Incidents of this nature - accidents of any kind - are not "awesome."

Thanks, I couldn't be sure from the tone. Again, we're in agreement about most things, and I won't get started on tailgaters - I just don't have that much time this morning. We'll have to agree to disagree about lane-splitting, as I think it's inherently different at 25 than 75 (for me, that's 40 and 120, roughly.)

If you read my comment carefully, you'll note that nowhere do I claim you've said the Lada deserved ramming. I simply provided a second example (the first being the incident itself) where I felt the tram driver had a responsibility to mitigate damage despite having the right of way.

We differ about what's aggressive. I'd call some of what you're describing as assertive and appropriate and yes, defensive - relative velocity, and room to accelerate or stop as needed.

Wow. Where does smoothly and safely enter into your driving picture, and can I have your plate numbers to call in a watch, please?

Might want to call it assertive instead of aggressive. "Assertive" is the guy who flashes the car in front of him to move right and waits a second back until the guy can complete the move (assuming the lead driver's not a moron and recognizes the flash to pass.) "Aggressive" is the guy who drives up on the lead car's…

I understand your assumptions (I've done it too, once only thankfully) but it really isn't the old guy's problem. It's a "don't proceed until safe to do so" situation.

If you're looking left and behind before you see the guy in front of you clear, he's not the problem, regardless of his mental health.

Wow. Way to repeat yourself. The people in the tram, inconvenience or no, remain a red-herring, and most of us here ('cept maybe you?) recognize that.

You're absolutely correct that initial responsibility for the problem lies with the Lada driver, but don't for one moment think there's no responsibility on the tram driver to avoid compounding the problem. To assume a right-of-way makes you immune to responsibility for increasing the severity of an accident is…

The correct thing for the Lada driver to do was impede traffic behind his car, well clear of the tram rails, until he had a comfortable space to complete his turn. Any impatient fucks behind him would have to suck it. He'd have avoided the asshole tram driver and an accident.

Harsh lesson.

Ah, what seems pedantic to some, may seem perfectly appropriate and amusing to others.

Hypocrite, thy name is Government.

"Damn it, Bernice! Ah told you not to call them! Now they're gonna be able to track us when we get to my cousinwife's!"

"I keep taking the test, but it's like, hard!"

Dear United States,

Certainly. Anything that takes up a portion of your mind before each turn or burst of acceleration can make for a good driver's car. My learner cars were a Fairmont, Corvette, and later, a clapped out 5-speed Rabbit diesel. The Rabbit was the best: it shook in corners, and dove into everything at the lightest touch of…

Your example is absolutely correct. Now go back to the other examples I've provided, and tell there's no possibility that an employee in a protected class couldn't use that status to defend a sexual assault claim. They can, and have, many times.

As I noted, it wouldn't explain why the company advised her not to file a police complaint - we're in complete agreement here. And sadly, my faith in folks isn't that far above yours when it comes to consent-based issues and assault.