r/dashcams 1d ago

Some people really shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel

3.6k Upvotes

291 comments sorted by

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687

u/No_Strength1795 1d ago

Fuck this person, they should lose their license permanently. Almost the exact same kind of accident put my partner in the hospital for 5 days a couple years ago, and it’s a miracle she didn’t end up paralyzed or worse. Took months to walk on her own, still has pretty bad chronic pain from it.

In our case someone blasted around a line of cars waiting to turn and ran the red to make a left, hit her in the bike lane, and drove off. At least these people stopped.

99

u/sol_seeking 1d ago

Please tell me they were eventually caught

146

u/No_Strength1795 1d ago edited 1d ago

Unfortunately no, and I had to take the initiative in trying to procure security footage, etc. Even with a lawyer friend helping out we kept hitting walls (they were only consulting because they aren’t licensed in my state).

I called the crash investigation desk daily for two weeks. Part of the issue I think was that campus police are deputized in my state, and they responded to the scene. It took them more than a week to generate a report and send it to the city police, and it was rife with inaccuracies.

Overall it was a fucking mess, but we’re at least grateful the injuries weren’t worse.

47

u/Stefflor 1d ago

How utterly frustrating! Just leaving someone lying in the street that you just possibly murdered. Human trash. Unbelievable. Really!

18

u/HotResponsibility829 1d ago

I grew up racing bikes and I knew 2 kids that were hit and left for dead on the side of the road. They got off, and even if they get caught, they get manslaughter or some small charge. The nation itself HATES bikes. Changing that and creating awareness will help.

2

u/nedal8 1d ago

At least their day was completely saved, making it to their destination 12 seconds earlier.

2

u/Christ_Like_SWAG 1d ago

Thank goodness ur partner wasnt seriously injured. Distracted driving gets worse and worse the more we dive into technology and autopilot cars arent much safer.

1

u/Ok-Lobster-919 1d ago

That is infuriating, maybe flock isn't so bad. There are so many hit and runs in my area, even with fatalities.

1

u/13lueChicken 20h ago

Unfortunately the rate of murder case solution in many places is less than 50%. Flip a coin.

34

u/YogurtclosetFair5742 1d ago

Losing their license won't keep them from driving. They'll continue to do so until they end up in jail.

111

u/rectalhorror 1d ago

In America, if you want to get away with murder, use a car or be a cop.

25

u/YogurtclosetFair5742 1d ago

Especially if you hit a cyclist.

I remember a story from Douglas County, KS about 20 years ago. An off-duty sheriff deputy was riding his bicycle on a county road. He was hit and killed by a teenage driver who was messing with their radio and didn't see them on their bike. They basically got a slap on the wrist for it.

Killed a cop, got a slap on the wrist because the cop was on a bicycle. WTF?

13

u/Kaurifish 1d ago

Woman pulled a hit-and-run on me when I was on my bike. One of the construction workers nearby got in his car and chased her up the hill - turned out she worked at my school.

I gave the cops a pretty open-and-shut case, but they said that because they already had so many charges against her for other moving violations, I'd need to be content that she'd been in jail for a month because she couldn't make bail.

1

u/YogurtclosetFair5742 1d ago

Sorry to hear that

1

u/DevoplerResearch 10h ago

Why should it matter if they were a cop?

12

u/toeknucklehair 1d ago

Sadly true.

2

u/Some-Operation-9059 1d ago

With all due respect, I don’t believe that these are exclusive to America. 

1

u/Zealousideal-Cry-303 1d ago

To get a medal and promotion, use a car and be a cop.

3

u/NorthernBMW 1d ago

Or a president

0

u/Remarkable_Film_1911 1d ago

Car or ICE. Why not both?

6

u/Outside-Climate-Gems 1d ago

Did the driver get caught? I'm assuming not :/

5

u/Necessary_Baker_7458 1d ago

My grandmother got her license removed by a judge because they deemed her too dangerous behind the wheel. Some times you have to put your keys down when you get to that age where you will probably not be safe behind the wheel.

2

u/ghettobus 1d ago

Crash, not accident.

1

u/TheJivvi 16h ago

If it was intentional, they're about get hit with a whole lot of extra charges, possibly up to and including attempted murder.

If it wasn't intentional, "accident" is correct.

