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SIDESWIPES
1. Overtake or overtaken.
2. Stationary object. 3. Leaving parked position. 4. Opposing cars. 5. Opening door of vehicle. 6. Opening door of another vehicle. These are preventable since operators
should not get into a position where they can be forced into
trouble. A driver should not swerve, forcing others into an
accident. Drivers are expected to be able to gauge distances
properly when parking, and it is their responsibility to enter
traffic flow safely. The doors of a vehicle should never be open
when it is in motion or opened on the traffic side, unless clear of
traffic, when it is parked.
People sitting inside of a parked
vehicle can be seen from a sufficient distance; therefore, the
operator of an approaching unit should be prepared in case the doors
of the vehicle are opened. This type of accident is preventable
whenever the point of contact of the other vehicle's door is forward
of the back wall of the cab.
1. Did the driver look to front and
rear for approaching and overtaking traffic immediately before
starting to pull away from curb?
2. Did the driver signal before pulling from curb? 3. Did the driver look back rather than depend upon rear vision mirror? 4. Did the driver start his/her maneuver only when his/her action would not require traffic to change it's speed or direction in order to avoid him or her? If the answer to any question is no,
the driver was not driving defensively and is at
fault. |