Originally Posted by
JoeyBike
Life would be so much easier if the pass-ee acts in a reasonable, predictable, sane manner.....
Yes, it would, but we have to adapt how things are, and not how they should be.
Keep in mind that in passing situations, the passee has no legal obligation to make way. He should, out of common courtesy, and in some situations may even be compelled to, ie. rules relating to obstructing traffic on roads, but even then giving way isn't mandated to be immediately on demand, more like first safe opportunity.
Even in the worst case of an obnoxious SOB who adamantly refuses to make way, no law gives you the right to push him out of the way or otherwise endanger him to pass. The common law here is pretty much absolute - the passing vehicle is the burdened one, and MUST hold back until it can pass safely.
I know of no exceptions, other than for emergency vehicles, (though I suspect that some hair splitter here will post one.)
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BTW - I know that I can be thick, but I cannot grasp why so many here have problems with this concept. Especially here where many of those same people are so righteous when it comes to their rights as applied to passing cars.