Polk County Crashes

A recent letter to the editors of the Polk County Itemizer-Observer reads as follows:

"This is in regard to the recent string of fatal accidents involving bike riders on our roadways. Considering the amount of curvy roads, tourists, trucks and just people in a big hurry and lack of shoulders, these roads are not safe for bike riders -- bright clothing or not."

"Most bike riders feel they have the right of way. Well, that doesn't stop a car or truck that can't see them on a blind corner from hitting them.

"Use your head when riding on these roads or don't ride in an area where there is no bike lane at all.

"I can't tell you how many times I've come around a blind corner in my log truck and almost had a head-on collision with a car to avoid hitting a bike rider. Which would you choose? Bike or a whole family in a car? Please think about that."

Following is the response that I have sent to the Itemizer-Observer editors:

A recent letter to the editor warning bicyclists to avoid riding on narrow, curvy roads should raise red flags among other road users. The letter writer indicates that he frequently rounds corners in his log truck and almost collides head on with other motor vehicles while swerving to miss bicycles.

Under Oregon law, bicycles are vehicles and have as much right to travel on our roads as any other vehicles. Drivers are legally required to leave a safe distance between their vehicle and any other vehicle that they are overtaking and passing, including a bicycle. Oregon further defines that safe passing distance for a motor vehicle traveling faster than 35 mph and overtaking a bicycle as “a distance that is sufficient to prevent contact with the person operating the bicycle if the person were to fall into the drivers lane of traffic.” If the immediate circumstances prevent an overtaking motorist from passing with a safe distance, then the motorist is legally obligated to slow down and follow the overtaken vehicle until it is save to pass.

Under the basic rule, regardless of the posted speed limit, the maximum speed at which a vehicle may be driven is limited to a speed that is reasonable and prudent given a variety of factors including other traffic, road surface and width, weather, and visibility. That essentially means that a motor vehicle is out of control if the driver cannot stop it within the distance the driver can see.

The driver who was responsible for one of the recent cyclist deaths has been cited for unsafe passing of a bicyclist and violation of the basic rule. The other two Polk County crashes in which cyclists died are still under investigation.

By his characterization of his own driving behavior, the letter writer admits that he regularly drives his log truck in a manner that is out of control and dangerous not only to bicyclists, but to every other person who must share the road with him. Hopefully, his admissions regarding his driving behavior will prompt a visit or monitoring by the sheriff’s office.

Thankfully, the vast majority of road users are cautious and conscientious when operating their vehicles. However, it is important for all of us to keep in mind the fact that we can never know what will be around the corner when we are using our public roads. It could be a stalled vehicle, farm equipment, livestock, somebody’s pet, a child, or a bicyclist. The few seconds we potentially save by driving too fast and failing to maintain control of our vehicles are not worth the tragic consequences that can, and unfortunately have, come as a result.