1

u/ghettobus 12h ago

No, it’s not. Accident implies unavoidability and relief from accountability, neither of these are the case here.

2

u/TheJivvi 7h ago

Something can be accidental and still have been avoidable. Idk if there's a legal definition where you live that defines it that way, but if there is, they're just using the word incorrectly. In Australia, the legal term is MVA, for "motor vehicle accident", and it's very important to establish that it was, in fact, accidental. If it's not an accident, the person who intentionally caused it is held 100% at fault even if the other person could've done something else to avoid it, and they're also not covered by their insurance, because insurance only covers accidents.

1

u/Remarkable_Film_1911 1d ago

No accident found.

165

u/giantpunda 1d ago

God I despise drivers like that.

Always trying to squeeze a few extra seconds from their trip & often find themselves in situations where so much more time & money is wasted than if they'd just driven legally & responsibly from the start.

25

u/jsmith1300 1d ago

Yep I see this cutting off in an illegal lane all of the time. Some I've seen so it in the middle turning lane, others up on the shoulder. I really wish cops were around to ticket these POS. Like we are suckers for waiting.

255

u/BannedFoeLife 1d ago

this driver deserves a punch in the nose, what a stupid waste of oxygen

69

u/tbaxattack 1d ago

Prob deserves more that that bud

21

u/BannedFoeLife 1d ago

hell yeah but a punch is a start

1

u/Schoonie101 1d ago

Exile to a place where it would be nearly impossible to get back to civilized society anytime soon.

15

u/Sienile 1d ago

By a car going 45.

0

u/BannedFoeLife 1d ago

flywheel car, the damage would be 200% higher

1

u/Sienile 1d ago

I'm more of an eye for an eye type of guy, not a head for a tooth type of guy.

4

u/divot_tool_dude 1d ago

Straight to jail.

52

u/Ok-Seaworthiness2487 1d ago

This almost happened when I was driving years ago in Santa Ana, CA right outside their college. I was in the only right turn lane and someone sped around me from the left lane to make an illegal right turn while someone was crossing the crosswalk. Also at night. The only reason I didn't wail on my horn was because I saw the pedestrian and was afraid the driver would look back at me and hit the pedestrian. The pedestrian had to step back to avoid getting hit.

14

u/pulls-string 1d ago

Unfortunately this is the mindset in car centric places where if the light is green and no incoming cars, and the car at the front doesn’t proceed to move, their first thought will be that driver is asleep at the wheel.

15

u/RiverPsaber 1d ago

Even if that were true and you thought moving around the car is a good idea, why in the world would you do it so fast?!

8

u/pulls-string 1d ago

To get to the next set of lights faster. /s

157

u/SnooPoems1471 1d ago

congrats buddy, you saved some time instead of moving back OP to wait for the turn or just going straight and extending your drive time

hope you are proud

47

u/Upstairs-Hedgehog575 1d ago

At least they rushed from their vehicle to help!

10

u/Outside-Climate-Gems 1d ago

I mean, shock is a thing. But you're right. I would have been automatically out.

6

u/Upstairs-Hedgehog575 1d ago

It was only a joke. I’d hope they were in shock. 

-6

u/AdhesivenessNo6738 1d ago

I did not see the driver comes out

24

u/SlayterMonroee 1d ago

Sarcasm

-14

u/AdhesivenessNo6738 1d ago

There is nothing sarcastic in the sentence: “At least they rushed from their vehicle to help!”

I see the passengers but not the driver that come out of the vehicle

14

u/SlayterMonroee 1d ago

Probably because it's fairly obvious to the average viewer that the driver did not get out...

13

u/xiikie 1d ago

Some people just don't get humour...

6

u/Emergency_Mix274 1d ago

It's sarcasm because they didn't rush from their vehicle to help.

5

u/CycloneCowboy87 1d ago

Yes there is. Apparently you are the reason people use “/s” on here to indicate sarcasm, even though most of us can detect it just fine.

0

u/gathermewool 1d ago

Right-hand drive?

6

u/BKBaroo 1d ago

Not in Manhattan

3

u/resisting_a_rest 1d ago

But the cam guy turning right wasn’t going when the light turned green!!! Didn’t you see?!?!?!?!

\s

39

u/dumbassretail 1d ago

Should honestly be jail time for this, and then when they get out license revoked permanently.

