SAD, SAD, News today

I'm not going to cast blame. Unfortunate and tragic is all I'll say.
Have to wait until there is an investigation completed.
Intent is criminal accident is an accident maybe negligence.
Sounds like the blind curve and officer in a bad place and a heavy motorhome, not able to maneauver any faster than a semi.
Prayers for all involved.

RetSgt7114 wrote:
Sorry but I disagree with some of the comments posted here. Blind curve or not, blocked lane or not, a driver should never drive faster than the farthest distance he or she can see and still stop safely. In other words, if one cannot see what lies ahead, they need to slow down. It's the same principal that applies to driving at night where a driver should never outdrive the distance of his headlight illumination, or of driving in the fog. Safe driving requires that we expect the unexpected, and if your speed is such that you cannot safely stop your vehicle at the limit of your visible distance, then you're driving too fast. From the photos posted, it appears that the overturned truck that caused the initial disruption was on its side blocking the lane that the officers vehicle was blocking. The officer may have just come upon the scene and did not have time to reposition his vehicle at a safer distance further back around the blind curve. Regardless, we as drivers, are all responsible for the complete control of our vehicles and that means maintaining a safe enough speed to allow for emergency stopping. While I feel for the RV driver in this case, I feel more for the officer and his family. This incident was avoidable and this tragedy did not have to happen.

The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over, and continue to expect a different result. You can harp on this all you want, but the sooner one faces reality, the safer we will all be. Traffic stops need to be managed differently. There needs to be training, so officers will observe the situation, and manage the traffic flow around the situation. In a case like this, the officer's car should have been off the side of the road, and he should have waited for backup. Post an officer back where he can be seen around the bend. With modern technology, it really would not be that costly to put a LED in the back of every patrol car. Back up officer pulls to the side of the road, flips the sign up that says Right Lane Blocked Ahead. Plenty pf room to safely navigate a lane change in heavy traffic.

Start brainstorming real solutions rather than think more strict laws and harping on moving over. Obviously those ideas are a complete failure.

edm3rd wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:
Very very sad for the driver and victim. I know the feeling with the new 'strict' law about moving over a lane when presented with an accident and/or squad car on the shoulder. It is very difficult if not impossible to get over with a MH towing. As the driver said he could not and chose to go between the vehicles. Prayers for both families.

I have been in a similar situation more than once, in my truck and not towing, where it was impossible to move over a lane due to the volume of traffic. Personally, I feel the law should be written on the order of "if at all possible to move over a lane safely".

There is a law written in Washington State regarding Emergency Vehicles including tow trucks. You move over to the left or right lane slow down to a crawl and put one lane between you and the Emergency Vehicles even if it requires you to drive onto a shoulder. This was a needless death!

rockhillmanor wrote:
Very very sad for the driver and victim. I know the feeling with the new 'strict' law about moving over a lane when presented with an accident and/or squad car on the shoulder. It is very difficult if not impossible to get over with a MH towing. As the driver said he could not and chose to go between the vehicles. Prayers for both families.

I have been in a similar situation more than once, in my truck and not towing, where it was impossible to move over a lane due to the volume of traffic. Personally, I feel the law should be written on the order of "if at all possible to move over a lane safely".

RetSgt7114 wrote:
This incident was avoidable and this tragedy did not have to happen.

I agree with RetSgt7144. For example read below.
Stopping Distances for MH’s

I recently attended a Hazard Avoidance Seminar for MH's and the instructor gave us these tables. So for all of those that like to drive fast consider this:
Reaction Time
30 MPH = 3 + 30 = 33' distance traveled
65 MPH = 6 + 65 = 71'
70 MPH = 7 + 70 = 77'
80 MPH = 8 + 80 = 88'
90 MPH = 9 + 90 = 99'

Stopping Distance

30 MPH = 3 x 30 = 90'
65 MPH = 6 x 65 = 390'
70 MPH = 7 x 70 = 490'
80 MPH = 8 x 80 = 640'
90 MPH = 9 x 90 = 810'
Now when you consider the distance you will travel while you are reacting and then add to this the stopping distance, the faster you are going the longer distance you will travel before you stop. Yes stopping distance will vary with the type of RV, weight, etc. but don't expect it to stop like a Ferrari. And the sudden stop when you meet an immovable object will have devastating results.

Sorry but I disagree with some of the comments posted here. Blind curve or not, blocked lane or not, a driver should never drive faster than the farthest distance he or she can see and still stop safely. In other words, if one cannot see what lies ahead, they need to slow down. It's the same principal that applies to driving at night where a driver should never outdrive the distance of his headlight illumination, or of driving in the fog. Safe driving requires that we expect the unexpected, and if your speed is such that you cannot safely stop your vehicle at the limit of your visible distance, then you're driving too fast. From the photos posted, it appears that the overturned truck that caused the initial disruption was on its side blocking the lane that the officers vehicle was blocking. The officer may have just come upon the scene and did not have time to reposition his vehicle at a safer distance further back around the blind curve. Regardless, we as drivers, are all responsible for the complete control of our vehicles and that means maintaining a safe enough speed to allow for emergency stopping. While I feel for the RV driver in this case, I feel more for the officer and his family. This incident was avoidable and this tragedy did not have to happen.

Looking at the pictures, the police car being stopped outside lane two of a 4 lane south direction hwy, in a blind curve does not allow the driver to move over. All the op could do is haul on the brake but was about 50 feet to long. Would have had to move over two lanes to clear the police car in a blind curve.

pops

Same happened here (Ocala,Fl) last week. Took out a young girl (trooper), tow truck driver and a father whose daughter was involved in the accident. Driver who did the hitting said a car forced him over. I think I would have just hit the "forcer" and taken my chances. JMHO

Rest In Peace

If I'm unable to move over I really slow down. My fear is never about a ticket it's about living with the memory of killing someone.