Improper Passing
Two people were injured Tuesday afternoon when a man driving a Ford Tempo tried to improperly pass another car by crossing double yellow lines. While attempting this maneuver, the driver of the Tempo lost control of his vehicle and hit an oncoming truck head-on. Both drivers of the vehicles involved in the accident were taken to the hospital.
Improper passing is a common form of negligent driving and one can see it almost every day on the roadways. Crossing double yellow lines to pass is just one of the methods invoked by impatient drivers in order to get ahead of traffic to attend to what must surely be matters of great importance. Another method of improper passing frequently observed is passing cars who are attempting to turn left by driving on the shoulder. Yet another method of improper passing is driving down a turn lane or shoulder in order to pass cars that are sitting in traffic.
All three of these methods constitute improper passing in violation of the rules of the road, all three methods constitute negligent driving in Tennessee, and all three methods can be the basis for a driver being found at fault for negligent or even reckless driving in a personal injury lawsuit. If the usage of one of these methods of improper passing causes an accident, the driver is likely to be held liable for the damages sustained by any parties injured as a result of the accident and may have to pay punitive damages if a jury finds that the conduct was sufficiently reckless.
If you don’t own a helicopter you probably aren’t too important to sit in traffic, wait on someone to turn, or follow another car until it is proper to pass. Also, the use of any of the driving methods described above is likely to earn the offending driver a traffic stop and citation if a policeman spots the conduct, which will slow down travel considerably. Avoid improper passing in order to avoid accidents, citations, and lawsuits.
