Internet divided over crash that left family car 'totalled'
Dashcam footage has captured the moment a family car was totalled while turning down a suburban street, but a debate has raged over who was at fault.
A clip was shared to the Dash Cam Owners Australia Facebook page on Thursday showing how a vehicle was T-boned while turning right in Melbourne’s south-east.
In the video, timestamped just before 10.30am on Wednesday, an approaching car appears obscured from view by the vehicles in the next lane over.
The driver of the car turning from Neerim Road into Roseberry Grove, in Glen Huntly, doesn’t appear to see the oncoming car, which doesn’t come in view of the camera until it’s too late.
According to the turning driver, their car was written off in the collision.
“Hit just moments after dropping our bub to daycare.Totalled our family car," they were quoted as saying in the video caption.
Crash video divides the internet
The incident has divided the internet, sparking a debate over who was to blame for the crash, with more than 1000 people commenting on the thread.
Many blamed the approaching car, which was travelling in a bike lane.
“There is a sign about 100m back that says ‘form one lane’,” one local wrote. “So yeah the car shouldn't have even been there.”
However one pointed out the driver was allowed to be in the lane.
“People who say it's a bike lane yes it is but you can travel in a bike lane for 50m so car who was hit is at fault,” he wrote.
“Both are at fault, though,” another argued. “Dash cam driver isn't without blame (they're turning into a street and can't even keep in their lane).”
Another agreed adding: “[The dashcam driver] still should have ensured it was clear before turning.”
Can you drive in a bike lane?
According to VicRoads, motorists are not allowed to drive in a bike lane unless they are driving for 50 metres or less to:
enter or leave the road;
to turn at an intersection;
overtake a vehicle that’s turning right or making a U-turn from the centre of the road;
avoid an obstruction (e.g. a broken-down vehicle);
get from one part of the road to another;
enter the traffic stream after being parked on the side of the road;
pick up or drop off passengers (if you’re driving a public bus, public minibus or taxi);
there's a sign indicating that vehicles can use the lane.
It is unclear whether or not any of the above applied in this instance.
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