Over the last few years, traffic crashes have increased.  Whether it is the lack of attention from electronics, the lack of driving for many months/years during COVID or something else entirely, experts are still investigating.  We like to think loyal readers of the Rana Law Group newsletter are not contributing to the increase, however, just in case, we wanted to provide a test while (hopefully) improving our readers’ road safety knowledge.  Many people get the first one WRONG so hopefully you all know the correct answer!Question 1) You are in the lefthand turn lane at an intersection and have a blinking/flashing yellow arrow.  There are cars coming from the opposite direction.  When can you make your left?

A)  I have a yellow arrow so I can go now.
B)  I must yield to oncoming traffic.
C)  I must wait for a green arrow.

Answer:  Some people come upon a blinking yellow arrow and go, directly into the path of on-coming traffic which has the right of way.  For some inexplicable reason, the people who decide traffic light configurations decided to mess with what we all grew up with as the standard blinking solid yellow light means yield and go only when it is clear.  Arrows became more common and people could turn during a solid arrow, including a solid yellow arrow that is turning to red.  The problem started when they began configuring lights as depicted in the photograph – now, a blinking yellow means yield, not go before it turns red.  The correct answer is B.  If the person goes and causes a collision with on-coming traffic, the person who turned left on the blinking yellow turn arrow is responsible for the collision.  Sometimes, the other vehicle that had the green/right of way will get hit with some percentage of fault for “failure to keep a careful lookout” but that is more of an insurance way of assessing fault to save money and not likely to hold up if the situation ever made it in front of a jury.

Question 1a) This one is a little different from #1 above.  If the left turn arrows are solid yellow, can you go?

Question 2a) This one is a little different from #2 above.  There is a car waiting to turn left in front of you.  Traffic ahead is stopped and you create space. There are no cars to your immediate right.  What do you do?

A)  Be nice, let the person through.
B)  Close that gap and get bumper to bumper with the silver SUV in front of you, avoiding eye contact as you go.
C) See if there is any cars coming in the right lane and, if not, wave the person through.Answer:  Legally, the one where we avoid eye contact is STILL the best answer.  Answer A by itself is risky because there could either be a car coming OR a car behind you may whip out and decide to come over to that right lane, not knowing this person in the middle lane is going to turn left.  That is the same reason that even C is a bad answer.  The coast may be clear when you look but, by the time the car to your left makes that turn, another car may be coming up in that lane to your right or someone may have whipped out.  While not nice, let it be the problem of the person behind you.  The answer is your version of B.Question 3) Roundabouts are cropping up everywhere in the state.  If you are on the outside lane and approach the circle, what do you do?

A) Wait for the cars in the circle and, when there is an opening, go in.
B) Go straight in, knowing others will yield to you.
C) Wait outside the circle and timidly start and stop, never actually finding a space big enough to enter.

Answer: The obvious answer is A, yield to the cars already in the circle and go in when there is a break.  You exit wherever in the circle your destination is located.  It is important to note when others entered because (as is the case in the Delmar Loop round about for instance) it can not be assumed that cars will be going either east or west on the ‘main’ road.  People are often coming from or exiting into Trinity or Princeton Avenues so it is important to watch and only enter when it is clear.  Let’s say there are other cars outside of the circle waiting to come in – who has the right of way?  While not set in stone, typically the cars to the left should go first and any waiting to your right from a later entry point should defer to cars to their left.  Practically, some people do not care and will just go.  Our advice – drive defensively to not get hit but aggressively enough so that you are not stuck outside the circle for a long time.

From time to time, clients call and ask which type of cases we handle.  Our practice is built on referrals from satisfied clients.  We know that if we work hard and do a good job for our clients, they will tell their friends about us.  The best compliment from a former client is that client entrusting us with the potential case of their friend or family.  Our office specializes in the following cases:

1. Personal Injury (auto collisions, trucking, motorcycle, premise liability, dog bites, daycare)
2. Work Injuries
3. Traffic tickets and DUI/DWI

If you know someone that meets these criteria, please have them call our office.  If someone does not quite fit the above criteria, please still have the prospective referral give us a call as we can usually help the person find the right attorney via a referral.