All photos are available in Something can be learned here...
The Vette pulled over [*into a designated pull off - added 10/29 f0r clarification] and let the first Mini by. Not sure if they didn't see the second Mini, or didn't intend to let her by also, but the Vette pulled back onto the roadway just as the second Mini was driving past. The second Mini quickly swerved away from the Vette to avoid colliding...the best course of action considering the oncoming lane was clear, but that could have been ugly if anything was coming.
This, as is often the case in collisions, was the result of several mistakes occuring at the same time. The lessons here are
- Never assume it's clear to pull back onto the roadway just because a vehicle has passed.
- Never assume a vehicle is prepared to let you by just because they let someone ahead go by.
- Slow down and be prepared to take action if you see people in the opposing lane letting others by.
8 comments:
people need to stay careful out there
Never trust someone sees you. Just because they look at you does not mean they see you. Use caution.
My Riding Mantra:
NOBODY can/wants to see me, all other vehicles Will turn in front of me, pull-out on me, ad nauseam.
Every time some cager almost kills you, ya gotta think, if it were an 18-wheeler in my place, would that ass-wipe have made the same maneuver?
No, because the butt-munch perceives the tractor-trailer as a life-threatning object, the motorcycle, ummmm...not so much.
Hmmm...Probably not a good idea to be racing on this road during a peak season(or ever)...a simi would have a hard time accelerating to a blind spot as fast as a MINI, Vette or a bike especially through those curves. Mirrors just don't do the trick...make sure to turn those heads and stay alert! SA=Situation Awarness. Thanks to the photo something can be learned. Keep it safe out there!
Who said anything about racing? Those Minis weren't going all that fast (I was standing next to the photog). Regardless of speed, the Corvette driver should have looked over his shoulder before pulling out. Thankfully, the woman driving the second Mini had very quick reflexes.
You all were not paying Attention during Drivers Ed. What does the Double Yellow Line mean? Hmmmmm
yall do not know? = Double Yellow Line means Nobody can Pass heading in either direction! Duh.
THIS IS A Very Twisty Double yellow center Line PUBLIC RD. Go Pass/Speed/Duck an Dive on the Freeway!
I'll take the blame here for not specifically mentioning the Vette was using a designated pull off, and assuming it was understood. Otherwise you would be implying that anytime someone pulls off the road, all traffic in that direction should stop in the roadway and wait however long is necessary for the vehicle pulled over to finish their business and pull back out in front of every one.
I corrected the original post and added a notation.
As for passing: You ever passed a bicycle in a non passing zone? Lawn Mower? Scooter? If so, and I'd be hard-pressed to believe otherwise, that was just as illegal.
I'm not saying people should just be out there passing whoever whenever all willy nilly, but the current system caters to the lowest-common-denominator - passing zones are only designated where the slowest vehicles could overtake the largest vehicles - and doesn't work when you are dealing with small, high horsepower-to-weight vehicles. If you really believe there is no safe place along the 19 mile long no-passing zone that runs through Deals Gap for one motorcycle to overtake another, you may be brainwashed.
Yes DC that is putting it mildly. The double yellow is designed for cars passing cars and worse. You have to pass joggers, bicycles, scooters, mailmen, garbage trucks, cops, UPS, FedEx, broken vehicles, tree limbs, dead animals, live animals, and lots of stuff--by going over the double yellow.
And staying careful doesn't help much when you come around a blind curve and get a 900 pound Harley stumbling into your lap.
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