Turn right fright

[chasio]

Had a bit of a moment yesterday afternoon, and I'd like to hear what you'd have done in my place....

Heading for home in no rush at 4:30pm, good daylight, road damp after a shower so I'm taking it steady. Approaching my driveway is a straight, medium grade downhill for about 200 metres, and it's a right turn into the drive. About 40 metres after my place, also on the right, is a side road that I cannot see down due to hedging. The sun was behind me but neither too bright nor low, so I can be seen well.

Cruising up to turn in I clock a red Integra or similar has appeared 150 metres back in my mirrors. No worries, I'm indicating and also flash my brake light a few times so he can see I'm braking.

It often happens that someone will turn left out of the side road and head up towards me when turning in. Sure enough an innocent white cage does this, so I brake a bit more so it can clear past me and I can turn after it.

Sadly my mirrors tell me that Integra boy has no intention of slowing down. This is a dead end residential street with a 50kmh limit, but 70 is the norm for many numbskulls and he's doing all of that. So things developed quite quickly.

At this stage I see my options as:
1. Hold my position close to the centre line, wait for the white cage to clear and hope Integra boy doesn't clean me out from behind.
2. Try and nip into my driveway sharpish, avoiding the two obstacles already parked on it and risking a low side on the greasy surface in front of the white cage.
3. Come off the brakes, stay central, nip down to the side road, turn right into that, then come back up for a left turn into home.

I can think of an option 4, which I would have done on my treadlie much earlier in the game: pull over to the left, let them both clear and then turn in. Wearing lycra I never turn right into my drive if there is a cage following me as the road just isn't wide enough for comfort. But I had already committed to my road position so couldn't head to the kerb without getting T-boned by Integra boy.

Option 2 seemed too high risk for a spill and possibly splat. Option 3 would make me unpredictable to Integra boy.

So I opted to stay put, balancing it to make myself as small as possible and not putting a foot down to be removed. So I ended up between two moving cages, one of which was doing around 60-70kmh about 50 cm off my left bar end. Not a huge amount of space for him between me and the kerb, but at least he made it. :eek:

It put the wind up me a bit I can tell you. I turned in, parked up and immediately wished I'd gunned it down after him and given him a piece of my mind. I'm glad I didn't: a respectful chat would be more useful but I was in no mind set for one at the time.

Putting myself in his shoes, it's possible he thought I was indicating for the side road and that the sun from behind made my brake light (and maybe indicator) difficult to make out. He probably had a moment himself when he realised he was going to shave through the gap.

So what would you have done in my place? And if (more like when) I see it developing again, what would you recommend? I'm now favouring option 3. The option I chose puts far too much faith in the skills of someone I've never met for me to like it much. Option 2 puts too much faith in my own! Option 4 is a pain in the arse!

Cheers - Chasio

[Jantar]

You chose the correct option, both for your own safety and for remaining predictable to other road users. I hope the Integra driver did give himself a fright. :argh:

[cowboyz]

i would have probably done what you did. I would have been seriously thinking about carrying on to the next intersection though. Sounds like you did a good job of making sure that you were aware of everything around you.

[swbarnett]

I agree that you did well to stay put and be predictable.

How much road was there straight ahead?

Option 5 might be to come off the brakes, take off straight and pull over left after getting a reasonable gap back to the Integra. Certainly if it'd been a truck too wide to fit through the gap you wouldn't want to stay put.

Kudos to you for checking your mirrors. I had a similar situation on the bicycle a while back except no car approaching from the front. I was just to the left of the centre line with my arm sticking out to indicate a right turn and this stupid prick comes screaming through at a rate of knots on my right! If I'd not done a head check just before turning I'd have been a hood ornament for sure.

[discotex]

+1 for staying put or getting back on the gas once you were in the situation.

But....

I never move close to the centre line while turning right if the road isn't wide enough for someone behind to pass safely on the left. As I'm slowing I will hold the lane so they don't get any silly ideas about trying it.

That always leaves me the option of gassing it if the person behind just plain hasn't seen me.

[skidMark]

Brake....your indicator is on etc, if he knocks you off it's his fault.

i probably would have kept going to the road futher down on the right....then turned around and come back.

