成人X站

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Petition to rewrite distracted driving law proves we sit in traffic too much

Jul 25, 2017, 3:30 PM | Updated: 3:31 pm

washington state distracted driving...

(File, Associated Press)

(File, Associated Press)

A petition to rewrite Washington state’s new distracted driving law is evidence that drivers are spending too much time stuck in traffic.

RELATED: What to know about Washington鈥檚 distracted driving law

argues that the law should not include eating, drinking (non-alcoholic beverages I presume), grooming, or smoking.

Under the new distracted driving law, which went into effect on Sunday, someone who is distracted by the aforementioned activities risks being hit with a $99 fine.

Cruze writes that it “should be a citizen’s right when behind the wheel and feel this law needs to have more of the people’s response then having our elected officials make decision without consent from the people.

“We understand the law permits tickets as a secondary offense.”

Secondary offense is the key there. As previously reported, drivers won’t be pulled over just for eating or drinking while driving.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e eating your foot-long and we鈥檙e behind you and you鈥檙e drifting out of your lane trying to keep the mustard from falling on your lap, that is a primary offense if you鈥檙e violating the lane travel law,” Washington State Trooper Rick Johnson previously said.

But this petition is about more than just people who don’t want to be caught for weaving in and out of traffic because they spilled coffee in their lap. It’s about drivers who already feel the burden of their commute not wanting to feel even more restricted behind the wheel.

from the Washington State Department of Transportation says that in 2015, there were 189 miles of routinely congested segments of state roadway. Hours of delay across all urban commute corridors statewide increased by 42.1 percent in two years; from 6.8 million hours in 2013 to 9.6 million hours in 2015.

Total congestion on the five monitored freeway corridors in the Central Puget Sound region increased by 35.7% between 2013 and 2015, surpassing 2007 pre-recession levels for the second consecutive year.

Between 2013 and 2015, congestion became worse on I-5, I-405, and I-90. Blame has been placed on the population increase. In addition, about three-quarters of Washington drivers admit to commuting to work alone.

If travel times in the state, especially the Puget Sound region, weren’t as bad, complaints about a law that can ticket you for eating and drinking while driving would be baseless. Because between the time you leave your house to the time you get to work would, ideally, be minimal.

Unfortunately, we live in an area where our roadways can only be expanded by so much and so quickly. Until more people choose to use alternative modes of transportation, we will be dining with millions of other people trying to get home.

MyNorthwest News

tariffs seattle businesses...

Luke Duecy and Frank Lenzi

Local ports watching tariff trade deals closely

Local ports watching closely now that tariff trade deal deadline arrives

2 hours ago

seattle shooting...

James Lynch

Suspect held on bail for allegedly shooting man in wheelchair at Seattle pier

A suspect is in custody after a man was shot in downtown Seattle on Thursday.

2 hours ago

Harrell...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

Harrell defends record on crime, homelessness as mayoral election nears

Incumbent Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell joined "The Gee and Ursula Show" to address the key issues of homelessness and crime.

3 hours ago

Bellevue police homicide connection...

MyNorthwest Staff

Bellevue police seek public’s help locating homicide suspect

The Bellevue Police Department is looking for a homicide suspect.

3 hours ago

Remains found in Mountlake Terrace...

Frank Lenzi

Snohomish County needs your help to identify human remains found near Mountlake Terrace

Snohomish County investigators are asking for help identifying human remains found near Mountlake Terrace.

4 hours ago

Andrew Tate...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘Nothing quite like it’: Hydroplane champion captures rush of Seafair races

The roar of hydroplane engines returned to Lake Washington Friday as the Apollo Mechanical Cup kicked off Seafair weekend.

4 hours ago

Petition to rewrite distracted driving law proves we sit in traffic too much