SMIDSY'd by a left-turner

[tzrider]

I had my own somewhat close encounter with a surprise left turner early this morning. An oncoming driver turned left through an uncontrolled break in the median, trying to beat oncoming traffic. Traffic in my direction had left a stoplight a few seconds earlier and I was out in front, accelerating. I think this driver perceived the gap, decided she could make it before traffic got there and went.

She didn't see me either before the move or at any point after. Once committed to the turn, she was focused on the driveway across the street that she was turning into. I'm telling you this story; she isn't telling anyone anything because she doesn't know anything happened. :laughing

This was close enough to have resulted in a crash. I braked hard, looked at where the driver was looking and realized she wasn't going to stop. This left an increasing space behind her car, so I lightened up on the brakes and swerved left to pass behind her.

So, there was no crash and there was adequate room to escape. I mention it because, as fortunate as the outcome was, if she had started the turn maybe a half second later, the outcome could have been a lot different.

My part in letting this happen was that I had accelerated away from the light and allowed my vision to narrow in this stretch of road, which looks as if it has a solid median. I actually didn't know that opening was there until a car was coming through it. My situational awareness could have been better and I got a free reminder of that.

 

[Beanzy]

... Traffic in my direction had left a stoplight a few seconds earlier and I was out in front, accelerating. I think this driver perceived the gap, decided she could make it before traffic got there and went ....

One thing I've learned is, don't be the first into an intersection on a green light. Let a car run interference first. That way, you're more likely not to get hit first.

 

[Kantoh]

ABS!!!

 

[Tom G]

One thing I've learned is, don't be the first into an intersection on a green light. Let a car run interference first. That way, you're more likely not to get hit first.

Since we all know that a red light means "proceed" these days, it became a habit of visually checking the intersection if it's clear, before I move into it, be it bike or car.

 

[afm199]

Lots of good info, I agree with Pat, practice the technique of increasing braking pressure. What put you on the ground was "grab and squeeze hard." What might have kept you up would have been:" Grab and squeeze softly for a tiny moment to get the front tire loaded and then rapidly increase pressure."