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 > Closer to a head on then you ever want to be...

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valhalla360

No paticular place.

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Posted: 09/15/22 03:33pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Desert Captain wrote:

Valhall360,

You need to go back and reread my original post.

I did, it's still a bit unclear. If there were 2 SB lanes and only 2 SB vehicles...why was anyone in your NB lane?

Quite possible, the Class A wasn't expecting or watching for a crazy to cross the double yellow. If there was another RV behind, was the Class A worried that RV behind couldn't stop?

I made no mention of another motorhome because there wasn't one. There was no, none, zip, nada excuse for the motorhome to not be aware of what was taking place. When driving you are responsible for knowing what is going on around you at all times... it is not optional.

Nice to say that but reality is people get surprised by unexpected actions.

With hindsight it may have been better if the Class A hit the brakes but when being passed, the appropriate response is to hold a steady speed.

That argument goes out the window when the van crossed completely into my { northbound} lane making it everyone's responsibility to take any requisite action to avoid what in this case would have been a catastrophic collision.

If the Class A had hit the brakes and at the same time the minivan decided he didn't have enough room to pass and hit his brakes, the minivan could have been trapped in the oncoming lane. By holding a steady speed, you allow the passing vehicle to react without having to worry about what you are going to do.

That is fine if you are not dealing with an impaired/ moron of a driver.

The motorhome, had he been paying attention, had ample time to back off and allow the idiot to pass without killing some or probably all of us. Instead he held his speed {and may have been increasing it for all I know}. What I do know is that he took no action whatsoever to mitigate the situation and chose to make things worse.

When you are traveling at roughly the same speed and trying to pass a 65 +/- feet long motorhome it takes a time to pass which would have given the motorhome time to react safely had he been paying attention.

Nope, you have no idea if the minivan driver was impaired or not...just doing something stupid. Just as easily both could hit the brakes simultaneous as described. The only confusing part is why no one used the rightmost SB lane.

If I'm understanding the situation, the blame is squarely on the minivan. No need to drag others in.

Clearly you are not... Yes the mini van was the primary malefactor here but the motorhome by his actions elevated everyones risk when he did not back off. As noted he appeared to be trying to holdoff the van from successfully passing him and THAT nearly killed my bride and I.

[emoticon]


You state that you were unclear if the Class A was accelerating or not...then you say he was...lots of speculation.

I'm still saying it's the minivan that was at fault and it's sketchy if any blame does or does not fall on the Class A.


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wanderingaimlessly

Garrison , Mt

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Posted: 09/15/22 06:09pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Drive like hell
You'll get there.

mockturtle

AZ

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Posted: 09/15/22 06:26pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Today on 89N, AZ, I saw a motorcycle pass on a double yellow, blind curve, forcing an oncoming vehicle to swerve off the road. Fortunately, the swerving vehicle avoided what could have been a rollover. Surprising, really, that there aren't more accidents.


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dedmiston

Coast to Coast

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Posted: 09/15/22 06:46pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Quote:

You state that you were unclear if the Class A was accelerating or not...then you say he was...lots of speculation.

I'm still saying it's the minivan that was at fault and it's sketchy if any blame does or does not fall on the Class A.


If you’re driving defensively and you see someone passing you, you watch the horizon and take your foot off the gas.


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Desert Captain

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Posted: 09/15/22 08:42pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

My original point in sharing this rather harrowing episode was to remind everyone just how quickly things beyond our control can change and lives needlessly lost. It saddens me that the desire to argue in the face of simply stated facts seems to be taking precedence.

While I still believe there was nothing else I could have done to mitigate this disaster {short of giving up all hope and driving my rig off of the highway for a certain rollover} it never should have happened in the first place.

valalla360...A couple of quotes from my previous posts that seem to have been overlooked:

1. “Southbound traffic was fairly heavy as we ascended a long grade.”

2. “Neither the Class A or the moron in the mini van slowed and actually it looked like a death race to see who could get us all killed first.

