket off from the light. Today was the worst though: a white Jeep Grand Cherokee (late model, ’04+) with Michigan plates was in that inner turn lane and I was at the front of my line. The light turned green, I proceeded through at a quick pace (not dangerous), and he suddenly swerved into my lane, cutting my available stopping distance drastically with stopped traffic ahead. I had to slam on my brakes (NOT safe on a scooter or motorcycle!) and still ended up about an inch from his bumper, lucky that I didn’t slam into him. I laid on my horn and he turned around and flipped me off! I’m still seething from this. At least I could see in my mirrors that the people behind me saw what happened and I think took down his license plate. I wish I had the presence of mind to, also, but I was just too angered by the situation. Really, is it ever necessary to be such an incredible jerk??

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[HappyPets]

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[Magpie]

This is one of those places that I can’t believe there are not a lot of accidents. When we have cars next to us and are in the correct lane, we just assume that they are going to go in the wrong lane and cut us off…they ALWAYS do..in fact I would say at least 9 out of 10 times those morons go in the wrong lane…I guess we could blame in on the signage or just inability to read signs? It would be a great opportunity to get some revenue for the city in the price of the ticket! We hate going that way, but sometimes we have to.

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[Anonymous]

As someone still fairly new to this area, I did that very thing just the other day.

I honestly didn’t know any better. That whole area down there is still so confusing to me. I didn’t cut any one off, but I did have to get over into the other lane and waited for the break between cars (no one honked or flipped me off, so I think I did it ok, considering).

I think the problem is in the signage. It can be very confusing for people new to the area. But, whenever there is a tricky area that I DO know, I’m always conscious of the fact that others may not know where they should be (or are just jerks) and dart over. I always am aware of the possibility of other drivers possibly cutting in front of me, it’s called defensive driving.

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[melissa]

Sarahscoot: I wish you good luck and safety! I notice the very same thing. People who find themselves confused by the (pretty darn clear) signage should simply continue on to Delridge rather than cutting in at the last minute unless they are waved in by someone. That’s the only safe and sensible way to do it. Unfortunately, on a regular basis people do to many of us what that Michigander did to you. They should pay better attention & not blame their inattentiveness on you.

And yes, I agree, most people just want to dash ahead, just like those jackasses who drive in the bus lane on the bridge. Ah well, I suppose knowing that they do it adds some measure of safety, but I feel your pain.

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[Franci]

I frequently return to WS that way, and I would say that there are a bunch of drivers who just simply think they should not have to get line and wait like the rest of us a the light. I’m convinced I’ve seen the same cars doing the same thing on multiple days. I’ve even had drivers cut me off in the middle of the intersection, after going through the light, while making the left turn. One even cut in front of me in the intersection, slammed on his brakes, and pulled into the Chelan. Or simply ‘merge’ where the road divides – without any thought at all for the folks who are in the correct lane.

I suspect that some think that most traffic is going straight that is in the far right lane, but I would say that 99% of the traffic takes the left turn.

They are probably the same ones who wait till the last minute to get over into the right lane on 99 to take the WS Bridge exit. I suspect that if everyone moved into the right lane early enough, it would still be slow, but you would not get the sudden stops and starts that you do now during heavy traffic.

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[piegs]

grrr…I hear you on this one! My issue is at the intersection by the Chelan Cafe where Spokane turns into West Marginal Way. People always sit in the far right lane (which is a designated “right turn only” lane for the Harbor bridge) and then cut in front of the folks in the correct lane going straight. Just the other day, I was almost side swiped by a tractor trailor there! UGH! It’s not that hard to figure out…just read the signs!

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[Ken]

Those of us who have lived in other parts of the US are the ones who will have to adjust.

Seattle signage is a cherished tradition.

Nowhere else have I found designed optical illusions on freeways where the “this lane” signs point to the center line.

I have thought about making a photo “coffee table” book of some of the more insane signs for the ferries, abrupt lane endings, unmarked exit only lanes and the ever popular “Construction Ahead” signs which have actually fallen in the hole.

It fits right in with a bus system which does not have a route map on the bus.

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[Anonymous]

Or how about the signs that are so faded or so dirty that you can’t read them? A+. Peeps need to read and heed what precious accurate signs we have ’round here.

