Near Misses and Close Calls

[Bruce]

Well, after yesterday and this morning, I figure it's time to stick up a thread about your near misses and close calls, be they due to other road users negligence, or to your own stupidity.

Record the date and rough time, and explain the scenario. It's our own version of statistics. Thi way, we all can look analytically at the scenario, and offer sugerstions, or simply go Oh Shit... How lucky were you...

I'll kick off with my three...

July 6th, 8:00am

Heading to work, watched a change lanes at the last moment befre the round about on Duckworth St/Woolcock St, causing the truck behind to lock up.

July 6 5:00pm

Riding to pick up the car at Parry's, watched a Transit van turning right on the inside lane switch to the outside lane mid corner, forcing the car turning right in the outsifde lane to almost head on the centre island traffc lights.

July 6 5:35pm

Heading to pick up fuel, crossing Woolcock st at the Pilkington St roundabout, I was just past the centre of the round about, riding straight through on Pilkington St, when a dual cab Cruiser looked straight at me and pulled out. He was in the outer lane, and at that time, I was crossing the inside lane for the direction he was travelling. He kept looking as he pulled out... A little lockup of the rear, thanks to all the spilt diesel, narrowly avoiding hitting him, and I was already travelling at 30 only... He knew I was there

July 7 7:40am

Heading to work along Woolcock St, turning left at the Woolcock/Duckworth St round about, heading toward the RAAF base entry, a dual cab Navara pulls out from the service road, I have to change lanes to avoid hitting him. He knew I was there, I was lucky there were no cars in the outer lane.

[Brad]

Yar... Pilkington Street is one of the most dangerous in town...

[NJS]

During my Q-ride ride I was almost taken out by a ute. Had an occasion of target fixation which I discussed on here. Two days ago was almost wiped out by a tourist operator in their cruiser when they were cutting a corner in the dirt section of dingo beach road. Apparently Bandits can go off road quite well when required.
There have been a few almost didn't see me moments, but they did in the end and have been apologetic.

[outbackbiker]

Dunno how you city dwellers survive in the rat race ? every time i go to the big smoke I have a near miss , I always blame my self when I have a arse puckering moment for not seeing it coming , whether it be my fault or not, it's me thats gunna hurt thats for sure.
Latest one was at a servo , fuelled up & was leaving the bowser .
exit was another couple of rows of bowsers across ,all cages were pointing the other way when one bloke decides he's gunna reverse away from his bowser , nearly got me!!

The other one was one of those moments that stays with you for a while , was scooting along a quiet bit of highway, nuthing but me the wind & the v twin humming along at around 7K.
When skip decides he's gunna cross the road ....,remember toe cutters eyes just before impact ,well i can relate to that !
Big hairy bastard must have been atleast 6'2 no joke! battle scars all over him from to many pub brawls.
Anyway both of us come to a screaching holt in the middle of the highway, miles from nowhere...
And there we are staring into each others eyes ,
only inches separating us!
The acrid smell of burnt rubber & stale roo piss hung in the air!
Seemed like forever we remained motionless .
Until ,I swear until the day I die ,
that the big hairy bastard gave me a ever so slight nod, slowly turned & hopped away into the scrub never to be seen again!
I clicked the scoot in gear , engaged the clutch & i too disappeared down the tarmac, with a funny smile, soiled jocks & another oh shit , this is why I ride a bike moment.

I now have new found respect for the wildlife when on the bike , it's just not the same when your in the truck & they smack the bullbar with a bone jarring "thump" ,just before they disappear underneath,in a cloud of crimson & fur!!!
Until the next memorable moment,
Andrew

[NJS]

Had a roo run into me last year, don't have a cool story though. Might soon though there are heaps about this year.

[Brett]

Peak Downs Highway heading East at Sugar Mill.

Approaching road on left

My lans splits into 2 givin people a left turn only lane.

Ute in front of me. I am in right hand wheel track.

I see that there are cars in the street on the left and move to the left hand wheel track so they can see me.

Ute merges into the left hand lane to turn left.
I move back to right hand wheel track so I am not hiding from anyone. I am 4 seconds back from UTE ( Yes I was actually counting my following distance just before all this)

Car pulls out from road on left into my path. I was very heavy on the brakes.. Car stopped in mt path blocking the lane.
Softened front brake and swerved around front of stationary car and continued on my way.

It was a close call. Far closer than I have experienced for a long time.

Now I know I did several things to maximise my safety when approaching the intersection and the most important thing was that I had enough time and space to use the brakes well and be able to process what was going on so that all of my actions were done in my time.

If I had been closer than the 4 seconds ( it was in an 80Km speed zone) I doubt whether I may have been able to avoid the car.

Interestingly , i didnt get an adrenalin hit out of this which again tells me that time was on my side.

I always apply the golden rule to near misses.

What could I have done differnt to to avoid the near miss occurring in the first place.

Attention

I question my road position before and after the near miss.
I question my rate of speed and accelleration before and after.
I question what others were doing around me.
I question if I know what was behind me,


Attitude.

In almost every case I can come up with something that I could have done different so that the was no near miss, even if the accident would have legally been someone elses fault..



If we get involved its going to hurt and going to cost us money so its our job to keep ourselves safe and not rely on others to do this for us.


This will stir things up but remember the Tombstone campaign.
It reported that
84% of motorcycle fatalities could have been avoided had the motorcyclist made a different choice.

[NJS]

Also, I don't support Honda riders right to carry. They made their choices, they can live, or die, with them.

[Brett]

There is actually a commercially made gun holder that fits into one of the fairing compartments on the ST 1100..lol

I can imaginr going out for a ride and worrying if I have enough ammo..lol

[Concept]

lol makes me think of Kill Bill with their Samuri swords on the back of their sports bikes.

[zrex1200au]

Also, I don't support Honda riders right to carry. They made their choices, they can live, or die, with them.