Bizarre manouvers by drivers ahead of you?

[howdamnhard]

Riding home tonight in the wet , when suddenly idiot driver in front decides he is going the wrong way and does a handbrake turn right in front of me. :eek:Guess I managed to avoid hitting him by swerving around the outside of him due to have maintained the correct following distance and speed for the conditions.
Anybody else got some tales of seemingly random and idiotic behaviour by drivers up ahead of them and what measures they took and how effective they were?

[skidMark]

About 3 years ago when i had my gpx 250, pootling down remuera road as you do.... 2 lanes each way im in the right lane... in the left lane staggered a car length ahead is an altezza... i was not in her blind spot... no indication noting she swings a u turn...

Had nowhere to go and collected her rear quarter at about 20kph... managed to wash off some speed but i was screwed really...

i came out of it alright.... smashed up my bike a bit though so i wasn't impressed...

cops found her 100% at fault but still pissed off to have nice stuff ruined by some soccer mum's idiocy.

[howdamnhard]

About 3 years ago when i had my gpx 250, pootling down remuera road as you do.... 2 lanes each way im in the right lane... in the left lane staggered a car length ahead is an altezza... i was not in her blind spot... no indication noting she swings a u turn...

Had nowhere to go and collected her rear quarter at about 20kph... managed to wash off some speed but i was screwed really...

i came out of it alright.... smashed up my bike a bit though so i wasn't impressed...

cops found her 100% at fault but still pissed off to have nice stuff ruined by some soccer mum's idiocy.

Yeh the dreaded U turn has got to be one of the worst.

[skidMark]

Yeh the dreaded U turn has got to be one of the worst.


Shit goes from a normal riding day to a HOLY shit really fast....

hell id rather lose the front around a open road corner at 150 than have a car u turn infront... theres nothing you can do with the u turners.

[LBD]

On a wide street in Bishkek, indicated to turn right (Reversed for NZ left side of the road driving) into a side street. I stopped on the centerline, angled slightly toward the side street and waited for a couple of oncomming cars to pass. When the last car was about to pass I began to pull away..........and was overtaken on my right by a car squeezing between me and the last on coming car.....

Seen the thread on Asian driver....Central Asian drivers get the gong.

[Gubb]

Had nowhere to go and collected her rear quarter at about 20kph... managed to wash off some speed but i was screwed really....

Why didn't you stop in 2 meters?

[CookMySock]

theres nothing you can do with the u turners.Yes there is. Next time aim for the drivers' door. Bright headlight + noisy exhaust + angry biker + door aim = NEVER do it again.

Steve

[sunhuntin]

only really had one. was an old woman.
i had followed her for about 5 or 6 blocks. this is a long straight, and its a road i hate due to the amount of side roads. now, this woman literally had her brakes on the ENTIRE road, while pulling more and more to the left, as if she was going to turn.
we get to the last block before main street, and finally her indicator flicks on for the left turn id been expecting. i get ready to pass, and am about to start, when i see a flash come from the RIGHT indicator. the old bat swings back in my direction. it took a few milli seconds [if there is such a thing] to figure that braking would be an idea. i stop at a point where im looking through her drivers window. the following van also stops and hits the horn, and i follow suit. until i blasted her, i dont think she even realised i was there. i swore at her loudly [well, ok, screamed at her] and continued to work, where i spent 5 mins just sitting on the bike shaking. i was very tempted to follow her and give her a few lessons and maybe suggest she hand in her license, but i would have lost my cool and really said some things id regret.
if myself and the van hadnt stopped, her car, and likely her, would have taken major damage, as my front would have taken out her drivers door.

i havent seen anyone driving like that since, so im assuming she got a hell of a scare and quit driving.

[CookMySock]

if myself and the van hadnt stopped, her car, and likely her, would have taken major damage, as my front would have taken out her drivers door. [...] im assuming she got a hell of a scare and quit driving.Good. Thank you! We are all much better off.

Steve

[MSTRS]

Why didn't you stop in 2 meters?
Silly boy...GPX250s don't have USD forks....



if myself and the van hadnt stopped, her car, and likely her, would have taken major damage, as my front would have taken out her drivers door.