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[Franci]

Signage is not an excuse for those who use these routes on a daily basis and continue to practice poor driving habits – all with the goal of being ahead of everyone else. That’s what it’s about! Not wanting or willing to get into the proper lane because there are already some cars stacked up in it and knowing if the ‘pretend’ that they don’t know they need to be in the other lane till the last minute.

I might buy the signage excuse if there weren’t so many people doing it – they can’t all be on this roadway for the first time.

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[Kayzel]

There’s a very good article on the topic called “Urge to Merge – Making It in the Battle for a Lane” from last Sunday’s NYTimes Magazine. The writer observes that the populace is made up of “lineuppers” and “sidezoomers” (aka “Cheaters” and “Vigilantes”) and analyzes the results of those tendencies in her local snarl in California. You will recognize yourself in this article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/magazine/03traffic-t.html?scp=5&sq=traffic&st=cse

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[villagegreen]

I too ride a scooter through that intersection and have similar problems. I will admit that when I first moved here I would quite often get confused about what lane to be in, so I understand people who make mistakes, but I never dangerously merged back into the correct lane – I just continued onto Delridge.

Kayzel – that was a great article. I’ve lived in other cities and find that the majority of Seattle drivers fall into the excessively timid “lineuppers”.

It really burns me when people zoom all the way to the front of the line and then merge, but at the same time it’s best to use all the merging realestate. People who are afraid to merge, stop their cars right at the beginning of the merging zone, and then attempt to merge are the main cause of the backups.

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[CMP]

I couldn’t finish that article, it was unnecessarily long. If you have a merging situation, then everyone should utilize the merging lane until it ends. I-5 northbound just past I-90 is a perfect example near the James and Madison exits. There’s no need to merge 1/2 mile ahead of time since it causes backups. I pass everyone that’s been lined up forever b/c I actually pay attention to road signs and understand what they mean. It’s not rude, it’s smart. If you find it annoying, try passing people that way some time and you might get that it makes more sense. And I want everyone to know that I would never cut anyone off trying to get onto northbound I-5 from the bridge. I still see jerks crossing that double white line and it irks me to no end. I line up like everyone else b/c we all have to.

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[rampinrodney]

I still have not figured out the mess in the Spokane Street area you have all discussed. Fortunately, for those that have to use it frequently, I just try to avoid it. It certainly is a mess; it reminds me of a giant maze that only rats can figure out quickly.

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[datamuse]

Merging seems to be a difficult concept around here generally, and I don’t really understand why. I’ll use the merging real estate (nice one villagegreen) when it’s available, but I have to ask, what is with people trying to crawl up each other’s bumpers in heavy traffic? That makes merging difficult, too. Even in the D.C. area, where I grew up and where everyone is a Type A driver with rabies, there’s this tacit understanding that if there’s an onramp, people will be merging (and quickly, as merge lanes on the Capital Beltway tend to be short to nonexistent).

Not that D.C. driving doesn’t have its own special headaches, such as people who will back up on the freeway when they miss their exits, or getting stuck behind motorcades.

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[RickB]

Another place this kind of thing happens is at the Western St. exit from the northbound 99 viaduct. In the morning it’s almost always backed up for a good long while before the exit, and people are always driving all the way up to the front and then cutting in. The dangerous thing in that situation is the sudden slowdown in the second-rightmost lane could cause a rearender accident…

-Rick

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[Franci]

Rick

Yep. I travel that route every morning – that’s why I stay in the far left lane till I’m past that exit. I’ve had to slam on my brakes one too many times. A couple of times it was even for drivers who pulled out of the far right lane when it was slow only to go a little ways then bring the middle lane to a complete stop again.. so they could re-enter the far right lane.. arghh..

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[JoB]

Ken,

i read an article recently about a man who rides the seattle buses for entertainment… his goal is to ride each and evry line to it’s terminus…

anyway.. without commenting.. somewhere in that article was buried the fact that a route map does exist. you apparently have to know exactly which hallway downtown has them available.

and no.. i didn’t write that info down. who knew i would need it?

I was amazed when i started looking at the bus system to find there wasn’t a route map of the entire system available online.

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[Author]

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