Nearly killed a motorcyclist this morning
Discussion
Passing a line of cars in lane 3 on the M25 near Heathrow. Go to pull in as normal, and a bike has appeared in my nearside blind spot.
Only reason I didn’t have him off was his quick reach for the horn. I get the idea of using a bike to beat the traffic when it snarls up, but to power up the inside of live lanes of twilight bleary-eyed rush hour traffic travelling in the rain at 50mph you must have a death wish.
Be careful out there everyone. And always think ‘Does that car know I’m here’
Only reason I didn’t have him off was his quick reach for the horn. I get the idea of using a bike to beat the traffic when it snarls up, but to power up the inside of live lanes of twilight bleary-eyed rush hour traffic travelling in the rain at 50mph you must have a death wish.
Be careful out there everyone. And always think ‘Does that car know I’m here’
I generally give bikes and motorbikes a wide berth and leave loads of space when passing.
The biggest problems I encounter are when bikes pass me without leaving the same levels of space.
They sneak up into blind spots and the insides of turning circles.
Drivers used to be told to treat bikes like small cars.
I wish the cyclists would take thier own advice and not keep filtering where there isn't safe space to do so.
The biggest problems I encounter are when bikes pass me without leaving the same levels of space.
They sneak up into blind spots and the insides of turning circles.
Drivers used to be told to treat bikes like small cars.
I wish the cyclists would take thier own advice and not keep filtering where there isn't safe space to do so.
DaveCWK said:
N Dentressangle said:
How did the bike just 'appear'?
I'm guessing they filtered between lanes 1 and 2 before positioning themselves in lane 2 just as I was pulling in. Yes I looked over my shoulder, no I didn't see them.If I'd made the maneuvre you describe on a bike, I'd be expecting you to pull back in (rightly or wrongly) and making appropriate space. Some riders are more 'assertive'...
DaveCWK said:
Passing a line of cars in lane 3 on the M25 near Heathrow. Go to pull in as normal, and a bike has appeared in my nearside blind spot.
Only reason I didn’t have him off was his quick reach for the horn. I get the idea of using a bike to beat the traffic when it snarls up, but to power up the inside of live lanes of twilight bleary-eyed rush hour traffic travelling in the rain at 50mph you must have a death wish.
Be careful out there everyone. And always think ‘Does that car know I’m here’
This is your fault. You shouldn't be driving if you are not able to know what every human is doing within a 100 mile radius of your location and adapt for it. You shouldn't have allowed it to rain or get dark either. Only reason I didn’t have him off was his quick reach for the horn. I get the idea of using a bike to beat the traffic when it snarls up, but to power up the inside of live lanes of twilight bleary-eyed rush hour traffic travelling in the rain at 50mph you must have a death wish.
Be careful out there everyone. And always think ‘Does that car know I’m here’
You need to understand just how wrong you have been.
And as for concentrating on the road ahead. You need to stop that. Always be looking out the back of the car. Always.
I hope you've learned your lesson but I'm sure many other PHers will be along to inform you that you are wrong and have done something very bad and are a disfunctional human.
DonkeyApple said:
DaveCWK said:
Passing a line of cars in lane 3 on the M25 near Heathrow. Go to pull in as normal, and a bike has appeared in my nearside blind spot.
Only reason I didn’t have him off was his quick reach for the horn. I get the idea of using a bike to beat the traffic when it snarls up, but to power up the inside of live lanes of twilight bleary-eyed rush hour traffic travelling in the rain at 50mph you must have a death wish.
Be careful out there everyone. And always think ‘Does that car know I’m here’
This is your fault. You shouldn't be driving if you are not able to know what every human is doing within a 100 mile radius of your location and adapt for it. You shouldn't have allowed it to rain or get dark either. Only reason I didn’t have him off was his quick reach for the horn. I get the idea of using a bike to beat the traffic when it snarls up, but to power up the inside of live lanes of twilight bleary-eyed rush hour traffic travelling in the rain at 50mph you must have a death wish.
Be careful out there everyone. And always think ‘Does that car know I’m here’
You need to understand just how wrong you have been.
And as for concentrating on the road ahead. You need to stop that. Always be looking out the back of the car. Always.
I hope you've learned your lesson but I'm sure many other PHers will be along to inform you that you are wrong and have done something very bad and are a disfunctional human.
It's why I avoid commuting in the dark; in heavy traffic your headlights are just lost in the sea of lights behind. If it's raining it's a lot worse and you're almost invisible, and as a biker I appreciate that with the best will in the world that car drivers might not see you even if they are being very careful.
I find vilifying drivers for honest mistakes to be rather harsh.
I find vilifying drivers for honest mistakes to be rather harsh.
Anyone or anything closing on another vehicle is effectively overtaking. They're looking forward and they are "taking the risk" passing so it is their responsibility to keep out of the way not yours. Yes you have an obligation to check as best as possible which you did. The rules of the waves are actually a better guide than the highway code.
Why does anyone on two wheels seem convinced that everything revolves around them and they have no responsibility?
Why does anyone on two wheels seem convinced that everything revolves around them and they have no responsibility?
DonkeyApple said:
This is your fault. You shouldn't be driving if you are not able to know what every human is doing within a 100 mile radius of your location and adapt for it. You shouldn't have allowed it to rain or get dark either.
You need to understand just how wrong you have been.
And as for concentrating on the road ahead. You need to stop that. Always be looking out the back of the car. Always.
I hope you've learned your lesson but I'm sure many other PHers will be along to inform you that you are wrong and have done something very bad and are a disfunctional human.
You need to understand just how wrong you have been.
And as for concentrating on the road ahead. You need to stop that. Always be looking out the back of the car. Always.
I hope you've learned your lesson but I'm sure many other PHers will be along to inform you that you are wrong and have done something very bad and are a disfunctional human.
Brilliant.
Now prepare OP for the usual PH response where at first it will be your fault and then it will
develop into a pissing competition culminating with 300bhp/tonne turning up to let us know what idiots we all are because we don't agree with him.
RemyMartin said:
Your story makes no sense, things don't just appear. This is down to poor observation. Sure you looked but I bet you didn't give more than a seconds glance in your blind spot.
Lucky the motorcyclist has better reactions.
The motorcyclist would have also been undertaking which the Highway code says you should not be doing.Lucky the motorcyclist has better reactions.
Tom8 said:
Why does anyone on two wheels seem convinced that everything revolves around them and they have no responsibility?
Only some of them, and there's lots of people on 4 or more wheels who think the same way too. There's quite a few bikers commenting on this thread who aren't slagging off the driver, and bear in mind most bikers are also car drivers. As a biker I'd like to think I'm probably more observant of such things than the average car driver (I certainly noticed a difference in the Mrs observations skills when she learned to ride), and I agree in the conditions the OP described it can be very tricky to spot a bike. Nobody got hurt and it's promoted some discussion that hopefully means a few car drivers will be a bit more conscious of their blind spots, and a few more bikers will be a bit more conscious of their visibility.trashbat said:
sinbad666 said:
The motorcyclist would have also been undertaking which the Highway code says you should not be doing.
Better tell these two.
Anyway OP, near miss, chalk it up to experience and you'll look more closely next time.
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