Driving/traffic question - Who is at fault

[jlee]

I was looking forward as I entered the road and moving slowly as I just started from a stop sign. Would have never hit a pedestrian. It's a 50mph zone, the passing cop came up pretty sudden. He may have even started the pass just before I started turning.

Aaaand bingo.

 

[dank69]

...

Never heard of an uncontrolled intersection where the major road has the right of way?

Only in Booneyville.

 

[Perknose]

I was looking forward as I entered the road and moving slowly as I just started from a stop sign. Would have never hit a pedestrian. It's a 50mph zone, the passing cop came up pretty sudden. He may have even started the pass just before I started turning.

The point is, you don't know whether or not this is true because you didn't first look in the direction you would be going. Safe, responsible driving demands that you do this 100% of the time.

I'm happy for you and every human involved that there was no crash and no one was hurt, but I sincerely hope you are able to absorb this crucially important lesson.

I'd like to add that, if you had looked as carefully and fully as you should have, and the bolded was true, you would have been able to notice by his relative rate of speed and closure rate on the vehicle in front of him that the cop was about to pass.

Anyone who thinks that, gosh, this is just too difficult to do, shouldn't be driving.

Edit: I'd like to add that I'm not trying to pick on you, OP. My apologies is the stridency with which I make this case comes across too personally, but defensive driving is important for everyone because it saves lives.

 

[jlee]

Only in Booneyville.

Not everyone lives in a major metropolitan area. FYI.

 

[HeXen]

anyone preparing to pass should have some patience. some just get in too big a hurry to care. i leave early enough that when comming up to a turning car in an intersection, i just slow down until they complete the turn and move on. its not a big deal really...what is it like a few seconds difference in the long run?

 

[Perknose]

anyone preparing to pass should have some patience. some just get in too big a hurry to care. i leave early enough that when comming up to a turning car in an intersection, i just slow down until they complete the turn and move on. its not a big deal really...what is it like a few seconds difference in the long run?

Yeah, I'd like to add, after relentlessly beating up on the OP for his part in all this, that the cop bears a measure of responsibility as well. While his may not be the primary responsibility, avoiding a situation that increases the possibility of things going south is every driver's lookout, cops included.

 

[lupi]

sounds like you weren't paying attention to traffic coming from your right, so regardless of their action it pretty much is your fault.

 

[Eos]

Not exactly related to the thread, but still important, changing lanes in an intersection is legal in OR and WA. WA code:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61

But I don't recommend it unless moving from outside to inside, just for this reason.