Me too. Well most of the time.

This little part of town is very busy on a Saturday, with the gas station on one side and the bank on the other. Lots of turning going on. Perhaps I should have been more observant. IMO however, people making left turns should never assume that because someone has waved you though, that the person behind them is a. is willing to let you through, (because this IS MA, home of very rude drivers), or b. had the visibility to see you and the official wave through. Proceed with caution.

 

I would agree, Lainey, you were going straight, he was turning.

Typically the car going straight has the right-of-way and any cars turning
have to yield.

 

I was in a similar situation...someone waiting to make a left waved
another person coming out of the gas station to take their left first and
proceeded to wave them right in front of an oncoming car.

 

I think that stems from the person not knowing it's legal for you to drive around them.

Honestly, there needs to be better driver education, and re-education. There are very few rules on the road, but people forget 'em before the DMV even finishes printing their license.

 

Waitta minute you asked if you were to get into an accident if the ins co would find you at fault. Umm dont you live in mass where there is a no fault law?

 

Yeah Right....No fault does not apply to who gets points/surcharges in accidents. Someone is always at fault. Left hand turn, rear end collision, exiting a driveway or parking lot, and so on, you are at fault and will get points/surchaged on your insurance premium.

Sometimes, they may find an accident to be 50/50.

I'm pretty sure no fault applies more to being able to sue someone unless you reach a certain threshold of injury $....but to be honest, I'm not sure what it really means.

No matter who is at fault, your own insurance picks up the tab for your injuries, lost wages until you reach a certain point....if you exceed that point, then the lawsuits can start.....

 

Man, just got home from a busy day and I don't have enough time to read through it all. Generally, and I would probably have to look it up in my book if this happened while I was working so I be sure to get it right, but I think:

If there is only one lane in the direction you are going, you should NOT pass them on the right. You are technically supposed to wait. Again, I think this is it and I would consult my book that I dont have with me right now to be sure before taking any action on it.

The other thing is that Lainey is right, when turning left, you must yield to others going straight or turning right. But, if a car comes around the other car turning left because they passed on the right in a single lane, how can the guy turning left see them.

Not sure if that is making any sense. Generally, especially at an intersection, it is best not to pass on the right especially if the vehicle in front of you is large enough to obstruct your view like in Lainey's case. I think the reasoning for this is also because you cannot ever really see entirely what is going on in front of the vehicle you are passing on the right. Sure, he may have his blinker on to turn, but there could also be someone crossing in front of his car or other hazard you cannot see.

 

Makes sense. There is only one travel lane on that side of the road, so perhaps I should not have passed on the right, though there was plenty of room.....but everyone passes on the right or we'd be waiting all day for people to get into the bank, because hardly anyone ever gives anybody a break.

So had we collided....it's possible I'd have been in BIG trouble?

Let me know, and if so, I'll never do it again.

 

To be honest and again, I would read my cheat book before taking action, I think it would be you that gets the ticket at the scene

It is one of those things where everyone does it and 99.99% of the time it is OK, but technically it is not. Kind of like at an intersection where two cars are turning left. Both cars are supposed to pass each other and turn left behind one another, but everyone likes to turn in front of the other car. 99.99% of the time it is fine, but let that car hit you because they try to do the right thing by going past you first and you are at fault.

 

Rick was also of the opinion that I likley broke the rules too. Not that he's not done this too.