Accident on 231 yesterday - update

[MMDad]

For me it depends on if the at fault driver was negligent. Sure it won't bring the families loved one back but the negligent driver needs to be held accountable.

Accountability is fine, but when it gets into revenge it is just wrong.

 

[AK-74me]

Accountability is fine, but when it gets into revenge it is just wrong.

Agreed.

 

[The Bus Manager]

For those of you who don't travel that road every day, shouldn't pass judgement on the lady who was at fault. Erica was sitting on a turn to make a left onto Hollowing Point Lane, and that is a very dangerous part of Rt. 231, so gee leave the old lady alone, I am sure that she feels awful.

 

[SoMDGirl42]

For those of you who don't travel that road every day, shouldn't pass judgement on the lady who was at fault. Erica was sitting on a turn to make a left onto Hollowing Point Lane, and that is a very dangerous part of Rt. 231, so gee leave the old lady alone, I am sure that she feels awful.

Kettle calling the kettle. Sounds like you're passing some judgement yourself. Who said 60 is old?

 

[Speedy70]

For those of you who don't travel that road every day, shouldn't pass judgement on the lady who was at fault. Erica was sitting on a turn to make a left onto Hollowing Point Lane, and that is a very dangerous part of Rt. 231, so gee leave the old lady alone, I am sure that she feels awful.

Agreed. Most cars wait until the last minute to go sailing past you on the shoulder. And that shoulder is pretty narrow.

 

[cattitude]

Kettle calling the kettle. Sounds like you're passing some judgement yourself. Who said 60 is old?

Tongue in cheek response I'd imagine.

I'm 51 and some days I'm old.

 

[SoMDGirl42]

Tongue in cheek response I'd imagine.

I'm 51 and some days I'm old.

Don't feel bad. I'm only 40, but I'm feeling like 60 is right around the corner.

 

[vegmom]

Agreed. Most cars wait until the last minute to go sailing past you on the shoulder. And that shoulder is pretty narrow.

I get that every day when I pick young'n up from daycare. It's really scary when its some big huge truck riding my tail. I signal 2 mailboxes before the turn and don't exactly slam on the brakes. I've even had people pass me in the left lane as I was starting to make my turn. I sometimes wonder if you can put halogens in your rear blinkers.

 

[softtouch]

There is a defensive driving lesson to be learned here.
While waiting for oncoming traffic to clear when making a left turn, keep your wheels straight until it is safe to turn.
If hit from behind you are more apt to be driven straight ahead instead of into the turn.
Not trying to shift blame onto the victim in this, but I think the lesson will stick in peoples' minds when the tragedy is fresh.

 

[Jeff]

There is a defensive driving lesson to be learned here.
While waiting for oncoming traffic to clear when making a left turn, keep your wheels straight until it is safe to turn.
If hit from behind you are more apt to be driven straight ahead instead of into the turn.
Not trying to shift blame onto the victim in this, but I think the lesson will stick in peoples' minds when the tragedy is fresh.

Good Thought.

 

[ItalianScallion]

There is a defensive driving lesson to be learned here.
While waiting for oncoming traffic to clear when making a left turn, keep your wheels straight until it is safe to turn.
If hit from behind you are more apt to be driven straight ahead instead of into the turn.
Not trying to shift blame onto the victim in this, but I think the lesson will stick in peoples' minds when the tragedy is fresh.

Softtouch, you beat me to it. Keeping her wheels straight would definitely have kept her alive today. ALSO, we should glance in our rear view mirror occasionally. She MIGHT have seen this coming. Many years ago, this almost happened to me. I wasn't turning but was stopped for a car (a few cars ahead) that was, and I saw a car not slowing down in my rear view mirror. I went into the grass on my right (no shoulder) and he plowed into the car that was in front of me. A lesson very much appreciated that I learned from my former employer's driver training course. Now the other driver has to live with the guilt.

 

[aps45819]

Softtouch, you beat me to it. Keeping her wheels straight would definitely have kept her alive today.

Possibly. If the car coming from behind swerved to the right at the last moment and struck her rear bumper on the right side, she still could have been pushed into oncoming traffic.
... but yes, most folks do cut their wheels fo a turn before they can proceed

 

[Speedy70]

There is a defensive driving lesson to be learned here.
While waiting for oncoming traffic to clear when making a left turn, keep your wheels straight until it is safe to turn.
If hit from behind you are more apt to be driven straight ahead instead of into the turn.

My Dad told me the same thing the other night.

