This weekly column deals with the dispersion of knowledge, and sometimes I am the beneficiary of this education. My May 23 column examined the U-turns allowed in Washington and Idaho. In summary, such curves are legal under certain conditions, such as the prohibition of vehicles within 500 feet in both directions, the safety of manoeuvring and the absence of curves, inclinations or prohibitions of signs (sections 1 and 2 of RCW 46.61.265). Washington State RCW 46.61.295 describes the situations in which U-turns are acceptable and under what circumstances they are illegal. It states that `[t]he driver of a vehicle shall not turn the vehicle so that it is moving in the opposite direction, unless such movement can be made safely and without affecting other vehicles`. In Seattle, the ordinances outlining U-turn laws are very similar to those in the state. Seattle Order 11.55.120 states that drivers are not allowed to turn around: Washington`s law seems lax in comparison. U-turns are usually allowed here, as long as you can do them safely and without disturbing traffic. The two restrictions of state law are that you cannot turn around on a curve or approaching a hill if your vehicle cannot be seen by an approaching driver within 500 feet. Historical note: Before 1975, the law did not even include the part on safety and no impact on other vehicles. He forbade them only in curves and hills. U-turns are illegal in many states and in certain types of driving and/or terrain conditions for good reason. If a driver makes a 180-degree or U-turn unexpectedly, it can lead to a dangerous situation for other vehicles and pedestrians.
Drivers who turn around at intersections, highways or busy roads endanger the public. The Spokane City Act, to which he drew my attention, prohibits U-turns in a “congested district” in the text of Section 3, which was added to Sections 1 and 2 of the state law. He also highlighted a second regulation that defines the “congested zone”. Many drivers in Seattle have already learned that U-turns are illegal except at specially marked intersections. This was the case when many people had to train as drivers in high school, but the laws have since changed. Washington state changed its U-turn orders in 1997, and the city of Seattle followed suit the following year. Today, you can legally turn around at almost any intersection, unless there is a “No U-turn” sign. Every year, thousands of car accidents are caused by drivers making illegal U-turns or negligently attempting to negotiate a legal U-turn. U-turns can lead to head-on collisions and T-OS crashes, which are particularly dangerous and often result in serious and sometimes fatal injuries. In cities where the local U-turn law largely coincides with state law, but has some exceptions, you can find signs prohibiting U-turns. In cities where they`re usually banned, you probably won`t see “No U-Turn” signs everywhere, so it`s up to you to know the law. It`s also unrealistic to know the different iterations of U-turn laws in every municipality in the state, so if you`re in a city where you don`t know their U-turn laws, you should be very careful.
Safety comes first, but legal penalties can also be higher than expected. As a final example, Bremerton`s city code states that U-turns are prohibited everywhere unless there is a sign permitting it, and a violation of the law is a misdemeanor (a felony, yup!) and not a civil offense like most traffic offenses. Despite Washington and Seattle laws that clearly outline situations where a safe U-turn is possible, many drivers continue to take dangerous turns without considering the dangers of their decision. Laws are in place to protect motorists from accidents caused when a driver tries to turn around in a blind spot, or to do so without first ensuring that they do not endanger others around them. U-turns in inappropriate areas – or careless trading of a U-turn at a legal location – can cause various accidents. Head-on collisions are not uncommon on two-lane roads, while T-shaped crashes often occur on wide roads or with median stripes. That`s a lot of text, but valuable to understand if you want to turn around in Spokane or end up in the traffic court for it. This also makes illegal the U-turn on Bernard Street proposed by the reader R.B. Answer: I once saw a bumper sticker that said, “God allows U-turns. Either it`s a metaphor, or God hasn`t penetrated legislators in some cities and states. Here in Washington, this bumper sticker and our state law are closely aligned, but that`s not the case in our neighboring state to the south (or in some cities in our state). Question: At some intersections and even in some places in the middle of the block, I don`t see any U-turn signs.
I thought U-turns were generally illegal, especially in the middle of the block. If that`s true, why not put up U-turn signs? When a driver maneuvers a motor vehicle to make a 180-degree turn that reverses the direction of travel of the vehicle, it is called a U-turn – it is called a “U-turn” because the tactic resembles the letter “U”. Occasionally, shared highways have U-turn ramps to allow restricted law enforcement and rescue vehicles in emergency situations. The previous column answered a question from R.B. about U-turns on Bernard Street in downtown Spokane. According to the provisions of Washington State law, this phrase is allowed. Although Spokane`s municipal code often mimics state law word for word, there are exceptions. As for U-turns, two emails from readers reminded me of this. In addition to statewide laws, each city or local government can make its own laws regarding U-turns. Some further restrict them with ordinances or individually mark dangerous intersections without U-turn signs. First, A.J. noticed that he had been ticketed by Spokane police for a U-turn on Driscoll Boulevard.
He went to court and used the statutes of the state as a defense, expecting it to be his turn. He discovered that the Spokane Code contained a section prohibiting U-turns in certain districts and thoroughfares. While sections 1 and 2 contain text identical to state law (no vehicles, safety, no curves, etc.), Spokane added a section 3 that came into effect on January 1, 2009. If you`re an Oregoner visiting Washington, you might think we have a bunch of mockers turning around wherever we want. And if you`re a Washingtonian visiting Oregon, you might be surprised by a ticket for a perfectly legal U-turn. If you or a loved one was injured in an illegal U-turn accident in Seattle, you may be entitled to compensation from the guilty driver. Car accident attorney Max Meyers can help. At Max Meyers Law, we help our clients obtain compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Contact us today at 425-399-7000 to learn more.
The victim of an illegal U-turn accident has the right to claim compensation from the driver at fault. Medical bills, lost wages, property damage, other damages, and damages for pain and suffering can all be compensated by fair and reasonable settlement or jury arbitration.