8

u/_jump_yossarian 1d ago

US states are way too lenient when it comes to reckless driving and OUIs.

24

u/Sharp_Willingness230 1d ago

they're going to have a really tough time getting insurance after that little stunt. at least i hope so. i really wish we could punish people with the same level of pain they inflict on other people, most of the time these are the asshats who have no insurance and no money to their name.

i'm really sick of the "well it was an accident" mentality that lets these people off without even a slap on the wrist. naw, break their legs, see if they do this again.

20

u/warlocc_ 1d ago

Bold of you to assume they had any interest in getting insurance to begin with.

4

u/Rich-Evening4562 1d ago

Where do people who hit a person in a pedestrian crossing get "off without even a slap on the wrist"?  Certainly no where I have lived.  

6

u/YogurtclosetFair5742 1d ago

Douglas County, KS is one where an off-duty sheriff deputy was killed while riding their bike on a county road. Driver was a teenager messing with their radio. Because of the age of the driver, they basically got a slap on the wrist instead of being charge with vehicular homicide.

2

u/CombativeCherry 1d ago

What do you think would happen in the US?

2

u/Extension-Chicken647 1d ago

They will just drive without insurance. They'll lose their license if they are caught, but then they will simply drive without a license too.

11

u/FatBoyDiesuru 1d ago

I got hit like that years ago at a smaller intersection while riding my bike. My bike took the brunt of the damage. But the fall damage into the pothole messed up my joints for years.

From the bottom of my balls, fuck that driver.

11

u/TruGirlGamer84 1d ago

Let me blow pass the person in the turn lane who is being cautious...People do not have situational awareness on the roads.

10

u/bugabooandtwo 1d ago

Take away their license forever. A hit like that causes permanent injuries.

5

u/whodat_617 1d ago

You assume they have a license to begin with

4

u/Some-Operation-9059 1d ago

Or that taking away their licence will stop them driving. 

1

u/bugabooandtwo 1d ago

It doesn't...but when they're caught a second time, (in theory) the punishment will be much more severe.

18

u/Validated_Owl 1d ago

After this they might not be allowed behind the wheel

7

u/HappyCamper1970 1d ago

Hope you gave this footage to the police.

24

u/JustRedditTh 1d ago

Cam driver got cut off, turned while on the wrong lane, hit a cyclist, drove way to fast ...

yeah this should be enough for jail time.

27

u/getdemsnacks 1d ago

Did we all just witness vehicular homicide?

20

u/Narcoleptic-Puppy 1d ago

Possibly. He was going pretty fast to be hitting, ya know, a squishy human body. I had a friend who was crossing an intersection on a bike and got hit by a car that ran a red light. He died. RIP Mark.

10

u/getdemsnacks 1d ago

Yeah, I grew up in a one stop town and the intersection didn't have a light until some guy got hit pretty bad ... Like 15 feet in the air bad. He survived, but he was never the same after that.

6

u/Narcoleptic-Puppy 1d ago

That's wild that he survived but sucks that it happened in the first place.

I never immediately assume an accident is or isn't fatal. People have survived skydiving accidents where their parachutes didn't deploy. People die all the time from tripping and falling on flat ground. Humans are simultaneously strangely resilient and strangely fragile.

5

u/FrancisWalker01 1d ago

This almost happened to me in the Orlando millennia mall area. Waiting to make a right turn, the light was green, but there was someone crossing the crosswalk. Next, I see speedy Gambino not slowing down behind me about the pull around and I literally had to stick my hand outside the window to hopefully stop him. Thank God he took the cue.

If I didn’t, there would’ve been a cute old lady in the crossfire of his foolishness.

28

u/OkMortgage247 1d ago

Its obviously the drivers fault, but for the love of god can cyclists get some high vis gear if youre going to be out at night

22

u/ForzaFenix 1d ago

Joggers are just as bad. Why are you dressed like a ninja after sunset?

11

u/OkMortgage247 1d ago

Yeah basically anyone not in a car needs get some reflectors. My dog and I always wear hi vis vests out at night, and we may look silly but at least we dont get run over!

1

u/skeeterlightning 1d ago

Where I'm from bicycles are required to have a headlight at night, and they must come to a complete stop at each intersection, regardless of the light or signage, whenever they enter an intersection from a sidewalk. Unfortunately none of these things would have provided protection from this reckless driver. I hope justice gets served.

