No protection against this

[Constant Mesh]

https://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...00413/1001/NEWS

"Mr. Alderman was traveling on Old Hillsboro Road with another motorcyclist, said Laura McPherson, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol. A Nissan Maxima, traveling in the opposite direction and driven by a 16-year-old, went off the road, overcorrected and crossed over to Mr. Alderman's lane, striking him, she said. Mr. Alderman died on the scene, McPherson said. Charges against the minor may be pending, she said."

 

[FZ/FJR Mike]

Very true & very sad. :angry2:

 

[Makuna]

Charges MAYBE pending?! Sounds like at least a clear case of reckless driving to me. Whats with all the accidents where the car driver isn't being given a citation?

 

[JRO]

The guy was an attorney?

1 down - 6 million to go.

 

[wfooshee]

I can't see an assumption of reckless driving at all. No mention of speed is represented, nor any reason for the kid going off the road. Maybe he/she was looking down at the radio, maybe he/she was on the phone or even texting, maybe he/she was staring at his/her date's body parts, maybe he/she was falling down drunk. We don't have that information, and from what is stated, all we can see is that some form of carelessness led to running off the side of the road, then lack of training or experience led to violent overcorrection.

Unfortunate, but not reckless.

I went through a similar experience about 15 years ago when my boss at the time lost his father on a Gold Wing in an identical accident, a driver overcorrected off the roadside and crossed the center line. I have no idea what became of that accident, but I'm sure it wasn't enough for my boss and his family.

We don't need to get a vigilante mindset when accidents occur, because they do occur, and sometimes they are just simple accidents. This wasn't a right-of-way violation, no running a light, no left turn in front of, no backing out of a driveway. Car vs. bike is never gonna work out in bike's favor, though. I agree that many incidents seems to let the at-fault driver off easy, but this was nothing like that from the information we can see.

 

[El Toro]

Unfortunate, but not reckless.

Unless there were a mechanical failure of something on the vehicle, going off the road and then overcorrecting into the oncoming lane would appear to me to be wreckless, whether from texting, drinking, getting a hummer, or whatever. I guess there's no need to argue semantics.

The old woman who keeps making light of the deaths "Ms. one down 6 Million more to go" sure does make the whole discussion more valuable for all. Thanks for that. If the content of her posts were rated by a disinterested third party, they'd still be disinterested.

This encroachment into the motorcycle's lane is reported every year, and I don't know what you can do about it. I ride these roads in Tennessee quite a bit, and there are always trucks and cars wanting to take their half out of the middle.

 

[wfooshee]

My point was that it would be considered careless, not reckless, by the law. Reckless means wanton disregard for the rules of the road and the safety of others on it. Looking away for a minute and losing the road is careless, Passing on a double-yellow and forcing people out of your way is reckless. It's more than semantics, as I was addressing what I interpreted in a previous post to be a bit of a vigilante mood, about how could there possibly be no charges, it was obviously recklessness.

It was not, although it was probably careless.

Of course there is always the difference in how these semantics are treated from state to state.

I do agree that the "countdown" post was less than appropriate.

 

[dsmack]

In WA State, it would be Negligent Driving in the 2nd Degree if no alcohol/drugs involved (RCW 46.61.525), a traffic infraction.

If drugs/alcohol involved, moves up to Neg Driving in the 1st Degree, a misdemeanor. If it occured in a Construction Zone, fines double and it becomes a Gross Misdemeanor... the penalty for which may NOT be waived, reduced or suspended. (RCW 46.61.527.4).

Reckless requires "Willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Enhanced penalties for actions while under the influence and for vehicular homicide and assault...

Now, if we could just get the Courts to prosecute to the full extent of the law...

Ride Safe!

Don

 

[gr8eyes]

Very sad. Yet another avoidable situation.

Sad for her as well, as she'll now live with it the rest of her life.