By Chief Steven J. Wojnar
Dudley Police Department Traffic related questions are one of the most common inquiries I receive for this column. One recently involved the process of vehicles entering the roadway from a private driveway or parking lot. The person asking the question was concerned about rear end crashes should a vehicle stop in traffic to allow another to exit. I was asked to remind drivers not to “force” their way out into traffic from the private locations. These are always difficult situations. When should “courtesy” rule the day and a driver allow a vehicle to enter the road in front of them versus risking a crash in order to do this? There is really no “black” or “white” answer in these instances. It always depends on the circumstances. Vehicles exiting driveways or side streets must yield to others in traffic. Should a vehicle exit a lot and cause an accident, the responsibility would most likely be with that vehicle. If you stop in traffic to allow another to exit and a vehicle hits the rear of your car, the fault will most likely be with the striking vehicle. The hope is to avoid any crash. All drivers must exercise proper caution and pay attention to their surroundings. Vehicles in traffic can stop for any number of reasons and drivers should be prepared for this. It helps to allow sufficient distance between vehicles and pay attention to speed while traveling. A “rule of thumb” is to allow one car length distance for every ten miles per hour you are traveling. Most accidents usually have special circumstances. This is the reason clear responsibility cannot be assumed by a scenario. When exiting driveways or side streets, never assume “common courtesy” will apply to everyone. Be sure it is safe in all directions before proceeding. It is important to drive defensively and pay as much attention to your surroundings as you can in order to avoid accidents and injuries. |
Thanks again for your questions and comments. Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department, 71 West Main St., Dudley, MA 01571 or email at swojnar@dudleypolice.com.
|
|