A Viewer Writes: A message to the hornblower(s) behind me
Please familiarize yourself with the "boulevard rule" in effect in Maryland. Simply put, it is a license to kill. If YOU violate another driver's right-of-way by as much as one inch YOU are liable for ANY incident. It does not matter if the other driver is speeding, drunk, stoned, no license or insurance, turn signals flashing, or just looking for a whiplash retirement, YOU will be charged with a right-of-way violation and YOU will pay.. The "Road Rage" of blowing your horn does not impress me, so be advised that I will NOT enter the intersection until it is completely 100% safe to do so. Do yourself a favor and cultivate caution and patience.
I have observed many court cases where this rule came into play and seen many reasonable drivers pay the penalty. The driver on the prevailing street can do no wrong so you had better be absolutely positive when you pull out into traffic. It's a dumb law but it's still the law.
Lost a load of money in a lawsuit because of this law the opposing legal counsel twisted the whole accident to their advantage and our insurer ended up paying out the policy limits. This was after accident reconstruction proved the individual that hit me was traveling at more than twice the posted speed limit and was charged with the collision. The whole case all boiled down to MONEY and they got a load.
I have observed many such cases myself and while some applications of the Blvd Rule can be ridiculous, those are usually the old cases. To be the favored driver today one has to be proceeding in a "lawful manner"--no excessive speed, going in the proper lane direction, etc.
Actually if one enters the intersection on the amber light and that driver has a right to do so. The amber light driver has the right to clear the intersection even if the light turns red while in the intersection. opposing drivers must wait until the intersection is clear before proceeding or to say it another way before becoming again the favored driver with the right of way.
We have an abundance of "Horn Blowers" around Salisbury. Its rude and generally ineffective. Besides, where could you possibly be going in such a hurry in Salisbury?
There was once a law that the only time a horn was to be used was in an emergency. Look at NYC and listen to all the hornblowers up there, what do they accomplish other than a lot of noise pollution. I've never seen an incident where a horn actually moved traffic along.
We also have an abundance of people that can't seem to understand the laws of physics or to observe and judge oncoming speed or distance. I rarely blow my horn, but I have sat behind innumerable ya-yos who can't seem to make a left turn if there is an oncoming vehicle in sight.
dude, It's called an Accelerator, use it. If you are paralyzed by fear or can't seem to manage the courage to actually drive the car, stay home or get a driver.
"dude, It's called an Accelerator, use it. If you are paralyzed by fear or can't seem to manage the courage to actually drive the car, stay home or get a driver."
Dude, they're called patience and courtesy - practice them. If you're in such a big damn hurry, why don't you leave a little earlier. I get sick of the self-important morons who are in a big rush to go nowhere. Relax a little bit - more than likely, you're nobody and your presence isn't critical anywhere.
I have observed many court cases where this rule came into play and seen many reasonable drivers pay the penalty. The driver on the prevailing street can do no wrong so you had better be absolutely positive when you pull out into traffic. It's a dumb law but it's still the law.
ReplyDeleteLost a load of money in a lawsuit because of this law the opposing legal counsel twisted the whole accident to their advantage and our insurer ended up paying out the policy limits. This was after accident reconstruction proved the individual that hit me was traveling at more than twice the posted speed limit and was charged with the collision. The whole case all boiled down to MONEY and they got a load.
ReplyDeleteI have observed many such cases myself and while some applications of the Blvd Rule can be ridiculous, those are usually the old cases. To be the favored driver today one has to be proceeding in a "lawful manner"--no excessive speed, going in the proper lane direction, etc.
ReplyDeleteActually if one enters the intersection on the amber light and that driver has a right to do so. The amber light driver has the right to clear the intersection even if the light turns red while in the intersection. opposing drivers must wait until the intersection is clear before proceeding or to say it another way before becoming again the favored driver with the right of way.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you do not know how to drive. Study what a merge lane is.
ReplyDeleteWe have an abundance of "Horn Blowers" around Salisbury. Its rude and generally ineffective. Besides, where could you possibly be going in such a hurry in Salisbury?
ReplyDeleteThere was once a law that the only time a horn was to be used was in an emergency. Look at NYC and listen to all the hornblowers up there, what do they accomplish other than a lot of noise pollution. I've never seen an incident where a horn actually moved traffic along.
ReplyDeleteWe also have an abundance of people that can't seem to understand the laws of physics or to observe and judge oncoming speed or distance. I rarely blow my horn, but I have sat behind innumerable ya-yos who can't seem to make a left turn if there is an oncoming vehicle in sight.
ReplyDeletedude, It's called an Accelerator, use it. If you are paralyzed by fear or can't seem to manage the courage to actually drive the car, stay home or get a driver.
People would not blow their horns if you didn't drive like an Amish horse and buggy.
ReplyDelete9:17 Amen to that.
ReplyDelete"dude, It's called an Accelerator, use it. If you are paralyzed by fear or can't seem to manage the courage to actually drive the car, stay home or get a driver."
ReplyDeleteDude, they're called patience and courtesy - practice them. If you're in such a big damn hurry, why don't you leave a little earlier. I get sick of the self-important morons who are in a big rush to go nowhere. Relax a little bit - more than likely, you're nobody and your presence isn't critical anywhere.
Remember, an Amish Horse & Buggy may have the right of way same as any automobile, pedestrian or motorcycle...
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, we we not ALL born to be a race-track driver... Some of us do not get our "high" driving that way..
ReplyDelete