Drivers fire back at injured bicyclist: Roadshow
His story of getting hit by distracted driver 'doesn't ring true,' they say.
Q: The complaint by bicyclist Zelek Herman about drivers looking at cellphones at intersections is absurd and a load of BS.
Kathy Furtado, Hollister
A: Whoa. A little background. Herman was badly injured a few years ago by a driver who was on her cellphone at a red light, darted out when it turned green and hit Herman, who had not cleared the intersection. He believes the current law that prevents drivers from using their cellphones while at red lights is important and wonders if the driver could have prevented the accident by paying more attention.
His comments ticked off a lot of drivers.
Q: Traffic lights are timed so there is a slight delay when one direction turns green while the other is still red. He apparently entered a busy intersection on a red light. Otherwise, the driver would not have hit him, darting out on her green light.
She can dart if she wants. She had the green light. He needs to be more careful, as car versus bike rider never ends well for the bike rider.
Kathy Furtado
A: His light was green when he entered the intersection and turned yellow after he passed the median. It turned red in his direction when he was approximately two-thirds of the way across the intersection.
Now on to angry driver No. 2.
Q: Am I being persnickety by pointing out that the bicyclist also committed a wrong? Many bicyclists don’t seem to appreciate that they must follow the same rules as drivers. No vehicle, bicycle, or even pedestrian should enter an intersection that they cannot cross completely before the light changes to red.
Ana Maria Schnier, Walnut Creek
A: Anyone can enter an intersection if they believe they can clear it before their light turns red without getting stranded in the intersection. Now to angry driver No. 3.
Q: The response by Zelek did not ring true. His story of cycling across a large intersection states he had a green light in his direction. While I agree that the lady on the cellphone should not have been, I believe Mr. Herman tried to beat the light and zip across.
Mary Sullivan, Sunnyvale
A: The purpose of the cellphone law is to reduce distractions, and make driving safer for everyone by keeping drivers focused on traffic, not their cellphone screen.
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