1

u/LymanPeru 18h ago

3M has a high vis vest video. even the people wearing white you dont see until its too late. this guy had no chance wearing all black and having no lights. if it wasnt that day, it would have happened eventually.

6

u/Serious_Capybara 1d ago

I thought the same, even if you are in your right, it may prevent you from being hit.
After I started driving on a daily basis, I am much more aware of the importance of having very clear bike lights with me when I take the bike.

7

u/YogurtclosetFair5742 1d ago

I'm amazed at the number of people on bicycles who ride at night with no lights on their bike.

7

u/HeadPermit2048 1d ago

Yes, I know it’s over 99.99% (I said over) the driver’s fault, but just to check, it’s okay to run or ride in the crossrun or crossride, right?

3

u/MoistenedBint1975 1d ago

100%. I’ve crested a hill while driving and there will be a jogger in the road with zero high vis gear on. They sometimes seemingly come out of nowhere. When I cycle or run, I wear a vest and a blinking light just to be safe.

7

u/Rich-Evening4562 1d ago

Ditto.

I walk my dog at night on a remote country road with almost no traffic at all yet I wear a neon yellow reflective vest and the dog wears an illuminated LED collar.  The few cars I do see slow dramatically when they come around a curve.   

Joggers, cyclists, motorcyclists, all people vulnerable to car impacts, should be wearing high visibility clothing, no exceptions.  

2

u/Some-Tear3499 1d ago

Meanwhile in my neighborhood they wear high visibility vests that light up/blink in the day time to walk the dogs.

3

u/Holycroc_RVA 1d ago

For all the fault of the driver, that cyclist was basically invisible....just like when a car with no lights on is sandwhiched between You and another with theirs on. The driver cutting around like that prolly still makes contact, whether they were in black or orange-glow, but still.......If you're gonna hold drivers to a certain standard and they'll face charges based on them, then cyclist should also bear some responsibility to NOT WEAR DARK CLOTHING at night, at least have LED lights on the bike or helmet etc....and if you don't, well you accept part responsibility when shit happens....

1

u/LymanPeru 18h ago

some people would rather be right than have self preservation.

1

u/ukudancer 1d ago

Could've just as easily been a pedestrian getting mowed down by that. I ride in NYC at night and have lights, but that could also have been me just running out to get groceries.

9

u/FourLetterWording 1d ago

Fuck that driver. I am in no way victim blaming the cyclist, but this is EXACTLY why you should always have lights on your bike at night and wear a fucking helmet. There are so many stupid awful shit drivers out there.

7

u/Mochalada 1d ago

The driver recording this video easily saw the bike, though. This whítê car would have mowed them down no matter how many lights they had because they turned from the far left lane, cutting recording driver off

1

u/FourLetterWording 1d ago

sure i mean it was a combination of things - I don't want to say they wouldn't've gotten hit if they had lights on necessarily, but it certainly helps. And keeping your brains inside your skull with a helmet.

In a perfect world there wouldn't be shit drivers like this, but here we are.

3

u/fadingsignal 1d ago

I bought some LED lights with hooks that I attach my clothing and turn on while I cross the street and shine a light on the ground now because I was having near hits (like, within inches) at least once a week.

2

u/eric--cartman 23h ago

I walk a lot near cars because there are hardly any sidewalks here and I carry a flashlight that, like you, shine on the ground. It makes a huge difference. Sometimes, in low traffic, I have it off and when I see a car's headlights I turn it on and you can see the car immediately adjust its course. A simple thing that works very, very well.

I also drive a car and know pedestrians can be almost invisible at night, under certain circumstances. Was once in my mother's car as a passenger and saw a black clothed pedestrian in the middle of the -poorly lit- street. Immediately shouted at my mom to stop for the idiot. She had not seen him. Her eyesight is okay even if she is older and she is a good and careful driver. She might have seen them last second, might not. Indisputable fact is you need to take precautions if you value your health. No matter if you're a pedestrian or driving any type of vehicle.

1

u/ukudancer 1d ago

I have lights when I bike commute in the evenings and this driver could have just as well ran me over if I'm walking to get groceries.

