Drivers, pedestrians should follow the three C's

Now that Eastern Washington University is back in session, that means not only more people in Cheney, but more vehicles on its streets and roads and more pedestrians and cyclists trying to cross or co-exist on those thoroughfares. As a story in last week’s Cheney Free Press noted, transportation in the city is only going to get more congested over time as well.

So, it’s not a bad time to remind people about a few important aspects of using our streets and roads so that everyone can travel safely in the community. Those aspects can be boiled down into a transportation version of the three C’s: Common sense, courtesy and consideration.

Common sense requires knowing and practicing the rules of the road, which can be found in the online version of the state Department of Licensing’s website at http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/docs/driverguide-en.pdf. Those rules are straight forward and smart.

For instance, most of Cheney’s intersections do not have signals, relying rather on signage and in most cases, not even that. Drivers should know how to act in these instances.

According to the guide, at an intersection where there is no stop or yield signs, drivers must yield to traffic already in the intersection or coming from the right. At an intersection with a four-way stop — like Elm and North Sixth streets — the driver reaching the intersection first has the right of way, after coming to a complete stop.

If more than one driver reaches the intersection at the same time, again, the driver to the right goes first. That’s part of why it’s referred to as the “right of way.”

Drivers making left-hand turns must yield to oncoming traffic. Drivers making right hand turns should not swerve to the left before turning, and should enter the new street in the same lane they turned from.

As a matter of courtesy, drivers turning right might pull more to the right before the turn. Most importantly, please use your turn signal, preferably far enough in advance of the turn to alert motorists nearby, and not as you turn or after — thus letting people know where you’ve been.

Furthermore, speed limits are there for a reason, especially in school zones, so be observant and obey the posted limit. It will make things safer for pedestrians.

And speaking of pedestrians, here are a few rules for you too.

Pedestrians and bicyclists have the right of way at any intersection, marked or unmarked, and drivers must yield to them any time they are in the roadway. But pedestrians and bicyclists have a responsibility to make sure drivers know you are there.

A marked crosswalk is just that, a marked crosswalk. There are no walls there, no force field to protect you from a driver who fails to see you crossing, or doesn’t have enough time and space to stop when you stepped out.

Get the driver’s attention first before crossing. Look them in the eye, and give them an indication that you wish to cross, such as a hand signal or a small step off the curb. Besides crosswalks, a number of transit bus stops are located at intersections so a driver seeing someone standing on a corner may assume they are waiting for a bus.

Don’t step into the crosswalk with your head down looking at your phone, or talking to a companion. Be courteous to drivers so that they are courteous to you.

Finally, everyone should show consideration for others by remembering that your primary duty when driving, or when crossing a street, is to do so safely and promptly. Put your phone down and wait until you get somewhere to return that call or that text.

Common sense, courtesy and consideration will make our traffic habits safer.