Ranting at stupid people who move out without looking

[dchester]

Had a silly bovine in a newish corsa decide to cut across the hatchings where the M18 joins the M1 north on my way in today... then try and move into the side of my car when I was in lane 2. *EXPLETIVES* I had to brake/move over and thankfully the person in lane 3 was far enough back to let me do so.... I'm not convinced that I handled it as best I could have, but not quite sure where I really was able to go!

</ranting mode>

D.

 

[kwakdonut]

Thankfully, you are ok - so not as bad as it could have been!

Soooo many threads on this subject - we all have to accept (whether we like it or hate it) but UK roads are heavily congested with a growing number of complete numpties 'driving' on them.

Be careful out there everyone.....

 

[dchester]

Indeed not as bad as it could have been... was somewhat shaking afterwards though... mixture of 'what if' and anger I guess.

D.

 

[219]

Yes , the 'natural' reaction is to swerve instinctively to avoid being hit .

However , I would venture it is worse to hit a blameless third party than to allow yourself to be hit by the person at fault in the first place - you can blame your damage on the person who moved over , whereas the 3rd party would blame YOU - the fact that you were avoiding someone else will still not change liability in that event .

 

[dchester]

Yes , the 'natural' reaction is to swerve instinctively to avoid being hit .

However , I would venture it is worse to hit a blameless third party than to allow yourself to be hit by the person at fault in the first place - you can blame your damage on the person who moved over , whereas the 3rd party would blame YOU - the fact that you were avoiding someone else will still not change liability in that event .

Indeed, I did check to see that I wasn't moving into anyone else outside of me, they were behind... but another second or two and I wouldn't have had the excape route.

D.

 

[Muppetz]

Yes , the 'natural' reaction is to swerve instinctively to avoid being hit .

However , I would venture it is worse to hit a blameless third party than to allow yourself to be hit by the person at fault in the first place - you can blame your damage on the person who moved over , whereas the 3rd party would blame YOU - the fact that you were avoiding someone else will still not change liability in that event .

Indeed, this happened to me in my Audi a few years back.

I was in Lane 3 when a car in Lane 2 swerved into me pushing me into the central reservation barrier at 70MPH. A very scary situation, whilst I could understand that the chap in Lane 2 swerved as an instinctive reaction to another vehicle apparently swerving into his lane, I was still left with no other option than to claim from him. It was then down to the chap in Lane 2 to prove that he was taking avoiding action and blame the chap swerving into his lane - very difficult I assume !

 

[dchester]

Indeed, this happened to me in my Audi a few years back.

I was in Lane 3 when a car in Lane 2 swerved into me pushing me into the central reservation barrier at 70MPH. A very scary situation, whilst I could understand that the chap in Lane 2 swerved as an instinctive reaction to another vehicle apparently swerving into his lane, I was still left with no other option than to claim from him. It was then down to the chap in Lane 2 to prove that he was taking avoiding action and blame the chap swerving into his lane - very difficult I assume !

I know.... I didn't actually swerve into the outside lane fully since I was able to drop back enough, but did have to move out a little, perhaps a foot or so over... in order to have enough space to slow to avoid the muppet. I did look in my mirrors to check before I moved over.

I still am not 100% happy with how I handled it, and I guess I'm trying to work out what else I could have done... At least it's only a theoretical exercise and no-one actually got pranged by it.

D.

 

[219]

Could you have stood on the brakes and stayed in your own lane ? Or was there someone close behind you ?

A difficult situation either way .

 

[shorty]

I have had 4 cars cross over in front of me when I have been on the bike . Now because of them I have broken both my arms , my pelves , my foot and some spranies ( bad spellings ) . Agh stupid drivers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Carrotchomper]

I have had 4 cars cross over in front of me when I have been on the bike . Now because of them I have broken both my arms , my pelves , my foot and some spranies ( bad spellings ) . Agh stupid drivers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How are you typing then?

 

[dchester]

Could you have stood on the brakes and stayed in your own lane ? Or was there someone close behind you ?

A difficult situation either way .

Sorry for the delay in replying, yes there was someone tailgating me at the time, so I was trying to avoid just standing on the brakes.

D.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

How are you typing then?

Badly

 

[DieselE]

Sorry for the delay in replying, yes there was someone tailgating me at the time, so I was trying to avoid just standing on the brakes.

