I was riding home from work today. About a mile from work, I came up on an intersection where there was a road to my right. I saw a women in a Honda at the Stop sign waiting to enter the highway. I saw her, and she saw me….. Yeah, RIGHT!

Just as I got to her she pulled out in front of me! I got to doing the ‘MSF Panic Stop Shuffle’, grabbing front brake, feathering the rear brake, gearing down, looking for someplace to go to keep from T-Boning the left side of her car.

Just as I was wondering how bad I was about to break my left leg, she moved over a bit more to my left. Thank GOD she didn’t completely freeze up and block the entire lane. The left highway peg on my engine guard clipped the left edge of her rear bumper. I was able to keep from going down. When I got stopped and looked back, I saw her pulling into a store across the road.

I turned around and rode to the store. When I got off my bike, I saw the only ‘damage’ was the highway peg had been turned around. Luckily, by only a few inches, I’d been able to keep my bike up.

The woman was in her early 20’s, had two small screaming boys in the back seat, and…. Get this…. Had gotten her driver’s license on May 25, 2006!!

Yeah, I was ready to give her a piece of my mind, but those two screaming toddlers in the back seat reminded me of my grandsons. Even though they were screaming, it calmed me down a bit.

She said she saw me, but thought she had time to make her turn before I got to her. She was also distracted by her two sons screaming in the back seat. From what I’ve heard, that’s a common mistake. Even when a driver sees a bike, he/she thinks it’s farther away than it actually is.

I think the incident scared her about as much as it scared me! I told the Police Officer that arrived that I didn’t want her charged, but I did want a report made just in case there’s more damage than just the highway peg being turned around.

I believe if I had not taken the MSF riding course a few years ago, I would not have been able to keep from T-Boning her car!

Thanks, MSF. Ya'll saved my butt today!

 

distracted drivers they are very dangerous and for some reason some people can not understand not to pull in front of a motorcycle. You were very lucky. Sounds like some awsome driving you did!

 

It's good to know what they are thinking. glad you are O.K.!

 

Whew!

Good call all around I'd say. Hopefully she see MC's in the future and know the distance. (ummm yeah right)

 

I just got clipped earlier this month and managed to keep the bike up too. Damn good feeling knowing the old bones still got a little kick to em, huh? Glad you are o.k. bro.

 

I often hear ppl say they can't seem to judge oncoming speed of motorcycles.
Good to hear the MSF training paid off!!

 

Glad to hear you made it !

 

Great that you made it uninjured. The MSF course is good to take, even the advanced course (so you get familiar w/your own ride). Hopefully that woman will have learned to have new respect for the 2-wheel warriors.

 

i took the course a few years ago but i must have missed the part about people not being able to judge you're speed. thanks for the reminder.

 

It doesn't always do a lot of good but when I get into a situation like that, I toot my horn and flash my head light to get their attention.

Glad you made it ok.