The narrow margin between life and death

[beanzontoast]

As it was sunny this afternoon, I thought I'd make the most of it by taking the longer route home along the country roads (A52 out of Derby towards Ashbourne for those that know the area). Approaching Kirk Langley, I am taking a pretty blind left uphill corner about 1m from the kerb when from nowhere coming towards me is a red car overtaking someone at speed on the bend, 2/3 across the road onto my side. Missed me by maybe 30cm as they passed. No chance to get reg, as they were round the corner and gone in a flash.

For the next 2 mins, all I could think about was - if I'd been a fraction further across - anywhere near primary position for instance - he/she would have hit me head on. I 'saw' me lying in the ditch at the side of the road in a mess with people standing over me. What a stupid way that would be to go. Only me being so near the verge prevented a collision that could have been the end of me. I doubt the driver will even give it a second thought.

It sickens me that the recklessness of some drivers turn cycle commuting into the equivalent of tossing a coin - heads you get home in one piece, tails you end up injured or worse.

 

[beanzontoast]

9 times out of 10, I reckon most of us just shrug our shoulders and get on with cycling. But the brazen nature of it today... just got to me.

 

[domd1979]

Sounds extremely hairy to say the least. I've had a couple of incidents in the car where someone has been coming at me on my side of the road. One of them was very close - on the A515 I met a car overtaking on double white lines, as I came over the brow of the hill (doing 60) there he was... I swerved as far over to the verge as I could, jammed brakes to the floor, and very narrowly avoided a collision. Bad enough in a motor (where you stand some chance), let alone on the bike.

 

[hackbike 6]

We all have bad ones like this mate and I know I feel the same but it doesn't happen very often. (touchwood)

Hopefully you will get over it quick.

When it's your time to go it's your time to go.

 

[HLaB]

About 2 years ago I was going fairly fast downhill round a blind left hand; it caused me to drift out towards the center line. Unfortunately WVM was coming the other way and had decided to cut the corner, cue much skidding by me, that idiot never even slowed down or moved to the correct side of the road. I held it upright for what seemed like ages (probably was only seconds). Then when I started to skid towards a people carrier I decided to jump and fortunately I was OK (well OK for me ), my helmet seemed to take the brunt of the impact with the road. The people carrier stopped, as did some other passer by's; WVM however disappeared as fast as he could up the road.

 

[domtyler]

As it was sunny this afternoon, I thought I'd make the most of it by taking the longer route home along the country roads (A52 out of Derby towards Ashbourne for those that know the area). Approaching Kirk Langley, I am taking a pretty blind left uphill corner about 1m from the kerb when from nowhere coming towards me is a red car overtaking someone at speed on the bend, 2/3 across the road onto my side. Missed me by maybe 30cm as they passed. No chance to get reg, as they were round the corner and gone in a flash.

For the next 2 mins, all I could think about was - if I'd been a fraction further across - anywhere near primary position for instance - he/she would have hit me head on. I 'saw' me lying in the ditch at the side of the road in a mess with people standing over me. What a stupid way that would be to go. Only me being so near the verge prevented a collision that could have been the end of me. I doubt the driver will even give it a second thought.

It sickens me that the recklessness of some drivers turn cycle commuting into the equivalent of tossing a coin - heads you get home in one piece, tails you end up injured or worse.

Oh don't be such a drama queen! You were never in any danger, that guy has more skill in his little finger than Michael Schumacher has got in his whole body!!!

 

[yello]

One can only hope that the driver shat themselves when they saw you and that they'll not repeat such a stupid manoeuvre. Forever the optimist ain't I!

It's not pleasant is it? That sudden realisation that you could be killed just like that; no warning and in a completely haphazard and seemingly ludicrous/irrelevant way. Makes the heart thump.

 

[Tynan]

not sure that's funny dom

nasty, rank bad driving that defo puts others lives at risk sickens me, it really does, overtaking on a blind bend is plain idiotic and disgusting

 

[yenrod]

As it was sunny this afternoon, I thought I'd make the most of it by taking the longer route home along the country roads (A52 out of Derby towards Ashbourne for those that know the area). Approaching Kirk Langley, I am taking a pretty blind left uphill corner about 1m from the kerb when from nowhere coming towards me is a red car overtaking someone at speed on the bend, 2/3 across the road onto my side. Missed me by maybe 30cm as they passed. No chance to get reg, as they were round the corner and gone in a flash.

