Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Saw a car wreck the other day

On my way home the other day I saw a new Mercedes SUV get T-boned. When I say new, I mean it hasn't even been titled yet. The salesman was driving it and making a left turn into the dealership across 3 lanes of trafic at rush hour. Traffic had backed up at a light and the first 2 lanes stopped short to let him go across. The third lane was actually a right turn lane. The guy crossed the first 2 lanes and never slowed as he went into the right turn lane. Unfortunately a car was coming. I heard a very short skid and thud. The car barely had time to hit the brakes. I'm pretty sure the suv driver was ok but but the car was a small Saturn and hit pretty hard. The lady in the Saturn was probably doing 40 when she hit him.
The more I think about what I saw, the more angry I get at the suv driver. If that had been a motorycle he would have walked away and the rider would be dead no doubt in my mind. I hope this guy loses his job at the least and never forgets the lesson he learned. I'm getting mad just thinking about it again.

dont get mad...be glad it wasnt you and (if you ever took an MSF course) think back to the lessons learned...like dont trust that third lane when the other two stop to let you pass.

I'm thankful it wasn't me but mad that someone would put other peoples life at risk by just not taking the time to turn his head. I was behind the car that left room for him to get through I had a good view of the whole thing.

The concept of 'can't see' not equaling 'nothing there' is well beyond the intellect of most people. Also, most people can't grasp the idea that all the other lanes of traffic stopped might be for a reason.

It makes me wonder though, how many of the participants were playing with their blabberphone instead of driving?

It boils to an ill-advised reliance on right-of-way.

The other two lanes were stopped becuaes the traffic signal had them stopped. There just happened to be two cars waiting in traffic that left enough room for the SUV to pull thorough and cut across. The right lane was empty because no one was turning right and she was proceeding to the intersection.

Yep John, I think I understand the situation and how that whole crash pretty much happened, however what I'm more interested in finding out here was why you stated the following...

Quote:

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...The more I think about what I saw, the more angry I get at the suv driver. If that had been a motorycle he would have walked away and the rider would be dead no doubt in my mind.

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You see, even IF that was a motorcyclist instead of that Saturn-driving lady involved in this accident, why would you be more concerned with plight of THAT MORON motorcyclist than with the plight of that MORON Saturn-drivin' woman??? Because the way I sees it, BOTH of 'em would be "askin' for it" if they pulled a STUPID MOVE like that!!!

(in other words...NEVER EVER pass on the right WITHOUT exercising EXTREME CAUTION, folks!!!)

Yes, you have to be careful. She wasn't necesarrily passing on the right. The three lanes run for miles and at this intersection the far right lane turns into a right turn lane. She may have been in that lane for soome time. It's just that the left 2 lanes go straight and got backed up at the light and hers did not. I'm not arguing that she shouldn't have been careful but it was clearly the suv drivers fault for pulling across 3 lanes of traffic and into the cars lane.
She could have been going 20 mph and still would have hit him. The way it worked out there was just no time to avoid it. As I said, her brakes barely had time to chirp before impact.

I think a little more cautiousness on her part might have helped a lot. When the lanes next to you are stopped completely, drive cautiously. This actually happens quite often, and it pays to slow down and understand your surroundings. Also for the suv driver... I've been in his shoes, but I've been more than timid to make that initial go into the empty lane.

Be careful guys... try to recognize what's going on in front of you before you get there.

I agree though in this case I don't think it would have avoided the accident it there may have been less damage. I'll definately be mucc more careful when turning right at that intersection from now on.