This is exactly why failing to yield, taking your turn before your turn, is dangerous.
Redditor /u/FlexManFlex submitted dashcam footage to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit earlier yesterday (Mar 20, 2023) showing an impatient driver in a white Chevrolet Equinox in Fort Lauderdale, FL fail to yield turning left from a dedicated turn lane causing a phantom hit-and-run accident as a motorcyclist slid to the ground, avoiding broadsiding the impatient driver.
Check out his video below.
The accident happened at the intersection of SW 24th Ave & Broward Blvd (exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As the dashcam video and map location show, this line of cars is making a left turn from a green light, which means they must yield to cars going in the other direction before making their turn.
One car manages to safely slip in front of traffic, able to make their turn.
The other Honda CR-V crossover in front of our impatient driver inches forward and yields again as that driver sees a rider on a sports bike fast approaching in the other direction.
Our impatient driver’s view of the first two lanes of opposing traffic are blocked by the Honda CR-V.
Incorrectly assuming the Honda CR-V driver is being overly cautious, the driver in the white Chevrolet Equinox makes their left turn out of turn, cutting in front of the Honda CR-V.
The motorcyclist, seeing the Chevrolet Equinox make their unexpected move, tries their best to slow down to avoid broadsiding the Equinox.
Although the motorcyclist reacts as quick as they can, it’s too little braking too late, all that braking force causing the bike to slide and skid out of the way.
We can see the rider thrown off, landing in the middle of the street.
“He (the motorcyclist) will be fine but lots of nasty road rash,” /u/FlexManFlex comments.
As for the offending, impatient driver in the white SUV?
“Police found (the) white SUV driver. The SUV driver was caught.”
According to the Lowman Law Firm, another name for a miss-and-run is a phantom hit-and-run and, as the name suggests, penalties and fines for a miss-and-run can be just as bad (if not worse) than committing a clear-cut hit-and-run.
According to Lorenzo and Lorenzo, hit-and-run accidents in Florida that result in injury are punishable with prison time up to five years and/pr a fine up to $5,000.
As mentioned, this is why taking your turn out of turn can be dangerous, you often can’t see what the drive rin front of you sees.
Hopefully this video serves as a reminder the next time you’re pressed for time, impatient at the car in front of you to make their turn already.
