Was this my fault?

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Henry Hawthorne

Original Poster:

6,347 posts

218 months

Thursday 21st May 2009
quotequote all
On the road today for the second time on my fixie. Was riding through Farnham in Surrey (the road from the Six Bells roundabout into central Farnham past the new hospital if anyone knows it). There was a queue of traffic approx. 30 cars long and there was no space on the inside so the options were: to hop onto the path (which I wouldn't do), stop and wait, or overtake on the right.

I started overtaking on the right and (in hindsight) I may have been going a little too fast (but not ridiculously - for argument's sake I'd say I was going 20mph). I continued past about fifteen of the cars. On the right there are side roads. As I approach one of these side roads a lady pulls out of the queue (clearly without looking - but this is somewhat irrelevant) to pull into the sideroad. She isn't precisely in line with the side road but pulls out of the queue before driving about 5m down the road to the side road. I didn't see her indicated but as I say I was travelling quite fast so cannot say for sure if she was or not. Anyway, she pulls out and I need to skid to an (almost) stop to avoid her. She clearly hadn't seen me as she gave a little yelp as I had nearly gone past her.

Now, my question is, was I in the right or wrong? I see no problem with me overtaking on the right but because I was going past a junction perhaps I should have slowed. However, the silly moo should have looked in her mirrors to actually see if anything was coming. Luckily an accident was avoided this time, but next time I may not be so lucky I fear. As I see it, perhaps we are both partially to blame?

Henry Hawthorne

Original Poster:

6,347 posts

218 months

Friday 22nd May 2009
quotequote all
Okay thanks guys, will keep my speed in check next time. thumbup

I always check over my shoulder when filtering back in since I'm sometimes more wary of psychlists (haha! just came up with that one myself! getmecoat ) than car drivers...

Just glad I didn't come off this time. smile