What is it with all the distracted driver lately.

[JeepHead]

Last night on my drive home from work I got stuck in traffic for an hour. A truck blew a red light and ran over a bicyclist decapitating them. The body was still on the side of the road when I drove past (covered by a tarp) and the state police photographer was taking pics of everything. Hard telling if the driver was intentionally blowing the light or distracted.

 

[kenmbz]

Last night on my drive home from work I got stuck in traffic for an hour. A truck blew a red light and ran over a bicyclist decapitating them. The body was still on the side of the road when I drove past (covered by a tarp) and the state police photographer was taking pics of everything. Hard telling if the driver was intentionally blowing the light or distracted.

That is sad and scary.

 

[D&D]

Last night on my drive home from work I got stuck in traffic for an hour. A truck blew a red light and ran over a bicyclist decapitating them. The body was still on the side of the road when I drove past (covered by a tarp) and the state police photographer was taking pics of everything. Hard telling if the driver was intentionally blowing the light or distracted.

Sounds ghastly. Perhaps the truck had a mechanical failure or the yellow to red time was shorter than the drivers reflexes?
In Md.,even with a green light, its up to the operator to ensure the intersection is clear before entering. Most places, bicyclists seem to believe they are exempt from all rules of the road. ( not claiming any fault, just opining)

 

[bdhsfz6]

Last night on my drive home from work I got stuck in traffic for an hour. A truck blew a red light and ran over a bicyclist decapitating them. The body was still on the side of the road when I drove past (covered by a tarp) and the state police photographer was taking pics of everything. Hard telling if the driver was intentionally blowing the light or distracted.

This is indeed a sad story. It's also the reason I gave up riding my bicycle on public roads. At first, I stopped riding on busy streets and continued to ride back roads with little or no traffic. That was until I was riding a dirt road near my house one day when a delivery truck came up behind me. I saw in my mirror that he was texting and not paying attention to the road. He drifted onto the shoulder and would have run me over if I hadn't swerved off the road into the brush! The driver actually put two wheels in the ditch and almost flipped the truck before he realized what was happening!

I continue to ride my bikes, but only on trails and bike paths.

 

[JeepHead]

Sounds ghastly. Perhaps the truck had a mechanical failure or the yellow to red time was shorter than the drivers reflexes?
In Md.,even with a green light, its up to the operator to ensure the intersection is clear before entering. Most places, bicyclists seem to believe they are exempt from all rules of the road. ( not claiming any fault, just opining)

This is very much the case where I am. This area is famous for bicycling and is where the the story and movie Breaking Away was filmed. The bicyclist here definitely feel as if they own the road and most are hilly curvy roads. It's a wonder more of them aren't hit every year.

This particular instance was on a 4 lane highway with very clear line of sight. Not sure of the details yet, just what a couple eye witnesses posted on social media. Waiting for the new article to come out today.

 

[D&D]

I continue to ride my bikes, but only on trails and bike paths.

That's what I don't get. My county has spent untold thousands building miles of bike trails. The rural roads still get more bike traffic than the trails see.

 

[Oaktree]

But it is only a comparatively small fine so not sure it will be enforced.
However, I have seen that most ticket now add admin, police, fire and other fees to make them more worthwhile to enforce and make it cover the actual costs to have police and admin handle the ticket.

And there's the key...actually enforce these laws, and make the penalties severe enough to actually have an impact.

 

[Oaktree]

That's what I don't get. My county has spent untold thousands building miles of bike trails. The rural roads still get more bike traffic than the trails see.

Do the trails actually go anywhere people want to go?

 

[Jstpssng]

It's also the reason I gave up riding my bicycle on public roads

Also the reason I sold my motorcycle 35 years ago...

 

[D&D]

Do the trails actually go anywhere people want to go?

Depends.....define "want to go". dining, shopping and movies? Yes
Bars and dance venues, No River frontage on 3 different rivers, Yes
Creeks and natural preserves, Yes