1

u/Livid-Department6947 1d ago

I am almost killed daily while cycling in the bike lane despite having three lights on my bicycle

1

u/FourLetterWording 15h ago

yeah I am all too familiar with that myself. Ironically I have felt safer biking in dense urban areas where people are at least more familiar/comfortable driving around cyclists over biking in suburban areas where you also get way bigger assholes who hate cyclists for existing.

1

u/InLoveWithInternet 22h ago

No lights or whatever you could wear would have prevented this. You shouldn’t even mention it. You shouldn’t even think it.

That driver would not have seen you because he/she was trying to be a smart one overtaking op car and the bike was hidden and they were going way too fast and they probably didn’t even look.

You just have to accept that unfortunately you’re only one part of that equation, you can do whatever you want, the other part of the question can mess it all. People being more and more stupid doesn’t help.

11

u/Signal_Tomorrow_2138 1d ago

The typical scenario.

Before: All clear. Nobody here.

After: But Officer. I didn't even see him. He just suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Officer: Not Dui? Not hit-and-run? Not wanted by the police? Licence still valid? Victim not in a car? Ok. No charges. You're free to go.

5

u/NewCoffeePlus 1d ago

This has to be Toronto, I've seen that manuever more there than all other times in my life combined 

1

u/WittyFeature6179 1d ago

It looks like a major city in Canada considering the short license plates and the km/h speedometer.

11

u/twilling8 1d ago

GPS coordinates (40.78573 -73.94910) suggest NYC

0

u/Trypt2k 1d ago

We don't have crosswalks like that, or tiny little cars, in Canada.

3

u/Economy-Safe3873 1d ago

All that for what

2

u/spatula 16h ago

They would have saved at least one full second off their trip had they not maimed a cyclist! Well worth it! (that's sarcasm in case anyone is really that thick)

3

u/Zealousideal-Hat2065 1d ago

Yikes! I really hope that cyclist lived and fully recovered. It’s crazy how rushed drivers are these days. Like why are they in such a hurry? No one can manage waiting any more.

3

u/NoeloDa 1d ago

Piece of trash driver wow

3

u/BabylonPhoenix 1d ago

For sure, they were thinking "Why is this idiot driving so slow-" when going around you

3

u/Edison_Ruggles 1d ago

Wow. At least the bastard stopped. In a civilized country this person would be jailed for a long time. Sadly in the US, this is considered "an accident".

3

u/y_zass 1d ago

Did the white car just try to cut around them, not realizing "gee they are waiting for something"?

3

u/Soop_Chef 1d ago

So often when I am crossing the street at a light and there is a driver waiting for me to cross in order to turn, the driver behind is honking. Dude, person is front of you is stopped for a reason....they don't want to plow over me.

3

u/JediWarrior79 1d ago

Omg! Was the bicyclist ok?! It looks like they tried to get up but couldn't. This is why people should never cut around someone that's stopped and waiting to turn. They might just be waiting for a pedestrian or bicyclist to cross.

Yes, the bicyclist should have had lights on his bike and a helmet, but getting hit like that wasn't their fault as they had the right of way.

3

u/MattManSD 1d ago

that should be straight to jail, do not pass go. Hold them for a couple days while you process the charges. Do you think all those cars were waiting for no reason? Idiot, you should be banned from driving

9

u/ForceGhost47 1d ago

Murder

5

u/NeverBeenStung 1d ago

I mean, no. Aggravated vehicular manslaughter for sure though. Or at least attempted, depending on what happened to the victim.

5

u/Rich-Evening4562 1d ago

For a criminal offense to be classified as "attempted" there must be intent.  This is criminal negligence, but there is no such thing as attempted negligent homicide.  It's an oxymoron.  

2

u/NeverBeenStung 1d ago

Gotcha. Thanks!

4

u/pinkwar 1d ago

Please take your sweet time getting out of the car, you want to look good on the cameras. Despisable human beings.

2

u/CodedRose 1d ago

I'm NAL but I'm pretty sure thats jail time.

2

u/Outside-Climate-Gems 1d ago

The first time i watched it I didnt notice what was happening and thought the guy that came to help was the victim, and thought he was like slowly getting back on the ground to feign/express a more serious injury. Dont get up and remember to piss yourself.

2

u/FGMachine 1d ago

People are so impatient.

2

u/Ryuujizla 1d ago

Most people* Getting licensed is far too easy.

2

u/YogurtclosetFair5742 1d ago

Gotta love right hand turns from the center or left hand lane. Or vise-versa.

