SAD, SAD, News today

RetSgt7114 wrote:
@ Daveinet,

Dave, while I respect your opinion, you couldn't be more wrong. I don't want to come across as a know-it-all, but I do speak with some authority on this topic. Some will disagree,and that's ok, but never-the-less I served over 30+ years as a LEO, the last 10 as a supervisor in a traffic unit, so I have investigated thousands (literally) of traffic collisions (they are never "accidents), in my career.

The two most predominate factors that lead to traffic collisions - in my humble experience - have been excessive speed for the traffic conditions present, and driver inattentiveness. I can assure you that the training that Officers and Troopers receive in most jurisdictions do help them to, as you say, "manage the traffic flow around the situation" adequately. We are well aware of the dangers that stopped traffic presents to Traffic Officers working on highways. It's not a "lack of training of the police" issue as you suggested, I can assure you of that. As far as your comment about the officer positioning his squad car off the side of the road on the shoulder, yes that it the best case scenario, but if you have a crashed vehicle blocking the lane, the proper procedure is to block that lane with your patrol car and have emergency lights activated in order to protect the scene, and this is what appears that the officer was doing.

I was involved in a similar TC many years ago on the interstate where I came upon a collision on a blind curve where two vehicles collided, so I pulled to the shoulder with my lights activated. I no sooner exited my patrol car when speeding cars coming around the curve started to panic and began to crash into the rear of my patrol car. Fortuntely the two other vehicles and occupants in front of me did not get hit. I had no time what-so-ever to reposition my car to provide more warning. You know what though? All the drivers that were not speeding, and who were driving attentively, somehow managed to drive around me safely.

I stand by what I said earlier and that is that we, as motorists, are wholely responsible for maintaining control of our vehicles at all times, even around a "blind" curve. I'm sure that there were dozens of other vehicles that came before our fellow RV'er around that blind curve in Nashville, that did manage to avoid the police and DOT vehicle. Not casting judgement on our fellow RV'er, just making an observation.

Lastly, you said, "Start brainstorming real solutions rather than think more strict laws and harping on moving over. Obviously those ideas are a complete failure." Although this comment is a bit condescending, I'd be interested to know how you came to this conclusion? Real world statistics prove otherwise.

Stay safe my friend.

x2. RetSgt7114 and I seem to have very similar vocational backgrounds. Over 30 years LEO here, 22 as a Command Officer, last 9 as OIC of the Traffic Division for a 500+ sworn officer agency. We know what works and what doesn't. Quite often we have to deal with conditions that are not ideal, and it is often impossible to get things in perfect order. We have to make do with the hand that is dealt us. One thing is certain... its up to each individual driver to operate his/her motor vehicle in a safe manner, and that includes not over-driving their ability to control their vehicle. If the driver can't move over a lane, then slow down enough to proceed safely around the danger. This crash should never have happened.