This afternoon just down the street from a lady lost her life on the road. The gravel dump/sand pit is just down the road, trucks come and go, from one direction it is a sharp right turn. Some times the drivers have to hold there a moment so the trucks coming up hill can clear the road. The shorter dump trucks seem to make it just fine. But the longer 40' trailers have to swing wide in to the center lane to make that turn. No idea who is at fault, but a lady on her motor scooter was riding just outside the bike lane and was clipped by the trailer and died under the back wheels of the turning trailer. Remember just because you see a trailer that looks like it is turning left, or changing lanes, does not mean it is safe to pass on the inside right side. The drivers have a hard time seeing objects smaller than them and might just be planning a right hand turn. Rest in Peace to the neighbor on her scooter.
Sorry to hear your neighbor lost her life so tragically. Lately, it seems like, more terrible bike-related accidents are occuring in my town. Where I live there has been many fatal accidents, yet I keep seeing people biking two abreast, or singles zigzagging unexpectantly fully expecting cars to get around them even though to do so puts the car into oncoming traffic. Two wheeled vehicles have the same rights and obligations as four-wheeled and up but I wouldnt stake my life on expecting other drivers to use caution and be considerate.
Ya know, we all have a right to share the road. People on motorcycles have a responsibility to drive defensively because they already know they are a target. Drivers of passenger cars have a responsibility to be aware of motorcycles. Often, bicyclists act like they own the road because they too have the right to use that same road. Bike riders!!!! Stay in your bike lane and cross streets the right way, not cutting across traffic to get into a left hand turn lane in front of a big rig that jack knifes because you didn't bother to look!!!! That poor lady. More people need to be aware of the vehicles around them.
Curious, but I'm not sure there are enough details given to find fault here. Who did what? Here, a scooter is unlicensed. Yet on the road like a bicycle. A "scooter" as a small motorcycle is different, and different as to where it SHOULD ride on the road. Either way, a tragic end. Spook
The other day we were stopped in traffic on a highway.... then comes 2 motorcycles riding down the middle in between car lanes. Hubby had to stop me from opening my door on them... jerks!
This was a Honda Motor scooter, probably freeway legal. (Small motorcycle with extra storage bins) She was NOT in the bike lane, the truck to make the turn, may have pulled in to the wide center divider, it is a tight turn downhill and a 40 foot trailer needs extra room. No idea who is going to end up being at fault, but when you are on/in something smaller than a loaded tractor trailer, you are going to loose. Chances are, she thought the truck was going to pause to allow uphill traffic to clear up the side road. She may have even looked down the side road to make sure the uphill truck was going to stop at the stop sign. The gravel truck driver probably thought that she knew he was there turning and would not try and pass on the inside right. They are still investigating. I see people in cars regularly try and make a right turn on the inside of big rigs making a wide right. Don't pass on the right.
Quote:Don't pass on the right, and don't use your motorized wheelchair as a vehicle. Seen it too many times.
Quote:Not sure about where you live, but that is legal for bikers in some states. I wouldn't advocate opening your doors on a biker... esp if it's legal (or not, lol)! Too bad about the woman... and too bad there's such a shortage of common sence out there. Most trucks have a sign and note on their trucks about wide turns. We all need to pay attention to things happening around us a little better!