D.

Tailgaters are a real menace. It's even more unforgiveable when, as you described, they're tailgating in Lane 2 with Lane 3 clear.

 

[glojo]

This type of incident is getting more common as our roads get congested but the secret here is all about forward observation and less about being in the right or wrong.

Because this is a motorway we have very good forward and periphal vision. We can see the left merging lane and we can clearly see the lane markings that this idiot should not contravene

BUT

If we use the throttle then we can control our speed so that we are not the proverbial meat in any sandwich position. As I said earlier, it does not matter who is in the right... If you get side swiped, then the consequences can be fatal. Far better to either ease off the gas VERY slightly to allow the car to merge in front, OR increase speed very slightly just to be in front of this clown before they are ven close enough to pull across.

This is a far better option as opposed to having a dispute at the Pearly Gates, discussing who was in the right.

Thank goodness you were not injured

 

[Jerrytommygal1]

Yes , the 'natural' reaction is to swerve instinctively to avoid being hit .

However , I would venture it is worse to hit a blameless third party than to allow yourself to be hit by the person at fault in the first place - you can blame your damage on the person who moved over , whereas the 3rd party would blame YOU - the fact that you were avoiding someone else will still not change liability in that event .

Ever notice how the 'person at fault in the first place' is usually unaware of all the chaos created and manages to make a clean getaway?

Really annoying!

 

[dchester]

This type of incident is getting more common as our roads get congested but the secret here is all about forward observation and less about being in the right or wrong.

Because this is a motorway we have very good forward and periphal vision. We can see the left merging lane and we can clearly see the lane markings that this idiot should not contravene

BUT

If we use the throttle then we can control our speed so that we are not the proverbial meat in any sandwich position. As I said earlier, it does not matter who is in the right... If you get side swiped, then the consequences can be fatal. Far better to either ease off the gas VERY slightly to allow the car to merge in front, OR increase speed very slightly just to be in front of this clown before they are ven close enough to pull across.

This is a far better option as opposed to having a dispute at the Pearly Gates, discussing who was in the right.

Thank goodness you were not injured

Indeed. I want to sign up to do the IAM stuff, but that'll have to wait until we're finished moving. Normally I do just ease off to let people merge infront if they're being stupid, but in this case she cut across the hatchings alongside my car, and just carried on moving out... so there wasn't much I could do... or at least that I realised I could do. I think in part I'm annoyed at myself for not having been observant enough to find a get out route.

*GAH!*

D.

 

[dchester]

Ever notice how the 'person at fault in the first place' is usually unaware of all the chaos created and manages to make a clean getaway?

Really annoying!

Yes! Extremely annoying.

D.

 

[glojo]

Indeed. I want to sign up to do the IAM stuff, but that'll have to wait until we're finished moving. Normally I do just ease off to let people merge infront if they're being stupid, but in this case she cut across the hatchings alongside my car, and just carried on moving out... so there wasn't much I could do... or at least that I realised I could do. I think in part I'm annoyed at myself for not having been observant enough to find a get out route.

*GAH!*

D.

Thank you very much fortaking my post in the spirit it was meant.

It is VERY impressive to see someone ask what they can learn from a situation instead of just having a rant.

My old sergeant always used to say it took two to tango


(I am talking about my old Royal Marine sergeant who could not dance to save his life)

Another of his quotes

The day we pass our driving test is the day we start to develop bad driving habits.

Your point about taking advanced driving lessons is a great idea

 

[kwakdonut]

The day we pass our driving test is the day we start to develop bad driving habits.

From what I've seen lately, people aren't even waiting for their tests!!

 

[dchester]

Thank you very much fortaking my post in the spirit it was meant.

It is VERY impressive to see someone ask what they can learn from a situation instead of just having a rant.

My old sergeant always used to say it took two to tango


(I am talking about my old Royal Marine sergeant who could not dance to save his life)

Another of his quotes

The day we pass our driving test is the day we start to develop bad driving habits.

Your point about taking advanced driving lessons is a great idea

No problem, I'm not quite sure how else I could have taken it!

Anyhow I'll look up the IAM stuff tonight and try and set about joining up.

Thanks for the advice/thoughts.... life is a learning experience after all

D.