Hello Tipp City! Marc the Cop here,

Two things to know about me: I love breakfast and always observe traffic, even when I’m not driving. Last week, I made a trip to Portland, Oregon, to visit my daughter. She shared my love of the first meal of the day and took us to a Scandinavian restaurant, Broder Soder. While waiting at a multilane intersection, I observed a motorist (A) wave out another motorist (B) from an access drive. The good Samaritan, Motorist (A), was unaware of approaching traffic. When Motorist (B) crossed over, they almost got hit by approaching traffic!

This reminded me of the many crash reports we had taken over the years on West Main Street here in Tipp City when some good Samaritans wanted to be courteous and waved another out into traffic.

So many times during the crash investigation, I heard the driver say, “Some guy in a blue car waved me out; when I pulled out onto Main St, I got hit!”

While it is another motorist to try to help you when your visibility may be limited, you should know that it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure a turn can be made safely before proceeding. While it may not have been their intent, the polite motorist created a dangerous situation for everyone involved. Unfortunately, the driver who accepted the good deed is still at fault because they are responsible for ensuring a clear roadway.

Waiving other drivers onto a multi-lane roadway might seem courteous, but it can pose several significant dangers.

When one driver signals another to proceed, it often creates a false sense of security, potentially leading to hazardous situations. Here are some of the primary dangers associated with this practice.

1. Lack of Visibility and Awareness: The driver being waved on may not have a clear view of all lanes. The waving driver may have a clear line of sight, but they cannot see traffic from other lanes. For instance, if a driver tries to merge from a side road onto a multi-lane roadway and someone waves them on, they might not notice vehicles in adjacent lanes. This could lead to a collision if a car approaches a lane the merging driver cannot see.

2. Miscommunication: When a driver waves another driver onto the roadway, the intention might not always be clear. The waving driver may intend for the other driver to proceed in a specific direction or manner, but the receiving driver might interpret the signal differently. This can result in sudden or unexpected movements, leading to confusion and potential accidents. For example, a driver might be waved on to make a left turn but could misinterpret the signal and attempt to move straight ahead, causing a crash.

3. Disregard for Traffic Laws: Waiving another driver onto a roadway can inadvertently encourage them to violate traffic rules. For instance, if a driver is waiting at a stop sign to merge onto a busy road, they must wait until it is safe to proceed. If another driver waves them on, they might enter the roadway prematurely, assuming it is safe because someone signaled them to go. This can lead to accidents or even liability issues, as the waving driver might bear some responsibility for encouraging a traffic law violation.

4. Creating Unexpected Stops or Delays: When a driver waves another onto a multi-lane road, they might slow down or stop to allow the other vehicle to merge. This unexpected deceleration can confuse and potentially lead to rear-end collisions, especially if drivers behind are not anticipating a sudden stop or slow-down.

5. Over-reliance on Other Drivers: Drivers should always rely on their judgment and adhere to traffic signals and signs. Waiving another driver onto the road may cause them to overly trust the signaling driver rather than assessing the situation independently. This can lead to dangerous over-reliance on other drivers' decisions instead of making safe driving choices based on one's observations and knowledge of the road. In conclusion, while waiving other drivers onto a multi-lane roadway may seem helpful, it can introduce significant risks, including reduced visibility, miscommunication, potential traffic law violations, unexpected stops, and over-reliance on others. Drivers should exercise caution and prioritize road safety over gestures of courtesy that could lead to accidents.

That is all for this week! Please be safe, care for one another, and I'll see you in church on Sunday!

Sgt. Marc Basye (Ret.)

Do you have a suggestion for the Tipp of the Week? You can email me at Marcthecop@tippgazette.com!

The opinions and statements in this column are those of the author, who is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency. This column is for entertainment purposes only. Persons referred to may be fictional for comedic purposes only.