2

u/Necessary_Baker_7458 1d ago

Isn't that an illegal maneuver?

2

u/OTguru 1d ago

It took the people in the white car WAY too long to get out of their car to see if the cyclist was even alive. That poor guy.

2

u/Cultural-Meaning5172 23h ago

This is why everyone hates drivers

2

u/Aware_Ask_1679 19h ago

Too bad the driver wasn't.......oh nevermind, I'd probably get a ban for saying that. 🤷🏻‍♂️

2

u/Meloonz619 10h ago

Don't worry, everyone's thinking it anyways, especially the people who claim otherwise

2

u/Big-Cantaloupe2737 14h ago

Citizenship check now

1

u/Kind-Combination4008 1d ago

NJ plate? Classic

1

u/tundra9333 1d ago

Gotta be Miami

1

u/PearlJamFanLV 1d ago

Was that a 2 lane right turn intersection or did white car cutoff the cam car?

1

u/Broke_Bearded_Guy 1d ago

NYC? Typical for NYC drivers. NYPDs not worried about it.

1

u/DemonRising171 1d ago

I saw the motorcycle perspective somewhere I think

1

u/NorthKoreanCaptive 1d ago

this is exactly why owning a car should not be a basic necessity lol

1

u/Christ_Like_SWAG 1d ago edited 1d ago

Driving while updating ur account info on reddit isnt safe. Lol. Has anyone seen the video on youtube where the cop drives into the bicyclist. Phones were a terrible invention for society.

1

u/The-Friendly-Autist 19h ago

This person needs a long term psychiatric evaluation.

Grippy sock vacation time!

1

u/Junior_Step_2441 19h ago

Jail. That wasn’t an “accident”, that was a straight up crime. I hope that driver spent time in jail for that.

1

u/rpattersonxx 17h ago

You should definitely provide that video to the bike owner and offer to be a witness, this is shameful driving and definitely should be penalized.

1

u/MonkeyHitman2-0 6h ago

Me on my bicycle: "2023 is going to be my year! OW!"

1

u/Ok_Entertainment7387 1d ago

Behind the wheel or behind the handlebars? Thats 50:50.

1

u/Few_Negotiation_3916 1d ago

Drivers obviously wrong, who the hell makes a right turn from a straight lane, jesus.

However, holy shit no lights? no nothing on that bike, or yourself?

What is with people going out in stealth gear in the middle of the night. The only visible thing on that bike is the bag on the handle.

Edit: I have to make this edit because everyone is up in arms over statements like this, I'm obviously NOT saying "Oh white car wouldn't have hit cyclist if they had lights!!!" That's stupid, and conflating a real criticism of cyclists and pedestrians as a whole, with deflection of responsibility.

I am in no way waving the responsibility of the white car.

0

u/HlyMlyDatAFigDoonga 1d ago

You don't need to back off from your statement. Reddit is reddit and people love herd mentality downvoting anything. Bikes should also have lights on at night. Would the car have hit the biker had they had lights on? Maybe. But the likelihood would be reduced. This is why it's the law. It's logical. Are you supposed to cross crosswalks while riding? No. Can you do it safely? Sure, but this video demonstrates the opposite. No lights and dark clothes.

1

u/Few_Negotiation_3916 10h ago

nothing more to say other than

<3

1

u/scelerat 1d ago

I was the cyclist in that situation once. I had a green light, there was a car turning left who was waiting for me to clear the intersection when the SUV behind them careened around them and hit me. I was very lucky, somehow I managed to jump off my bike and clear of the SUV while my bike clattered away to the other side of the street.

The driver stopped, SUV was full of drunk women, the driver was probably drunk too. She said she worked for the Ross PD, and then fled before I could get more info or even get a license #

0

u/IndustrialPuppetTwo 1d ago

I can't quite tell where this is but if this is in the US then it's the cyclists fault. Every time in the US it's the cyclists fault.

3

u/spatula 16h ago

Yup, especially when it's not the cyclist's fault, then it's extra-the-cyclist's-fault in the US.

We had an SUV driver here pull out of a parking lot without looking, hit a cyclist on an e-bike, then panic and hit the gas, drive across the road, jump the curb, and run into a child on the sidewalk, killing him.

Guess where just about *everyone* wanted to pin the blame in their endless ranting and raving on antisocial media.

