PRECISION DRIVING
Readers speak of schools and batteries
An email from G.W. typifies the myriad of questions and comments I receive regarding school zone markings. It read, in part, “There still seems to me to be some ambiguities. For example: A middle-school age girl was riding her bicycle on the sidewalk on 32nd Ave. opposite University High in Spokane Valley about 6 pm one weekday last week. She was in long shadows, and not easy to see. By law, I should have been driving 20 mph, with a student present, 24/7. Yes? No?”
I agree with G.W. that there is some ambiguity present in our school zone postings; I’ve even heard conflicting interpretations from law enforcement. It may not be specified in law, but yes, most officers contend that if children are present on sidewalks, streets, or crosswalks near schools, drivers should maintain 20 mph. This is the consensus of officers I’ve spoken to, even when the only sign present is the yellow one with black silhouettes of school children.
There is room for signage improvement. On that topic, G.W. ponders, “In keeping with some of the signs that are flashing when the 20 mph speed limit is in force, how about having U-High (and Central High) post same on the electronic billboard that is in front of the school? Every 2nd or 3rd message could say something to the effect that the 20 mph speed limit was in force when posted.”
That suggestion has merit, G.W. I haven’t driven by U-High in awhile, but I think a clear message would be delivered by signs similar to those of some District 81 high schools (Lewis & Clark and Ferris) specifying: “20 mph 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM School Days.” Of course, drivers need to read and observe such signs to make them effective.
In last week’s column I wrote about the difficulty of imparting a message to drivers via sparse signage with abbreviated content. This situation is exemplified by G.W.’s final comment: “The signs in front of Central Valley High on S. Sullivan in Spokane Valley are a real question in my mind. There is the chartreuse 5-sided sign with the 2 schoolchildren in it (denoting a school crosswalk), and below is a yellow 4 sided sign that reads: 25mph ahead. The yellow just means caution, advisory, or suggested. Not the same as the white 4 sided sign that reads: 20mph when children are present. Also, at CVHS, there are no ‘end of zone’ signs, or ‘resume speed’ signs, or 35 mph signs as you proceed on Sullivan.”
Evidently, the CV district expects drivers to figure things out for themselves. Though G.W. is correct that the yellow sign is only advisory, I know that County Sheriffs would stop drivers who were going more than 20 mph if children were present in that area.
A more uniform application of school zone marking is in order — if you concur, contact legislators and school district administrators about it.
Getting charged up
R.T. noted, “Last year about this time, you mentioned in one of your columns about putting a battery charger on a vehicle. I questioned doing this without disconnecting the negative side of the battery first. I also called two dealerships and both of them said they would not put a battery charger on without first disconnecting the battery cable. I believe your position was contrary to this?”
I know of no reason to disconnect either cable before charging a battery. Maybe someone recommends that to protect a vehicle’s components from incorrect charging equipment or its improper use. My trickle charger instructions don’t suggest it, and three operating manuals I read for multi-amp chargers don’t specify cable removal for “in vehicle” charging. In fact, they all suggest connecting the positive lead of the charger to the positive post of the battery, and connecting the negative lead to a remote location such as an engine bolt (to keep sparks from igniting battery vapors). If the negative cable were disconnected from the battery, in that case, the battery would not charge.
Readers may write to Bill Love, c/o The Spokesman-Review Auto Section, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. Or you may contact him via e-mail at precisiondriving@spokesman.com.
