This time it was not because anyone was breaking the law. It was for the safety of all traffic on I-29 today.
On the north bound side, right before an combination entrance/exit ramp, just over a rise, right at the end of a guard rail where the shoulder is more narrow there was a car on the side of the road with a flat tire. The flat was on the drivers side. It looked like the guy was having a stressful time changing the tire, I'm guessing because of all the traffic on the interstate today. RAGBRAI is in the area as well as an event calle Rivercade so a lot more traffic then usual is here. I called the non-emergency number so an officer could be dispatched to sit behind the car with the flat so traffic will get over & reduce the chance of this guy getting hit by a speeding vehicle.
Again there was nothing illegal going on, just a car with a flat, it happens. I don't want to see or read about anyone getting hurt like this so I did what I thought was right to help the guy out. Yes I could have stopped, but I am not an law enforcement officer & adding one more civilian vehicle parked in that location could add to the chances of an accident occuring. I am not trained in traffic control, I leave that to the proper authorities. But I see no problem with reporting it so the police can give the guy some assitance.
So go ahead call me a busy body again. Even though it was to be a good samaritan & help out my fellow man as best I can.
Tom Stormcrowe
07-22-06, 12:29 PM
This time it was not because anyone was breaking the law. It was for the safety of all traffic on I-29 today.
On the north bound side, right before an combination entrance/exit ramp, just over a rise, right at the end of a guard rail where the shoulder is more narrow there was a car on the side of the road with a flat tire. The flat was on the drivers side. It looked like the guy was having a stressful time changing the tire, I'm guessing because of all the traffic on the interstate today. RAGBRAI is in the area as well as an event calle Rivercade so a lot more traffic then usual is here. I called the non-emergency number so an officer could be dispatched to sit behind the car with the flat so traffic will get over & reduce the chance of this guy getting hit by a speeding vehicle.
Again there was nothing illegal going on, just a car with a flat, it happens. I don't want to see or read about anyone getting hurt like this so I did what I thought was right to help the guy out. Yes I could have stopped, but I am not an law enforcement officer & adding one more civilian vehicle parked in that location could add to the chances of an accident occuring. I am not trained in traffic control, I leave that to the proper authorities. But I see no problem with reporting it so the police can give the guy some assitance.
So go ahead call me a busy body again. Even though it was to be a good samaritan & help out my fellow man as best I can.
I'm not going to call you a busybody for calling the police, but why continually announce it? It's like those organ donor posts and others, same deal....Is this a possibility?
http://www.dontfeedthetroll.de/images/dftt.gif
I-Like-To-Bike
07-22-06, 12:54 PM
I'm not going to call you a busybody for calling the police, but why continually announce it? It's like those organ donor posts and others, same deal....Is this a possibility?
http://www.dontfeedthetroll.de/images/dftt.gif
Why does the OP announce his good deeds? Maybe he is in need of self gratification.
http://deephousepage.com/smilies/jerkit5.gif
catatonic
07-22-06, 12:55 PM
haha, that smiley is great!
Tom Stormcrowe
07-22-06, 01:02 PM
I have many more! http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/dirtbox/pics/muttley.gif Firefox has some great plugins!http://img57.exs.cx/img57/8852/203010149541a36196c008f0cy.png and the smiley file in the plugins has some pretty unique stuff!http://ganjataz.com/css/sigs/reason1-firefox-notIE.gif
Sorry about the http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/images/smilies/hijacked.gif, but I couldn't resist! I guess I succumbed to the "Dark Side"!http://www.ece.msstate.edu/~bjw2/DarthVader.gif
pirate
07-22-06, 02:21 PM
So go ahead call me a busy body again.
Busybody!
sunofsand
07-22-06, 02:52 PM
Good job.
*Patting you on the backside*
ZachS
07-22-06, 03:26 PM
there is a reason that european drivers are required to carry an elaborate kit of reflectors and safety equipment in their cars at all times...
ken cummings
07-22-06, 04:43 PM
there is a reason that european drivers are required to carry an elaborate kit of reflectors and safety equipment in their cars at all times...
So are most commercial drivers but there are reasons I(we) wold not stop to help even in a private vehicle. Can you spell liability? Whether or not the OP was a troll I do not see the point of the post. Where is there a connection to cycling?
bmclaughlin807
07-22-06, 04:58 PM
So are most commercial drivers but there are reasons I(we) wold not stop to help even in a private vehicle. Can you spell liability? Whether or not the OP was a troll I do not see the point of the post. Where is there a connection to cycling?
There are laws to protect good samaritans, and unless you do something stupid (Like park in the driving lane to stop and help), you really aren't in danger of being sued.
If you can stop safely, and park out of the driving lane, there is no liability to stop and place flares or reflectors to make life safer for the motorist.
There also is no liability to call in and get someone else to help.
And yes, there's really nothing here about cycling, other than a tenuous connection to his other thread.
In either case, I'd have called, but I WOULDN'T have come on bike forums and posted, looking for approval or validation.
rando
07-22-06, 05:07 PM
I don't think you should post on the bike forum every time you call a cop for something. It doesn't make any sense. and if you are a troll, it's not even a good trolling subject.
Carusoswi
07-23-06, 02:03 AM
Fine, you called the cops again . . . so what? If you'd like to be a cop, why not do the training, take the exams, etc. Chances are, the guy struggling (if he was really struggling - how could you tell - did you stop and observe, were you driving slowly - what?) also has a cell phone, can probably get professional roadside assistance by way of his own cell phone and doesn't need your help.
But, you made the call, and that's fine. I wonder what connection to cycling would move you to would post about it here.
The Mrs. and I drove our car to a really nice restaurant - we had a great conversation to, during, and fro. But I won't be starting a thread on that subject here on BF - what gives?
Caruso
CommuterRun
07-23-06, 01:55 PM
I didn't post in your other thread, but there was not one single thing wrong with notifying your local law enforcement under either set of conditions.
I was driving to work Friday morning and got behind a pickup towing a boat at 5:45 in the morning that didn't have light one on the back of the trailer. When he pulled in to the only convience store in the immediate area for gas I was right behind him and let him know he had no trailer lights. I didn't tell him that I didn't call the cops, but I know what the truck and boat look like and if I see it on the road at night again with no lights I will be on the cell.