Had a near miss yesterday
Discussion
Closest call for a long time for me...........
B road under a dual carriageway, came up a hill to go under the underpass, towards the slip road junction saw an upcoming car indicating to turn across me, fine no problems at that point....
Until I'm within 10m & they pull straight across in front of me
(I had my headlights on too!) Don't think they even looked to see me TBH, I geuss they were reading the signs.
Decided stopping was not a useful option, so went round the outside of them (to the right) over the white markings into the oncoming lane which I could see was clear.
They had stopped across my lane, it could well have a been a T-Bone job.
My manouver was one of those Elk tests, quick right, quick left, clench the ass cheeks & check mirror for frickin numpty stopped in terror. Its a deserted B road & I could see nothing else was there.
Thank **** for having sorted suspension & low profiles on my MPV Surf Bus, having taken it around a few of our drift courses it handles really well & is very tidy. Considering as standard it would have not made it on four wheels as I've tried a few of them.
B road under a dual carriageway, came up a hill to go under the underpass, towards the slip road junction saw an upcoming car indicating to turn across me, fine no problems at that point....
Until I'm within 10m & they pull straight across in front of me
(I had my headlights on too!) Don't think they even looked to see me TBH, I geuss they were reading the signs. Decided stopping was not a useful option, so went round the outside of them (to the right) over the white markings into the oncoming lane which I could see was clear.
They had stopped across my lane, it could well have a been a T-Bone job.
My manouver was one of those Elk tests, quick right, quick left, clench the ass cheeks & check mirror for frickin numpty stopped in terror. Its a deserted B road & I could see nothing else was there.
Thank **** for having sorted suspension & low profiles on my MPV Surf Bus, having taken it around a few of our drift courses it handles really well & is very tidy. Considering as standard it would have not made it on four wheels as I've tried a few of them.
Very glad no harm resulted, except perhaps to your undies, but that could have been quite nasty. BTW Declan, many thanks for the camera information.
I generally reckon not to have anxious moments at all, but I had a near miss a few weeks ago.
It was early afternoon on the A58 approaching the Leeds ring road A6120 from the Wetherby side. I was in the process of delivering a new Mondeo to Headingly, and about to pass a side road on the left. A car came along the side road and stopped at the main road in a perfectly normal manner. Everything was fine until I got within a few yards of him, at which point the car moved quickly out into my path.
There was no braking time available so all I could do was a quick swerve (right then left) round him and fortunately there was no contact. It seemed as if the other car leapt out about four feet or so and then stopped again, almost as if the driver's foot had slipped off the clutch pedal.
Anyhow, as I say, there was no harm done, but the question in my mind afterwards was: What could I have done to protect myself against that sort of event?
The road was subject to a 40 mph speed limit, which I was not exceeding. My speed seemed perfectly reasonable in those conditions, which were early afternoon, bright and sunny, dry road.
We normally try to abide by the safe stopping distance rule, but in a case like that where somebody makes a sudden move, the only guarantee of protection would to be to reduce speed down to walking pace until you're safely past the waiting car. Even then he might nip out and hit you in the side, so I don't really think that's the answer.
Any advice folks?
Best wishes all,
Dave.
I generally reckon not to have anxious moments at all, but I had a near miss a few weeks ago.
It was early afternoon on the A58 approaching the Leeds ring road A6120 from the Wetherby side. I was in the process of delivering a new Mondeo to Headingly, and about to pass a side road on the left. A car came along the side road and stopped at the main road in a perfectly normal manner. Everything was fine until I got within a few yards of him, at which point the car moved quickly out into my path.
There was no braking time available so all I could do was a quick swerve (right then left) round him and fortunately there was no contact. It seemed as if the other car leapt out about four feet or so and then stopped again, almost as if the driver's foot had slipped off the clutch pedal.
Anyhow, as I say, there was no harm done, but the question in my mind afterwards was: What could I have done to protect myself against that sort of event?
The road was subject to a 40 mph speed limit, which I was not exceeding. My speed seemed perfectly reasonable in those conditions, which were early afternoon, bright and sunny, dry road.
We normally try to abide by the safe stopping distance rule, but in a case like that where somebody makes a sudden move, the only guarantee of protection would to be to reduce speed down to walking pace until you're safely past the waiting car. Even then he might nip out and hit you in the side, so I don't really think that's the answer.
Any advice folks?
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Heh! Glad it all worked out without a serious incident Declan.
However, did it REALLY all happen as you stated. Wasn't it something like ......... oops, guy is going to cut across me - anything behind me? Nope. Anything behind HIM? Nope. I COULD brake and stop easily but here's a great opportunity for some drifting practise!! Wheeeeeee!!
However, did it REALLY all happen as you stated. Wasn't it something like ......... oops, guy is going to cut across me - anything behind me? Nope. Anything behind HIM? Nope. I COULD brake and stop easily but here's a great opportunity for some drifting practise!! Wheeeeeee!!
dubaiguy said:
Heh! Glad it all worked out without a serious incident Declan.
However, did it REALLY all happen as you stated. Wasn't it something like ......... oops, guy is going to cut across me - anything behind me? Nope. Anything behind HIM? Nope. I COULD brake and stop easily but here's a great opportunity for some drifting practise!! Wheeeeeee!!
