Q: Decades ago I had to pass a Navy base driver exam to drive my own car on the base. We started with a week of classes about proper driving techniques and driving hazards.
Then came the actual driving tests. We were given a number of points for each test, such as 10 points for parallel parking. We lost a point for each time we reversed direction beyond three times and one for every 6 inches we parked beyond 6 inches from the curb. We needed at least seven points to pass the test.
Other skills were similarly tested, such as initiating braking from 30 mph 30 yards from a white line and stopping with your bumper over the line, and zigzagging between pylons both forward and backward. All tests had to be passed to get a base license.
I’ve always felt all drivers should have to pass such a rigorous driver exam. Think about how many lives that would save!
Walter D’Ardenne, Cupertino
A: I’m impressed, and if you retained all those skills, you must be a very good driver. It’s clear that many California drivers think that behind-the-wheel testing should be more rigorous.
Q: My wife was recently pulled over for not signaling her intention of turning left from a left turn lane that is controlled by a left turn signal light. She was let off with a warning, but is this an infraction?
J. Lahey, Hollister
A: Mystified by this, as well, I checked with Gary-the-retired-CHP officer. You must signal when turning if it affects the movement of another vehicle, he said, and continued: “I would say there is no violation of law for not signaling in a left turn lane controlled by traffic signals.” If no traffic signal controlled the left turn lane, oncoming traffic could be affected and a signal would be required.
When he taught driver improvement classes, he told students that a very good defensive driving practice is to signal when making any right or left turn, or changing lanes, whether required or not. “It costs nothing to signal and could prevent an accident.”
Q: The lights along Race Street in San Jose from Parkmoor to San Carlos are a mess. There are times the lights turn red for cars traveling down Race when no one is in sight waiting. You have to sit and wait a whole cycle but nobody ever approaches.
Can you work your magic?
Kris
A: I notified the city about this and they will investigate the traffic signals along Race Street from Parkmoor to San Carlos to ensure that detection equipment and signal timing are working as intended.
If you have additional information for them, reach out to the city at [email protected].
Look for Gary Richards at facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at [email protected].
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