NEAR MISS THREAD

[Val]

All the science stuff about smidsys is very interesting but not really relevent when they simply dont foccing look. .

Agree or if they are looking at their smartphone only I mean the amount of people texting with one hand is unbeleivable 

[HarryHornby]

The driver behind me loudly honked the horn at me, so a bit bemused I looked around and a woman was waving her left hand at me while her right hand had her phone to her ear!

When I stopped about a foot from his door and told him to FOCCIN USE HIS EYES his first reaction was to tell me to slow down!!!!

One of the advantages of this time of year is the number of drivers with their windows wound down. Means you can pull up alongside and give them some 'specific advice'. Especially if they are on their phone. Particularly effective if you have a dark visor and a loud exhaust.

I do like pulling up next to a driver on their phone, window down with me reving the nuts off the bike.  They normally get the message..... 

[TomS_]

Had my first close call yesterday. Ive only been riding for a week or two at this stage. Its wild out there.

[fazersharp]

What the fuck did I just see at 12 seconds the grim reaper walking across the crossing

[mtread]

What the fuck did I just see at 12 seconds the grim reaper walking across the crossing

It's Slough. What do you expect ?

[Grahamm]

Had my first close call yesterday. Ive only been riding for a week or two at this stage. Its wild out there.

Three simple rules to remember:

1) Don't assume they've seen you.

2) Don't assume they'll respect you right of way.

3) Do assume they'll do something stupid.

On a roundabout like that I *always* expect someone to try to pull out, so I automatically cover the horn button and I'm prepared to make a sharp evasive manoeuvre to the right (I've already checked there's nothing inside me, of course!)

I'm watching to see if they're looking at me and checking if their wheels are still rotating (or starting to) and judging their speed if they're just approaching the Give Way line to see if they're slowing down or will be able to stop before I reach the point at which we could collide.

If I'm not sure, a quick toot-toot on the horn will get their attention (followed by a friendly "thank you" wave to avoid a Tarmac Tantrum)

Next time you'll be ready for it

[Frosties]

What the fuck did I just see at 12 seconds the grim reaper walking across the crossing

It's Slough. What do you expect ?

My thoughts entirely and that roundabout off the M4 is always a black spot - no license holders around there fella.

[joebloggs]

Preventing near misses is the way forward.
As has been said, expect the unexpected and never assume the driver has seen you. I think road positioning is vital to staying safe. I look for many indications when approaching a junction, what road side furniture can I be hidden by, what vehicles are behind me, where am I in relation to their headlights (in the dark my light may be seen as one of the cars further behind me) is the sun blinding them (especially dangerous if its behind you and your lights are on) Etc etc. But for me the most important part of defensive riding is can I see his or her eyes. Simple really, if you cant see them, assume they cant see you. No matter how many times they turn their heads if you are hidden behind the A-pillar you don't exist. So I try to see the road from their perspective, move to a position where I give them the best chance of seeing me, its not perfect although it definitely helps prevent those heart stopping moments.

A couple of years ago a local lad on a Blade was killed when a driver pulled out in front of him. I didn't know him but a lad I worked with did. I asked him what happened and he said that this new driver pulled straight out of a junction. The rider was going so fast he just about cut the car in half. he was killed instantly and left this young woman with a broken neck. Sure she shouldn't have pulled out but I doubt there would be many drivers who wouldn't have made the same mistake. Sometimes, no matter how you look at it, we are in the wrong. Just not nice admitting it.

[dazza]

I suppose this one counts as a near miss. Certainly wasn't expecting this today.

[YamFazFan]

Yeah that was a pretty close one dazza! . 10/10 for your reaction time to that situ tho . Like to think so, but not sure if I would have been able to pull up that quick!.

[Val]

Hey Dazza that was close 

Good position and all handling 10/10 

[Grahamm]

I suppose this one counts as a near miss. Certainly wasn't expecting this today.

Good job you were able to stop in the distance you could see was clear on your side of the road.

[HarryHornby]

I take it that was a home made no vehicles sign put there by residents not understanding what a green lane is........


As long as it's on an OS map as a byway, nothing they can do!

[midden]

I take it that was a home made no vehicles sign put there by residents not understanding what a green lane is........


As long as it's on an OS map as a byway, nothing they can do!

ofcourse we all no Dazza wouldn't go anywhere he isn't supposed to 

Good job you were able to stop in the distance you could see was clear on your side of the road.

It was on all sides of the road. When will these people learn and make lorries narrower 

[Brixmis]

A16 'smornin'

3 vans in a row, each pulling a caravan. Thinks "as soon as we come off the roundabout, I'll do all three along the dotted line". There's a lot of oncoming traffic, but the road is very wide and straight as a die here - just coming out of Boston.

