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Top Road Rule Myths!

Posted: 8:30 am PDT March 30, 2009Updated: 1:09 pm PDT March 30, 2009

Myth #1: You cannot turn left on red!

The truth: The law states you can turn left on red to get onto a one-way street even if you're coming from a two-way street.

“I am the person who is at the light getting honked at because I don't know I can go,” said Cheryl Serpentine a driver in Queen Anne.

Who is doing the honking?

Natalie Bardsley says she can be that person.

“I get really aggravated,” explained the Bardsley from Greenlake. “I'm like, come on you can! Go, go you know?”

Trooper Kirk Rudeen with Washington State Patrol warns this law can be dangerous.

“You always want to make sure you stop at the red and take a hard look for oncoming traffic before you turn,” warned Rudeen.

Myth #2: You can drive in the left lane for as long as you want!

The truth: You should only be in the left lane to pass, then move back to the right. Yes, even if you’re going the maximum speed limit. The law states you need to move out of the way so you’re not impeding traffic.

Trooper Rudeen took us for a ride along to show us how this law worked.

"Right now there is plenty of room to get into the center lane," said Rudeen as he pointed at a car poking along in the left lane with no vehicles next to him in the center lane.

The driver seemed shocked to be pulled over for this law.

“Why do they have a lane if you can't ride in it?” stated Bulut Erdem.

His passenger agreed but stated she’d make sure her husband was obeying the law in the future.

“When he pulled us over it was kind of shocking but now we'll be on the right side,” said Tara Erdem.

Myth #3: It's illegal to drive barefoot!

The truth: There is no law about what you wear on your feet.

“As far as the shoe myth is concerned you can go barefoot but it is highly discouraged,” said Trooper Cliff Pratt.

Do you have a road rule myth you'd like to share? E-mail us!


Emails I've received so far:

"Jenni - a comment about the (left)-turn-on-red myth. A lot of people forget that turning either way on red is NEVER REQUIRED, unless there's a green turn arrow showing on a traffic light. You MAY go, when YOU consider it safe. So everybody stop honking! Also left-on-red is messier. Most drivers don't notice how far they pull out past the white "stop" line on right turns, so they can see traffic. Not a problem in the right lane. But when you do that in the left lane, it's going to interfere with oncoming traffic (from your right) trying to turn left. So more often, you can't do it safely. Thanks for the great segments you do!" - Richard (e-mail)

"Not a question, just a BIG THANK YOU for putting the driving in the left lane thing on the traffic myths this morning. I cannot believe that this is even a myth. Maybe they teach us differently in Chicago. Anyway, thanks once again, because it is so frustrating (road rage causer) to have all the people in the Puget Sound area clogging the left lane the way they do (usually just doing or under the speed limit). Thank you!" - Dan (e-mail)

"Thanks for posting the story. #2 is mine (pet peeve) also, and this silly way Seattle drivers have of driving all bunched together." - @waynemccoy (Twitter)

"The barefoot one is HUGE for me. I wear flipflops and drive barefoot all the time and always thought it was illegal. NICE!" - @Mosse2911 (Twitter)

"Who would want to drive bare-foot in Seattle?" - @Rebecca_Reece (Twitter)

"I'm sure your myths will be far less sarcastic than mine. But from the few years I've been here, these seem to be the most common myths in Seattle. #1) Indicators ("signals") are optional. Especially if you drive an SUV or cross-over. #2) If I can pull out in front of you - I have right of way. #3) You need to get in the left lane at least 5 miles before you turn. Or even if you might think about turning at some point.... Read More #4) The large white lettering in car parks that says "Compact" is merely a suggestion. #5) You should merge into freeway traffic at 20mph." - Zentaro (facebook)

"Even if there's plenty of space between you and the car ahead of you, if someone signals to change lanes and get ahead of you, you MUST speed up. Myth or Rule?" - Geoff (facebook)

"Maybe one of the myths is it really is okay to cross three lanes of traffic to take the exit on the right?...or would that be it isn't?" - Julia (facebook)

"I hope this next comment doesn't anger anyone but those people who got pulled over for driving in the left lane were idiots. It's in the drivers ed manual that you have to read in order to get your license. I wish more people would get pulled over for that. I've driven if Cali and OR but WA drivers are the only ones that will stay in the left lane. Drivers in the other states tend to move over to allow faster moving vehicles to pass. This has been a peeve of mine for years." - William (facebook)