Two Perspectives on Recent Moped Accident

[XLFD]

A moped-car accident recently happened outside the entrance to Wildwood Crossings (on US 10 south of the Lowes plaza area) that warrants a look at from the BUMPS team.  The problem behind this accident was that it was reported on at Mason County Press with certain underlying facts that were gleaned from the county sheriff's investigating team.  But an eyewitness to the accident, who allegedly was stuck behind the scene for awhile, has an entirely different take to it. 

Either perspective is instructive in avoiding such accidents in the future, but based on the data available, I believe the eyewitness' account is what happened.   First, we look at the MCP article and find this written: 

"AMBER TOWNSHIP — A 52-year-old Scottville man was injured Thursday evening (June 25, 2015) when the moped he was riding was rear-ended by another vehicle on U.S. 10 near Wildwood Crossings. According to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole, the moped was slowing to make a turn into a driveway when it was struck by a car driven by a 19-year-old Holland man. The moped operator was treated for non life-threatening injuries. The other driver was cited for driving while license suspended, first offense. Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Life EMS ambulance and Pere Marquette Township Fire Department responded to the scene."

If we presume the moped was rear-ended after slowing down and signaling the intent to turn, the driver of the vehicle should be getting further ticketed for failure to pass properly or other right-of-way violation.  Getting cited only because he currently has his license suspended infers that the police do not care that a potentially fatal moped crash could have happened due to the driver's neglect to operate his vehicle properly within the law.

To avoid such accidents, vehicle drivers should always give wide range for mopeds and motorcycles on the highway in front of them and pay attention to the two-wheel driver's turn signals and arm gestures (which can also be used for signaling a turn or stop).  A moped/motorcycle driver really has little other choice than to put their trust in the people behind them to pay attention. 

Citizen Devon Austin reports that the car was in front of the moped and stopped without signaling just before turning into the apartment complex, and describes how the back of the car was being damaged from the impact.  Sheriff Cole's account in the MCP looks to be in error if this were the case, and other facts in that report seem to support the error. 

The older moped rider suffered minor injuries which would be consistent with an impact that would have left him on the back of the other vehicle rather than on the ground (or going over the car's top) if he was in front of a moving vehicle.  The car and moped damage photos would clearly explain which version is correct, but I will trust that Devon has no reason to lie about the inconvenience.

In this case, the driver of the car showed utter negligence in making such a quick stop in front of a moped that they probably passed not too long before the stop to turn.  This has happened frequently to me as a bicyclist when a car passes in front of me just to suddenly stop and make a right turn into a driveway/road scant yards ahead of me, making me have to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting them and seriously getting injured myself. 

This common courtesy to the vulnerable users of the road which BUMPS comprises, is not generally taught in driving class, but should be.  Few motorists would even think of slowing and turning in front of another motorist just after passing them, why does their common sense leave the roadway when they do so in front of a two-wheeler?   Yet, in spite of all the minutia in the Michigan Vehicle Code, there is no specific law that claims such potentially deadly maneuvers warrant even a civil infraction.   

It apparently is much needed so that motorists who cause accidents like this can be cited for their reckless behavior and made aware that they should never do it again.