First close call.
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 65
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From: dallas
First close call.
Yesterday night, I was riding home, I had two lanes I could occupy and was in the right lane, there were side streets coming out from the right.
As I'm approaching one of the side streets a small SUV ran the stop and pulled right into me lane about 20-25 feet in front of me. I was going about 40 MPH, I Counter steered to the left hard and then straightened her back up and accelerated right past the corner of the SUV's bumper. I was headed for the curb now in the left lane, I counter steered hard to the right and straightened back up. Yelled at the driver and then had to pull over and check my pants/take a breather.
I have only been riding for 7 months, and took a MSF course, I feel like instinct just kicked in, I knew if I had just hit the brakes I would have slammed into the SUV, the only thing I can think of I did wrong is I didn't check my left lane before the move, but really didn't have time, thank god no one was there.
Would anyone have done it differently, just though I would post my experience I enjoy reading other peoples it keeps me on my toes.
As I'm approaching one of the side streets a small SUV ran the stop and pulled right into me lane about 20-25 feet in front of me. I was going about 40 MPH, I Counter steered to the left hard and then straightened her back up and accelerated right past the corner of the SUV's bumper. I was headed for the curb now in the left lane, I counter steered hard to the right and straightened back up. Yelled at the driver and then had to pull over and check my pants/take a breather.
I have only been riding for 7 months, and took a MSF course, I feel like instinct just kicked in, I knew if I had just hit the brakes I would have slammed into the SUV, the only thing I can think of I did wrong is I didn't check my left lane before the move, but really didn't have time, thank god no one was there.
Would anyone have done it differently, just though I would post my experience I enjoy reading other peoples it keeps me on my toes.
Road Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 774
Likes: 2
From: S.E. Montana
In instants of major stress, combat senerios, and the like....we're hard wired with mother nature's addrenelin rush, to react without thinking much. Be thankful you took that advanced class, training and your reaction to it, is what saved your bacon. What happened to you didn't leave you time for critical thinking and pondering two or three possible courses of action.
While riding you can think about what you'd do if this or that would happen, and I believe it's a great training tool because it kleeps you thinking about safety, and where your escape route would be. Still when the chips ccame crashing down when you least expected it....you cut the mustard. Good for you.
While riding you can think about what you'd do if this or that would happen, and I believe it's a great training tool because it kleeps you thinking about safety, and where your escape route would be. Still when the chips ccame crashing down when you least expected it....you cut the mustard. Good for you.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 566
Likes: 4
From: Milton, PA
Your right you probably didn't have time to look. That's why they preach 'SEE' in MSF. As riders we need to be vigilent about our surroundings. Not only in front of us but also keeping track of vehicles behind and beside us. Search, Evaluate, Execute. Continuously. That way you already 'know' where you can go when there is no time. Happy to hear it was just a close call and not a hit. Mad props to MSF and what they teach us. Sometimes instinct is all we have out there.
People use to pull out in front of me all the time when I first started riding. Didn't take long to figure out it was because in most all cases I was going alot faster than the speed limit. I also started running my high beam always in the day time. My new bike has auxiliary lights up front as well, and I really feel like I'm being seen more.
Stay safe out there.
People use to pull out in front of me all the time when I first started riding. Didn't take long to figure out it was because in most all cases I was going alot faster than the speed limit. I also started running my high beam always in the day time. My new bike has auxiliary lights up front as well, and I really feel like I'm being seen more.
Stay safe out there.
Road Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 774
Likes: 2
From: S.E. Montana
Son, Mother nature has hard wired human beings to react instintively under very stressful conditions. Flight/fright reactions. Most boys unexposed to live fire and combat conditions or senerios of a similar nature never get a chance to feel that rush and learn their potential.
Thats what happened to you the other night. You told us what you did. But I'm here to tell you you didn't think about it. Credit your wisdom for taking that advanced class, absorbing the information and getting that practice in. Reaction saved your bacon. If you would have had to do some critical thinking, develope Plan A, plab B and plan C before deciding on your best course of action....you'd a been traffic satistic. **** hit the fan, and you cut the mustard. Good for you. Opps sorry....double post.
Thats what happened to you the other night. You told us what you did. But I'm here to tell you you didn't think about it. Credit your wisdom for taking that advanced class, absorbing the information and getting that practice in. Reaction saved your bacon. If you would have had to do some critical thinking, develope Plan A, plab B and plan C before deciding on your best course of action....you'd a been traffic satistic. **** hit the fan, and you cut the mustard. Good for you. Opps sorry....double post.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 46
From: In the foothills of southwestern NC - US of A
Good job Calvin, glad you didn't wreck!
You need to have eyes in the back of your head and forcast what you think may transpire in front of and besides you at all times. When I'm approaching any intersection, no matter what time of day it is, I slow down and watch the surroundings like a hawk as I get there just in case I gotta' make a hairy manuever. I'm especially concerned about those oncoming cars preparing to make a left turn across my path at lights and intersections...hell I wave to them as I pass as a way of thanking them for paying attention and not pulling out in front of me. Dunno if it makes a difference but hopefully it's a sign to them that I appreciate them paying attention and taking notice...
=8^)
You need to have eyes in the back of your head and forcast what you think may transpire in front of and besides you at all times. When I'm approaching any intersection, no matter what time of day it is, I slow down and watch the surroundings like a hawk as I get there just in case I gotta' make a hairy manuever. I'm especially concerned about those oncoming cars preparing to make a left turn across my path at lights and intersections...hell I wave to them as I pass as a way of thanking them for paying attention and not pulling out in front of me. Dunno if it makes a difference but hopefully it's a sign to them that I appreciate them paying attention and taking notice...
=8^)
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 8,218
Likes: 827
From: Reston, Va
You avoided the accident so I guess you didn't do the wrong thing. I wasn't there so I'm not going to pass judgement. Still, the SUV was coming from your right and you cut in front of it in order to avoid hitting it. If the SUV driver had freaked out and mashed on the accelerator instead of braking, this might be a very different post.
I don't know whether you would have been able to cut behind the SUV, although that would seem to be the safer course of action from the description. Maybe there was no space and maybe there was no time. Going behind a forward moving vehicle is safer than cutting in front of it.
BTW, what was the posted speed limit? What were your sight lines like? Were you driving faster than your sight lines allowed? When did you actually see the SUV?
Again, I'm not passing judgement. Still, you have to ask yourself, what could you do different (if anything) to avoid this situation next time.
I don't know whether you would have been able to cut behind the SUV, although that would seem to be the safer course of action from the description. Maybe there was no space and maybe there was no time. Going behind a forward moving vehicle is safer than cutting in front of it.
BTW, what was the posted speed limit? What were your sight lines like? Were you driving faster than your sight lines allowed? When did you actually see the SUV?
Again, I'm not passing judgement. Still, you have to ask yourself, what could you do different (if anything) to avoid this situation next time.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
You're very lucky to not be a victim. PAY ATTENTION! You saw the vehicle approaching the stop sign at too high a speed to stop but you did nothing to avoid it. Shame on you!