'Prius totals my bike by blindly turning into oncoming traffic'

[thedub]

It seems he could have exercised a little bit more caution while riding into this danger zone to potentially avoid this collision.

The video makes it look like he had plenty of time to react by swerving and/or braking. But if I'm interpreting the movement of the camera correctly, he looked down at his mirror at exactly the wrong moment and when he looked back up contact was imminent. I never even see his hand move towards the brake lever.


youtu.be/Oa-JxGXb9oM

 

[madsen203]

He checked his mirror and didn't see it coming. :-/

It's called a suicide lane for a reason. I'd be more worried about whats in front that what is behind you.

Heal up. Best of luck with insurance! This sucks..

 

[GAJ]

The rider gave the bike gas as he entered the left turn lane and looked down at his mirror.

I'm slowing. hand on brake lever and monitoring the cars on the right for a sudden move over that MIGHT have helped in that bizarre situation.

But gassing it and checking my mirrors at that moment would not be my course of action.

 

[mototireguy]

Ouch.

Mildly bizarre situation, super doofus perineum stain Prius driver. Was there a Uber or Lyft sticker in the window?

When I see gaps ahead in stopped traffic my radar ticks into different scan mode looking for left turners going for the gap or coming out thru the gap.

 

[Surj]

It's called a suicide lane for a reason.

That's not a suicide lane. It's a left turn lane.

 

[madsen203]

That's not a suicide lane. It's a left turn lane.

Your right, it was a suicide lane and only just turned into a left lane. Looks like Prius would be at fault then, ya?

 

[Surj]

Sure seems like it. Although, man, it seems like some evasive maneuvers woulda made for a lot less drama, too.

 

[Map8]

It looks like a Toyota 4-runner just pulled out of the same place as the Prius so that should have been a heads up for the rider.

 

[Busy Little Shop]

Savoy riders are always “looking for trouble”—not to get into it, but to stay out of it.

Collisions Are Not Accidents quote DMV Motorcycle handbook...

“Accident” implies an unforeseen event that occurs without anyone’s
fault or negligence. Most often in traffic, that is not the case. In
fact, most people involved in a collision can usually claim some
responsibility for what takes place.

Blame doesn’t matter when someone is injured in a collision. There is
rarely a single cause of any collision. The ability to be aware, make
critical decisions, and carry them out separates responsible riders
from all the rest. It is up to you to keep from being the cause of, or
an unprepared participant in, any collision.

As a rider, you can’t be sure that others will see you or yield the
right of way. To reduce the chances of a collision:

Be visible. Wear proper clothing, use your headlight, and ride in
the best lane position to see and be seen.

Communicate your intentions. Use the proper signals, brake light,
and lane position.

Maintain an adequate space cushion. Allow yourself enough space
when following, being followed, lane splitting, passing, and being
passed.

Scan your path of travel. Look at least 10 to 15 seconds ahead.

Identify and separate multiple hazards.

Be prepared to act. Remain alert and know how to carry out proper
collision-avoidance skills.

 

[NeilInPacifica]

Pretty sure I would have been covering my brakes in that situation, especially after seeing that first vehicle come out of the gap. Plenty of time to stop if brakes are already at the ready.

Though obviously this is completely the fault of the Prius for driving on the wrong side of the road.

 

[ctrvl]

GTA edit was dope.

Sucks his timing was bad for looking into his mirrors but ç'est la vie. Glad he seemed ok.

 

[fast4d]

takes two to tango.

prius failed obviously. rider could have been more vigilant and taken action

 

[Abacinator]

In the video the prius was clearly visible pulling out of the driveway. Rider either totally failed to see it or failed to assume that it might be turning left.

 

[SRAD600]

Not sure I'd put any fault on the rider. He wasn't speeding, and he was fully in his lane. It appears, as others have said, that he was checking his mirror just when the Prius came into view. In fact, the Prius didn't even cross his lane but turned left directly into opposing traffic (double yellow was to Prius drivers right after he'd completed his turn). That alone (to me) puts the driver at fault. I just think it was bad timing, we all have to check our six at some point.

 

[thedub]

Not sure I'd put any fault on the rider. He wasn't speeding, and he was fully in his lane. It appears, as others have said, that he was checking his mirror just when the Prius came into view. In fact, the Prius didn't even cross his lane but turned left directly into opposing traffic (double yellow was to Prius drivers right after he'd completed his turn). That alone (to me) puts the driver at fault. I just think it was bad timing, we all have to check our six at some point.

It doesn't matter who is at fault. There are cemeteries full of people who were right. The important part is could it have been prevented and how?
Instead of assessing who is at fault for the collision, focus on what decisions and/or actions the rider could have made to avoid it all together. That's where the value in watching other people's crash videos is. If you are in this situation tomorrow what will you do differently? Slow down? Cover the brakes? Keep your eyes forward? Recognize the gap in traffic and expect a car to come through it?

 

[Abacinator]

Not sure I'd put any fault on the rider. He wasn't speeding, and he was fully in his lane. It appears, as others have said, that he was checking his mirror just when the Prius came into view. In fact, the Prius didn't even cross his lane but turned left directly into opposing traffic (double yellow was to Prius drivers right after he'd completed his turn). That alone (to me) puts the driver at fault. I just think it was bad timing, we all have to check our six at some point.

Didn't mean to suggest that the rider was at fault, only that (s)he should have seen it coming.

 

[HadesOmega]

That's totally the Prius' fault because one the car is travelling the WRONG direction in that lane and two they cross a double yellow.

 

[SuperMike]

It doesn't matter who is at fault. There are cemeteries full of people who were right. The important part is could it have been prevented and how?
Instead of assessing who is at fault for the collision, focus on what decisions and/or actions the rider could have made to avoid it all together. That's where the value in watching other people's crash videos is. If you are in this situation tomorrow what will you do differently? Slow down? Cover the brakes? Keep your eyes forward? Recognize the gap in traffic and expect a car to come through it?

Yeah. What he said.

 

[Marcoose]

There are cemeteries full of people who were right.

The original inconvenient truth.

 

[Enchanter]

That's totally the Prius' fault because one the car is travelling the WRONG direction in that lane and two they cross a double yellow.

Crossing a single double yellow is not illegal.