Complacency almost got me Saturday evening!
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Glad you are OK...
I see so many post about us always blaming the cage..when at least a good portion of the time we could have done something different. When we leave our lane, and don't signal one can only expect us not to come back across it. I probably wouldn't have gunned it but if I see a bike pull over to the left and slow down, leaving my lane, then I'm going to continue on not thinking they are making a turn back in front of me.
Kinda like the guy who comes on here and moans and groans because someone stopped to fast in front of them and they would have had to hit them had they not laid the bike down, even so much as bitching because someone was following them close so they had to take evasive action.
The instructor in my MSC made a good point, in a two vehicle accident if one vehicle wasn't around they wouldn't have been in it. It takes two...sure at times nothing you can do..but his point is if we are smart we can avoid many accidents even when the other idiot makes the mistake.
I see so many post about us always blaming the cage..when at least a good portion of the time we could have done something different. When we leave our lane, and don't signal one can only expect us not to come back across it. I probably wouldn't have gunned it but if I see a bike pull over to the left and slow down, leaving my lane, then I'm going to continue on not thinking they are making a turn back in front of me.
Kinda like the guy who comes on here and moans and groans because someone stopped to fast in front of them and they would have had to hit them had they not laid the bike down, even so much as bitching because someone was following them close so they had to take evasive action.
The instructor in my MSC made a good point, in a two vehicle accident if one vehicle wasn't around they wouldn't have been in it. It takes two...sure at times nothing you can do..but his point is if we are smart we can avoid many accidents even when the other idiot makes the mistake.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
One of my biggest pet peeves are regarding drivers who swing wide to make a turn! In other words, when they are making e.g. a right turn and swing way left before turning. Just make the damn turn the way it should be made and of course use your signals.
The only vehicle that I will give a pass to in that situation is an 18 wheeler because in many situations that's the only way they can make it.
The only vehicle that I will give a pass to in that situation is an 18 wheeler because in many situations that's the only way they can make it.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 8
From: virginia
I almost didn't post this because I know the wide assortment of replies I will get.
But I'll tell it anyway. I live in a Subdivision and have been here for a long time. I am use to the driving habits of my neighbors and I know that if I am following someone and the brake or swing wide, they are either going to turn in a driveway or stop and back in the driveway.
So I always stop to make sure what they are doing before I attempt to pass them.
Well, Saturday evening, I rode the bike to the grocery store to pick up stuff for dinner. I then swung thru the liquor store to pick up refreshments.....lol.
I then headed home. I pull in my neighborhood and turn on my street. I am doing the posted maybe 25 in a 30 mph zone and I notice I have a car behind me that is following me down the street.
The cars was not tailgating or showing any signs that they were in a hurry. In fact she was a good 30 yards or so away.
So I approach my driveway and I notice a strange car in the driveway and my buddy in his Van. I have a steep up-sloap entering my driveway so I always swing wide and hit it straight on instead of at an angle.
So I swing wide looking to figure out how to manuver between cars to get to my garage.
When all this sudden, right as I start to turn, I here a car engine accelerate and that car that was behind me zipped by me. My front fender bumber was "brushed" and I felt the bars jerk when it did but I was stopped at that point and was still upright.
I hauled *** to catch the car and she stopped in the road when she saw me coming several houses down the street.
I pull up and I am already screaming that she almost took me out!!!
I didn't know who to expect was in the car, I didn't care at the time. But when I saw her, she was shaking and in tears telling she was sorry and did not know I was turning.
I did not say anything else, I did not cuss her, I just told her it was fine and I turned around and went home.
The moral of this story is this. I have become so complacent about how we all drive/ride in our neighborhood, I just thought nothing of that car behind me when it came time to turn.
I did NOT have my turn signal on either. I was too concerned with who was in my driveway at the time.
Watch those friggin cars, check your 6 every move you make!!!
But I'll tell it anyway. I live in a Subdivision and have been here for a long time. I am use to the driving habits of my neighbors and I know that if I am following someone and the brake or swing wide, they are either going to turn in a driveway or stop and back in the driveway.
So I always stop to make sure what they are doing before I attempt to pass them.
Well, Saturday evening, I rode the bike to the grocery store to pick up stuff for dinner. I then swung thru the liquor store to pick up refreshments.....lol.
I then headed home. I pull in my neighborhood and turn on my street. I am doing the posted maybe 25 in a 30 mph zone and I notice I have a car behind me that is following me down the street.
The cars was not tailgating or showing any signs that they were in a hurry. In fact she was a good 30 yards or so away.
So I approach my driveway and I notice a strange car in the driveway and my buddy in his Van. I have a steep up-sloap entering my driveway so I always swing wide and hit it straight on instead of at an angle.
So I swing wide looking to figure out how to manuver between cars to get to my garage.
When all this sudden, right as I start to turn, I here a car engine accelerate and that car that was behind me zipped by me. My front fender bumber was "brushed" and I felt the bars jerk when it did but I was stopped at that point and was still upright.
I hauled *** to catch the car and she stopped in the road when she saw me coming several houses down the street.
I pull up and I am already screaming that she almost took me out!!!
I didn't know who to expect was in the car, I didn't care at the time. But when I saw her, she was shaking and in tears telling she was sorry and did not know I was turning.
I did not say anything else, I did not cuss her, I just told her it was fine and I turned around and went home.
The moral of this story is this. I have become so complacent about how we all drive/ride in our neighborhood, I just thought nothing of that car behind me when it came time to turn.
I did NOT have my turn signal on either. I was too concerned with who was in my driveway at the time.
Watch those friggin cars, check your 6 every move you make!!!
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 887
Likes: 1
From: Spring, Texas
I will say this again, YES it was my fault for no signal and YES it was my fault for being complacent and allowing it to happen.
But no driver/rider should EVER pass on the right unless you know for certain that is the action you need to take and know what the other person is doing. Especially in a neighborhood.
So to answer your question, in my mind, at that moment, I thought she was the dumbass and I was pissed!
Turns out, we are BOTH dumbasses. But that still does not release her from fault. She should not have passed me, I was still in my lane. Tires on the center groove of the road and just barely enough room for her to get around.
But the short of it is, this post is about awareness, NOT about debating who did wrong or who shares the blame.
I made it clear that I accept full responsibility for letting this happen. Ask not why someone did this or that. You weren't there and you have no idea how you would have reacted in the same situation until you are presented with it.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 8
From: virginia
I wasn't blaming anyone i was just wondering what was going through your head at the moment. I would have done the same thing you did. Im just happy you are ok !!
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 1,761
From: Atlanta, GA
Thanks for sharing.
I guarantee that even the Holier Than Thou posters who are armchair-quarterbacking you right now have F'ed Up at some point too; they just aren't sharing to help make us all better riders.
I'm really glad you're OK. Thanks for the lesson learned. Safer roads are ahead my friend.
I guarantee that even the Holier Than Thou posters who are armchair-quarterbacking you right now have F'ed Up at some point too; they just aren't sharing to help make us all better riders.
I'm really glad you're OK. Thanks for the lesson learned. Safer roads are ahead my friend.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 6
From: Michigan
Unfortunately we have to work 20 times as hard at being safe, because we are 10 times more vulnerable to injury, and 10 times less likely to be seen or respected like an automobile or truck would be. Glad you're ok, I'd have been pissed too, but I'm one of the ******** that thinks it should be legal to shoot texters in the face!