A white sport car was going uphill slowly in a long line of cars that had stacked up behind a slow moving black truck.
The driver of the white sport car was running late, so he pulled out to pass.
Case 2. Problem, part II
He had almost cleared the line of cars, when an oncoming car, the red pickup truck, came over the hill at a high rate of speed.
The driver of the white sport car tried to cut back into the line ahead of the blue minivan. The driver of the minivan would not let him in.
Case 2. Problem, part III
The driver of white sport car had nowhere to go, so he forced his way back into line.
The blue minivan was pushed off the road and both cars were badly damaged.
Who was at fault in this accident?
The driver of the white sport car
The driver of the blue minivan
The driver of the red pickup truck
The driver of the black truck
Case 2. Explanation
Answer: The Driver of the white sport car.
And here is why:
He pulled out to pass a line of cars where he could not see oncoming traffic. The white sport car 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, which may 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.
Case 2. Explanation, part II
The driver of the minivan helped cause the accident.
He could see what was happening and had plenty of time to make room for the white car.
But he was annoyed: he wanted the driver of white car to "pay" for making an unsafe pass — and he ended up paying too.
Case 2. Explanation, part III
Impatient drivers always do the wrong thing
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 the red pickup truck might have prevented that crash. If he had been coming over the crest of the hill more slowly, there would have been more time for white car to get back into line.
He could also have driven onto the shoulder of the road when he saw that the white car was still in his lane.
Case 2. Explanation, part IV
Of course, the driver of the red pickup truck didn't know that the white car 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 black truck 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.
Uphill Passing Rules
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.
Rule Number 5:
If you cannot keep pace with traffic, pull into the slow lane. If you are on a two-lane road, watch for cars behind you. If there are five or more, you must turn off wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists and let them pass.
