Public Service Announcement: Road Rage

It’s Friday, which means we have to leave early if we expect to get home in less than three hours.

Traffic is a part of life in every major metropolitan area, and in greater Pugetopolis it’s also a perennial campaign issue. Governor Chris Gregoire is still stuck on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, while challenger Dino Rossi claims he can build an eight-lane bridge for the price of six. Sound Transit is slow, expensive and ineffectual at accomplishing anything, but they’re better than the alternative - which is listening to people who don’t ever ride buses argue that we need more buses.

Because we expect to be stuck in traffic for at least a few more years, here are a few rules of the road. Helpful hints to make the commute a little easier. At least until we get both a light rail and more roads.

1. The left lane is for faster traffic, and for passing. Do not get in the left lane if you plan on going exactly the speed limit. Going slower than the speed of traffic in the left lane is dangerous and causes accidents. You are not saving anyone’s life by forcing them to pass you on the right.

2. Just because you have a carpool, does not mean that you must travel in the HOV lane. If you are going slower than the speed of traffic in the HOV lane, or if you happen to look in your rearview and see some cars on your bumper, or if you notice that people are passing you on the right, then move to a slower lane. Slower lanes are the ones to the right. (See number 1).

3. Flashing lights in your rearview means “move to the right so I can pass you.” It does not mean hit your brakes. Nor does it mean pretend like you can’t see me.

4. Let people over when they need to get over. Especially around those interchanges like 520 to Mercer, pay attention to turn signals, and allow people to get over. It’s easier, and traffic as a whole will move faster. If somebody lets you get over, do that hand wave thing that means, “thank you.”

5. Use the forced merge. When two lanes become one, use the entire range of both lanes until you are forced to merge, then alternate cars – one from each lane moves forward. Do not stop halfway down the lane that ends and sit there with your turn signal on while people ignore your desire to get over. See also number 4.

If we follow some simple rules there can be less rage on (and about) our roads.