Car behind the 3 vans pulls left to give me more space - I overtake the first van and caravan, loadsa room. Couple of feet behind the second, still on the centreline and accelerating, and the bastid swerves across in front of me (traffic still oncoming from opposite direction).

I know you always think about not slapping the anchor down too hard - I've already had to change my grids after a close call with a truck in similar circumstances, when I locked up both wheels, but I thought I was going to make it and started thinking about releasing the pressure when the rear suddenly locks up and I'm all over the shop. I kept it sunny side up tho.

He then swerved back over left again (probs texting on his mobile) but had I not reacted well enough that would have been too little too late.

Once I'd got back into not wanting to throttle the git mentality I just overtook as previously intended, without so much as a glance across. Didn't want to give him the satisfaction, in case he'd done it deliberately (yes, the plonker drivers around here often do things like that and think its funny). I can't think of any other possible reason that the guy would pull across in those circumstances - mobile (or similar) or being a cunny funt.

When I got home I found my helmet flip-up cable was bust! That made my day - another 100 squids out the window as well as a new pair of grids!

[darrsi]

A16 'smornin'

3 vans in a row, each pulling a caravan. Thinks "as soon as we come off the roundabout, I'll do all three along the dotted line". There's a lot of oncoming traffic, but the road is very wide and straight as a die here - just coming out of Boston.

Car behind the 3 vans pulls left to give me more space - I overtake the first van and caravan, loadsa room. Couple of feet behind the second, still on the centreline and accelerating, and the bastid swerves across in front of me (traffic still oncoming from opposite direction).

I know you always think about not slapping the anchor down too hard - I've already had to change my grids after a close call with a truck in similar circumstances, when I locked up both wheels, but I thought I was going to make it and started thinking about releasing the pressure when the rear suddenly locks up and I'm all over the shop. I kept it sunny side up tho.

He then swerved back over left again (probs texting on his mobile) but had I not reacted well enough that would have been too little too late.

Once I'd got back into not wanting to throttle the git mentality I just overtook as previously intended, without so much as a glance across. Didn't want to give him the satisfaction, in case he'd done it deliberately (yes, the plonker drivers around here often do things like that and think its funny). I can't think of any other possible reason that the guy would pull across in those circumstances - mobile (or similar) or being a cunny funt.

When I got home I found my helmet flip-up cable was bust! That made my day - another 100 squids out the window as well as a new pair of grids!

For the bike to go apeshit you must've have pulled the clutch in as well?

[dazza]

I take it that was a home made no vehicles sign put there by residents not understanding what a green lane is........


As long as it's on an OS map as a byway, nothing they can do!

Good spot Harry. official sign but restricting vehicle movements in the winter months only, probably to preserve the lane.

[Brixmis]

For the bike to go apeshit you must've have pulled the clutch in as well?

Not consciously, no 

I think it was just braking hard with the fronts will have lifted the weight off the rear a bit and I always make sure my rears are working well, so I'm guessing I was stepping on the pedal a little harder than I realised.

Actually, bike awareness has improved noticably over the last few years around here - it's the other lot that always seem to find me! 

Nah, it could be a lot worse.

[joebloggs]

Providing you know you can stop this one freaks them out

Get on the brakes and slow down so you can stop dead when you need to, aim straight for the driver and stop just before hitting the door. They can't judge your speed as they're so focused on you, not your surroundings.
You should see the colour drain out of their face.
Bet they think twice at the next junction
 

[Val]

Car behind the 3 vans pulls left to give me more space - I overtake the first van and caravan, loadsa room. Couple of feet behind the second, still on the centreline and accelerating, and the bastid swerves across in front of me (traffic still oncoming from opposite direction).

He then swerved back over left again (probs texting on his mobile) but had I not reacted well enough that would have been too little too late.

Once I'd got back into not wanting to throttle the git mentality I just overtook as previously intended, without so much as a glance across. Didn't want to give him the satisfaction, in case he'd done it deliberately (yes, the plonker drivers around here often do things like that and think its funny). I can't think of any other possible reason that the guy would pull across in those circumstances - mobile (or similar) or being a cunny funt.

I am not as good as you on the brakes and that would have been one van less his right hand side mirror. Just to be on the safe side 

[taylor]

I had a car pull of his driveway in front of me, I hit the drivers side wing, my head hit the bonnet, I must have summer salted and landed on my back in the other lane, a coach was coming slammed his brakes on, I woke up just looking at the driver,