I nearly died today
Discussion
I had the scariest motoring moment today that I think I have ever had. I came around a lh part of an s bend in a 40 limited, s-bended country road. I was prob doing about 30mph. Coming the other way was a car on his side of the road and a big motorbike (prob a hog) overtaking at extremely high speed. He was on my side of the road and was leant right over.
I emergency-stopped and he just squeezed through. If he had hit me it would have been very nasty indeed.
Is that just one of those things, or can anyone add stuff that I could do/could have done to reduce the risk (other than stay in bed)?
Bert
I emergency-stopped and he just squeezed through. If he had hit me it would have been very nasty indeed.
Is that just one of those things, or can anyone add stuff that I could do/could have done to reduce the risk (other than stay in bed)?
Bert
bertbert said:
I had the scariest motoring moment today that I think I have ever had. I came around a lh part of an s bend in a 40 limited, s-bended country road. I was prob doing about 30mph. Coming the other way was a car on his side of the road and a big motorbike (prob a hog) overtaking at extremely high speed. He was on my side of the road and was leant right over.
I emergency-stopped and he just squeezed through. If he had hit me it would have been very nasty indeed.
Is that just one of those things, or can anyone add stuff that I could do/could have done to reduce the risk (other than stay in bed)?
Bert
I emergency-stopped and he just squeezed through. If he had hit me it would have been very nasty indeed.
Is that just one of those things, or can anyone add stuff that I could do/could have done to reduce the risk (other than stay in bed)?
Bert
If you've avoided a collision, then no, there was nothing else you could have done. You were below the speed limit, you've reacted to what you saw and an accident didn't occurr. Unfortunately, in driving, you can't account for other people's actions, you can only compensate for them, so in observing the safe stopping rule, you've not had a collision that a lot of other drivers would have had.
I bet the motorcyclist has had a harder think about their actions than you have though.
- went round the bend at a speed you can stop in. 
That's life I'm afraid.
Glad nothing awful happened.
However, we are each the architect of our own destiny.
In all areas of life, despite what those in charge would like to think and legislate for.
Mind, I've twice recently had a similar situation on a NSL single carriageway road.
The approaching vehicle?
Oh, white car with blue lights and sirens. Pushing vehicles to the nearside in it's direction but not really taking account of the approaching LH bend around which I was coming.
Luckily I don't do target fixation.
So, space was made.
To add, Mrs. WG, with me on one of those times and also IAM qualified, remarked "What was he playing at?".
Glad nothing awful happened.
However, we are each the architect of our own destiny.
In all areas of life, despite what those in charge would like to think and legislate for.
Mind, I've twice recently had a similar situation on a NSL single carriageway road.
The approaching vehicle?
Oh, white car with blue lights and sirens. Pushing vehicles to the nearside in it's direction but not really taking account of the approaching LH bend around which I was coming.
Luckily I don't do target fixation.
So, space was made.
To add, Mrs. WG, with me on one of those times and also IAM qualified, remarked "What was he playing at?".
Edited by WhoseGeneration on Saturday 28th April 20:58
Exactly the same happened to me a few years back.
So I know how you feel
Very scary stuff.
Still not quite too sure how he didnt manage to embed his bike in the front of my car and himself through my windscreen and through me.
You were driving sensibly with speed matching the limit point - not much else you can do really.
So I know how you feel
Very scary stuff.
Still not quite too sure how he didnt manage to embed his bike in the front of my car and himself through my windscreen and through me.
You were driving sensibly with speed matching the limit point - not much else you can do really.
The only thing I can think of is could your positioning have afforded you a better view of the road ahead, thus alerting you to the developing situation and allowing you to stop earlier or pull over more? Or could you have had your vision lifted further and seen clues (or heard the oncoming bike???) that might have alerted you to the situation ahead?
But as said, you were travelling at a safe speed, were able to stop and unfortunately it fell to your hands to avert disaster. Well Done! It's incidents where you are forced to deal with the extraordinary that test your mettle, and you passed this one by the sounds of it.
But as said, you were travelling at a safe speed, were able to stop and unfortunately it fell to your hands to avert disaster. Well Done! It's incidents where you are forced to deal with the extraordinary that test your mettle, and you passed this one by the sounds of it.
bertbert said:
I had the scariest motoring moment today that I think I have ever had. I came around a lh part of an s bend in a 40 limited, s-bended country road. I was prob doing about 30mph. Coming the other way was a car on his side of the road and a big motorbike (prob a hog) overtaking at extremely high speed. He was on my side of the road and was leant right over.
I emergency-stopped and he just squeezed through. If he had hit me it would have been very nasty indeed.
Is that just one of those things, or can anyone add stuff that I could do/could have done to reduce the risk (other than stay in bed)?
Bert
I emergency-stopped and he just squeezed through. If he had hit me it would have been very nasty indeed.
Is that just one of those things, or can anyone add stuff that I could do/could have done to reduce the risk (other than stay in bed)?
Bert
The fact that due to your driving nothing happened is a credit to you. I hope the biker on reflection realised this too. This is one of those situations where the outcome is not entirely in your hands, but partly to luck and circumstance. I really do not think you could have done any better. Also, the biker must be credited with not letting off, as that would have pulled him more upright, and probably into the path of you car.
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