[Mully]

Brake....your indicator is on etc, if he knocks you off it's his fault.


Which is a wonderful response if you are in the hospital/morgue. "I'm fucked, but at least it was his fault."

[chasio]

How much road was there straight ahead?

Option 5 might be to come off the brakes, take off straight and pull over left after getting a reasonable gap back to the Integra. Certainly if it'd been a truck too wide to fit through the gap you wouldn't want to stay put.



About 60 meters straight ahead, the road angles 30 degrees to the left (enough to be pretty blind as well) so about 20 meters after the side road on the right. Thinking about it, that might have made heading for the side road a bad idea, too. Hmmm....

I'm probably not fast enough to try option 5! Think GN250 speed...

Good point about the truck: I probably would have been cleaned out. If it's ever a truck-sized thing I'll plan to head for the side road as soon as I realize he's on my 6.

[chasio]

I never move close to the centre line while turning right if the road isn't wide enough for someone behind to pass safely on the left. As I'm slowing I will hold the lane so they don't get any silly ideas about trying it.

That always leaves me the option of gassing it if the person behind just plain hasn't seen me.

Cheers. Not a bad idea - assert my right to the road and all that BUT have a get out clause for a no brain cager. When I have a proper bike I might try it, for now I probably don't have the get up and go!

[chasio]

And thanks to everyone for all the replies, I am learning all the time and it definitely helps to get your feedback! I'll try to stop spamming the thread now...

[Soul.Trader]

It put the wind up me a bit I can tell you. I turned in, parked up and immediately wished I'd gunned it down after him and given him a piece of my mind. I'm glad I didn't: a respectful chat would be more useful but I was in no mind set for one at the time.

I can't figure out what he did wrong exactly? Apart from going a wee bit quick, big deal? The story, as I read it, was "I thought he was going to hit me, he didn't because he obviously saw me, happy days". What did the Integra driver do to upset you so much?

[cowboyz]

from my perpective. what the intergra driver did wrong..

At best, he was inconsiderate to other road users for a very minimal gain in getting to his destination any quicker.

At worst, he was not paying attention and got lucky.

[chasio]

Yep, I think he wasn't paying attention and got lucky.

Soul Trader, I think painting me as "upset so much" is rather missing the point. It put the shits up me at the time. And I understand he missed me, that's why I am not in hospital. :yes:

Today I am reflecting on it. My objective in posting this is to learn from an uncomfortable experience and try not to put myself in the same situation again. I'm a newbie, after all.

[cowboyz]

its a good attitude to have. There is increasing attitude round here that people should HTFU and not worry about what others are doing. And then continue to say "oh well it is alright as long as your insured."

It does pay to look after yourself out there and do complain if something is not to your liking........

[chanceyy]

its a good attitude to have. There is increasing attitude round here that people should HTFU and not worry about what others are doing. And then continue to say "oh well it is alright as long as your insured."

It does pay to look after yourself out there and do complain if something is not to your liking........

am with you on this one Cowboyz .. it could have turned out so differently for Oscarnz earlier this week when she was rear ended by a logging truck ..

luck was definately on her side .. thank gawd .. I prob would have taken the same action as you chasio ..

[FROSTY]

No question. -Off the brakes on the gas and worried about turning later

[swbarnett]

About 60 meters straight ahead, the road angles 30 degrees to the left (enough to be pretty blind as well) so about 20 meters after the side road on the right. Thinking about it, that might have made heading for the side road a bad idea, too. Hmmm....
This does make option 5 a bit less of an option.

[Ixion]

Hm. My mantra is always 'Go where the danger is not'. So, I think I'd go for some variant of number three. Get to a place of safety


On the gas , get clear of the danger area, and then either turn into that side road, or into someone elses drive. or drop in behind the Integra.Even better don't even start positioning for the turn if it looks like you might get caught in the middle . Keep on going and turn later, make it a U turn if neccesary. Or pull to the left and wait for the road to clear.

In fact, If there is fast closing traffic behind I will often overshoot where I want to turn if I can't go round unobstructed. Better to do a U turn and come back than be left sitting in the middle of the road. I really dislike being in that position, its fiendish dangerous.

