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Driving Suggestion of the Week
Posted by: Jeff Larson on April 6, 2007 at 11:04AM EST


You can’t yield into a crash.

When you’re driving, if you have any question about right of way or who should go first, give it away. Let them go first.

You may have the legal right, that other driver may be completely wrong, but why risk the possibility that you could end up hurt, dead, or with a damaged vehicle. I’m not arguing the legal question of who has the legal right of way; it’s an issue of defensive driving and safety, not to mention general politeness.

There are a lot of situations where it’s not 100% clear who has the right of way. That other driver may be unfamiliar with the area and may not know the roads. They may be distracted for some other reason, right or wrong. There are a lot of circumstances that might affect another driver’s ability to recognize who has the legal right of way. So instead of making it an issue of principle, or some big legal issue, give that other driver the benefit of the doubt.

Let them go first, be safe, lower your stress, and do something nice.



(5) Comments
Posted by: JFH on April 6, 2007 11:59AM EST
Hrm... While yielding the right-of-way is sometimes appropriate, it can also be dangerous when it creates an unexpected situation for other cars on the roadway. For example, I've seen several close calls happen when someone in a rotary inexplicably decides to stop to allow a waiting car to enter the rotary. While this may be considerate, it's also hazardous as the other drivers in the rotary aren't expecting a car to simply stop.

Accidents are often caused by one driver doing something unexpected. Yielding in situations where you clearly have the right-of-way creates this kind of hazard.

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to driving, but the advice of "let them go first" isn't always the best policy. Never drive yourself into an accident, but driving with an eye towards not creating surprises for other drivers on the roadway is generally the best policy.

Posted by: Jeff Larson on April 6, 2007 12:22PM EST
JFH is correct in his comments.

I'm not advocating that people should throw out the “rules of the road” for the sake of being polite. If you have the right of way, you should exercise that right, with caution. Other drivers expect that you are going to drive according to the understood rules.

My initial comment was targeted at those occasional instances when there is a question about right of way, or you are dealing with an aggressive driver who either through rudeness or ignorance appear intent on ignoring the rules of the road. In those circumstances I believe that it’s better to be chose caution over aggression.

I do not advocate yielding simply for the sake of politeness. That, as JFH points out, is dangerous as well.

Posted by: JFH on April 6, 2007 12:45PM EST
Agreed. Getting into a "right-of-way war" in an ambiguous situation is dangerous and is just going to slow you and everyone else down.

BTW, thanks much for doing this blog. As a self-professed "road geek," there's nothing I like more than getting daily musings about traffic patterns and road conditions in Boston. Keep up the great work!

Posted by: Patricia Rice on April 6, 2007 6:06PM EST
My dad gave us this advice about the issue;the head stone at the graveyard says......
Here lies Mr. Gray
He had the right of way

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