For the next 2 mins, all I could think about was - if I'd been a fraction further across - anywhere near primary position for instance - he/she would have hit me head on. I 'saw' me lying in the ditch at the side of the road in a mess with people standing over me. What a stupid way that would be to go. Only me being so near the verge prevented a collision that could have been the end of me. I doubt the driver will even give it a second thought.

It sickens me that the recklessness of some drivers turn cycle commuting into the equivalent of tossing a coin - heads you get home in one piece, tails you end up injured or worse.

That why Beans - I don't ride primary ALL the time - its not safe to.

A cars bigger than me - logic.

I recall a similiar situ. once upon approaching a very fast 90 left corner, before the even faster part of the hill spans out: I was over to the left which was was pretty good considering my speed and what met me: two cars on the same side - why the bloke in this instance was overtaking soo late, to a corner, was beyond me. Lets put it this way; if I would have been a car then the exit for everybody would not have been tidy.

One of the reason I want to get a mirror.


Cant trust anyone, these days on the road in any happening.

 

[yenrod]

I had another time when I was riding along a road quiet evening ride no other cars just me and this car.

The cars approaching me from my left - im on the bigger road: he's supposed to give way to me: not in a milkion years could he have missed me (not seen) but he started to turn and at the last second he said, as he had the window down; 'sorry mate didnt see you' = and i know he never cause he was WELL AWAY in his thoughts...cars are bad for humans

Take the glass out of them I say.

 

[Plax]

One of my most haunting memories, several years back, was witnessing an accident. I was driving at the time. The road was fairly straight, but had hidden dips - so it looked clear ahead, when in fact it wasn't. Car behind me overtakes myself and the car in front of me, only another car was coming up out of the dip and they had a head on collision. It was very slow motion, I could see the front of the oncoming car just crumple and the bloke just looking down at his legs. In the overtaking car the little girl on the back seat just flew up in the air. The overtaking car's back end flipped out into my path, and I managed to avoid it but my car was hit by glass fragments. It was pretty grim, and if my car had been a cyclist it would have been even grimer.

 

[yenrod]

One of my most haunting memories, several years back, was witnessing an accident. I was driving at the time. The road was fairly straight, but had hidden dips - so it looked clear ahead, when in fact it wasn't. Car behind me overtakes myself and the car in front of me, only another car was coming up out of the dip and they had a head on collision. It was very slow motion, I could see the front of the oncoming car just crumple and the bloke just looking down at his legs. In the overtaking car the little girl on the back seat just flew up in the air. The overtaking car's back end flipped out into my path, and I managed to avoid it but my car was hit by glass fragments. It was pretty grim, and if my car had been a cyclist it would have been even grimer.

As much as you wont beleive me but that what happened to me (witnessed) once, the overtaking car hit a parked car.

The car thankfully flew past me to my side (right).

Miraculously no one seriously hurt just injuries - just the person who flipped, spun, and end up on the wheels: just like something in a film but REAL !

That went in slow-mo too.

And as many miles as I have done in my life-time 20 oddyears of riding: ive hardly seen any crashes!

 

[domtyler]

not sure that's funny dom

nasty, rank bad driving that defo puts others lives at risk sickens me, it really does, overtaking on a blind bend is plain idiotic and disgusting

I know! I may have framed it as a joke but I have also revealed what goes through these idiots minds, they truly believe they are skilful and talented drivers.

 

[Tynan]

ah, sorry, my bad

 

[beanzontoast]

I know! I may have framed it as a joke but I have also revealed what goes through these idiots minds, they truly believe they are skilful and talented drivers.

So many of them get away with it for so long - pure luck keeping them out of trouble - that they really must believe the rules are there for the numpties, not for them. What other reason could there be? Just like the girl we saw on the way into Derby the day before - nice car, nice mobile phone stuck to her ear, window down, chatting away brazenly as she went through a traffic light controlled junction. She knew we had seen her as we made a point of staring at her. Did she care? Did she h*ll!

What is the point really? It's not a driving test these people need, it's a 'do you display any homicidal tendencies?' test!