Look before you change lanes Please!!!!

[Twisty]

I had to complain about this out loud to everyone. So hear is what happened. I am coming home from work minding my own business on a 4 lane road. I am in the right lane where traffic is moving with out a problem, as for the left lane leaving the road, they are at a dead stop... I am cruising at 60mph when all of a sudden this women in a Hyundai Elantra decides to pull into the right lane straight in front of me about 10 car lengths... I react and apply the brakes while down shifting... by the time I made it down to her speed I was around 5 feet from her bumper. WOW, my heart was racing for sure.

So how hard is it to look over your shoulder before deciding to go from a dead stop into a lane that is moving at the speed limit to see if anyone is coming??? This is my 2nd encounter in 2 days. I am just curious what everyone else has to say about this BS with people not looking giving you the scare of a lifetime.

[SAMBUSA]

If the other lane was at a dead stop, was doing 60 a good idea?

[hollywood3586]

thats what i was thinking.. im more aware of others and going that fast in traffic does not sound like a good thing..

[Disclaimer]

Psh... I filter people at 60 , on one wheel, on the shoulder.

[ReconRat]

I don't pass stopped cars at any great speed, generally.

I also don't trust intersections, and tend to use moving cars for protection, generally.

I really don't like conditions that don't have an exit strategy, generally.

I'm also still alive, after all these years of riding, generally...

And I also filter, ride on one wheel, and on the shoulder, but not generally...

[MidgetTodd]

If the other lane was at a dead stop, was doing 60 a good idea?

This guy kinda has a valid point, for once.

[SWing'R]

If you were in your car, stopped in traffic, and looked in your right mirror what are the chances that YOU would

have noticed a bike traveling 60mph at 10car lengths? Lets not forget that small object move faster then they appear.

Always, always expect the unexpected, but in this case, that was really kind of "expected". Anyone with any

driving experience at all would expect a car or two to peak out and pull into an open lane like that in traffic.

[AOW]

10 car lengths???? 10 frick'n car lengths is MORE than enough space for a proper merge. Sounds more like you weren't paying attention

[jagr]

Nobody blamed the woman?

You guys are getting weak.

[NinjaNick]

Boy this thread didn't go the direction that Twisty intended.

[Bad324]

Nobody blamed the woman?

You guys are getting weak.

fiiiiiiiiiiiiiine

[RFM]

Just yesterday I had a guy pull out from being parked into a two lane road. Nothing but a few feet, between me and the bumper when he pulled in front of me. He figured it out with a quick slam to the brakes... In front of me. Thank God for Brembo's.

[RSVDon]

Just yesterday I had a guy pull out from being parked into a two lane road. Nothing but a few feet, between me and the bumper when he pulled in front of me. He figured it out with a quick slam to the brakes... In front of me. Thank God for Brembo's.

Wait, so he pulled out in front of you. Then when he realized how close you were he slammed on the brakes?! W...T...F...

I might have actually beaten someone senseless for that.

[RFM]

Wait, so he pulled out in front of you. Then when he realized how close you were he slammed on the brakes?! W...T...F...

I might have actually beaten someone senseless for that.

My guess is he panicked and braked out of reaction. A poor reaction at that. 25mph zone, and it wasn't worth the trouble. I only get bent when it's on purpose, or they carry on like a damned fool afterwards, like I did something wrong. And if it's on purpose, the issue will be discussed at length.

[Twisty]

I posted this to hear others opinions and that is what I got. I never said I was in the right, but the left lane gets off one direction and the right goes in the opposite direction. The issue lies in the fact the car pulled out from a dead stop on a road that speed limit is 65mph, no matter what, you aren't going to be able to pull out and get up to speed that quick in a 4 cylinder car. Plus I wasn't even going with the flow of speed that the rest of the traffic was going in the right lane, I was the slow one out of the bunch so I guess that was enough for her to figure she can make it I guess.

As for paying attention... if I wasn't then I wouldn't be on here talking about a close call, it would more be like here are some photos of me rear ending someone on the bike or worse.

Some may say that is plenty of room to stop but being I haven't been in a situation like that before I have nothing to judge off of to say yeah I had plenty of room. So yes obviously 10 car lengths is enough room to stop at that speed or I would have been a trunk ornament

[SAMBUSA]

Glad it didn't end worse than it did. If nothing else, this thread serves as a reminder to us to watch out because cagers dont

[Twisty]

Wow... you posted a thread that pretty much got you nailed for not riding as safely as you could. You got criticism for the things you did wrong AND you replied with a courteous "thank you" for the comments?

Holy shit. I pay $110/hour to try to accomplish that. Nice work!

LOL. Thanks man.

I wanted to hear others in what opinions they had whether they be for me or against me. I have learned from this mistake and appreciate all that replied to help me better judge the situation at hand. I have taken everything into account and have changed my riding defense to better catch things like this ahead of time. Thanks everyone for helping me become a better rider overall.

[SWing'R]

I have taken everything into account and have changed my riding defense to better catch things like this ahead of time. Thanks everyone for helping me become a better rider overall.

Send cash :grin:, I also accept paypal and alertpay.

[ReconRat]

I will say this against the cager, changing lanes anywhere near an intersection, let alone from a dead stop, is risky and stupid and asking for a collision.

[SWing'R]

I will say this against the cager, changing lanes anywhere near an intersection, let alone from a dead stop, is risky and stupid and asking for a collision.

Yeah but you know what they say about who's to blame for a collision when one car rear-ends another, almost always the fault of the vehicle in the rear.

[SAMBUSA]

Yeah but you know what they say about who's to blame for a collision when one car rear-ends another' date=' almost always the fault of the vehicle in the rear.[/quote']

It's not my fault I put it in her ass, she asked for it by sticking it out there.