 

[belvak]

Possibly. If the car coming from behind swerved to the right at the last moment and struck her rear bumper on the right side, she still could have been pushed into oncoming traffic.
... but yes, most folks do cut their wheels fo a turn before they can proceed

That's the "basic" lesson I was taught when I was in Driver's Ed (way back when!!!) I think the biggest threat to anyone on the road today is the driver (or drivers) who pass on the right in a "NO PASSING ON RIGHT" zone. I live in one of these areas. I shudder every time I turn left into my neighborhood and someone "has" to go around me to make sure they get home 30 seconds faster. The scariest part is that there is a driveway right there. I'm just waiting for the time that the people who live there get
"creamed." Hope it doesn't happen in my "lifetime."

 

[hammishsqueak]

That's the "basic" lesson I was taught when I was in Driver's Ed (way back when!!!) I think the biggest threat to anyone on the road today is the driver (or drivers) who pass on the right in a "NO PASSING ON RIGHT" zone. I live in one of these areas. I shudder every time I turn left into my neighborhood and someone "has" to go around me to make sure they get home 30 seconds faster. The scariest part is that there is a driveway right there. I'm just waiting for the time that the people who live there get
"creamed." Hope it doesn't happen in my "lifetime."

I find this interesting because I took driver's ed. five years ago (in Maryland) when I was sixteen and the instructors never told our class any of these things. The class was basically a repeat of the things you learn when you're five- red means stop, green means go, and you stop at a stop sign. Perhaps it was just the driver's ed class I attended, but it seemed to lack defensive driving techniques and anything beyond what they considered "driving basics".

I've never even thought of not cutting my wheels for safety, but it makes perfect sense. I remember thinking that driver's ed was a rip for almost $200 and that they should have covered more than what they did.

 

[ladyhawk]

I find this interesting because I took driver's ed. five years ago (in Maryland) when I was sixteen and the instructors never told our class any of these things. The class was basically a repeat of the things you learn when you're five- red means stop, green means go, and you stop at a stop sign. Perhaps it was just the driver's ed class I attended, but it seemed to lack defensive driving techniques and anything beyond what they considered "driving basics".

I've never even thought of not cutting my wheels for safety, but it makes perfect sense. I remember thinking that driver's ed was a rip for almost $200 and that they should have covered more than what they did.

Thats one of the reasons I taught my daughter myself. Then when she did take Drivers Ed (which we paid for) I later found out the instructor would climb in the backseat and tell her where he wanted her to drive then wake him up right before they got back! I couldn't believe it.

Watching these kids every year coming out and on our roads, makes me wonder who is paying attention to the Drivers teaching the Drivers Ed Classes!

You only drive in the left lane to pass or you use it to get away from someone sitting in the median just in case your tire may blow, just to name a couple.. My dad taught me these things and I pass them in my teachings.

 

[Ravu]

Softtouch, you beat me to it. Keeping her wheels straight would definitely have kept her alive today. ALSO, we should glance in our rear view mirror occasionally. She MIGHT have seen this coming. Many years ago, this almost happened to me. I wasn't turning but was stopped for a car (a few cars ahead) that was, and I saw a car not slowing down in my rear view mirror. I went into the grass on my right (no shoulder) and he plowed into the car that was in front of me. A lesson very much appreciated that I learned from my former employer's driver training course. Now the other driver has to live with the guilt.

If the gal was turning left, did she have her wheels turned that way?
Did she have a turn signal on?

If she whad been hit straight on and had her wheels turned to turn left, she still would have been propelled into oncoming traffic.

Itf the lady turning left had her wheels forward, and was hit straight on, she would be alive..in my opinion and experience...

Such a horrible accident anyway you talk about it and discuss the What Ifs...
Lesson..be more of a defensive than offensive driver..always have a way out..

 

[belvak]

I find this interesting because I took driver's ed. five years ago (in Maryland) when I was sixteen and the instructors never told our class any of these things. The class was basically a repeat of the things you learn when you're five- red means stop, green means go, and you stop at a stop sign. Perhaps it was just the driver's ed class I attended, but it seemed to lack defensive driving techniques and anything beyond what they considered "driving basics".

I don't even want to tell you how many years ago I took Driver's Ed. Let's just say it was part of the High School curriculum and you didn't have to pay for it! Anyway, my daughter has been driving now for about 4 years and she still swears that her driver's ed instructor said they didn't have to pull over to the side of the road and stop when an emergency vehicle was approaching, as long as it wasn't behind them. That just goes against everything I was ever taught! Sort of scary...

 

[ImnoMensa]

That road should have been dualised ten years ago. Its a misearble piece of highway with so much traffic,passing its nigh impossible.

 

[willie]

That road should have been dualised ten years ago. Its a misearble piece of highway with so much traffic,passing its nigh impossible.

Spoken like a true Mensa. For some reason there are a lot of drivers going close to the speed limit on that road so there is a lot of passing on the double line. There is a lot of double line.