<
thekma...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:2fe3d483-97c7-4e92...@googlegroups.com...
> Is there a better term for some cases?
It's an accidental collision--generally due to a lapse in concentration or a
forced evasive move situation--as opposed to a deliberate collision due to
bullying on the road.
Example #1: a driver making a lane change--with their mirrors not in BGE
position among other factors--fails to judge oncoming vehicles in the next
lane and collides with them. This is accidental because they did not intend
to hit the other vehicle. The deliberate case would be specifically noting
the oncoming vehicle and deliberately cutting them off. The former would end
up being a sideswipe type of collision. The latter would end up being a rear
end collision.
Example #2: a lane reduction. Driver #1 is in front of driver #2 as the lane
reduction starts to end. Driver #1 checks mirrors and looks over the
shoulder and sees driver #2 is still behind them. Driver #2 decides to be an
idiot and speeds up to pass driver #1. If driver #1 did not take immediately
evasive action and got hit by driver #2, then driver #1 had an accidental
collision. Driver #2 is totally at fault. Don't follow any closer than a 2
to 3 second gap even with traction control or ABS.
Example #3: a collision type merge. Driver #1 is keeping as close a gap as
possible to prevent vehicles from entering. Driver #2 is merging and
attempting to enter. Driver #3 is in front of driver #1. Driver #2 has to
speed up just as the gap in front of driver #1 opens up, but ends up
rear-ending driver #3. This is a common problem with collision style merges
as opposed to added lane merges. Still, driver #2 had an accidental
collision because their intent was to enter, not deliberately hit driver #3.
But get this--the yellow warning sign for thru traffic that there is merging
traffic is NOT an indicator sign to close gaps and block out traffic;
therefore, driver #1 should be partially at fault for causing the situation
where driver #2 ended up rear-ending driver #3.
Compare vs. something like this:
Driver #1 is in the leftmost lane and driving at the speed limit. Driver #2
tailgates driver #1. Driver #1 brake checks to get driver #2 to back off.
Driver #2 follows even more closely, already on the verge of an imminent
collision. Driver #1 needs to stop, for example, due to a traffic jam up
ahead. Driver #2 rear-ends them. Driver #2 had an at fault collision and it
was not accidental since they were bullying driver #1 to make them go faster
or change lanes.
Hope that helps explain, IMHO, when a car collision is really an "accident".