But it is always easy to be wise in hindsite. You did well, forced to make a decision on the spur of the moment. You didn't PANIC and that's the main thing. Well done.

[Ocean1]

No question. -Off the brakes on the gas and worried about turning later

Yup, that's me, if the scene is as I pictured it.

Thing is, ideally you should always know where your escape is. Sounds real know-it-all and holier-than-thou I know, but I honestly try to continuously identify where I'm headed if it hit's the fan. In that situation you had some warning and you chose the passive option, relying on Integra dude to miss you.

I've been taken out twice by cars that simply didn't see me, nowadays I try damn hard wherever possible to remove any choices from them that might allow them to reach my space. It ain't possible every time, but I'm damned if I'll rely on someone else if I've got a choice.

[fredie]

i cant stand dickhead drivers that do that 50cm . why were u so close too the centre line ?? dont u own the lane ?? why incorouge these fuckheads:shit:i stay on the left side of my lane when turning right :headbang:its my lane , its my space car dickheads:Police:

[swbarnett]

i cant stand dickhead drivers that do that 50cm . why were u so close too the centre line ?? dont u own the lane ?? why incorouge these fuckheads:shit:i stay on the left side of my lane when turning right :headbang:its my lane , its my space car dickheads:Police:
In the left wheel track I'd be worried the car would try to overtake me. I tend to keep to the right wheel track so I'm right in the driver's line of sight (assuming there watching the road of course).

[Boulty]

Hey Chasio
Sorry to hear of your fright...right outside your house too. I know the piece of road and I can imagine the temptation for cagers to speed as you are at the top of that steep decent.
My first big fright was a Northcote College kid running across Onewa Rd between cars - didn't see me and I missed him by mm.

Glad you picked the right option - take it easy out there.

[FROSTY]

i cant stand dickhead drivers that do that 50cm . why were u so close too the centre line ?? dont u own the lane ?? why incorouge these fuckheads:shit:i stay on the left side of my lane when turning right :headbang:its my lane , its my space car dickheads:Police:
in fear of sounding sanctimoneus(sp) yea dude you'll be the most right dead man in the cemetry.

And THAT is the crux of the issue Me I choose ALIVE over right

[chasio]

And THAT is the crux of the issue Me I choose ALIVE over right

I'm with you on that one. A friend used to say to me:

'I was in the right!', said he, beating on the bottom of the bus.
I don't know where the quote came from, but it stuck. Asserting my rights comes after being in one piece.

Thanks for the feedback KB'ers, I definitely feel like I have learned from it. Next time I intend to recognise and take control of the situation early enough to put myself somewhere safer before it's too late.

And that should apply everywhere all the time, not just turning into home. That's the plan, anyway! :)

[homer]

You do know the size of the bike your on i guess

Do you also know theres enought room on most bridges to past in the middle with a truck come towards you and one going the other way with you .

Yep i know stupid

just illistrating a point.

You had what 50 cm
nearly the width of another bike

[chasio]

You do know the size of the bike your on i guess

Do you also know theres enought room on most bridges to past in the middle with a truck come towards you and one going the other way with you .


I measured it once to see about getting it in my shed: 78cm across the bars as I recall :)

I'd always go for the gap. I just don't want put myself in a situation where I have to do it. Or even worse, rely on someone else to make the gap while I'm a passive participant in events. I'm a bit of a 'fraidy cat like that.

[scumdog]

Putting myself in his shoes, it's possible he thought I was indicating for the side road and that the sun from behind made my brake light (and maybe indicator) difficult to make out.
Cheers - Chasio

Hence the reason I went off those custom teeny-weeny aftermarket indicators.

And also why I stuck with the stock brake-light buld - the led one was too dim

But you had certainly had a close call - and not many milliseconds to pick the right course of action.:2thumbsup

[homer]

I measured it once to see about getting it in my shed: 78cm across the bars as I recall :)

I'd always go for the gap. I just don't want put myself in a situation where I have to do it. Or even worse, rely on someone else to make the gap while I'm a passive participant in events. I'm a bit of a 'fraidy cat like that.

Thats a good point .
but theres a lot of room you really dont think is there , good to know there is if you have to