To the Editor:

An interesting movement seems to be attracting West Seattle drivers. It’s the Rolling Stop. It’s becoming widely practiced by drivers of all ages, male and female alike. The concept is quite simple. Instead of stopping at a stop sign one merely glides up to any intersection with a stop sign and rather than come to a complete halt, you continue moving past the stop sign. Your vehicle never stops, never loses momentum. This act is particularly popular when it comes to making right hand turns. You approach the stop sign and then slip around the corner, never coming to a halt.

In short, the stop sign that we all know and learned about in Drivers Ed no longer means Stop! Now, it seems, it’s now treated as a suggestion…looked upon more as a nuance than a command. Now, in fairness, there are those who don’t even slow to a glide. Instead, they cruise past the popular red and white sign - through intersection - without the slightest hesitation or concern.

Unfortunately, this Rolling Stop activity seems to be gathering momentum. It is widely practiced 24-7 on all neighborhood streets that sport stop signs. That being the case, perhaps a word of caution to those who happen to be on foot, in another vehicle, on a bike, pushing a stroller, whatever - don’t take the meaning of a stop sign literally. 

At least, not in West Seattle.

Bill Gohde