Ask Edmonds Cop: Passing on the right when a car is turning left

Edmonds Police Department spokesman Sgt. Shane Hawley answers your public safety questions. This week: You’re slowing down to make a left turn and a car passes you on the right. Is it legal?

  1. What about when there is a cross street? 2 lane road, parking and paved on both sides, you come across a vehicle stopped waiting to turn left at a cross street. People use the cross road to the right, in front of traffic waiting in the cross street, to drive around the car waiting to turn left. Is this legal? There is debate as to whether or not this situation is considered ‘passing in a intersection’, which the drivers guide says is illegal .

  2. I understood that it was only legal for the first car behind the turning vehicle to pass, not someone back in line, as that seems more dangerous. I think that particularly it can be dangerous if a pedestrian happens to be crossing. The first people in line can see them, but if someone further back pulls out and goes through they put the pedestrian at risk by not be aware of them.

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