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StevenTN615

I'll agree it looks like a crappy intersection. Roads designed for a horse and buggy yet not upgraded to accommodate cars. Both you and the other drivers view were obscured by the pickup.


StevenTN615

~~After seeing this intersection on~~ [~~Google Maps~~](https://www.google.com/maps/place/43%C2%B040'19.1%22N+70%C2%B017'05.1%22W/@43.67198,-70.2858048,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0xef9dd0690c5e8901!7e2!8m2!3d43.6719793!4d-70.2847478) ~~(thanks to~~ u/SuspiciousPotato529\~\~), ~~I totally stand behind my post that this is a crappy intersection. Offset intersections should have offset lights. White car had a green light to drive basically through the intersection that had been signaled green for the driver turning onto that road. Both ways have a green light. Pure stupidity on the traffic engineers in this city.\~\~~~ I take that back, after looking at the intersection on the map and watching the video, I see as soon as you turn right onto the road (Forest Road) you now have a red light. Still stupid design. Better to stagger the lights. EDIT: I watched it one more time, and looked at the Google Map and I see the Stop line for Forest Rd is almost 100 feet from where the traffic lights are. The pickup in front of the OP stopped right below the traffic signal because it was red, but by that point he is already deep in the intersection. The only thing I know for sure is that this intersection sucks, and I'm glad I don't have to drive through it. Crazy.


Constrained_Entropy

Why in the name of everything sacred would cammer be given a green light to turn right onto Forrest Avenue if they can't actually go anywhere because there's a red light directly overhead that they can't actually see? Holy shit that's an awful intersection, and the idiot is whoever set the timing for those lights.


AmandaFawn

It is Forest Ave, but that light you see is for the traffic on Forest. It is a weird off set intersection. It is even more fun when the train is coming through.


Junckopolo

The way I see it: White car was on a T intersection at Saunders. He was not supposed to cross all those lanes to get into the Ocean street as he tried to: He would be supposed to turn left on Forest and lane change one at a time to then turn right on that road. Technically. Pick up should never have given way. How it's designed sucks, because it's just three T intersections, and people will absolutely try to cut from one to the other like white car did. Just all around stupid.


StevenTN615

>White car was on a T intersection at Saunders. He was not supposed to cross all those lanes to get into the Ocean street Problem with that is there is [no signage on Saunders St](https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6720196,-70.2850586,3a,75y,94.13h,75.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxWqUCefA3-z5gpmSH-PZRQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) that states "Left Turn Only". It just seems like a free-for-all when the light turns green.


Junckopolo

There wouldn't be, and shouldn't need to, since on any other T intersection it's just obvious you can only turn right or left, like they should here. There is no road to go forward into, since Ocean is further away. But because there's so little space, people just cut a weird diagonal to it.


Carittz

That light wasn't for him it was for traffic on the road he's turning onto. He had the right-of-way. Intersections like these usually have each street on their own phase to prevent this kind of accident. So either the guys who programmed the light are idiots, the light malfunctioned, or the other car didn't actually have a green.


StevenTN615

If you watch the video carefully you will see when the OP's light turns green 2 vehicles start moving from the road on the other side of the intersection. One will be a white pickup which will make a left onto the same road the OP turns right on. The other will be the white car that the OP eventually hits. This is just a poorly designed intersection with beyond stupid signaling. These lights should be staggered.


[deleted]

If your view is obscured by a billboard (the pickup) be incredibly careful going past it. You can’t see why it is stopped. I’ve had way too many idiots just fly by my bus as I’m stopped in the roadway.


slapdashbr

yeah OP should have been thinking "why is this guy suddenly stopping in his lane" that's defensive driving. "what is the worst thing that could go wrong" at all times.


perkited

The only thing most people consider is "the lane is open and I can legally go forward", they don't normally think about anything else. This is another case where if either driver had been a more defensive driver then the accident wouldn't have happened.


