other drivers

[Talus1]

My guess is that, with the fog, he was terrified of hitting something in front of him, so was focused only looking forward - same reason he was driving so slow - then freaked out when someone suddenly appeared to his right moving toward him. Its easy to do in the fog because it tends to reduce the amount of light - and information - coming at you from the side and rear. You tend to focus on the fog in front of you that is lit up by your headlights. Tends to happen more with inexperienced or uncomfortable drivers that haven't developed good situational awareness habits (regularly checking mirrors and blindspots, looking at the road conditions, thinking about where other traffic is and what they might do, etc.).

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Talus1

My guess is that, with the fog, he was terrified of hitting something in front of him, so was focused only looking forward - same reason he was driving so slow - then freaked out when someone suddenly appeared to his right moving toward him. Its easy to do in the fog because it tends to reduce the amount of light - and information - coming at you from the side and rear. You tend to focus on the fog in front of you that is lit up by your headlights. Tends to happen more with inexperienced or uncomfortable drivers that haven't developed good situational awareness habits (regularly checking mirrors and blindspots, looking at the road conditions, thinking about where other traffic is and what they might do, etc.).

And old folks driving Buicks!

[daiheadjai]

Even here in Canada, people will freak out when there's moisture on the ground (whether it be snow, ice, or rain).
Just learn to expect foolishness from your fellow drivers, and you will avoid foolishness yourself.

Not everyone drives with the same level of attention, or experience.
Just accept it, and pray for the day of autonomous pods to whisk such folk to and fro.

[Talus1]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

And old folks driving Buicks!

Whenever we come upon someone driving slowly, my wife or I will comment "OMIH".*









*Old man in hat

[Leonardo]

via Imgflip Meme Maker

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Talus1

Whenever we come upon someone driving slowly, my wife or I will comment "OMIH".*









*Old man in hat

Mine is "yep it's a Buick" regardless of what type of car they are actually driving.
This comes from my days when commuting to Stratford every day. Every single old, slow, retired farmer drove a Buick. You could get stuck behind a line of ten of them as they drove at half the speed limit and either looked terrified or were looking at the crops.

[LadyFRZ]

There's been a plethora of idiots as of late over here, I always drive like people are trying to kill me (especially in what I drive). I know they're not purposefully, but.... Man.


People love to think there's a dual lane turn near the bay. It's a 1 turn lane onto the freeway. So what do people do? Stop in 45 mph traffic in the #1 lane because they think it's a dual turn lane. MOVEEEE.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by LadyFRZ

There's been a plethora of idiots as of late over here, I always drive like people are trying to kill me (especially in what I drive). I know they're not purposefully, but.... Man.

^^this

Start out by pretending you're invisible and work your way down from there.

[Talus1]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

^^this

Start out by pretending you're invisible and work your way down from there.

That's a good habit I learned from riding a motorcycle. You really learn situational awareness when you're that exposed. At least you do if you want to survive into post adolescence.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Talus1

That's a good habit I learned from riding a motorcycle. You really learn situational awareness when you're that exposed.

If I'm first at red traffic lights I always check left and right when the lights turn green to make sure some clown isn't running red on their lane.
If I see someone approaching a stop or give way sign at speed I don't assume they are going to stop for me even though I have right of way.
Part of the joy of learning the road on a motorcycle.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by mdm

other drivers,

Everyone else is "other drivers" except for me and yourself.

[Talus1]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

If I'm first at red traffic lights I always check left and right when the lights turn green to make sure some clown isn't running red on their lane.
If I see someone approaching a stop or give way sign at speed I don't assume they are going to stop for me even though I have right of way.
Part of the joy of learning the road on a motorcycle.

I once watched a woman stop at a stop sign at a T intersection leading onto a one way street. She looked left then pulled out only to get smashed by a guy coming from the right, speeding the wrong way on the one way street. Kinda stuck with me. Ever since I have always checked both ways even if its one way.

[gravitylover]

I had an accident recently at a one lane intersection where the other driver went around to the right because there's room to do so. It was 9:30 pm, raining hard and sort of foggy too. I was making a right turn so was looking to my left, it's a 45mph limit on the road I was turning onto so of course I looked that way, when it was clear I went ahead and made the turn. Unfortunately he was there and I ripped my Durango from the front wheel well all the way to the rear because he didn't stop quickly enough so his Jeep kept pushing into me. He said I turned from the left turn lane. There is only one fkn lane! The cop took his side because he lives in that town, I don't, and he has a rich daddy. Now the insurance companies can't agree on fault so it's going to be another two months until it goes to arbitration. The accident happened on 11/19 so it's already been over two months and the salt is eating my poor truck up where the paint was ripped off and the body was damaged. I sprayed it to help cover it but salt is relentless.

[mdm]

Originally Posted by gravitylover

I was turning onto so of course I looked that way, when it was clear I went ahead and made the turn. Unfortunately he was there and I ripped my Durango from the front wheel well all the way to the rear because he didn't stop quickly enough so his Jeep kept pushing into me. He said I turned from the left turn lane. There is only one fkn lane! The cop took his side because he lives in that town, I don't, and he has a rich daddy.

I don't know what exactly happened, I wasn't there, I don't know the particular intersection. The interpretation would also depend somewhat on what is customary in your area (I know, it sucks for out-of-town people), and I may be biased by the fact that here people do it all the time and everyone is used to it. Traffic here is to heavy to allow wasting a good piece of pavement.



But based on how I understand your description I would assign much or all of the fault to you. Here is why:

1. You admit your were turning right while looking to the left. You were not looking where you were going. At an intersection. Theroretically there could have been a pedestrian crossing the street you were turning into.

2. Both cars were initially stationary, and then you started moving and you hit the other car while it was still stationary (or wasn't? Not sure exactly how to intepret "kept pushing"). So even if he technically wasn't supposed to be there, I believe it's your responsibility to control what you might be hitting with your vehicle. I mean, if you had green light at an intersection, but there were still cars stopped within the intersection from the previous cycle, it wouldn't not give you the right to hit them. Of if someone was parked illegally.

3. Normally right-turning vehicles are supposed to be close to the right curb when initiating the turn. Why did you leave enough space for an entire vehicle there?

4. I think you were very lucky that it was a car not a motorcycle or bicycle, because you could have killed the rider. Note that they do not require much space, so one should always check their right side in such circumstances before initiating the turn.


Now one important factor you did not mention is whether you had your right-turn signal on. If you had, then I would put some of the blame on the other driver, but still you would need a witness to prove it, otherwise the other driver could have said that you did not signal.