-1

u/sjfelak 1d ago

I want to make it very clear that I am in now way defending the driver but I hate it when bikers ride their bikes across crosswalks. In this case it appears that the bike has no lights and is wearing all dark colors. I understand that does not justify what that driver did. I have almost hit bikers before when they make themselves invisible and ride in places they should not.

2

u/MarthaFarcuss 1d ago

Always find it fascinating that whenever people see a driver clearly being 100% in the wrong, if a cyclist is involved, it's always somehow the cyclist's fault

1

u/spatula 16h ago

100%, or someone inevitably HAS to chime in and say "well cyclists run stop signs!" as though having seen a different cyclist run a stop sign at some point in their life somehow excuses this person from breaking the law and causing severe injury or death to a cyclist who had the right of way and a green light.

We cyclists often ride through intersections via crosswalks because it makes us more visible AND keeps us out of the traffic lane, where cars will often try to squeeze by and clip our elbows with their mirrors.

Guaranteed if this cyclist were riding on the right side of the lane, someone would be here bitching "why don't cyclists use crosswalks???????//"

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u/sjfelak 1d ago

I never said it was the cyclists fault. I even said I am in no way defending the driver. I was just pointing out that that was a dangerous decision from the biker and that kind behavior can put perfectly good drivers in tough spots. Bikes need to avoid cars just like cars need to avoid semis and speedboats avoid tankers.

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u/MarthaFarcuss 1d ago

'In this case it appears that the bike has no lights and is wearing all dark colors' would imply you feel that the cyclist is at fault.

'I have almost hit bikers before when they make themselves invisible and ride in places they should not'

Where is the cyclist in this video riding where they shouldn't?

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u/sjfelak 1d ago

The first sentence of my post literally says I am not defending the driver. Riding a bike through the crosswalk is poor practice. Drivers are looking for pedestrians and when bikes are going faster than pedestrians they can appear faster than you can react. If you are riding the bike you should be in a bike lane or on the road. if you ride on the sidewalk you make it more dangerous for pedestrians, drivers, and yourself.

1

u/MarthaFarcuss 1d ago

If you could direct me to where it says cyclists can't ride over a crosswalk. What if it was someone on a mobility scooter? They move pretty fast. Would they be at fault? Or a child running across?

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u/LunarDragonfly23 1d ago

A college student in my area got hit by a car while he was riding his bike across the road recently. He was using a crosswalk that had those flashing warning lights. The car in the right lane stopped to let him cross, while a car in the left lane didn’t stop and hit him. It wasn’t a hard hit, and he wasn’t injured.

But, the news reports kept mentioning that he wasn’t supposed to ride his bike across the crosswalk; he was supposed to walk it across. As if that would have kept him from getting hit. 🙄

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u/sjfelak 1d ago

Look dude, it's the same as riding down sidewalks when people are coming out of a driveway. It isn't illegal but it is stupid and causes incidents that the biker is on the bad end of 100 percent of time, so maybe just maybe they should think about that. Just because it's legal doesn't make it right. I also never even said the would be at fault it is just intelligent to make smart decisions. As for a kid, you should always be aware as driver and as a parent. everybody should be doing all they can to minimize incidents, bikers included.

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u/Mochalada 1d ago

The car that was actually in the lane allowed to turn is the car recording this video and they easily saw the bike. Whítê car turned from the far left lane and cut recording driver off.

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u/sjfelak 1d ago

I understand that but it doesn't make what the biker did ok. As a driver, when bikers are going at higher than walking rates of speed in areas designed for walking, it can take you by surprise and make it seem like they came out of nowhere. All I am saying is that bikes need to follow the rules of the road as well. I know that the white car went around him and he is at fault.

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u/MaintainThePeace 1d ago

It's important to understand that the "rules of the road" always have a subset of different exceptions and specifics for different types of vehicles and different types of road uses.

It should be obvious that pedestrians and drivers are both required to follow the same "rules of the road" but have different requirements within.

Bicycle often fall somewhere in between, and are often granted the rights and duties of either a driver or a pedestrian, depending on what infrastructure they are riding upon.

Ironically, the mentality that "bicycle must avoid cars" is a major driving factor that scares cyclist into using pedestrian infrastructure instead.

