What’s up with that? Lane changes permitted in intersections

I am curious who designed the intersection at 164th Avenue and Mill Plain Boulevard. I traverse that intersection quite often, and in doing so have noticed the alignment of southbound 164th Avenue causes some issues. I have on numerous occasions seen vehicles in one lane change lanes in the middle of the intersection, forcing the other driver to take evasive action. This has happened to me recently, when a Honda CR-V sporting a Deadhead sticker on the back window cut me off.
–William

There’s a lot going on in your email, William, so let’s look at it piece by piece. As for who designed the intersection, Public Works spokeswoman Loretta Callahan wrote in an email that those streets have been there for many years — years before they were annexed into the city. The intersection also has undergone several changes since then. The portion to the north of the intersection was built in the 1990s, the west leg was built when Target moved to the area and the east leg was widened more recently to add a right-turn only lane. There also has been various improvements and changes to the intersection, specifically in terms of paving, crosswalks and signals.

“There are established federal, state and local traffic standards to which street systems must comply, and we do,” Callahan wrote.

Now, as for changing lanes in an intersection, that’s technically legal. The Revised Code of Washington doesn’t say anywhere that drivers can’t change lanes in an intersection. RCW46.61.140 states that “a vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety.” Other laws note that drivers can change lanes if a signal is used in a proper fashion.

“Lanes continue through an intersection from one side to the other,” said Washington State Patrol Sgt. Ryan Tanner. “Once you’re in an intersection, you can’t start moving around all over the place. You have to stay in your lane, and as far as I know, you can change lanes.”

Still, it’s not something Tanner suggests doing.

“You have to be very, very careful, as with any lane change, if you do it,” he said. “If you can’t do it safely, don’t do it.”

So, William, as long as people are doing it safely, it appears they can change lanes in an intersection. Now, as for the driver’s musical taste, well, there’s nothing I can do about that. Sorry.

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