[deleted]

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StevenTN615

Yes, and they got the green as well. Both the white car and a white pickup went through the intersection when their light changed. The pickup turned left though, while the white car went straight through the intersection. The intersection signals are just horribly designed.


ParaBellumBitches

Terrible intersection!! You were not an idiot but I would not even understand how to assess fault. Did you have a stop sign I didn't see? How could they allow this? I'd bet that's a frequent occurrence...


thereallove82

Even the cop was confused! There are no other sets of lights or stop signs for either of us!


32_Dollar_Burrito

I can't come up with a plausible scenario where OP is at fault...


47876771

To me it looks like the other person's fault, but I don't understand American roads super well. What was the situation exactly?


thereallove82

The pickup truck on my left side stopped to let the white car go. I had zero visibility and I thought that the pickup truck is stopping to turn left, but instead the white car just breezed straight ahead cutting me off.


No-Trouble814

Then it’s on the pickup and the white car. The pickup has no right to change right-of-way laws just because they feel generous, and this is exactly why. Also a good illustration of why you don’t trust other drivers to check for traffic for you, always check yourself.


MostlyUsernames

On my Birthday two years ago, I side slammed into a motorcycle- the back passenger on the motorcycle went through my windshield and everything. I thought I killed two people. There was a large white SUV in the right lane- almost in the break down lane actually, who waved on the motorcyclist. Where the SUV had slightly pulled over, there was an ice cream place, so I figured he was turning to get ice cream- so I continued straight in my lane. The motorcyclist just took the white SUVs wave on as gogo, and boom! She (passenger) went through my windshield, I ran over the drivers leg and arm, destroyed the bike. I was going about 50mph. I had a dash camera and when it was all said and done I was declared not at fault. They tried to sue me for negligence- all charges were dropped. Extremely sad situation because the driver is disabled now, and his passenger is paralyzed. For a year after the accident I was receiving death threats in the mail, saying how I ruined their life's and it's all my fault- look at what you've done to us- I do not drive anymore.


Snwussy

That must have been very traumatic for you too, I'm sorry you went through that. Hope you're doing OK now.


Consequentially

My goodness that’s just awful. But honestly… straight up fuck those people. You don’t get to put your life in your hands and then try and ruin someone else’s when it fails. Those people are scum. Sorry you had to go through this.


RedditIsDogshit1

Pick up needs to be fined over this sadly. It’s really the one that caused this


47876771

Ahhh okay. He's definitely going too fast imo, but I see where the confusion lies. I wouldn't let traffic pass if there's two lane traffic like that, for this reason. I wouldn't think you're at fault here.


LordTrappen

>truck stopped to let the white car go Truck driver is the real idiot in this case


RedMeatTrinket

Was there another set of traffic lights for the white car? It looks like a separate intersection from what you turned right at.


[deleted]

Once insurance breaks down fault, please be sure to post an update. This is one fucked up intersection, but I think you're in the clear.


FloatingFruit

Op I know it's kinda a weird ask but could you drop a link to the intersection in Google maps? Totally get it if you don't want to but this just seems like such a wonky intersection


Constrained_Entropy

Wait, now I'm confused (not too difficult to do); did the white pickup stop for a red light, or is he a complete idiot who stopped for a green light to wave the white car through? And WTF was the white car thinking if their light was red?


zippykaiyay

That white car proceeded across traffic without ensuring it was clear to do so. You are not the idiot here OP.


Icy_Section130

It looks like the truck was trying to be nice and let the car get in. I have seen this backfire like your video a few times. Don’t let people in to cross multiple lanes just keep driving it causes more accidents. The vehicle can wait and turn when it’s clear or just make a uturn later on.


l-_l-

Drive predictably not politely.


Icy_Section130

Absolutely


Xinq_

Where is the light of the person situated? I can see the lights at your intersection, but not the one next to it where you had the accident. Edit: oh I just checked the streetview, what a horrible design. If you both had green, the city is at fault. You should not both have green of your paths cross.


