Is this a forced lane change on the U.S. Causeway gone too far? Commenters are divided on who’s mainly to blame.
A dashcam video shared by West St. Tammany Traffic and Donuts Facebook member Amanda Perkins is getting a lot of attention, the video shows a driver on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (aka The Causeway) effectively pit maneuvering another truck as the truck tried to force his way into his lane.
The Causeway bridge is two parallel bridges, each two lanes wide, that spans 24-miles over Lake Pontchartrain.
Causeway Police reported an accident on Nov. 2, the day this dashcam video is timestamped but it’s not clear if this incident and their report are one and the same.
Check out a copy of the controversial video below and, if you so wish, check out the stream of 2000+ comments on the Facebook post linked here.There has been a traffic accident at the 13.6 mile marker on the Causeway – Southbound in the right lane. Please merge left and reduce speed in the area. Updates to follow. https://t.co/JjwJBLsrZq
— Causeway PD / GNOEC (@Causeway_Police) November 2, 2022
Based on the style of pylons on the other bridge visible out the dash cam driver’s windows they’re headed towards New Orleans. The dash cam driver is travelling at 75 MPH in the left lane when he notices a driver in what looks like a black Chevrolet Silverado pass him on the right,Dude keeps on snacking. Happened on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in New Orleans. Anyone know what came of this? pic.twitter.com/wbm18wuHyq — TireMeetsRoad.com (@TireMeetsRoad_) December 23, 2022
He maintains his speed and in doing so, decreases the gap between him and the car in front of him leaving no space for someone to change lane.
The driver in the black truck slows, doesn’t signal, and starts to veer in front of the dash cam driver apparently forcing his way in front of him.
The dash cam driver maintains his speed and, when his front bumper makes contact with the back of the black truck’s bumper, making an avoidable situation instantly unavoidable, he steers to the right to avoid broadsiding him and effectively pit maneuvers the black truck.
Perkins’s shared video’s been viewed 57,000+ times with over 2000 comments and counting.
Most of the top comments are debating who’s exactly to blame here, most siding with the dash cam owner while others (myself included,) think there’s blame to share on both sides.
“The comments show a lot about society. Imagine seeing someone pass on the right lane, turn without signaling, speeding, merging inappropriately, hit someone, continue to merge (into someone). And then call the other driver a menace. This is why the aliens won’t visit us. ,” Dakota Cook comments.
“Sadly, with the dash cam video…The beef jerky lover could be found partially at fault because it shows he intentionally rammed the black truck causing the accident.” Jeffrey Davis added.
“If the accident caused injury or death to drivers behind them, both drivers will get sued and likely both would lose. If you have the time (there was 6 seconds) and opportunity to avoid an accident and fail to do so, you could be found negligent.”
Louisiana is a slower traffic keep right state.
According to a blog from Matthiesen, Wickert, & Lehrer Attorneys at law,
“Louisiana requires all vehicles to travel in the right lane except when overtaking a vehicle, when the right lane is closed, or upon a designated roadway for one-way traffic. Slower traffic must keep right.”
It’s also worth noting that Louisiana is a comparative fault state meaning either victim can sue the other for some damages even, if these comments seem to think, one party is 99% at fault for the accident.
Do you think one driver is blameless over the other?
Or, does either share part of the blame?
Let me know your .02 in the comments below.