DMV to start sending license renewal notices via email

QI am 80 and originally was supposed to take a written test in order to renew my driver’s license, which expires this month.

Due to the pandemic, I was able to renew my license online, but haven’t received my new license. I renewed it quite a while ago.

How long does it take to receive it in the mail? I am worried about not receiving it before my birthday. — Cris Constantino

AGive it a few more days.

The DMV has been flooded with renewal requests, and its taking a tad longer to mail them out.

The DMV is now offering drivers the option to receive renewal notices by email as part of its ongoing effort to expand digital services.

The DMV will begin sending electronic renewal notices starting in August for driver’s licenses expiring in December.

The DMV sends out renewal notices about three to four months before a license expires, typically every five years.

QI’ve been traveling to Stanford Hospital every day for the last three weeks and every morning I am stopped at the intersection of Tisch Way and Winchester Boulevard.

There I must wait for the pedestrian crossing light to change from constant green to a 24-second countdown and to allow me, and the many other drivers who are stuck waiting, to get on the on-ramp to Interstate 280.

Could you contact someone in traffic light management and have them investigate why the crossing light is constantly green, even though there are no pedestrians? And why a 24-second countdown for such a small intersection? — Bob Heihn,

San Jose

AThe pedestrian push buttons at Tisch and Winchester were damaged, causing the pedestrian signals to activate every cycle, regardless of pedestrian demand.

An electrician replaced the buttons last week. They are no longer activating without anyone pressing the buttons.

At most pedestrian signals, a five-second walking person indication (“walk time”) is displayed, followed by a countdown. However, the pedestrian signal for the crosswalk in front of Tisch has a setting that allows the walk time to expand beyond five seconds. This setting makes the expanded walk time and countdown end simultaneously with the end of the green time for northbound Winchester.

Since traffic volumes in this area are high and Winchester is the main street, most of the green time at the intersection goes to Winchester. The expanded walk time takes advantage of the long green times that the signal already serves to Winchester to maximize the time available for pedestrians to cross Tisch. This gives the appearance of a “constant green” for this crosswalk.