3. “Yes the mini van was the primary malefactor here but the motorhome by his actions elevated everyones risk when he did not back off. As noted he appeared to be trying to hold off the van from successfully passing him and THAT nearly killed my bride and I.”


You state that you were unclear if the Class A was accelerating or not...then you say he was...lots of speculation.

No, please review #2 and #3.
These were my observations not speculation.


Nope, you have no idea if the minivan driver was impaired or not...just doing something stupid.

I submit doing something stupid while driving reflects serious impairment regardless of the source. Until he failed to back off the motorhome driver had shown no signs of impairment.


Just as easily both could hit the brakes simultaneous as described. The only confusing part is why no one used the other SB lane.

Again see #1 above. Also again I submit that when stupidity of the magnitude of passing over double yellows in heavy traffic occurs the usual “best practices {which require all involved to participate} are off of the table but for the sake of argument if both the motorhome pulling a toad and a mini van both hit their brakes who slows the most? Not much chance their braking could/would be effectively even so a gap would have been created.

I sincerely hope that none of you ever have a similar experience. Obviously it affected me deeply and yes I will strive to "Get over it." Sigh.

Opinions and YMMV.

Be safe out there.

[emoticon]





ken56

Tennessee

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Posted: 09/16/22 04:22am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Sounds like a road rage incident more than someone being drunk. The minivan didn't like being behind the motorhome and the motorhome didn't like the van to pass him. No excuse for any of it but as they say, you can't fix stupid. Vigilance is always needed. Glad you avoided the wreck.

wa8yxm

Davison Michigan (East of Flint)

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Posted: 09/16/22 04:39am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I see people are confused by the story

Road was two lanes at that point. One north, one south bound
Speaker (Author) Was N/B going up hill about 63MPH

Class A was S/B going down hill at about 70MPH

IDIOT was tailgating Class A and pulled out to pass going into the N/B lane

IDIOT is guilty of unsafe lane change

Speaker hit the shoulder and thus a crash was avoided.

To the original poster.. Do I have it right?

(Seemed clear to me).


I say again. Some folks (Idiot in the story) are in a hurry to get where they are going..... Their funeral..... May they arrive alone.


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mgirardo

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Posted: 09/16/22 06:36am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

wa8yxm wrote:

I see people are confused by the story

Road was two lanes at that point. One north, one south bound


This line from the the OP's original post is what confused me: "Suddenly as a large class A approached in his left lane...". Saying the Class A was in his left lane implies that the Class A had a right lane.

Whatever the case was, I'm sure it was a harrowing situation and not one anyone would have wanted to be. I'm glad it ended well for all parties!

-Michael


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valhalla360

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Posted: 09/16/22 08:26am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

dedmiston wrote:

Quote:

You state that you were unclear if the Class A was accelerating or not...then you say he was...lots of speculation.

I'm still saying it's the minivan that was at fault and it's sketchy if any blame does or does not fall on the Class A.


If you’re driving defensively and you see someone passing you, you watch the horizon and take your foot off the gas.


Honestly, with the conflicting comments form the OP, we don't know what really happened and if the Class A didn't let off the gas. Going down a grade, letting off the gas may not slow him down much. Going in the opposite direction and admitting he was surprised and in shock, I'm not buying he was able to objectively estimate anything.

PS: It appears based on other posters comments that it was NOT a 3 lane roadway. I don't know why that red herring was thrown in because it confused the discussion greatly. This was a simple passing situation on a 2 lane 2 way roadway.

Desert Captain

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Posted: 09/16/22 08:39am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

ken56 wrote:

Sounds like a road rage incident more than someone being drunk. The minivan didn't like being behind the motorhome and the motorhome didn't like the van to pass him. No excuse for any of it but as they say, you can't fix stupid. Vigilance is always needed. Glad you avoided the wreck.


I think you just nailed it. Thanks.

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