Nope it was definately a hit them or avoid them, full on butt clencher let go and clean the driver seat moment.
Had a near miss on Friday night.
Left the A40 at Denham. heading for Amersham, there is then a 3 lane road upto a set of traffic lights, not far from the roundabout is a garden centre.
I'm in the left hand lane accelerating upto 60, I see a little Polo at the entrance of the garden centre. I come off the power slightly and check my mirror to see if I can move across to the middle lane to allow the car out when the stupid woman pulled slowly across all three lanes right in front of me!
Queue me on the horn and lots of tire smoke and a nice big black line down to the road!
I wasn't happy!!! She just carried on her merry way and didn't even see the havoc she had just caused.
Left the A40 at Denham. heading for Amersham, there is then a 3 lane road upto a set of traffic lights, not far from the roundabout is a garden centre.
I'm in the left hand lane accelerating upto 60, I see a little Polo at the entrance of the garden centre. I come off the power slightly and check my mirror to see if I can move across to the middle lane to allow the car out when the stupid woman pulled slowly across all three lanes right in front of me!
Queue me on the horn and lots of tire smoke and a nice big black line down to the road!
I wasn't happy!!! She just carried on her merry way and didn't even see the havoc she had just caused.
Had a silver Puma drive out in front of me at a T junction, around 2pm yesterday afternoon just North of Bicester. He simply didn't brake in time and eventually stopped right in front of me completely blocking my lane, about to create a head on T-bone smash with me. Luckily I hadn't just slammed on the brakes and was waiting to see where he stopped and managed to swerve around him on the wrong side of the road. I'm glad I was in the T350 which coped with the direction changes just fine. A lesser car would have spun out. Of course, he was really luckly it was me paying attention and not someone else who would probably have locked his brakes/ABS'ed right into the side of him. I'd passed 2 Merc Sprinter vans towing trailers 2 minutes earlier - they would have made a real mess of the Puma.
I had been watching this junction as I approached and was slowing because there is a right hand T junction just before this which is blind and dangerous, 100m later the left hand T junction wasn't quite so blind - but the Puma driver was. Straight on for him was into a hedge/ditch so I don't know what he was thinking.
Sports cars are safer!
I had been watching this junction as I approached and was slowing because there is a right hand T junction just before this which is blind and dangerous, 100m later the left hand T junction wasn't quite so blind - but the Puma driver was. Straight on for him was into a hedge/ditch so I don't know what he was thinking.
Sports cars are safer!
Streetcop said:
apart from a SLK that I attended to recently...who's complete bodywork had crumpled upon impact with a VW polo...
So maybe next time I'll just T Bone the Puma at 50mph and kill it's driver then. Serves him right after all and it'll give you something to do.
Meanwhile you know exactly what I mean't. I'd have more chance of avoiding this incident I mentioned in an SLK than a Polo too.
Actually you shouldn't knock Polos. Had one many moons ago, some dopy woman reversed into it in Asda car park.
When I looked at her car thought "Oh no!" Vauxhall Cavalier, well crumpled right up to the C pillar, bumper, both wings kinked, back panel, right mess.
Polo? errrrr bit of plastic broken off the radiator grill, and a very slightly bent bumper hanger.
Couldn't believe that was all, had it fully checked out and yep all OK.
VW:1 GM:0
When I looked at her car thought "Oh no!" Vauxhall Cavalier, well crumpled right up to the C pillar, bumper, both wings kinked, back panel, right mess.
Polo? errrrr bit of plastic broken off the radiator grill, and a very slightly bent bumper hanger.
Couldn't believe that was all, had it fully checked out and yep all OK.
VW:1 GM:0
Streetcop said:
apart from a SLK that I attended to recently...who's complete bodywork had crumpled upon impact with a VW polo...
Correct me if I'm wrong but they would be designed to do that. Very bad looking on the outside but a large degree of protection for the passenger cell inside. Crumpling absorbs impact forces = good.
maxf said:
apart from a SLK that I attended to recently...who's complete bodywork had crumpled upon impact with a VW polo...
Correct me if I'm wrong but they would be designed to do that. Very bad looking on the outside but a large degree of protection for the passenger cell inside. Crumpling absorbs impact forces = good.
I know that mate....but I did write..."complete bodywork"...ie..all of it...The impact speed wasn't very high..but the fire brigade had to cut the Mercedes driver out....I would have hated to see how the car fared on a high impact collision..
Street
Flat in Fifth said:
Actually you shouldn't knock Polos. Had one many moons ago, some dopy woman reversed into it in Asda car park.
When I looked at her car thought "Oh no!" Vauxhall Cavalier, well crumpled right up to the C pillar, bumper, both wings kinked, back panel, right mess.
Polo? errrrr bit of plastic broken off the radiator grill, and a very slightly bent bumper hanger.
Couldn't believe that was all, had it fully checked out and yep all OK.
VW:1 GM:0
FiF, the Polo has to have been the best small car ever made; I've had dozens of them through my hands and they are beautifully put together and so nice to drive.
And they can take a helluva belt in a bump, important to young mothers with children.
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