Probably so???? Of course she was wrong to stop in the middle of the road, it's a highway. That's beyond stupid and my guess it's illegal. What if it were dark? What if she was just over the hill? What if she was on a curve? Lot's of unknowns but she certainly is also at fault along with the motorcycle driver no matter any of the other possible conditions that might apply.

 

Here's where we are with drivers today, we feel perfectly at ease driving 80mph down a highway, 25 feet off of someone's bumper. And 99.9% of the time we get by without any incident, either because there isn't one, or we happen to see traffic slowing up ahead before the vehicle in front of us starts to slow. Does it make it right? Heck no. And if something does happen, it becomes a "she stopped suddenly in front of me!" scenario, where the buck is passed. Everybody thinks they're a better driver than everyone else, and that nothing bad can happen to them. So, they push the limits. This guy simply pushed too far. Add in the fact that he's on a motorcycle, AND carrying a passenger...and I would dare say he was borderline stupid. Sorry to say that when someone lost their life, but that's the way I see it.

You still cannot park on a highway in the speed lane and not expect to be held accountable for whatever happens. Not saying the driver wasn't at fault, he was. But she was also, and she wasn't borderline stupid, she was all in stupid.

First, I've always maintained that animals in a median or on a roadway are nature's way of eliminating the dumber of the species. If you are dumb enough to trot your ducklings across the highway, you can expect that gene to fade out of the "survival of the fittest" placard.

Second, I've always taught my sons, slow down, stay in your lane. No matter what the animal. Never swerve. Maintain control, try to avoid but never put yourself or others in harms way over an animal. Mow em if you must, we can replace the car.

Here's where we are with drivers today, we feel perfectly at ease driving 80mph down a highway, 25 feet off of someone's bumper. And 99.9% of the time we get by without any incident, either because there isn't one, or we happen to see traffic slowing up ahead before the vehicle in front of us starts to slow. Does it make it right? Heck no. And if something does happen, it becomes a "she stopped suddenly in front of me!" scenario, where the buck is passed. Everybody thinks they're a better driver than everyone else, and that nothing bad can happen to them. So, they push the limits. This guy simply pushed too far. Add in the fact that he's on a motorcycle, AND carrying a passenger...and I would dare say he was borderline stupid. Sorry to say that when someone lost their life, but that's the way I see it.

 

25 feet? Heck, the next time I see someone giving the car in front of them 25 feet, they ought to receive a medal. I say that tongue in cheek, but seriously I see multiple drivers every day going down the road, many times at highway speeds with less than 25 feet separating the car in front of them. Huge pet peeve of mine. Some people are completely lost to the fact that if someone stopped suddenly in front of them at those speeds with that short a distance separating the two cars...there will be a crash, and it's as sure as death and taxes.

 

Without knowing the rest of the story/circumstances, the man on the motorcycle was definitely guilty of at least going too fast and should have been exhibiting more caution, especially with a 16 yo passenger in tow.

First, I've always maintained that animals in a median or on a roadway are nature's way of eliminating the dumber of the species. If you are dumb enough to trot your ducklings across the highway, you can expect that gene to fade out of the "survival of the fittest" placard.

Second, I've always taught my sons, slow down, stay in your lane. No matter what the animal. Never swerve. Maintain control, try to avoid but never put yourself or others in harms way over an animal. Mow em if you must, we can replace the car.

 

I am an animal lover, and I have stopped to help an animal. But I would not stop at the risk of putting drivers in peril. So, I agree with most of your post. However, even in my old neighborhood, with a 25 mph speed limit, people would barrel on 20 mph over the speed limit, at least, with no consideration of slowing down for ANYTHING. As far as I am concerned, as cold as it sounds, I throw them into the "survival of the fittest" category as well. Speed kills!!

I am an animal lover, and I have stopped to help an animal. But I would not stop at the risk of putting drivers in peril. So, I agree with most of your post. However, even in my old neighborhood, with a 25 mph speed limit, people would barrel on 20 mph over the speed limit, at least, with no consideration of slowing down for ANYTHING. As far as I am concerned, as cold as it sounds, I throw them into the "survival of the fittest" category as well. Speed kills!!

I think we totally agree. I'm talking major thoroughfares. I-75, a deer gets it if he/she isn't able to move before I come to a stop or at the least slow down. I think it's also paramount to teach young drivers to use their mirrors and always monitor the cars around them, mostly behind them.

First, I've always maintained that animals in a median or on a roadway are nature's way of eliminating the dumber of the species. If you are dumb enough to trot your ducklings across the highway, you can expect that gene to fade out of the "survival of the fittest" placard.

Second, I've always taught my sons, slow down, stay in your lane. No matter what the animal. Never swerve. Maintain control, try to avoid but never put yourself or others in harms way over an animal. Mow em if you must, we can replace the car.

Exactly what I have told my wife and son over and over. A girl I went to school with almost killed herself TWICE swerving to miss the same dog in the span of a year. Totals two cars and almost died swerving to miss the SAME dog at the same spot in the same curve.

Exactly what I have told my wife and son over and over. A girl I went to school with almost killed herself TWICE swerving to miss the same dog in the span of a year. Totals two cars and almost died swerving to miss the SAME dog at the same spot in the same curve.

 

She should have slowed down after the first car she totaled. Of course that is easy to say because I don't know her BUT...people are inattentive, distracted, drive too fast, are discourteous, competitive and I would venture to say many of the animals and people killed by cars could be completely avoided by erring to the cautious. An animal running into a car is unavoidable. An animal in the middle of the road in a 25MPH zone is completely avoidable. A car turning in front of you is sometimes avoidable if one is erring to the cautious. Go around a blind curve - be ready for the unexpected.

I stopped in the road on HWY 145 at Patoka Lake a few weeks ago because about 30 fowl were crossing the road. I was concerned about other drivers not seeing I was stopped so I put on my flashing lights. The guy coming the other way did the same.

She should have slowed down after the first car she totaled. Of course that is easy to say because I don't know her BUT...people are inattentive, distracted, drive too fast, are discourteous, competitive and I would venture to say many of the animals and people killed by cars could be completely avoided by erring to the cautious. An animal running into a car is unavoidable. An animal in the middle of the road in a 25MPH zone is completely avoidable. A car turning in front of you is sometimes avoidable if one is erring to the cautious. Go around a blind curve - be ready for the unexpected.

It was during high school, she wasn't going very fast I don't think either time. Just swerving to miss the dog while going through a curve I think is what got her.

 

Never Swerve Kids, when an animal is in the road. Slow down but NEVER SWERVE!!!