I almost got wiped out yesterday on the way home.
I was at this location, turning left from Ridge Road onto the A24. In front of me a scooter had just turned left, the same way as I was going. I was aware of a van behind, but he had definitely seen me as he had not tried to overtake.
As I stopped at the give way line, the van pulled up to my right. I remember looking at his indicator, and he wasn't indicating left, and as I know he had already seen me before I thought he must have been turning right.
A gap in traffic comes, and we both go. Imagine my surprise when he turns left into me! His wing mirror caught me on the shoulder, I hammered on the side of the van whilst shouting, and somehow managed to drag myself and the bike out of the way.
He pulled up round the corner and we discussed the incident. I was amazingly calm in the circumstances.
He admitted he had seen me, and said he thought I had gone at the same time as the scooter. Maybe our lights had merged together or something. He was very apologetic, but went on to say that I should have been wearing high vis!! Odd, as it was night time, my jacket has reflective strips, and my double rear light was flashing away!
Anyway, no damage to the bike, and I just have a slight bruise to the shoulder, so I consider myself quite fortunate.
I really wasn't thinking straight though, as I didn't get his details. I do have the company name and reg from the video though, but with no damage to me or the bike, and his fairly contrite attitude, I wasn't planning to take it further.
The video doesn't actually show the van, as he had stopped and I had scrambled away before he had entered the field of view. I'll check the audio tonight to see if that has anything useful on.
Could I have avoided it? If so, how?
I was at this location, turning left from Ridge Road onto the A24. In front of me a scooter had just turned left, the same way as I was going. I was aware of a van behind, but he had definitely seen me as he had not tried to overtake.
As I stopped at the give way line, the van pulled up to my right. I remember looking at his indicator, and he wasn't indicating left, and as I know he had already seen me before I thought he must have been turning right.
A gap in traffic comes, and we both go. Imagine my surprise when he turns left into me! His wing mirror caught me on the shoulder, I hammered on the side of the van whilst shouting, and somehow managed to drag myself and the bike out of the way.
He pulled up round the corner and we discussed the incident. I was amazingly calm in the circumstances.
He admitted he had seen me, and said he thought I had gone at the same time as the scooter. Maybe our lights had merged together or something. He was very apologetic, but went on to say that I should have been wearing high vis!! Odd, as it was night time, my jacket has reflective strips, and my double rear light was flashing away!
Anyway, no damage to the bike, and I just have a slight bruise to the shoulder, so I consider myself quite fortunate.
I really wasn't thinking straight though, as I didn't get his details. I do have the company name and reg from the video though, but with no damage to me or the bike, and his fairly contrite attitude, I wasn't planning to take it further.
The video doesn't actually show the van, as he had stopped and I had scrambled away before he had entered the field of view. I'll check the audio tonight to see if that has anything useful on.
Could I have avoided it? If so, how?