What’s the difference between white and yellow crosswalks?

Q: Carl Zitek of Moreno Valley asked if there is a difference between crosswalks that have stripes painted yellow as opposed to crosswalks with white painted stripes.

A: The California Vehicle Code explains the difference. Crosswalks around or near schools have lines painted yellow. CVC section 21368 says, in part, “Whenever a marked pedestrian crosswalk has been established in a roadway contiguous to a school building or the grounds thereof, it shall be painted or marked in yellow as shall be all the marked pedestrian crosswalks at an intersection in case any one of the crosswalks is required to be marked in yellow. Other established marked pedestrian crosswalks may be painted or marked in yellow if either (a) the nearest point of the crosswalk is not more than 600 feet from a school building or the grounds thereof, or (b) the nearest point of the crosswalk is not more than 2,800 feet from a school building or the grounds thereof.” Other crosswalks have white lines and in all crosswalks, the same rules safeguarding pedestrians apply.

Q: Xandro Mayers of Rancho Santa Fe asked about the general condition of cars on the road today. He said, “It is obviously in the public‘s best interest that these assets are periodically inspected for safety and compliance. For those of us who drive daily behind the wheel it is all too common to see cars on the interstate and city blocks missing a muffler, or running on bald tires or even having broken/missing tail lights. Some are even so badly damaged from an obvious accident, and yet, are still being driven in public.”

In contrast, Mayers said, some European nations require any registered vehicle over three years old undergo an annual safety inspection and certification before the owner can renew their annual registration. The owner pays for the inspection and it’s about $100.

“The public, as a result, is better served by driving within a safer environment. And the owners of those compromised or impaired vehicles, by having made the necessary repairs, have more than likely mitigated more expensive repairs down the pike,” he said.

Mayers asked why the United States or California has not instituted a similar requirement.

A: Either the California Legislature or Congress would have to pass a law mandating people’s cars get inspected annually for repairs or condition. Our reader could write to lawmakers asking for such a law. Yes, this would likely make the roads safer for all. However, such a mandate in Southern California would hit people hard in the pocketbook, considering the region is already one of the most expensive places to drive with its high cost for gas and vehicle registration. There would likely be pushback from the public to such an additional mandate, especially from lower-income drivers, unless the government helped to subsidize a wide-scale mandatory vehicle inspection and repair program. It’s even less likely Congress would pass such a requirement.

Do you commute to work in the Inland Empire? Spend a lot of time in your vehicle? Have questions about driving, freeways, toll roads or parking? If so, write or call On the Road and we’ll try to answer your questions. Please include your question or issue, name, city of residence, phone number and email address. Write ontheroad@scng.com or call 951-368-9670.

Source: Orange County Register