Me, I'd be more worried about damage to me and my bike...

[Okey Dokey]

Kind of unusual to see anyone do a handbrake turn these days, howdamnhard. Maybe the guy is a rally driver? Was it controlled/ well executed?

Now I know that it was done in an inappropriate place, from the sound of it, but it still is a neat maneuvre...

[sunhuntin]

Me, I'd be more worried about damage to me and my bike...

true, but i was going slow enough to stop safely, and i really hate being rude to oldies, no matter what they have done to deserve it. her piss poor driving before the turn was enough to keep me far back from her, and at a speed of around 40k, just in case. the fact i used several swear words was bad enough. managed to restrain myself from calling her a cunt though, lol.

ive had more trouble from drivers behind me. most annoying was being undertaken while stopped at a ped crossing right outside the hospital. bloody cocksucking boy racer.

[MarkH]

2 lanes each way im in the right lane... in the left lane staggered a car length ahead is an altezza... no indication noting she swings a u turn...

Not just a U turn, but a fuckin' moronically stupid U turn. From the left lane of a 4 lane road with plenty of traffic about? :weird: Some bitches be crazy!

[Hitcher]

Do I win?

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=30683&highlight=rav4

[DangerMice]

In the space of about 3 months I've had:

A bus pull across 2 lanes of traffic to get around another bus, pity I was in the 2nd lane. Hard on the picks and stopped when he was at about a 45 degree angle across my lane.

A woman do a sudden u-turn in front of me across 4 lanes . Nothing coming the other way, so she obviously didn't check the lane beside her. Was going down a hill & I thought I was going to snap the brake cable stopping for that one.

Just today a bus pushed me out of my lane twice in the space of a minute when the driver couldn't decide wether she wanted to be in the bus lane or not, and which lane she wanted at the lights. Braked and swerved into flush median/RH turning lane for those.

A driver who took exception to me filtering up to the lights. Planted his boot on the green, sped past me so close he brushed my leg, then slammed the brakes on. I was impressed as he had cell phone to ear in one hand and other hand out the window giving me the finger. I slowed easily enough as we'd only just cleared the intersection and just sat behind him, giving him the :nono:. Filtered way past him at the next lights, giving him a different hand gesture of my own as I went passed.

And of course, the obligatory driver who dangerously passed me in the face of oncoming traffic, only to then brake 30 metres up the road and turn into a driveway. No action required there except a slow "wtf are you doing" shake of the head.


Yes I'm on a scooter, but I'm not slow. I beat most cars off the line at the lights, and I cruise easily at the 60ish general traffic speed so I don't hold anyone up. Hell, I don't even filter if I know I'll be a bit slower, eg lights at the bottom of a hill, so as not to piss anyone off.

Pity the same courtesy isn't to extended back to me from those on 4 wheels. (or 10, friggin' buses).

[Ixion]

Folowed a cage off the motorway t'other day, up the off ramp. Just before the top, she hangs a U turn, drives BACK DOWN the off ramp, and turns back onto the motorway! Obviously decided that wasn't her offramp! Luckily it was a two lane off ramp. Not seen THAT one before.

[skidMark]

Folowed a cage off the motorway t'other day, up the off ramp. Just before the top, she hangs a U turn, drives BACK DOWN the off ramp, and turns back onto the motorway! Obviously decided that wasn't her offramp! Luckily it was a two lane off ramp. Not seen THAT one before.


Jesus christ.... we know which question she failed on her theory test....

why the fuck wouldnt she just go straight through and then take the on ramp and keep going?

what a daft bitch... did you throw some gene-o-kleen at her?

[Mom]

Well I have for your reading pleasure the boy racer type entering the motorway from my left. I can see him coming, his merge lane actually is the slow lane of the motorway, so he does not need to merge into my lane. We are side by side when I got a distinct spidey feeling and throttled off a bit, next thing he is moving into my lane. I have traffic to my right and could not duck away to the right (was on a GN so did not have the ummm pick up throttle ability to get ahead of him) so had to apply maximum brakes to drop behind him. Far too close for my comfort levels. I tootled melodiously at him once I was safe in behind him, he looks in his mirror and grins! What a cutie!

