Court Opinion

ID: 9537902
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:26:44.476162+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:09.243753
License: Public Domain

Donworth, J.
(dissenting)—I cannot reconcile the holding of this case with the law as set forth in the very recent case of Anderson v. Beagle, 71 Wn.2d 641, 430 P.2d 539 (1967), wherein this court held that the trial court was in error when it instructed the jury that a driver turning left into a private driveway was required to exercise an “extraordinary” degree of care. A more extraordinary degree of care than that required by the majority in this case could hardly be imagined. I, therefore, dissent.
RCW 46.60.120(4) (a) provides, in part, that:
No person shall turn a vehicle ... to enter a private road or driveway, or otherwise turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety. (Italics mine.)
This is the standard, and was correctly interpreted in the Anderson case, supra, to require of the turning driver such care as a reasonably prudent or ordinarily prudent man would exercise under the circumstances.
But the rule stated by the majority is that the turning driver must look to the rear “immediately” before commencing her turn. Appellant having failed to do this, the majority conclude that she was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law:
*101Either she looked so long before she began her turn that the look was completely ineffective for the purpose intended, or she did not see what was there to be seen.
Thus, appellant is barred from recovery even though the evidence is not such as to establish conclusively that, even had she looked “immediately” before commencing her turn, she could have seen respondent’s speeding vehicle.
This court has consistently held that only in the clearest of cases should the court determine that contributory negligence exists as a matter of law. O’Brien v. Seattle, 52 Wn.2d 543, 327 P.2d 433 (1958); Boley v. Larson, 62 Wn.2d 959, 385 P.2d 326 (1963); Allen v. Fish, 64 Wn.2d 665, 393 P.2d 621 (1964).
From the time respondent commenced his passing to the time of impact, there elapsed only about three seconds. Appellant testified that from the time she commenced her turn until the point of impact about four to six seconds elapsed. Thus the jury could have found from the evidence that, even had she looked “immediately” before commencing her turn, nothing was there to be seen.
In addition, even though appellant is the “favored” driver,2 *102she is, in effect, held to an absolute duty to see the reckless violation3 of her right by an overtaking vehicle, and is barred from recovery by her failure to avoid a collision.
Such a holding, in my view, does not correspond with the standard of care required of the turning driver as set forth in Anderson v. Beagle, supra, or with the facts of the present case.
I would hold, therefore, that the question of contributory negligence on the part of appellant should have gone to the jury under an instruction consistent with the standard of care as set forth in Anderson v. Beagle, supra.
Hence, I would remand the case for a new trial.

This court has consistently held, in cases involving collisions between automobiles proceeding in the same direction on the highway, that the primary duty of avoiding a collision rests on the overtaking vehicle. Tackett v. Milburn, 36 Wn.2d 349, 218 P.2d 298 (1950); Miller v. Cody, 41 Wn.2d 775, 252 P.2d 303 (1953); Izett v. Walker, 67 Wn.2d 903, 410 P.2d 802 (1966); Felder v. Tacoma, 68 Wn.2d 726, 415 P.2d 496 (1966). I do not feel that the metamorphosis of changing status from a “following” car to a “passing” car includes a shedding of all disabilities vis-a-vis the car ahead.
I further note that the only duty required of the turning driver, under Laws of 1965, Ex. Ses., ch. 155, § 29 (RCW 46.61.185), is as follows: “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.” (Italics mine.) Thus, the duty to yield relates to the driver approaching from the opposite direction, not the overtaking vehicle.

There was testimony that the MacDonald car was traveling at a speed of 55 to 60 miles per hour as it approached the column of cars and that, as MacDonald commenced to pass, there was a sudden surge of power as the car accelerated to 70 or more miles per hour. The MacDonald car skidded a distance of 110 to 112 feet. It was stipulated that a car skidding 110 feet will decrease in speed by 47 miles per hour. Nevertheless, the force of the impact was sufficient to severely damage both cars and injure the passengers. It was also stipulated that MacDonald did not blow his horn, as required by RCW 46.60.040.