Cyclist on Highway 19 Before a Blind Curve
On Highway 19 north of Kailua-Kona, you are driving a compact car at the 35 mph limit. Ahead, a cyclist in a bright jersey is moving at about 12 mph near the right edge of a two-lane road. The center line is double solid yellow. The shoulder is narrow and drops off toward lava rock. A blind right-hand curve is about 150 feet ahead, and you can see two oncoming cars approaching the curve. You are already late for a meeting and have been following the cyclist for about a minute at roughly one-second gap. The cyclist glances back, then wobbles slightly toward the lane. Your lane is 11 feet wide; the cyclist is about 3 feet from the edge.
1. Should you pass the cyclist before the curve? Explain the legal and safety factors.
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No. The double solid yellow line prohibits crossing into the oncoming lane to pass. Even if it were a broken line, the blind curve, the two oncoming cars, and the narrow lane make passing unsafe: you cannot see enough road to complete the pass with a safe margin. Hawaii also requires a safe passing distance for bicyclists, at least three feet under state law, and an 11-foot lane with the cyclist three feet from the edge does not leave enough room to squeeze by in-lane. The one-second gap is also too close. The correct choice is to slow, increase space, and wait until the curve is past, the center line permits passing, and you can see a clear gap.
2. What following distance and lane position should you use while waiting?
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Drop back to at least a three-second following distance, and more if the road is wet or the cyclist is unstable. Three seconds gives you time to react if the cyclist swerves or falls. Stay centered or slightly left in your lane only when you have clear sight and can do so without crowding the cyclist; do not move into the oncoming lane. Keep your speed steady and avoid tailgating, which pressures the cyclist and reduces your view. If the cyclist wobbles again, brake smoothly rather than swerving toward oncoming traffic.
3. The cyclist wobbles and then falls. What is your immediate action?
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Brake firmly and smoothly in a straight line, then steer only after you have reduced speed enough to avoid the fallen rider. Do not swerve into the oncoming lane, where the two cars are approaching. If there is room, stop behind the cyclist and turn on hazard lights; if you must go around, wait until oncoming traffic is clear and give the rider a wide berth. Check for other riders and call 911 if needed. Your first priority is to avoid a secondary collision, not to preserve your schedule.