tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655972254756722998.post5213321433980386218..comments2024-02-16T04:11:30.642-05:00Comments on Tales From The Sharrows: Ride In 6/18: You're the next contestant on the Price is RightUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655972254756722998.post-83592337139249432762012-06-18T16:44:53.579-04:002012-06-18T16:44:53.579-04:00I happen to know a bunch of Traffic/Transportation...I happen to know a bunch of Traffic/Transportation Engineers and I remember one time we were talking about bike v. car "accidents" and I was scolded for using the term "accident". While I think accident may technically be a correct term, it implies a certain level of "oops, didn't mean it, so no penalty". Despite the fact that the person who caused the mishap generally didn't mean it, they could have, or should have taken steps that would have prevented the mishap from taking place. There is fault/blame to be placed, and often times any legal recourse relies on how and when the fault is assigned. <br /><br />I was told instead, and try to use the term "collision" - as it strips away the whimsical/ethereal/force majeure connotation . <br /><br />The "I didn't see you" response and the lax attitude over "tragic freak accidents" is not really acceptable anymore when it comes to the seriousness of loss of life, limb or property. <br /><br />I am a son, brother, husband, employee, etc., not just a "biker" who got hit by a U-turning driver who didn't see me as I was taking up space in the road. The tragic accident is that you didn't step up and take responsibility when you make a mistake of that magnitude.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655972254756722998.post-32330250320605892582012-06-18T15:50:55.534-04:002012-06-18T15:50:55.534-04:00I had a similar encounter on Saturday. A pick up t...I had a similar encounter on Saturday. A pick up truck was pulling out of a driveway. The driver was looking to the right and I was approaching from the left. His window was open so I yelled "Hey!" No reaction, he kept rolling. I yelled "HEY!" He laid on his horn as if my mere existence offended him. I turned (I was past him by this point) and yelled an f-bomb at him. This incident happened on the same street where my wife was run over by an SUV while she was walking across the street. Failure to pay time and attention was the official cause. It sounds so innocent but she missed 3 months of work. Do feel free to yell whatever is necessary. No guilt. Better to raise someone's blood pressure than leave the scene in ambulance or hearse.Rootchopperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14920848117942799222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5655972254756722998.post-38195823431387383142012-06-18T14:47:31.549-04:002012-06-18T14:47:31.549-04:00Definitely seen this behavior before, and it's...Definitely seen this behavior before, and it's part of the reason I stopped going through that intersection. Unless its changed recently, you really have to hustle to get to that light when it turns green, at which point drivers believe that it's their green left-turn light. It's a mess.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com