Who has the right of way?

During a Patriot Guard Riders' mission on March 23, 2011, my driver and I were on one of 19 motorcycles escorting a Fallen Soldier. The procession was led by Sheriff's Deputies. Half of the escort was ahead of the hearse and a car with family members. The other half of the escort was behind the hearse and car. My driver and I were positioned behind the hearse and car. We were on US-321 between Charlotte and Hickory. We approached an on-ramp. A white SUV apparently saw the procession, slowed, and stopped on the shoulder of the on-ramp. (Very respectful!)

A driver in a silver sedan should have been able to see the Sheriff's vehicle and the hearse, but she did not slow down. She probably did not notice the flag-draped coffin in the hearse, which we could clearly see from our position behind the car.

As she approached the SUV on the shoulder, she merged into the procession behind the car with family members. You can see my driver hand signaling that she was encroaching. She comes about 1 foot from striking our highway pegs (the widest part of our bike). If my driver had not slowed down, he feels certain she would have intentionally struck us. My driver gave a long horn blast and we saw her smile (not visible in the video). I think she shot the finger at us, but we kept our cool. She could have moved in the left lane and either pass us (we were doing 5-10mph under the speed limit) or let us pass. Instead, she stayed behind the hearse and car for about 5 miles or so.

Who had the right-of-way?

Regardless of the law enforcement escort, traffic on the on-ramp must yield to traffic on the highway. (Isn't that the law in North Carolina?)

The driver in the SUV, as well as many others on other on-ramps during our escort, showed respect and stopped on the on-ramps, as well as obey the traffic law. BUT, there's always one out there who appears to put himself/herself ahead of others and fails to show respect.

(When we are not in an escorted procession, we always show etiquette and allow on-ramp vehicles to merge onto the highway unless it places us at risk of being rear-ended or causing a crash.)

Be careful out there! It doesn't matter if you drive a motorcycle, car, truck, 18-wheeler, bicycle or if you're a pedestrian. There are drivers out there who do not yield when they are required to do so or through simple courtesy.

If you think my driver is wrong, please let me know by posting a comment or sending me an email.

www.bikerdoggie.com
chewy@bikerdoggie.com
(You can also find Chewy (Biker Dog) on Facebook)

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Merging
• automobiles
• motorcycle
• high speed
• crash accident
• biking
• cruiser
• cars

[anagennao]

APB... late model silver pontiac grand am VVL-5109, driver... I will refrain my harsh but just description.

God bless the Patriot Guard!

[cybrbikr]

You on the highway have the right of way and thats the law in all 50 states. A nightstick against her window would have been appropriate... just saying... ;)

[outlawracer2229]

@weavhipe A simple golf ball dropped in front of their car does a wonderful job of getting there attention also. It bounces to windsheild height by the time they get to it. Works for tailgators too from what I've heard. Not that I would know anything about that sorta thing.......

[TheBusterRides]

Hopefully next time she does this it will be to a semi followed by a nice pit manouver! It's been caught on camera over here.Search"lorry pushing car along motorway" Glad you're ok keep up the good work.

[weavhipe]

i keep a bottle of water handy just for these morons.i will hum it at em and if they dont like it we can pull over and i can teach the rules of the road. this idiot shouldn t be the road at all . and in fact you have the right of way ,.

[ahoyset]

You had right of way. Same problem in Calif. drivers on ramp believe they have right of way also.

[iamtheleadmagnet]

she and people like her should be shot on site if that was not a reason to fear for your lifew wat is

[wayneparris911]

At 2:06, she looks to her left and should clearly see that you are in the lane. Could have been a lot worse! Glad you saw this dimwit!!

[Dremwolf]

This is one reason why I appreciate the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office here in Florida escorting our Fallen HEROES, they shutdown the entire interstate. No one getting on and no one coming up from behind and passing other than the Motor Officers doing their leapfrog thing.

Good to see that this maroon did not cause anything more than a racing heartbeat and some "tude".

Ride safely,

Drem

[SuckLead]

I am so glad you are both OK. And believe me... karma's a bitch. She'll get hers. Someone will push her over on the road someday.