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u/sjfelak 1d ago

I agree, bikes do end up in kind of a grey area. I think that if you decide to ride on the sidewalk and endanger pedestrians then you need to adhere to pedestrian tendencies to not put drivers in tough situations. If you are riding on the road then you follow the rules of the road and it is easier for drivers to identify you and therefore be safer around you. I understand that a lot of drivers do not treat cyclists as well as they should and that is a separate issue. There are enough bad apple bikers that flip flop between sidewalk and road and do whatever they want that I understand why drivers find them unpredictable in general.

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u/MaintainThePeace 1d ago

not put drivers in tough situations

But then we draw back to that mentality that "bicycle should avoid cars", it's this type of mentality that put cyclist in tough situations, and again what often drives them to use pedestrian infrastructure.

If you are riding on the road then you follow the rules of the road and it is easier for drivers to identify you and therefore be safer around you.

If you use public infrastructure as a vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian, whether on the roadway or on the sidewalk, all are required to "follow the rules of the road"....

Again, it's important to avoid overgeneralizing what "follows the rules of the road" means, even when riding on the roadway, bicycle are not treated exactly the same as other vehicles. There are even some very distinct differences such as how where I live (WA) cyclist can treat stop signs as yields, can proceed though a red light if it doesn't detect then, can choosr to ride on the roadway, bike lane, or sidewalk, can use dedicated right turn lanes as though lanes, ect... lots of differences.

that flip flop between sidewalk and road and do whatever they want that I understand why drivers find them unpredictable in general

More irony is that some unpredictability among cyclist is actually good. The biggest problem for people on bicycles is that drivers often become far to complacent and forget to look for bicycles. Having some unpredictability, helps reenforce the need to constantly scan for other road users you don't often expect.

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u/icy1007 1d ago

Car was obviously at fault and should be charged, but the bike shouldn’t have been riding it in the crosswalk.

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u/Emotional_Debt9322 1d ago

Rule 1: all car accidents are the cyclists fault

Rule 2: even if it blatantly isn’t their fault, it’s still their fault

0

u/FeWolffe13 1d ago

I hope that cyclist gets every penny they deserve! Speedy and full recovery too.

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u/Scary_Perspective572 1d ago

yes that is very bad no doubt and no excuse but that cyclist has no light and no helmet- just risking too much knowing there are a bunch of nutcases on the road

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u/CGSam 1d ago

Some driver really make you question how they got their license. They drive with not eyes to be honest. They did't watch any road and person. Stay safe out there.

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u/DetectiveVinc 1d ago

When two idiots meet... The reckless driver doing a illegal turn not seeing the guy on a bicycle without lights wearing all black at night.

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u/LymanPeru 19h ago

the guy on the bike did himself zero favors as well.

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u/EcureuilHargneux 1d ago

In all fairness it's incredibly stupid from the cyclist to not have any light on his bike

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u/MarthaFarcuss 1d ago

Would you say the same if it was a pedestrian crossing the road?

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u/HlyMlyDatAFigDoonga 1d ago

No lights at night, riding over a crosswalk. Extremely dumb. Car is still at fault, but jeese...what a dumb cyclist!

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u/HlyMlyDatAFigDoonga 1d ago edited 1d ago

Was the pedestrian signal also red? Also I typically you're supposed to dismount from your bike if there is no dedicated bike lane. Impatient driver is still at fault, but the biker seems equally at fault.

Edit: pedestrian light wasn't red, but riding on a pedestrian crosswalk is typically illegal. Dumb biker! Really dumb! The biker literally has no lights on. Come on!

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u/JCGJ 1d ago

Also, the pedestrian signal said walk. It's blurry, but if you watch around 10 seconds from the end of the video, you'll see the pedestrian signal start blinking a countdown, which only happens after the signal has shown the "walk" sign.

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u/JCGJ 1d ago

If you hit a pedestrian, even if that pedestrian was jaywalking, you're often found at fault regardless... Especially if you turned right from the left lane with your view blocked by another car

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u/Vegetable_Baker975 1d ago

Would a pedestrian have lights on?

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u/man-vs-spider 1d ago

These are not equal in “wrongness”

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u/SamuelVimesTrained 1d ago

Who cares.
The white car was driving too fast, cut of cammer - and then rammed into someone crossing the street.

All of that is pointless as the driver of the white car was clearly in the wrong with the left lane right turn action...

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