Carson, you're right that driver behavior can be a problem. On my bike, I'm
always watching motorist behavior, and it is vanishingly rare to see a
motorist actually stop before turning right on red. (This is one of several
motorist violations that I observe almost every single day, along with
speeding, running a red light, failure to signal a turn, and failure to
stop in other required situations.) To give them the benefit of the doubt,
one hopes that they are at least looking and believe that it is clear to
go, and probably that's true in most cases. But the fact remains that they
are legally required to stop, because not stopping increases the
possibility of missing something (or someone).
If the behavior becomes too problematic, right turns on red could be
prohibited. Of course, that too does not guarantee compliance.
I believe the root cause is motorist entitlement and lack of attention, but
those are issues that cannot ultimately be solved by posting signs, though
signs may help a little in some situations. My non-professional opinion.
On Thu, Aug 22, 2019 at 3:03 PM Carson Wood <cwood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
This is not so effective in a 4 way intersection because the driver tends
to be looking left while turning right.
*From:* wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On
Behalf Of *Eric Dudley
*Sent:* Thursday, August 22, 2019 12:25 PM
*To:* Dennis Marrotte <dennis.marrotte1111@xxxxxxxxx>; wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Cc:* Janine Roberts <jroberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject:* [wsmac] Re: A Question for All
If you do not have a pedestrian in the crosswalk crossing Bridge Street to
yield to you can make a right-turn-on-red after a complete stop. The
purpose of the sign is to alert you to the fact that a ped may be in the
crosswalk and that you are required to yield them the right-of-way.
Eric S. Dudley, PE
Director of Engineering and Public Services
371 Saco Street
Westbrook, ME 04092
P 854-0660
*From:* Dennis Marrotte <dennis.marrotte1111@xxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* Thursday, August 22, 2019 11:47 AM
*To:* wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Cc:* Janine Roberts <jroberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; Eric Dudley <
edudley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject:* A Question for All
You are Stopped in the Right Turn Lane , on Bridge Street, facing CVS and
Family Dollar Store. The Overhead " YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS " is illuminated
with all traffic on Main and Bridge Streets Stopped, while a Pedestrian
walks across the East side of Main Street from the CVS entrance towards
the Edward's Block.
Is it Legal for you to Turn RIGHT , westbound onto Main Street, from the
Right Turn Lane on Bridge Street, while the Overhead " YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS
"
SIGN IS STILL ILLUMINATED ? OR, Are you supposed to Wait until that
Overhead Yield Sign goes out ?
I had a very Impatient Driver blowing his Vehicle Horn behind me just now.
I am writing this in my Vehicle parked in the CVS Parking Lot.
Thank You,
Dennis Marrotte
