Stories by Doug Dahl
70 stories
Opinion: Impaired walking vs. impaired driving; pick neither
Doug Dahl argues impaired driving remains deadlier than walking impaired when measured by exposure time, not miles traveled.
Opinion: A school bus, a four-way stop, and the meaning of ‘either’
Doug Dahl explains why the word "either" in state law means cross-traffic at a four-way stop may not be required to stop for a school bus.
Opinion: The problem with setting speed limits by how fast people drive
Doug Dahl argues the 85th percentile speed-limit method lacked evidence and was built on a flawed reading of crash data.
Opinion: Yielding, a lot like stopping
Washington is one of 12 states (plus the District of Columbia) where cyclists can legally treat stop signs as yield signs.
Opinion: Tickets in parking lots
Doug Dahl explains how Washington law allows officers to act on suspended-license violations even off public roads.
Opinion: Driving tired is probably worse than you thoughts
Drowsy driving after 17 to 19 hours awake is comparable to a . 05 blood alcohol level, Doug Dahl writes.
Opinion: Getting a ticket in your drive way
In Washington, some violations — including driving suspended — can be enforced on private property, even in your own driveway.
Opinion: Hands free but not risk free – the one touch limit
Washington law allows just one touch while driving — but crash data say even that carries real risk.
Opinion: Bike lanes aren’t two-way streets
Doug Dahl explains why riding against traffic in bike lanes creates dangerous intersection conflicts and forces cyclists into vehicle lanes.
Opinion: Crashes, crime, and confusion – Who’s responsible in parking lots?
Target Zero Manager Doug Dahl explains why police rarely patrol grocery store parking lots and what drivers can do.
Opinion: Passing a cyclist – Law, myth and a little patience
Most drivers can't legally pass cyclists in-lane due to vehicle width versus road measurements.
Opinion: Half the road, full stop – Understanding pedestrian right-of-way
Doug Dahl explains how Washington’s law requires drivers to stop when a pedestrian is within one lane of their half of the road, not just when directly in front.
Opinion: In plain sight – yielding to pedestrians
Drivers often fail to see pedestrians due to inattentional blindness, which highlights the need for more focused awareness at intersections and stronger safety practices.
Opinion: Stay in your lane – seriously, it’s the law
Drivers must choose the nearest lane when turning in Washington, and left turns bring added risk. Even with signals, every driver must help prevent crashes by following law.
Opinion: Two ways to keep right
Doug Dahl explains how Washington drivers must “keep right” differently depending on whether traffic flows in one direction or both, plus the exceptions that apply to two-way turn lanes.
Opinion: A-pillars – The safety feature that increases crashes
Doug Dahl explains how wider A-pillars designed to protect occupants in rollovers may also reduce visibility and increase crash risk for other road users.
Opinion: Oversized tires and the frequency illusion
Doug Dahl explains why tires that extend beyond fenders are illegal and how frequency illusion shapes perceptions about traffic safety.
Opinion: The many reminders not to speed
Doug Dahl examines the many technological and policy-based reminders aimed at reducing speeding and explains why most drivers still choose not to use them voluntarily.
Opinion: The limits for drug-impaired driving
Target Zero Manager Doug Dahl explains how Washington law defines drug-impaired driving and how officers are trained to recognize impairment beyond alcohol limits.
Opinion: When fast feels slow
Doug Dahl explains why drivers often misjudge their speed, especially when using cruise control or transitioning from freeway to city streets.
Opinion: Does tailgating cause speeding?
Target Zero Manager Doug Dahl examines whether tailgating contributes to speeding and explains why following too closely increases crash risk with little benefit.
Opinion: Bikes in crosswalks
Doug Dahl explains how Washington law treats bicycles as both vehicles and pedestrians, depending on where and how they are being ridden.
Opinion: Too deep to drive – flooded roads
Doug Dahl explains why even shallow water on roadways can be dangerous for drivers and outlines the risks of hydroplaning and driving through floodwaters.
Opinion: Simultaneous left turns
Doug Dahl explains how Washington law directs drivers to make simultaneous left turns by passing to the left of each other in an intersection.
Showing the 24 most recent of 70.