While driving our Jeep and pulling a trailer carrying an atv, we had a little incident. We were returning to our motorhome to hook up and as we made a right hand turn into the parking area, a car started passing on the right- thinking we were intending to turn left and made contact with our vehicle and trailer. Good news is that we had almost no damage, while he did have some to his driver side front corner. When the deputy came out, he said that he understood how it could happen and felt that neither of us was really at fault. We had pulled a little bit left ( with right blinker on) and probably the guy thought we were turning left. We TOTALY did not agree, but as there was little damage to our vehicle and it was a he said- she said, what to do. Good news is no one was hurt and fortunately the speed limit had just increased from 25 mph. Bummer that this will be on our insurance record in some fashion. Now, for the scary part- what if we had been in our motorhome and this same thing had happened? Would not have been quite the same outcome. Seriously thinking about wide right turn decal!!

Just how far to the left did you go to make a right hand turn? Sometimes it's difficult for others to guess what you're about to do even if you use a turn signal. If you were far enough left for the other driver to start to pass on the right, that's pretty far. But, that's what insurance is for.

My wife recently was side swiped by a student from China. Our insurance company said no need to call the police, just take the driver's insurance, etc. He was driving a rental that was rented by his mother and he told us he was on the policy. He was not not. He said he was driving too fast and took the blame for the accident. Then we found out he was on the mother's policy with Dollar/Hertz. Then Hertz said no it is our fault. Then we found out he was insured with Geico. Geico said he was 10% to blame. Police said they would not have come out anyway as they don't have time for fender benders unless there is an injury. In fact he was doing about 50 in a 25 mph zone. Lots of luck in proving it.

I doubt that a wide-right-turn decal would stop any driver who is determined to pass a vehicle on the right when that vehicle has its right turn-signal on. I'm afraid that the only defense is to glance at your right mirror before you begin the turn and again as you are in the turn.

Had a worse incident of the same time. I was driving a semi and exited the highway, at end of ramp there was about a 120 degree right turn I had to make. Ramp was very wide BUT only 1 lane. I was on the far right side BUT still within the lane marking, right signal on this made 4 lights blinking that he could see. Luckily I looked in my right rear view mirror 1/2 way thru the turn, He had tried to go by me on the right and I'd just taken his door mirror off and was about to crush him between the duals and a guard rail. He said it was his fault because he was late and in a hurry. I MADE him set there and wait for the State Police to show up and do a report.

When I drove my DP with toad, sometimes you have to swing a bit left to make a right turn in order to clear the curb. If you cut it too sharp, you'll soon have the very unpleasant experience of dragging coach or toad or both over the curb.I always assumed there would be some idiot darting up the inside, and religiously checked the mirrors before starting to swing right. Amazing how often there was.

An unfortunate "incident" a- warning to others | Good Sam Community

40 Replies

DanTheRVMan
Explorer
Jul 29, 2014
Hard to know what is right or wrong as we were not there when it happened. Lots of different scenarios

When I use to bicycle a lot we always would talk about TAKING the lane in questionable situations to prevent cars from going around us and to show our intentions at intersections.

I am not sure of what happened in this case, but TAKE the lane or BOTH lanes as needed when maneuvering your MH.

GOOD LUCK (some drivers are clueless)
is_it_friday_ye
Explorer
Jul 29, 2014
It's simple. You can't pass on the right if there isn't a lane for it. You can't cross the fog line to pass on the right either like a lot of people do on two lane roads. Unless you were going into the left hand turn lane to swing wide to make your right turn, I can't see how the other driver isn't at fault. That's just my professional opinion as I just retired working as a police officer for 22 years investigating a lot of accidents.

I get as far to the left in my lane while making a turn pulling the 5th wheel. And, take your time, everyone else behind can wait and if they don't want to, the bigger vehicle usually wins.
darsben
Explorer II
Jul 29, 2014
AS Forrest Gump said in the movie when he stepped in it;
excrement happens
WyoTraveler
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
I defer to the driving test manual. Indicate your intention and watch that side as you make that, basically hay wagon turn, being careful in not allowing enough room for a vehicle to pass on right.
nomad297
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
Here, in Virginia, the other driver would have been ticketed for illegal passing on the right if it was a single lane. It was a single lane, wasn't it?

Bruce
obgraham
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
When I drove my DP with toad, sometimes you have to swing a bit left to make a right turn in order to clear the curb. If you cut it too sharp, you'll soon have the very unpleasant experience of dragging coach or toad or both over the curb.

I always assumed there would be some idiot darting up the inside, and religiously checked the mirrors before starting to swing right. Amazing how often there was.
We_Cant_Wait
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
Had a worse incident of the same time. I was driving a semi and exited the highway, at end of ramp there was about a 120 degree right turn I had to make. Ramp was very wide BUT only 1 lane. I was on the far right side BUT still within the lane marking, right signal on this made 4 lights blinking that he could see. Luckily I looked in my right rear view mirror 1/2 way thru the turn, He had tried to go by me on the right and I'd just taken his door mirror off and was about to crush him between the duals and a guard rail. He said it was his fault because he was late and in a hurry. I MADE him set there and wait for the State Police to show up and do a report.
RoyF
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
I doubt that a wide-right-turn decal would stop any driver who is determined to pass a vehicle on the right when that vehicle has its right turn-signal on. I'm afraid that the only defense is to glance at your right mirror before you begin the turn and again as you are in the turn.
capresto
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
My wife recently was side swiped by a student from China. Our insurance company said no need to call the police, just take the driver's insurance, etc. He was driving a rental that was rented by his mother and he told us he was on the policy. He was not not. He said he was driving too fast and took the blame for the accident. Then we found out he was on the mother's policy with Dollar/Hertz. Then Hertz said no it is our fault. Then we found out he was insured with Geico. Geico said he was 10% to blame. Police said they would not have come out anyway as they don't have time for fender benders unless there is an injury. In fact he was doing about 50 in a 25 mph zone. Lots of luck in proving it.
jfkmk
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
Just how far to the left did you go to make a right hand turn? Sometimes it's difficult for others to guess what you're about to do even if you use a turn signal. If you were far enough left for the other driver to start to pass on the right, that's pretty far. But, that's what insurance is for.

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An unfortunate "incident" a- warning to others

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