I Went to Traffic School- Here’s what I learned

By Joni Johnson

Running a yellow light

I sped through an intersection to avoid a yellow light turning red.  Bad mistake.  This happened at Central and 6^thavenue where the speed limit is 20 mph.  Of course, even though I was going at the speed of all the cars around me, as soon as I sped through the intersection, it took my speed from 20 mph to 32 mph.  Just enough to get me a  speeding ticket.  You are given a citation if you are 11 miles or over the existing speed limit.  I was really angry because I was trying to avoid being rear-ended by a quick stop and I felt I was going with the speed of traffic until the moment when I reached the intersection and the light changed.  I have the video to prove it all because, of course, they send you a video with the ticket.  The speed limit on Central is 20 mph in the heart of the city but quite a bit faster a little before and after.  However, the limit was clearly marked.  Riverside is 25 mph and some of the bigger side streets that you take to get from Riverside to Central have a limit of 30.   I was ready to fight it, but luckily I was able to sign up for traffic school, which would keep my record clean.  If I had lost my fight, it would be on my record for at least 3 years.

Well, it’s a good thing I didn’t fight.  I would not have won.  Traffic School made it very clear that Oregon felt that being rear ended was better than perhaps killing either a pedestrian or hitting another car.  Don’t speed on Central.  Cameras are everywhere. Supposedly, the lights are calibrated so that if you start crossing against a yellow light, there is enough time to go the speed limit and still make it to the other side of the intersection.

Nationally, 40 percent of all crashes involve intersections and it is the second largest category of crashes, with rear-end collisions being the only category with more crashes. Twenty percent of fatal collisions occur at intersections.

According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, about half of the deaths in red light running crashes are pedestrians and occupants in other vehicles who are hit by the red light runners.

(I passed the final exam and submitted it by email to the city and heard back within a day or two that I had completed the requirements and my faux pas would not be on my record.)

 Here are some other things I learned

Recommended list for traveling in the winter:

• Mobile phone with important phone numbers, including personal emergency contacts, family members and emergency services; be sure to include a charger or power storage device
• Drinking water or electrolyte-replenishing sports drinks (they have a slightly lower freezing temperature)
• First aid kit, including extra doses of whatever medications are needed by you, your family members or traveling pets
• Non-perishable snacks for both human and pet passengers
• Bag of abrasive material (sand, salt, cat litter) or traction mats
• Snow shovel
• Blankets or sleeping bag
• Additional pieces of warm clothing (gloves, hats, scarves)
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Extra window washer fluid
• Ice scraper with brush
• Some rags or roll of paper towels
• Jumper cables, cleaned and recently checked
• Warning devices (flares or reflective hazard signs)
• Basic household tool kit (screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench, small hammer, electrical or duct tape)

You need to take care when driving in the winter:  Here is a video showing what happens when driving on an icy road. Unless you don’t have an option, stay home:

some of the identifiable models in the video normally have AWD or 4WD, which is definitely not magic — the black pickup trying to tow a semi at the very end clearly has ALL of its wheels spinning.  x

Important Speed limits

School zones are 20 mph, as you know.  School zones are always reduced to 20 MPH when active, and posted signs will note:

“When Flashing” accompanied by a yellow flashing light

“7 AM to 5 PM”

“When Children Are Present”

What does “When Children are Present” mean?

Children are present at any time and on any day when kids are:

– Occupying or walking within a crosswalk

– Waiting on the curb or shoulder of the highway at a crosswalk

– A traffic control member is present to assist children at a crosswalk

Drivers must stop for a school bus if the driver meets or overtakes a bus from either direction and the bus is stopped on a roadway operating red bus safety lights. The driver must stop before reaching the school bus and must remain stopped until the red bus safety lights are no longer operating.

Fifteen Mph at RVM

I thought 20 mph was the lowest speed limit Oregon has.  I was wrong. The speed limit can be 15 miles per hour when driving on an alley or a narrow residential roadway. Hence the legal speed limits at RVM.

Making a right turn on a solid red arrow light

A driver may make a right turn into a two-way street.  However, you must make a complete stop before making the turn.

Bicycles

Drivers may not drive in a bike lane. They may cross bike lanes when turning or entering or leaving an alley, driveway, or other roadway.  When you drive down Jackson, the lane closest to the school moves over and if you continue to drive straight, you will be driving in a bicycle lane.  Therefore, you need to make sure you move to the left to stay out of the bike lane.  It is a bit strange, so you need to pay strict attention.  Two policemen pulled me over to find out if I had been drinking because I did not notice this change once.  Luckily, it was clear that I had just made a mistake and they let me go.

You also cannot drive in a bike lane when preparing for a turn.

Bikes can be in front of you while waiting for a light if they are planning to turn left.  This is legal.

Accidents and filing reports

And finally, if you are involved in an accident, you must also file an accident report in addition to the police report. You must file an Oregon Traffic Accident and Insurance Report with DMV within 72 hours of a crash when:

– Damage to any vehicle is over $2,500 (even if your vehicle was the only one in the crash) There are very few crashes that cost less than $2500.
– Any vehicle is towed from the scene
– Injury or death resulted from the accident
– Damages to anyone’s property other than a vehicle involved in the accident is more than $2,500.

I hope this information is helpful and keeps you safe and ticketless.