My nephew was recently driving in Santiago, crossing the southbound lanes of Avenida Hatuey to turn and go north. He was struck by a southbound car whose driver wanted my nephew to pay 2000 pesos for damages to the southbound car. I had thought my nephew would be at fault, given that he was coming from a side street to cross a bigger street. He tells me that whoever enters the intersection first must be given the right of way.
I'm used to driving in the U.S.A. where the 2-lane side street would have a STOP sign and drivers emerging from the 2-lane side street must yield to traffic on the 4-lane Avenida Hatuey. My nephew's car had reached the center, a break in the median, and his car was hit at the driver's side rear wheel. As he explains it (DISCLAIMER: and neither of us is a lawyer) the southbound driver was at fault for going too fast to be able to stop. I heard the tires screech for maybe a second and a half before the impact.
After exchanging information my nephew drove off but the other guy flagged down a passing Policía Nacional and we got stopped. My nephew explained that he needed to drop us off before he could go make a report. The place where you make the report is is in Fortaleza de San Luís in Santiago. He dropped off two passengers but I went with him thinking they might need me as a witness. It was explained that they don't do witnesses there, the Fiscalía does that stuff.
It's good to understand the right of way law if you drive. Check into it.
I'm used to driving in the U.S.A. where the 2-lane side street would have a STOP sign and drivers emerging from the 2-lane side street must yield to traffic on the 4-lane Avenida Hatuey. My nephew's car had reached the center, a break in the median, and his car was hit at the driver's side rear wheel. As he explains it (DISCLAIMER: and neither of us is a lawyer) the southbound driver was at fault for going too fast to be able to stop. I heard the tires screech for maybe a second and a half before the impact.
After exchanging information my nephew drove off but the other guy flagged down a passing Policía Nacional and we got stopped. My nephew explained that he needed to drop us off before he could go make a report. The place where you make the report is is in Fortaleza de San Luís in Santiago. He dropped off two passengers but I went with him thinking they might need me as a witness. It was explained that they don't do witnesses there, the Fiscalía does that stuff.
It's good to understand the right of way law if you drive. Check into it.