On Saturday, June 5, at 5 p.m. there was a four-car rear-ender on Island Crest just north of the road diet and the Island Crest Way-Merrimount intersection. The four cars were all in the left-hand lane heading south. So why would this happen? It’s very simple. Many drivers realize that after the traffic light at 40th they will need to be in the left-hand lane approaching the Merrimount and 44th Street intersection and so position themselves accordingly. In order to prevent those who go faster in the right lane from getting in, they will tailgate all the way. It happens all the time.

We need our City Council to re-evaluate their “road diet” decision and come to the same conclusion as the majority of Mercer Island residents — traffic lights. If the city can somehow come up with the finances to install a useless traffic light just east of Island Crest and 40th, then surely it can come up with the finances to install traffic lights at Island Crest and Merrimount. It is not too late to come up with the right decision.

Peter Ormiston