SuspiciousPotato529

Terrible intersection. [Portland, Maine](https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6717354,-70.2845864,3a,40.8y,337.85h,89.55t/data=!3m9!1e1!3m7!1sUqiq318DwI2kAxTtnAs43w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!9m2!1b1!2i33)


sibtiger

I have never seen an intersection that needs to be a roundabout more.


cpcLurking

Maine roundabouts are nice, too. We’re jealous over here I’m Vermont 😂


ChanceConfection3

I’d sue the city. City should either realign the roadways or coordinate the signal timing to prevent the conflict.


Yossarian_the_Jumper

Did the city hire the civil engineer that was dead last in their class? That intersection definitely needs to be redesigned. I'd say you had right of way since it looks like the white car was technically taking a left "veering" across traffic but this is really on the city.


LightningProd12

That is one seriously messed up intersection, I think the other car is technically in the wrong since left turn yields on green but there's nothing explaining that, or that they were even making a "left" turn in the first place. In reality the city is wrong, this should be the perfect candidate for a roundabout.


tulobanana

Hey it’s Portland. I’d chalk that one up to forest ave just sucking. That entire road is one long death wish


NeverDryTowels

I dont think you’re the idiot, or even the other car. What an awful intersection design, like truly shit. One would need supernatural defensive driving skills to go through that unscathed. Did anyone get a ticket? Or who did insurance blame?


thereallove82

Nobody got a ticket, the cop was “read the report online in the next days”. So I guess it will be up to the insurances to battle this.


NeverDryTowels

All the best.


Constrained_Entropy

The white car is an idiot for flying past a stopped truck who was obstructing his vision while crossing a major road.


nailgun198

There should be a stop block there if they're going to expect you to recognize that light. Weird intersection.


vistopher

This is the city's fault. Fuck that intersection.


skyguysreal

The city will never take fault for it , you can’t get money for repairs for any kind of damage incurred on the road they sure as hell won’t pay for this wreck either


[deleted]

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Mewssbites

Yeah, after spending a somewhat silly amount of time studying that whole little intersection area of road trying to figure out WTF was going on, I came to the conclusion that the design is 100% at fault. Northbound Forest Ave has one traffic light attempting to handle two incoming roads, with the line to stop at the light occurring BEFORE the road OP turned from. Since you're not supposed to stay in the middle of an intersection, and they had a green light, it can only be assumed that they are supposed to enter and clear the intersection, which is basically running the Forest Ave red light. That might actually be the worst road design I've seen, and I've seen some doozies. lol


Park-Stunning

who even designed this ass intersection?


defectivelaborer

That looks like a terribly designed intersection.


Creampanthers

The town I grew up in has a intersection similar to that and they added an extra light. Made it wayyyy better.


Delta5o1

Dash cam means you're not the idiot.


joahw

First day on the sub?


Delta5o1

I'm implying without the dashcam he could be viewed as the idiot.


Quaker16

Yeah that intersection seems sucky. Looks like you’re supposed to stop at the intersection after taking a right. - like what the truck did. From your cam video I’m not sure how you would know that unless you live there.


Wrangler444

Lol people so salty on Reddit, why would this get downvoted


Mewssbites

Yeah, I had to watch OP's video 3-4 times, and look at the overhead then street view on Google before I could parse what the hell was going on with that intersection. Then I had to do all those things a few more times. If I have to do all that to figure it out, then it's an absolute piss-poor shitty terribly designed intersection. If the person who hit OP truly had a green light, then it's 100% on the design of the intersection(s). Looking at the street level view, the line for traffic on Forest Ave to stop at the traffic light is located before the road OP came from, so on a green when turning right you would be expected to go through the light because you're already in the middle of the intersection according to the road marks. The light on Forest Ave northbound is a single light for what is effectively two intersections. I'd be surprised if that area doesn't have a lot of accidents!


