Another close call

[oneofsix]

Hi,
I am posting this just to add to the Hive, if anyone can learn from it then good, its not a bitch just another example of life as it is.

This morning, riding south through Pukerua Bay on SH1 I had a 4wd pull out of Teihana Road on me. There is a "merging" bay, one of those ones about a car length long, not sure of there official designation. A car had safely come out of the same street ahead of the 4WD and well clear of me. There was a gap behind me then a truck and a line of traffic. To complete the scene I should note it was still dark, pre-dawn.
Through Puk Bay I usually give side streets a wide berth as I am aware that at peak it is nearly impossible for the residents to get onto or across SH1. I saw the 4wd start to move out of the side street too close to me to make the merge so presumed they would stop in the merge bay and then pull in behind ... wrong. They pulled straight across the merge bay on top of me, we were side by side with me level with the front passengers door and braking hard as I only had the angle at which they had crossed the road to survive in. By being aware of the issues for Puk Bay residents and therefore on the watch for "desperate moves" I was already primed. By giving a wide berth for the merge bay and being ready to brake we both got to continue our journeys uninterrupted. I also hit the horn and when I pulled in behind the 4wd flashed them to insure they knew I was annoyed by their lack of driving skills.

If I had of started braking hard as soon as they pulled out of Teihana Road I would have lost steering and still not have avoided being within the same piece of road.

I got the rego of the 4wd but couldn't make out the type or colour. Colour could be dark green or blue, type could be Isuzu Trooper, Big Horn, early Prado or Land Crusier.

Now to the mistake, I didn't let it go at that. I tried to match speed to ID the 4wd type or colour, I backed off when I released we were well over the limit, popo likes the south side of puk bay hill. Think the driver had got the message as too how close they had come to being involved in an accident. I also suspect they were worried I wanted to get physical or something cause they made a sudden dive for the Airlie Road exit, glad the traffic was relatively light, still their braking for the turn gave me the chance for the evil look.

Lesson as I saw it. Watch out for turning traffic, give them a wide berth and be ready with the brakes. I suspect the 4wd driver was too focused on getting into traffic before the truck and the queue of traffic behind it to notice a single bike some distance in front of the truck, I don't think they would have seen a small car.

[ajturbo]

well.... your first mistake was.... to live down that way

We Aucklanders are so much better drivers than anywhere else in NZ...

[CookMySock]

When drivers "check" if they can pull out, they don't look for other vehicles. They look for things bigger than them that will kill them, which is probably why their eyes were drawn to the truck in this situation and why they presumably didn't see you whatsoever. His decision-making process terminated at the point where he decided he could safely get away in front of the truck, so he went.

While you are in the near vicinity of a large threatening vehicle, basically you are invisible.

When you ARE the large threatening-looking vehicle then YOU are in command, and peoples decisions will be based you and not the next person.

Change what you must to make the latter true, and then people will see you.

[oneofsix]

When drivers "check" if they can pull out, they don't look for other vehicles. They look for things bigger than them that will kill them, which is probably why their eyes were drawn to the truck in this situation and why they presumably didn't see you whatsoever. His decision-making process terminated at the point where he decided he could safely get away in front of the truck, so he went.

While you are in the near vicinity of a large threatening vehicle, basically you are invisible.

When you ARE the large threatening-looking vehicle then YOU are in command, and peoples decisions will be based you and not the next person.

Change what you must to make the latter true, and then people will see you.

+1 I got the personal satisfaction that they seemed threatened by the seemingly pissed off guy in black on the bike they had cut-off after the event but after the event doesn't avoid the hurt. Glad I didn't get really pissed at them cause that leads to road rage and bad decisions that can bite you many ks later in totally unrelated ways.

[MSTRS:Me]

When you ARE the large threatening-looking vehicle then YOU are in command...

Really?
Another DB fail.

[davebullet]

Really?
Another DB fail.

I think I know what Steve means. Ok - so we are always in command of our own actions, but the largest and most dangerous looking vehicle gets seen / the attention.

[MSTRS:Me]

That's what you think. Talk to truckies - or train drivers. You'll soon understand the truth.

[Murray]

That's what you think. Talk to truckies - or train drivers. You'll soon understand the truth.

Dont know too many vehicles that are larger and more threatening than trucks and trains, I actually think DB's comments are quite valid. When a smaller vehicle is in line or alongside a larger more threatening vehicle, especially in this case (and it was darkish) people do not recognise the smaller vehicle as much.

[CookMySock]

the largest and most dangerous looking vehicle gets seen / the attention.

Yup. Make sure it's you. If you are unable or unwilling, then make sure you are well clear of said dangerous looking vehicle.

[MSTRS:Me]

Can anyone please tell these morons just what truckies and train drivers experience in the form of retards pulling out in front of them.
Being the biggest, meanest MF on the road is NO GUARANTEE of being noticed.
Just as being the smallest is no guarantee of being monstered.
It all depends on who you are up against.

[davebullet]

Can anyone please tell these morons just what truckies and train drivers experience in the form of retards pulling out in front of them.
Being the biggest, meanest MF on the road is NO GUARANTEE of being noticed.
Just as being the smallest is no guarantee of being monstered.
It all depends on who you are up against.

Hey - I'm not saying truckies and train drivers are dangerous. I said "the largest and most dangerous looking vehicles get's peoples' attention". A dangerous vehicle in my book is one that would squash me flat should it lose control or driver not see me.

for example - stupid behaviour is any motorist who cuts in front of a truck taking up the intentional gap the truckie has wisely created as a safe braking zone. this not only pisses off the truckie but could cause a serious pile up. I never use that gap and respect the space a truck needs... because a truck presents danger.

PS: you were right about the moron bit. Don't argue with me as I'll only drag you down to my level and beat you with experience

[MSTRS:Me]

PS: you were right about the moron bit. Don't argue with me as I'll only drag you down to my level and beat you with experience

Bwahaha!!

I guess what you guys mean is that some people take risks with other vehicles, using their size to intimidate?
That's very different from the usual SMIDSY types...who don't see bikes OR trucks. Or trains.

[YellowDog]

This is a typical let morons be morons story that happens every day for many of us.

For me, it's all about ensuring other road users know I am there.

Pip Pip. Pip Pip. - no eye contact - Pip Pip. Pip Pip. Pip Pip.

It works for me.

[davebullet]

Pip Pip. Pip Pip. - no eye contact - Pip Pip. Pip Pip. Pip Pip.

It's no surprise they know you are there with all that farting.

[blackdog]

That's what you think. Talk to truckies - or train drivers. You'll soon understand the truth.

This quote from the other thread, posted on Monday.

Well, my 20 tons of truck was no deterrent to people completely failing to give way to me today. twice. on the second occasion if i had been fully loaded i would have had a nice new bmw hood ornament.

Being 20 tons of truck makes no difference whatsoever.