Dear Aggressive Drivers: Get Out of the Bus Lane

Old School Fuzz by Anthony May from the Seattlest Flickr pool.

Today, the Seattle PD's Aggressive Driver Response Team (yes, that's a thing) camped out on the West Seattle bridge, keeping their eyes peeled for drivers displaying, as indicated by the name, aggressive traits. And while they did nab some speeders and a handful of folks driving without insurance or other necessary paperwork, their biggest catch was for something that Washington drivers are notoriously awful at: staying out of restricted lanes.

Out of 62 citations issued in the vicinity of the West Seattle Bridge today, 5 were cell phone violations, 2 were for speeding over 70 miles per hour (the bridge is a 45 mph zone), and an incredible 46 were for driving in the bus-only lane.

Considering the number of times drivers have been caught trying to cheat the HOV lane, and the strange and irritating phenomenon of Washington drivers' inability to "keep right except to pass"**, it is not particularly surprising that a large number of drivers believe that the bus lane is just another lane for them to drive in. And given the congestion and otherwise horrible conditions surrounding the West Seattle Bridge, it's likely that many of these drivers were angry and running late, anyway.

But really. 46. 46! Does this mean that motor vehicle operators genuinely don't know that they can't drive in the lane that says "Bus Only"? It's hard to say.

What is not hard to say, however, is that this is not a new approach for the SPD, and that anyone who is still driving in the transit only lane is an idiot. Or, at least, doesn't read the news.

Just a few weeks back, the ADRT conducted a similar lane sting, and caught just 19 offenders. Which makes a total of 65 motorists who have now been given that citation. Add that to the 51 who were caught during the ADRT's enforcement crackdown at the beginning of the month, and well over 100 drivers have been cited for this offense. This very, very avoidable offense.

And so, drivers, we give you this bit of advice: if you want to ride in the bus lane so badly, just ride the bus.

**Really. Full disclosure: I learned to drive in Oregon. Once, in college, I had to explain to a Washingtonian that the left-hand lane is actually "the passing lane." He did not believe me.