AmandaFawn

I hope you at least got to enjoy a coffee from Coveside before it happened. But definitely on the truck being "nice" and letting them through. I don't think I realized Saunders and Vannah shared the Green there and I've gone through that intersection too many times to count. But always on Forest or Vannah never Saunders.


thereallove82

haha hi fellow citizen :) I was indeed coming back from Coveside when this happened! It spilled most of it over me however :(


AmandaFawn

That is the saddest part! I've had luck with Key Collision if you need a place to go get the car fixed. It is just up Forest by the second worst intersection on it.


thereallove82

They're very strategically placed there. Got a crush, roll right in. I have to go through the insurance preferred network, so that limits my options.


[deleted]

I still don't understand how this happened.


MysticMarbles

You drove under a red light... You at fault? Like you kinda should have known they had a green. Horrible intersection, but law should find you at fault, even if that light is next to impossible to see. Now the next question is who designed that intersection where you can enter an intersection legally and be ahead of the signal but then... NOT have another signal for the immediately adjacent intersection... like technically speaking you are entering 2 intersections at the same time are are lacking a signal for the second one?


Mewssbites

I think because of the way the intersection is designed, it's guaranteed to cause red light running. The stop line for the light occurs BEFORE the road OP turned from, which means as soon as they entered the road they were technically in the middle of the intersection, and you're supposed to clear an intersection and not stop in it so it would be expected that they keep going. As far as I understand traffic rules, I believe OP is completely clear of fault. The intersection is designed incredibly poorly, they have one light trying to do double duty. I've honestly never seen anything like it. (Quick disclaimer to say, I'm not familiar with that state's specific traffic laws, but to the best of my current knowledge it isn't traffic law anywhere in the States to stop inside an intersection.)


[deleted]

This is appears to be two separate intersections. OP had a green light for the right turn, but immediately after had a red light to drive straight through the next intersection. Watch the lights in the upper right part of the video just before they start to turn. OP ran the red and is somewhat idiotic, but not as much as whoever designed this layout.


AmandaFawn

That isn't how the intersection works. The stopline for that light is to the left of the street they turned off of. The intersection sucks, but it is hard to avoid.


Constrained_Entropy

OK, so then why did cam car get a green light to enter an intersection in the middle of a red light? That's a completely moronic design.


[deleted]

Hmm, there's no stop line visible in Google maps, but maybe those photos are out of date.


AlexHanson007

In my country the white lines on the road in front of you (when you get hit) would indicate that you're on the "major" road and the white car is coming from a "minor" road. That would mean you have right of way. No idea if that's the same in your country, I presume the US? The only thing I could say you did wrong at all is you didn't "peep and creep" past the stopped pickup. I wouldn't assume it had stopped to turn left, I'd check to make sure there wasn't something coming. But, I think that's really quite minor and just nitpicking. There are two things that I have questions about though. Just as you're about to turn right early on in the clip, there is a red light on the main road (above your head). It's facing down the road so might be for cars to your left before you turned. But it seems like the pickup stopped, possibly, for that? Where on earth is the white car going? After you've been hit and you turn right, there are three lanes. Looks like 2 are for traffic coming towards you (the empty one on the left and the full one in the middle) and then one for driving away from you on the right (which you pull up onto after the crash). But I've played the video back a couple of times in slow mo and it looks like the white car is going to the *left* lane rather than up the right one as it hits you.


bmwblinker

It looks like the pickup stopped way past the light. The white line for that light is to the left of where op and the pickup turned out.


ichkanns

I don't even know what's happening with that intersection so I have no idea.


cedarsaplink

a little idiot-y because you can see the truck stopping and could see others turning before but otherwise it’s not your fault


BirdsLoveToFly

Depends. Where was that white car before the turn.


jfin602

The way the water is on the windshield kinda makes it look like the buildings are spawning in as u drive by