nearly got very nasty... public service announcement

hi all,

on my way home tonight, i was having a good blast, nothing balls out but enjoying the open road and feeling good about it.

I enjoy my alfa, and make the most of it, im advanced driver trained and come from a family of bikers. Im always looking ahead as far as possible, and behind too.

However, whether it was complaicency, over familiarity with the route or whatever what happened I hope will encourage you all to be a bit more attentive.

On a lovely part of a dual carriageway i carried out all my mirror checks and commenced enjoyment of the overtaking lane......and nearly took a bloke clean off his motor bike. He had nowhere to go, no space to fill and only oncoming traffic to ride into, if he didnt bail out on the central reserve.

Between one mirror check and another, he had filled a blind spot. As a tall chap i sit as far back as possible, the unfortuate side effect is i have too nasty black spots in my 156, the drivers side spars (front and middle). They are big enough to obscure a bike/small car. Combined with the silly spoiler on the back visibility can require some extra attention.

I came this close to wiping the bloke out and depriving his family of a loved one.

I saw him pull into the petrol station ahead, perhaps to calm his nerves after all his sign language, so i pulled in behind him, explained that it was totally my fault and unreservedly appologised. He was annoyed but very good about it. Im just thankful that i didnt wipe him out.

Whats the point of this? Well i pay damn good attention to my mirrors and i still missed him.

Lets all just keep our eyes peeled a bit huh? You never know, someone in addition to me may learn from my error.

I didnt have the heart to point out to him that wearing black on a black bike didnt aid visibility as i felt far too guilty already, ultimately i should have seen him but it would have helped.

Hope your all well

Kind Regards
Paul

Sorry to read that but at least you didn't hit him. I thought it was me but my Alfa has a massive blind spot so I know how you feel I nearly got wiped out merging onto a dual carriageway.

Good post. Glad to hear nobody was hurt. I do and sounds like you do take driving very carefully, we are humans though and we do make mistakes. Coming home on the M25 earlier, saw an Audi on the hard shoulder (had been in an accident) looked a total mess, goes to show what can happen on the roads.

Lucky. Both of you. Easily done though and they do say that the most dangerous road is the one you travel everyday.

Nice touch to go and speak to the guy.

You could look at it all in a positive way. You have learnt from it, he has too I would imagine and all who read this will take it on board.

Take care.

Damien, I find the blindspots quite large too, especially after driving a Citreon C4 Picasso (courtesy car) for a while... That has excellent visibility!

A lesson we can all learn from.

PEd, great post. it is good for us to all know and re-learn that yes, we are ALL able to make mistakes, no matter how good a driver you think you are.

You did the best thing to follow him into the petrol station and apologise, and not to be a coward and carry on.



Very humbling.

Hi paul,

one can only do as much as possible and as you said I have also driven a bike as well in my life. I like you are very aware of bikers etc and sit well back from wheel in my 156. yes i agree those blind spots are there and are a pain in the asre! As you at least he was ok....It would seem to me that the biker was travelling quick and as such perhaps it was not 100% youe fault ...? Anyway at least no one was hurt and the guy on the bike was ok..

Dermot

A good post, we all need a bit of a reminder now and again. Glad no one was hurt and well done for having the balls to offer the apology.

Excellent post indeed. Glad no-one got hurt and all was fine. I suppose the lesson is also to look and look again.

Having ridden bikes myself I always look over my shoulder as well as checking my mirrors before pulling out to overtake, it only takes half a second to double check but bikes can come up on you so quickly, especially on twisty A roads where you may be frustrated behind someone, see an overtaking chance so you have a quick glance in the mirror, nothing visible so indicate and pull out to squirt past. A bike could have been a few cars behind when you last looked back but your attention has been focussed forwards looking for your chance so when you check your mirrors to pull out the bike can be in your blindspot and your nice day out suddenly becomes the worst nightmare you've ever been through!
Only once almost got knocked off myself but luckily managed to wiggle my way out of it. However I've been a hospital visitor - funeral suit wearer too many times to forget the looking over the shoulder part of bike riding, even tho I drive a car these days!

Originally Posted by ar 145

Damien, I find the blindspots quite large too, especially after driving a Citreon C4 Picasso (courtesy car) for a while... That has excellent visibility!

Ya the 146 is pretty bad at the front end and side for blindspots. And esp when someone is sitting the passo seat it's a bastard to see if you are pulling out of a junction.

PEd, are you sure it was entirely your fault? The biker should have seen your signal and acted on it accordingly. Or are you a member of the school of advanced driving that doesn't believe in indicating if you can't see anyone to indicate to?

He could have been more visible but at the end of the day i should have seen him, my bad, hands up.

Didnt really post to discuss blame, just to heighten awareness. Job done i think.

I think you were equally to blame if i'm honest, he should have noticed you pulling out if you were indeed indicating, but you should have checked mirrors atleast twice.

Originally Posted by Degu

I think you were equally to blame if i'm honest, he should have noticed you pulling out if you were indeed indicating, but you should have checked mirrors atleast twice.

Originally Posted by PEd

..... i carried out all my mirror checks and commenced enjoyment of the overtaking lane......and nearly took a bloke clean off his motor bike.....

Between one mirror check and another, he had filled a blind spot.

From the sounds of it, Paul carried out at least two mirror checks.

Originally Posted by Hammy156

From the sounds of it, Paul carried out at least two mirror checks.

Ah right I misread that, I normally quickly check a third time but i'd imagine he did that too otherwise the biker probably would have ended up coming off.

If Paul is from a family of bikers, I'm very sure he'd be doing all the checks he needs to

|Anyway, his thread is one of awareness, not blame

Thanks for sharing this Paul, it will hopefully help us all be a little bit more careful.

[quote=Hammy156;1874339]If Paul is from a family of bikers, I'm very sure he'd be doing all the checks he needs to



Agreed!

I read somewhere about modern cars being more prone to having blind spots, due to the thicker pillars needed for better crashworthiness. I have to turn my head to check when joining highways because I don't trust the tiny side mirrors and the thick B and C pillars blocking the view.

On the other hand, in a 1960's Mercedes saloon, it's a clear view outside thanks to the thin pillars... although I wouldn't want to test their strength.