[MarkH]

How about this:
I am driving along the main street of Hamilton, 2 lanes and I am in the left. The driver in the right lane starts moving over to my lane, I am right beside her so I toot my horn. She swerves back into her lane. Then while I am still directly beside her, she starts moving over again. Seriously - WTF!

BTW
This was when I was driving my car.

[howdamnhard]

Kind of unusual to see anyone do a handbrake turn these days, howdamnhard. Maybe the guy is a rally driver? Was it controlled/ well executed?

Now I know that it was done in an inappropriate place, from the sound of it, but it still is a neat maneuvre...

No it was'nt well executed as he ended up side on and across most of my lane. Took a few milliseconds to work what the F#$k was going on until I reacted. Following correct distance bought me enough time.

[howdamnhard]

Do I win?

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=30683&highlight=rav4

Yeh that one would be hard to beat . I probably wouldn't believe the reverse lights until I noticed said vehicle was not moving. Would cut down on ones reaction time.

[modboy]

Riding along Petone foreshore (towards Hutt Park Roundabout) and a truck stopped at a stop sign near the Wharf area, looks at me approaching then decides to turn right west bound, as he pulls out I have no option but to hard counter steer to the right ending up on the wrong side of the road, on the wrong side of the median strip heading towards oncoming traffic.

I stop and - as does the car heading directly towards me - the guy gets out says are you ok - I say, did you just see what happened - yep saw it all he said I thought I'd be scraping you off the road. The truck driver just drives off oblivious...

geez, I've had a couple of nightmares reliving that one.

[ralph4alice]

... hangs a U turn, drives BACK DOWN the off ramp, and turns back onto the motorway!

wtf?? I take it there wasn't an on-ramp nearby? Eg: SH1 intersection with Esmonde Road say, or Northcote Road?

Which offramp was it?

[ralph4alice]

A couple of years ago: cycling one morning to work down Onslow Road.

A note about this road: it's a main route from hilly (like a lot of Wellington) Khandallah, which snakes down the hillside to the waterfront (intersecting with Old Hutt Road). As it comes out over the side of the hill for the last part down to the bottom, there's several tight hairpins, intermixed with a few relatively long straights. So if you're overtaking and zipping down the straights, you're advised to pay attention to the road ahead because you'll be into the hairpin before you know it.

So anyways... wet gray morning, probably around 7:30, plenty of light as I remember. Just gone around a right-hander at the top of the final run down to the bottom, and a car overtakes me. Clearly they couldn't handle the idea I wanted to slow down a little for a blind right-hander on a wet road. They zoom off down an aforementioned straight, and then overcook it into the hairpin, skidding over the centerline Didn't really spin much, they just ended up pointing more or less in the correct direction, but on the wrong side of the road.

About one minute later they (predictably) were waiting in the queue at the red light (remembering that we're in the buildup to morning rush hour). I went past slowly, trying to catch a glimpse of the driver, and making sure they couldn't possibly miss the fact I had passed them in spite of their brilliant maneuver.

I'd class this driver as the kind who doesn't think more than a few seconds ahead, and who doesn't pay much attention to the road much further than the bit in front of their bumper... ie: 1) "hmmm, rush hour > likely to be a queue at the lights > we're going downhill > no point in overtaking a bicycle as it'll probably go past me at the bottom" ... 2) "wet day > this road has some tight bends > hmmm, pedal to the metal down this straight probably not a wise idea".

I had the distinct feeling said driver was feeling like a complete twat. Hope so!

[Danae]

Haven't been riding on my scooter for that long, but as this is Auckland I've already had a few close calls.
I was pootling up Khyber Pass Rd as it was raining so couldn't take the shortcut through the domain. I'm in the right lane, a bus is ahead of me in the bus lane to my left. As I just about come level to the driver, she decides she wants to be in my lane. I'm pushed way over, and I'm almost ahead of her so braking and falling behind isn't really an option. My little scooter is such a little beast, it manages to get out of the way while going uphill. XD Bus driver doesn't even see me til I'm actually in front of her. :nono:

[Ixion]

wtf?? I take it there wasn't an on-ramp nearby? Eg: SH1 intersection with Esmonde Road say, or Northcote Road?

