Posted on 04/04/2005 9:12:18 AM PDT by new cruelty
Given the facts as presented by the article, your conclusion of fault is simply wrongheaded. The driver of the SUV clearly violated the law and became a traffic hazard, and in conclusion, caused the death of innocent people. Just because the driver at fault drove an SUV doesn't mean you should give him a pass.
Nope, Hwy 101. Starts in Washington state on the Hoods Canal side, and goes up and around the Olympic mountains, then goes down the coast through Oregon. I took a road trip down 101, saw the Sea Lion Caves, the Oregon Cave, and a bunch of other stuff. I'm familiar with the road.
Wow! Sometimes, when they really act stupid and rebel, you just have to ground them.
A quick glance at Google seems to imply that the other poster was correct:
From http://bend.com/news/ar_view.php?ar_id=22007
On April 2, at approximately 4:50 p.m., a 2001 Ford Excursion driven by Salina M. Taylor-Caldwell, age 20, from Reno, Nevada, was northbound on Highway 101 near milepost 170 behind a group of about five other vehicles when it began to pass the other traffic. As the Ford Excursion was nearing the front of the group of traffic the lead vehicle, a 2001 Oldsmobile two-door, began to turn left across the southbound lane towards the entrance to Bob Creek Wayside. The Ford Excursion crashed into the driver's side of the Oldsmobile. Both vehicles came to rest several feet north of the crash scene blocking the highway.
****
Sounds like the classic "no signal, no mirror check, no clue" left turner.
More like "when stupid and lazy UAW workers make an engine that won't last 140,000 miles, you have to repair the problem yourself".
People who own these vehicles (I have 4 door GMC w/ big 8, F-150 w/8 and Tahoe w/8) pay thousands a year in taxes that Mini Cooper and Volkswagen drivers don't in gas taxes that go directly to road upkeep.
No, but physics says that the larger vehicle always wins.
The area is described as "At the scene of the crash, Highway 101 is a two-lane straight stretch." That sounds like a normal place where passing is permissible.
Your version of events isn't supported by the article.
Uhm, that's the usual method for a two-lane-road pass. In many states, unless marked otherwise, it is completely legal to pass in this fashion on a straight stretch with uninterrupted visibility. What the article seems to say is that the Ford was executing a legal pass when the idiot in the Olds pulled out in front of it without a mirror check.
Do I need to go get a citation?
I think any vehicle above a certain weight should have additional license requirements, just like a truck. They magnify the effects of any accidents to such a degree that it changes the equation in considering who should be able to drive one.
I hear you.
First Jeep was a 1988. Said to myself that if I was ever going to own one, I needed to buy it before Lee Iacocca had a chance to screw them up.
Traded it in in 1996 with 358,000 miles on the original engine. Nary a wrench ever touched it.
Bought my LAST Jeep in 1998 and it's limping along with only 168,000 miles. Even the thrifty, lovely and gracious Mrs. Theknow (a.k.a. Mrs. Scrooge) has opined that the piece of %&*# needs to go.
Or an impatient driver that tried to pass five cars without being able to see the lead car. I'm going to have to hold off judgement on this one until I know what actually happened. If it was somebody driving slowly and they weren't signalling a turn, why didn't any of the other cars try to pass? Did they see something that the driver of the SUV didn't see? Like a turn signal, maybe? Not enough information.
Mine's an 86, had a UAW (yes, they invaded AMC) rebuilt engine put in it about six years ago, and it threw a rod. Post mortem conclusion - defective parts; no excessive wear or signs of abuse detected. Then again, I have the V8, and I suspect that Jeep did best with the I6.
Your statements are simply not credible. The Olds was attempting a left turn. For whatever reason (most likely waiting for southbound traffic to clear), five cars stopped behind the Olds waiting for the Olds to complete its turn. While the other drivers did the right thing (waited for the Olds to complete its turn), the SUV attempted to pass all the drivers. As the Olds crossed the southbound lane, the SUV, traveling northbound in the southbound lane, hit the Olds. This is textbook unsafe passing.
Yep. Both my guys have the I6. 1998 has a good engine just everything else is going to crap. Kinda like me. Innards are in great shape but my knees sound like a bowl of rice Krispies.
-Am I just getting old and cranky, or do people pay far less attention behind the wheel than was once the case?-
It's "all about me" with these drivers now, I'm convinced. I won't even get on a highway anymore. Don't care if it takes me extra time.
None of the articles I've read supports your position, either. They simply do not state if the line of traffic was stationary (which I doubt). They also do not state that the vehicle was waiting to make a turn, simply that they pulled out in front of the Ford.
And, no, it's not textbook unsafe:
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motorist/rules/overview.htm
Usually you are required to drive on the right hand side of a street or highway. One of the occasions during which it legal to drive on the left side of a two-lane road or highway is when you are legally passing another vehicle.
When you pass on a two lane road you must leave the right lane early enough and remain in the left lane long enough to pass without interfering with the other vehicle. It's your responsibility when passing to make sure it's safe. It is the other driver's responsibility to give way and let you pass without speeding up. Of course you cannot pass in a no passing zone designated by signs or a solid yellow line on the pavement on your side of the center line.
When it comes to physics, you better believe it does.
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