Bike Forums - View Single Post - Bicyclist Killed in SoMD

07-16-09 | 11:04 AM

#9

ChipSeal

www.chipsea.blogspot.com

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 1,026

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From: South of Dallas, Texas

Bikes: Giant OCR C0 road

Quote:

Originally Posted by CliftonGK1

Rumoured by whom? Not by anything stated in that article.
While I have tremendous disdain for the "distracted driving" defense, the situation presented in the article doesn't sound like that's the case. The driver not only crossed the opposing lane of traffic and struck someone, they continued off the shoulder (on the wrong side of the road) and hit a tree.
If alcohol truly wasn't a factor, this sounds like someone who either fell asleep at the wheel or has a medical condition (diabetes, epilepsy, etc.) which caused the loss of control.

A more likely scenario for a sober but distracted motorist (IMHO) would be that he drifted right, dropped his wheels off the pavement, over-corrected and crossed into oncoming lanes and off the road.

Our societies caviler acceptance of reckless behavior allows such tragedies to continue. There is no longer any sense of shame for a collision while operating a motor vehicle.

A motor vehicle operating license is too easily obtained, and too hard to revoke. Every year in Texas you have to submit your car for inspection lest it be polluting outside of accepted limits, and to prove it is in safe operating condition. Would that the operators had to prove competence as often!

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