Bozeman Drivers Don’t Know The Rules Of The Road

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Friday (3/17) my guest, Jennifer Bordy, attorney at law, discussed some of her pet peeves about Bozeman drivers who apparently never took driver's ed.

Some are obvious to most of us, but there were a few curve balls thrown in as well.

Are You Breaking Any Of These Rules?

• Bicycle Riders: If you’re riding two abreast, you’re breaking the law. There are exceptions depending on the width of the bike lane if there is one. Single file, please.
• Motorcycles: Motorcycles should ride staggered, not side-by-side for safety. If one bike goes down it could take down the one next to it.
• Roundabouts: You don’t stop in the middle of a roundabout to allow someone else to enter. I see this all the time. If you’re in the circle you have the right of way. Those entering need to wait their turn.
• Left Turns: It’s perfectly legal to enter the center of the intersection while waiting for oncoming traffic so you can turn left. Most people know this but every now and then you get someone waiting at the light then gunning it to make the left turn.
• Pedestrians: They always have the right-of-way when crossing in a marked or unmarked intersection (such as the non-marked corner in a neighborhood or subdivision) but not in the middle of a block.
• Yellow Lights: As long as you can safely make it through the intersection before the light turns red you’re home free — right? Wrong. If the light is yellow you must stop if you can do so safely — not speed up to beat the red. You can be ticketed for not stopping on yellow if the policeman so chooses.

Some Final Thoughts

I wonder if these are the kinds of things that are covered in current driver’s ed?

I was not aware of the yellow light thing. I guess I’d better pay more attention to the lights and expect to be rear ended when I hit the brakes on yellow.

I wonder if there will be a one finger salute in my rear view mirror.

Are you guilty of violating all or some of the above? Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

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