Which offramp was it?

In fairness, it was an off ramp with no on ramp (ie no on ramp going the direction you were before you got off.) Ti Aorangi (or wotever itz speld) Drive. Has an off ramp going souf, an on ramp going norf. I'm guessing the bint wanted the Manukau City off ramp, couple of hundred metres further on.

[bogan]

was riding down a residential street, doing about 50, oncoming car indicates to turn right into a driveway, slows to very nearly a halt (5kmhr or so) im about 10-15m away at this point, car then proceeds to amble across my path, hard on the anchors, locked the rear up (bugger all weight on it anyway) and slammed into the rear passenger door. Just manged to keep it upright, though i was straddling the tank with some very sore gentlemens parts. Forks were slightly bent but they paid to get them fixed. Unfotunately due to sun glare i couldnt see into that car so assumed she had seen me, dont know how she could not, headlight on dim, sun was behind her. So all in all a rather cheap way to learn that cagers should alway be treated as morons!

[howdamnhard]

was riding down a residential street, doing about 50, oncoming car indicates to turn right into a driveway, slows to very nearly a halt (5kmhr or so) im about 10-15m away at this point, car then proceeds to amble across my path, hard on the anchors, locked the rear up (bugger all weight on it anyway) and slammed into the rear passenger door. Just manged to keep it upright, though i was straddling the tank with some very sore gentlemens parts. Forks were slightly bent but they paid to get them fixed. Unfotunately due to sun glare i couldnt see into that car so assumed she had seen me, dont know how she could not, headlight on dim, sun was behind her. So all in all a rather cheap way to learn that cagers should alway be treated as morons!

Had a similiar thing happen one night coming home from work in the wet.Also residential road and people mover turning right. It had slowed right down, I moved a little left in my lane to ensure they saw me. Then when I was right on top of them they turned in front of me.Emergency braked ,locked the back up ,realised I wasn't going to be able to stop in time, so released braked and countersteered hard left,all I could see was side of cage and braced for impact. It never came , must have missed by a foot . The combination of emergency braking and countersteering saved the day, Thanks Ride right ride safe for all the emergency braking and counter steering practice.

[bogan]

Had a similiar thing happen one night coming home from work in the wet.Also residential road and people mover turning right. It had slowed right down, I moved a little left in my lane to ensure they saw me. Then when I was right on top of them they turned in front of me.Emergency braked ,locked the back up ,realised I wasn't going to be able to stop in time, so released braked and countersteered hard left,all I could see was side of cage and braced for impact. It never came , must have missed by a foot . The combination of emergency braking and countersteering saved the day, Thanks Ride right ride safe for all the emergency braking and counter steering practice.

yeh if i had been more onto it i probably could have done a similar manuovre, but couldnt decide which side to go around until it was too late.

[DangerMice]

Haven't been riding on my scooter for that long, but as this is Auckland I've already had a few close calls.
I was pootling up Khyber Pass Rd as it was raining so couldn't take the shortcut through the domain. I'm in the right lane, a bus is ahead of me in the bus lane to my left. As I just about come level to the driver, she decides she wants to be in my lane. I'm pushed way over, and I'm almost ahead of her so braking and falling behind isn't really an option. My little scooter is such a little beast, it manages to get out of the way while going uphill. XD Bus driver doesn't even see me til I'm actually in front of her. :nono:

I had the same thing last week, only I was halfway along the bus so I got pushed out into oncoming traffic, not once, but twice in the space 500m. I made a complaint to the bus company (Ritchies) and got an apology a week later, with the obligatory "the driver says she did not see you". Watch out for bus #711 on Gt. North Road/K Road! :2guns: I can post the email up if anyone is interested.

