Q: Sometimes drivers try to be “nice,” but it causes problems for others.
I was involved in a three-car accident where a woman decided to stop on a four-lane road to let a driver enter from a side street. When she stopped, a car speeding in the same lane decided to go around her and was hit by the car from the side street. This caused the speeder to hit my car head-on while I was stopped, waiting to make a left turn. I saw it coming, but there was nothing I could do.
Henry Sorensen
A: This is an example of situations when drivers who don’t adhere to the rules of the road and right-of-way can cause confusion, or much worse, as your experience shows. It’s best, and nicer, for all if everyone follows the rules of the road. Anyone who needs a refresher can check the latest version of the California DMV’s Driver Handbook at ://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/
Q: While your answer to a question by Jeff E. recently about parking on a grassy area along a roadside is technically correct, drivers should be reminded of the hazards of parking a car with a hot exhaust/catalytic converter on dry grass. Many fires have been started this way.
Deborah Wettstein
A: And…
Q: Drivers should avoid parking on dry grass during the summer and fall (when it’s dry and there’s no rain). The hot undercarriage of a car can start a fire when it comes into contact with dry grass. So many people are unaware of this serious hazard.
Linda Landau, Orinda
A: An excellent reminder. While the risk of a hot car being parked on dry grass seems far away with all the rain now, the hot, dry days of summer will return.
Q: I’m emailing you on behalf of my 3-year-old son who has a question regarding the intersection and train tracks at Evelyn and Mary in Sunnyvale. If the power is out and the stoplights are not working, will the train crossing arms still come down to keep us safe if the train comes?
Elaine Wong
A: Most railroad crossings have battery packs to make sure the crossing arms will work when normal power is out. Sometimes, though, that is not the case. Use the same caution you would at an unmarked railroad crossing. Slow down and be prepared to stop. Look both ways, and listen carefully to make sure you do not see or hear a train coming from either direction, on any track. If you see or hear a train, stop at a safe distance from the closest track and wait to proceed until the train passes.
Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.
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