He pulled out to pass a line of cars where he could not see oncoming traffic. Car One broke the law by crossing a solid center line. He thought it was safe to pass because he didn't see anything coming.

Whenever there is a hill or curve ahead, you have to assume there is another car just beyond it, a car that will come into view just as soon as you start to pass. In other words, you have to treat a curve or a hill just like an oncoming car.

Another mistake was trying to pass a long line of cars all at once. The more cars you try to pass, the more time it takes; and the more time it takes, the longer you have to stay on the wrong side of the road.

The driver of Car Two helped cause the accident. He could see what was happening and had plenty of time to make room for Car One. But he was annoyed, he wanted the driver of Car One to "pay" for making an unsafe pass -- and he ended up paying too.

The driver of Car Three might have prevented the accident. If he had been coming over the crest of the hill more slowly, there would have been more time for Car One to get back into line. He could also have driven onto the shoulder of the road when he saw that Car One was still in his lane.

Of course, the driver of Car Three didn't know that Car One was not in his own lane. Which is, of course, the point. You never know what is just over the crest of the hill or just around the bend in the road. There could be:

	A stalled car.
	An accident.
	A tractor or other slow moving vehicle.
	A child playing in the road or on a bicycle.

When coming over the crest of a hill, slow down and keep well to the right, there might be something in the way.

The driver of the camper could have prevented the whole problem in the first place. When he saw cars stacking up behind him, he should have pulled off the road in a safe place and let them pass. Although he had a right to use the road, he did not have the right to block the flow of traffic.

Impatient drivers often do dangerous things.

Rule Number 1:  Don't pull out to pass unless you have a clear view ahead. Assume that there might be a car just over the top of any hill, or just around the curve of any bend.

Rule Number 2:  Don't try to pass a long line of cars. Wait until traffic is moving freely again, then you can pass them one at a time.

Rule Number 3:  If another driver is in a tight spot, do what you can to help him or her out of it. You may also be helping yourself.

Rule Number 4:  Whenever you approach a point where your view ahead is restricted, slow down. Be ready to react quickly if something is in your path.