If I am driving on a road, and a flying saucer with a spotlight is hovering ahead waiting to land, do I have to stop in the roadway and yield to them? Or do they have to yield to cars in the road? I checked my states driving manual and they don’t mention alien air/spacecraft at all.
I would guess that the UFO would have the right of way, as traffic would have to eventually stop for them anyways. Should I just stop in the roadway and put my hazards on so the flying saucer pilot is aware I am yielding the right of way to them?
if it drops down, reverses direction and increases speed, then you’d better run.
Depends on if they’re signalling to land or not. Do they have hazards on or are already on descent? Since the responsible thing as a driver is to avoid any conflicts where I can, I’d give way being an unusual event, just like I’d let someone cut across lanes to get to an exit. They’re at fault and the anomaly, but if I can keep from being part of an accident I’ll do it. Trying to be dominant on the roadways at all costs is what causes many of the accidents.
I’d just treat it as an aircraft that is making an emergency landing, and not try and hold my lane because I have the right of way. That won’t end well for anyone.
Depends on if they’re signalling to land or not.
For a flying saucer, if they have the ground-facing spotlight on they are preparing to land. They don’t keep the spotlight on if they don’t need visibility of the ground. In fact, that would be reckless as the spotlight might blind (not literally, but just light glare) people on the ground.
Your last sentence is the answer. Your driving manual probably says “drivers must yield to other vehicles occupying a lane”, which in your example would be a UFO.
The UFO is in the air in this case, preparing to make a vertical landing on the roadway
There’s a whole other section on defensive driving, I’m certain of it.
In this case, you’d be expected to exercise reasonable judgement on whether this UFO may be developing into a hazard. Four-ways on, and pull to the side of the road if it’s safe to do so.
In my state, defensive driving is optional (unless you get enough tickets/points that the course is mandated).
In my state
Is it the state of Chaos?
The UFO could be issued a citation for taking an unauthorized vehicle on a public roadway, which would give you a very strong case to have them pay for any damages to your car in the event of a collision.
However, if you don’t have full coverage, or uninsured motorist coverage at least, you will be in for a battle with your insurance company when they can’t track down the other driver (pilot?).
As always, defensive driving is your best bet. Avoid the collision and none of the other details matter.
The math might change if it’s one of those anal probe aliens, though. No judgement if that’s your thing, but I also won’t blame anyone for avoiding that situation even if it costs them a few out of pocket repairs.
The UFO could be issued a citation for taking an unauthorized vehicle on a public roadway
It’s not that simple though. UFO’s are allowed to land on public roadways if they do so safely (on a low traffic road, not blocking multiple lanes, exits the roadway quickly after landing).
so, Just for the record.
They’re bigger than you are. This is like those tiny subcompacts that try to keep a giant truck from entering their lane.
Sure, you’re in the right. Still dumb to not let them in.
Incidentally, however, it’s important to note that things hovering in the sky will likely be pushed out of the way instead of the otherway around. All those helicopter’s blocking cars? a kid could push it out of the way. (it just has alot of inertia, but it’s got nothing keeping it from moving.)
Don’t be silly. Americans don’t know how to yield. Every time I have to go through a traffic circle I make sure to update my will first.
I know it’s a joke question but here’s a serious answer:
I would treat it same as any other aircraft landing on the roadway. Give them space to do their thing because objects of greater potential energy ALWAYS have right of way, regardless of what liability laws say. Can’t sue ‘em if you’re dead.
As for laws, a quick search didn’t find anything in Federal or Alabama law about it except that the FAA here in the US says pilots consider it only as a last resort option due to safety concerns. If figure it’s probably not a common enough occurrence for laws to be made about it. Other states or counties may have something about it though.
I would imagine that legally, liability largely falls on the plane operator, though if you as a driver can avoid it, you would share in liability, perhaps moreso.
- Avoid things
- Then go by right-of-way
Sort of how you approach 3/4-way stop signs (god I hate them).
In my profession (trucking) the only thing that matters is preventable/nonpreventable. Liability is something for the insurance company to worry about (mostly).
This might be an interesting topic to suggest to Mike Rafi or Legal Eagle though.
Depending on the roadway, it’s super dangerous. Telephone and power lines are hard to see, deadly hazards for aircraft in that situation. If something is landing on a road, it’s probably an extreme emergency, and it’s best to give them as much room as possible.
One incidental purpose of the Interstate Highway System is as emergency landing strips. But a VTOL craft should be able to make use of even the roughest roadways in the event of an emergency. Activate your hazards to alert the craft and any surrounding drivers of extraordinary circumstances.
Be prepared to render aid as necessary.
UFO’s are allowed to use roads in non-emergency situations as well. They land on low traffic roads and then quickly exit off the side of the road. Something about the way ufo’s are built, its actually safer for them to land on hard pavement and then transfer to grass then it is for them to land on grass directly.
I think the reason the UFO road sharing laws are so unclear is because they are so new and already changing a lot. For example, some cities have banned UFO road landings and some states have built helipads specifically for UFOs, eliminating the need for road landing. However, I have seen one ufo trying to make a road landing while I was driving before. I just kind’ve pulled to the shoulder and waited as I wasn’t sure what the rules were.
It’s probably best if a driver yields to a flying saucer.
Give up your right-of-way when it will help prevent collisions.
When entering traffic, you must proceed with caution and yield to the traffic already occupying the lanes.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/laws-and-rules-of-the-road/
Makes sense. I think if there are no cars behind you, stopping and letting the saucer land is the best way to go
It doesn’t matter if anything is behind you or not: any other road users would also be obligated to give up their right of way (by stopping) if you chose to stop, if doing so would help prevent collisions.
Yield? I recommend a U-turn. Laws be damned, the authorities are gonna have more important things to worry about.
No.
You were there first, and it’s your god given right to drive an automobile. These illegal aliens coming over here and landing on our roads should respect our laws.
If they crash into you, sue them, as is also your god given right.
I would recommend a dashcam.
No seriously, get a dashcam. Everyone should have a dashcam. Its probably one of the most invaluable tthings you can have installed onto your vehicle these days.
You have the right of way unless there is a pedestrian or a sign warning you of animal crossings. If you see a UFO, pull over and contact a mental health professional immediately.
Speaking as a Voxon who captains a Kerglyz KG-7 scout craft (with the boosted manifold), I feel like I can offer an interesting viewpoint.
If we hover before landing it is a sign that we see you and are yelding to you, you can just pass under us, but please, to make it clear that you understand the situation and to alert us if we have strayed into your path inadvertetly, just flash your highbeams twice, indicating that you see us and intend to pass.
We are normally just doing surveys and gathering data, we are doing our best to stay out of the way.
I flash high beams twice to indicate the other road user may pass. Could we clarify this point before someone gets into another interplanetary insurance kerfuffle?
Thank you for your concern, as it stands now that local way of interaction between vehicles is at odds with the current galactic standard as noted in Book 29 (transportation), Chapter 61 (optical communication), section 5 (visual spectrum), subsection 2 (visual specturm communication between space faring civilizations and non space faring civilizations)
I will preset your comment as a suggestion to the grand court, who may agree to publish a local exception in Book 12 (exceptions).
The correct answer depends on whether or not you know where your towel is.
You should yield to them, for the same reason a fly yields to a human hand trying to turn them into goo.
