4 ms·

You're saying that the immigrant driver passed on the shoulder?

btilly 15y ago
No, in Canada, like the USA, they drive on the right and the steering wheel is on the left. So the immigrant cut into oncoming traffic to pass on the left. The immigrant had to zoom to make it in the gap between oncoming cars, and left far less room for all parts of the maneuver than a Canadian would have been comfortable with. The Canadian driver freaked, veered right to get away from the crash, and hit the car beside him.
- nate_meurer 15y ago
  Got it. Yikes. Funny thing, my heart rate rose just a bit when I finally comprehended this. Just the thought of a car approaching head-on.
  - btilly 15y ago
    You still don't quite get it. It wasn't the car that was being approached head on that got in the collision. That car was in a situation to see the whole thing coming and just put the brakes on. It was driver who out of the blue realized that there was a car less than 6 inches away, going at least 20 mph faster, who needs to be where they are now or else they'll be in a headfirst collision. That driver's attention is focused on escaping from that threat, leading to a panicked swerve into the next car over.
    - nate_meurer 15y ago
      No, I had it right. I've actually been in that situation -- a car trying to pass me across a double line into oncoming traffic -- and IIRC my reaction was to brake hard. Not necessarily a better reaction.
      - btilly 15y ago
        Ah, the "car approaching head-on" is the perspective of the immigrant. Yup. That's the scenario exactly. And yes, braking hard is a better reaction. It makes life easier for the passer. The passing car probably came from behind you, and so there is likely a space. If there isn't, the car behind can see the whole scenario unfolding and has the opportunity to react. So all over it is much safer than swerving. The only case it won't help is if the passing car is swerving, gets hit, and spins out. But in that case there is probably nothing you could do to avoid an accident.
        InclinedPlane 15y ago
        There's not necessarily a car approaching head on at all. It's about someone passing more aggressively than expected (keeping much closer to the passed car than is normal in western countries, for example) causing the passed car to freak out and swerve away, into another car. All the cars involved are going in the same direction.

No, in Canada, like the USA, they drive on the right and the steering wheel is on the left. So the immigrant cut into oncoming traffic to pass on the left. The immigrant had to zoom to make it in the gap between oncoming cars, and left far less room for all parts of the maneuver than a Canadian would have been comfortable with. The Canadian driver freaked, veered right to get away from the crash, and hit the car beside him.

nate_meurer 15y ago
Got it. Yikes. Funny thing, my heart rate rose just a bit when I finally comprehended this. Just the thought of a car approaching head-on.
- btilly 15y ago
  You still don't quite get it. It wasn't the car that was being approached head on that got in the collision. That car was in a situation to see the whole thing coming and just put the brakes on. It was driver who out of the blue realized that there was a car less than 6 inches away, going at least 20 mph faster, who needs to be where they are now or else they'll be in a headfirst collision. That driver's attention is focused on escaping from that threat, leading to a panicked swerve into the next car over.
  - nate_meurer 15y ago
    No, I had it right. I've actually been in that situation -- a car trying to pass me across a double line into oncoming traffic -- and IIRC my reaction was to brake hard. Not necessarily a better reaction.
    - btilly 15y ago
      Ah, the "car approaching head-on" is the perspective of the immigrant. Yup. That's the scenario exactly. And yes, braking hard is a better reaction. It makes life easier for the passer. The passing car probably came from behind you, and so there is likely a space. If there isn't, the car behind can see the whole scenario unfolding and has the opportunity to react. So all over it is much safer than swerving. The only case it won't help is if the passing car is swerving, gets hit, and spins out. But in that case there is probably nothing you could do to avoid an accident.
      - InclinedPlane 15y ago
        There's not necessarily a car approaching head on at all. It's about someone passing more aggressively than expected (keeping much closer to the passed car than is normal in western countries, for example) causing the passed car to freak out and swerve away, into another car. All the cars involved are going in the same direction.