Opinion ID: 1164260
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Negligent and Reckless Driving Instructions

Text: Plaintiffs claim the trial court erred in not adding negligence per se language to Instruction No. 17 which defines reckless and negligent driving. [11] In Ferrell v. Baxter, 484 P.2d 250, 263 (Alaska 1971) we adopted the principles set forth in the Restatement (Second) of Torts §§ 286, 288A and 288B [12] in holding that a trial court may, in its discretion, adopt a statute or regulation rather than the common law reasonable person standard as the applicable standard of care. Substitution of a statute or regulation is only appropriate where the statute or regulation prescribes specific conduct. Substitution is not appropriate where the statute or regulation sets out a general or abstract standard of care. Northern Lights Motel Inc. v. Sweaney, 561 P.2d 1176, 1183 (Alaska 1977); Bachner v. Rich, 554 P.2d 430, 441-42 (Alaska 1976); and Lester v. John R. Jorgensen Co., 400 F.2d 393, 396 (6th Cir.1968). Alaska's statutes defining reckless and negligent driving do not prescribe specific conduct, but rather state that a person shall not drive a motor vehicle in a manner which creates an unjustifiable risk. The statutes define unjustifiable risk as a risk of such nature and degree that a failure to avoid it constitutes a deviation from the standard of care a reasonable person would observe... . Thus the statutes merely codify the usual common law standard of care. Because the statutes do not set forth precise standards of care, the trial court properly refused to add negligence per se language to Instruction No. 17. Plaintiffs' contention that they were prejudiced because negligence per se language was included in Instructions No. 14 and No. 16, which were directed against plaintiffs, is without merit. The regulations contained in Instruction 14 and Instruction 16 prescribe specific forms of conduct. 13 AAC 02.130 referred to in Instruction 14 states that a driver approaching a yield sign must stop or slow down. 13 AAC 02.330, referred to in Instruction 16, prohibits racing. Plaintiffs were not prejudiced simply because the trial court correctly found negligence per se to be applicable to regulations prescribing particular conduct, but inapplicable to statutes couched in general and abstract terms.