Wright of Way?

Saturday December’s 30th, twenty seventeen

Since cavemen met on paths, rules have been in place to avoid ‘head on’ collisions. Perhaps the first few times they actually collided, a club might be used to correct things. A couple of corrections and the right of way by consensus if not concussion, was achieved. In North America that means keeping to the right or starboard, Therefore if your lane on the right is clear you can go, if the opposing lane is blocked or partly blocked you wait.

I was going into town today and at the end of Hard bargain Road a car was parked on the roadside in the opposing lane partially blocking that lane. Another vehicle was coming up the opposing lane. I was closer to the parked car and I have the right of way. I should say I had the right of way until she took it. She didn’t slow down and looked at me like I was the bad driver. Very clearly my lane was clear and the right of way was clearly mine as well.

I’m sure that it is written somewhere in the Highway Traffic Act that I had the right of way. However, there is likely a rule in the HTA that is equivalent to the Collision Reg’s (Sea Captain shit) Rule 2 part (b) that says;

(b) In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.

Obviously, this driver was simply taking my right of way as hers. You know who you are, I have no freakin’ clue.  Words like etiquette, courtesy, patience, compassion and law abiding would never show up on your scrabble board (if you had the capacity to play). She was probably in a hurry as she had been busy recently stealing Christmas and was behind schedule. Being a sailor and a budding sea captain I always expect the unexpected and have escape routes and alternative options in place.

She is lucky that my decision to stop and avoid the collision she was about to cause didn’t lead to me spilling my drink.

 

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