Court Opinion

ID: 9543343
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:44:33.815832+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:10:10.475074
License: Public Domain

Rosellini, J.
(concurring specially)—I concur with the majority that the disfavored driver did not sustain the burden of proving that the favored driver so wrongfully, negligently, or unlawfully operated his vehicle as to deceive a reasonably prudent driver. However, I cannot agree that *654excessive speed, by itself, could amount to such deception as to afford a disfavored driver relief under rule (4) of Martin v. Hadenjeldt, 157 Wash. 563, 289 Pac. 533.
The reports do contain cases in which liability has been cast upon the favored driver because he exceeded the speed limit. I do not think that such cases fall within the proper scope of rule (4), p. 567, of the Hadenjeldt case.
The right-of-way statute RCW 46.60.150 (which is substantially the same as the Yakima ordinance) is plain, clear, and unambiguous. It provides:
“Every operator of a vehicle on approaching public highway intersections shall look out for and give right of way to vehicles on his right, simultaneously approaching a given point within the intersection, and whether his vehicle first reaches and enters the intersection or not: ...”
Rule (4) of the Hadenjeldt case exonerates the driver on the left if he
“ . . . assumes and meets the burden of producing evidence which will carry to the jury the question of fact as to whether or no the favored driver on the right so wrongfully, negligently, or unlawfully operated his car as would deceive a reasonably prudent driver on the left and warrant him in going forward upon the assumption that he had the right to proceed.”
The essence of the rule is deception. Excessive speed is observable and can only deceive the disfavored driver if the speed of the vehicle on his right is increased after he has observed it and while he is looking to the left. In all other cases the observer is mistaken, or misjudges the rate of speed at which the vehicle is moving. This misjudgment of speed and wrong estimate of the time in which it would take the vehicle to reach the intersection should not be equated with deception.
In other operations of a motor vehicle, the operator is charged with a positive duty to observe correctly and to make correct judgments of speed; for example, in following another car, in passing another car, and in bringing his vehicle to a stop.
*655A disfavored driver should not be heard to say that speed, except in a change of pace situation, has deceived him and caused him to make a false determination that he had a margin of safety in clearing an intersection. Otherwise, we nullify the rule that if two cars collide within an intersection, they were simultaneously approaching a given point within the intersection so that the favored driver has the statutory right-of-way.
The late Judge Beals in Delsman v. Bertotti, 200 Wash. 380, 390, 93 P. (2d) 371, elucidates the right-of-way statute as follows:
“The burden to avoid colliding with a car approaching from his right rests heavily upon the disfavored driver. A clear and unambiguous statute imposes this burden, and the ingrafting of exceptions upon this sound and wholesome rule of the road would tend only to confusion and lead drivers occupying the disfavored position under the statute to think that they might somehow escape the burden imposed upon them by law and throw the blame for avoidable accidents upon another. Speed is of much less importance than safety, and, under modem traffic conditions, safety, to a great extent, depends upon careful and prudent observation both of natural physical conditions and of other vehicles using the highway, as well as of pedestrians. We are in accord with the rules laid down in the Hadenfeldt case, but are not inclined to extend the exception therein provided for.” (Italics mine.)
I would hold that a mere showing of excessive speed of the favored driver is not sufficient to sustain a finding that the disfavored driver was deceived, and that there must be some evidence that the rate of speed was changed in such a way as actually to deceive him.
May 18,1962. Petition for rehearing denied.