[howdamnhard]

Sometimes nothing you do will prevent a prang. Having said that though the more time you have the better your chances, didn't sound like you had much time.You can try buy time by correct following distances, speed, road positioning looking and thinking ahead, practising emergency manouvres, trianing , imagining different scenarios and how to deal with them . Reflex reactions are must faster than trying to think what to do once in a emergency situation, having thought solutions and practiced manouvres saves valueable time.

[Supertwin Don]

At least most of you guys could SEE the other vehicle - many years ago in Invercargill, in seriously thick fog - like can't see the sides of the road from the centreline! - proceeding VERY cautiously at about 5mph just to the left of the centreline looking for the change in road marking which signifies the junction I wanted to turn right into, when a car whistles past me at about 25mph GOING THE OTHER WAY - ON MY LEFT!!!
That was definitely change of underwear time!!!

[sunhuntin]

holy shit! i think i would have been tempted to walk the rest of the way. far out! ive only ridden in decent fog once, and i just flicked my hazards on. worse than riding in rain.

[bogan]

At least most of you guys could SEE the other vehicle - many years ago in Invercargill, in seriously thick fog - like can't see the sides of the road from the centreline! - proceeding VERY cautiously at about 5mph just to the left of the centreline looking for the change in road marking which signifies the junction I wanted to turn right into, when a car whistles past me at about 25mph GOING THE OTHER WAY - ON MY LEFT!!!
That was definitely change of underwear time!!!

fuckin aye, think we have a winner!

[rosie631]

most annoying was being undertaken while stopped at a ped crossing right outside the hospital. bloody cocksucking boy racer.

What is undertaking? Is it passing on the inside?

[ralph4alice]

I'm guessing the bint wanted the Manukau City off ramp, couple of hundred metres further on.

Hmmmm. Guess they can't have been thinking much: the overhead sign would show them another offramp 750m along - so whether they wanted Manukau City, or just to stay on the motorway... they'd see that there was another interchange nearby! Could have just gone onto Gt Sth Rd and cruised along to said interchange and sorted it out from there.

Perhaps they didn't know the area.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Te+Aorangi,+Manukau,+New+Zealand&sll=-37.07949,174.922514&sspn=0.042592,0.064631&ie=UTF8&ll=-36.982595,174.883032&spn=0,359.991921&t=k&z=17&layer=c&cbll=-36.982717,174.883093&panoid=dM-fM7ZcaxLqDiiOEKdk2g&cbp=12,133.93,,0,0.94

[Ixion]

You expect that sort of intelligence from a cager? It's pretty plain you've never been to Auckland.

[Shadows]

What is undertaking? Is it passing on the inside?

Yep
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __

[ralph4alice]

You expect that sort of intelligence from a cager? It's pretty plain you've never been to Auckland.

Been there a number of times. Can't stand the place. Endless vast expanses of city, with the motorway sort of just sweeping you along in the midst of a huge tide of vehicles... motorcyclists must really have to keep their wits about them.

[Shadows]

Endless vast expanses of city, with the motorway sort of just sweeping you along in the midst of a huge tide of vehicles...

What? Does the traffic actually move sometimes?

[MarkH]

What? Does the traffic actually move sometimes?

He can't have been travelling in Auckland at peak times - only motorcycles exceed 10kph in peak traffic on Auckland motorways. This probably makes peak time the safest time for motorcyclists - the cars are moving slowly and don't have much room to do dumb stuff.

[Mikkel]

There's a new silver Range Rovers out there that doesn't have to give way at the roundabout between Riccarton Ave and Riccarton Road in Chch - DAMHIK.

[PCTC]

U turns were put on this earth so the cadges had some way of scaring the shit out of bikers

[sunhuntin]

What is undertaking? Is it passing on the inside?

yep it, and its damn scary cos its not something you expect. every undertaker ive had has been within city limits. the majority of them were while moving, and gave me a hell of a fright. the ped crossing one was just stupidity as if there had been a kid, they wouldnt have had a hope in hell, despite being outside the hospital.

[Mikkel]

U turns were put on this earth so the cadges had some way of scaring the shit out of bikers

If all they ever did was just scare us I'd be less pissed off with that particular habit.