Close Call

[Doorag]

I had a close call yesterday - I was in a line of maybe 8 cars with a small Renault in front and a Ford Transit van behind. We were all in a 30 mph zone travelling below the speed limit. Then for some unknown reason a guy in a Smart car decides to just pull into traffic. There wasn't a space for him and he had to cross the other lane (with cars coming that had to stop as well) to cram his way in. The Renault dropped anchor to let him in (not sure why) and I had to do an emergency stop. Luckily the van didn't crunch me in the middle.

When we all got moving again and slowed down for the next roundabout, I filtered up and gave the guy an earfull. Funnily enough, no one behind me honked or seemed in a hurry while he was getting his bollocking. He just looked at me and didn't even say sorry. Wanker.

Anyway, the main point of all this is that I locked up the rear wheel badly so I need to do some emergency stopping practice. That's my afternoon sorted then...

 

[Cloggy]

Pleased to hear you're OK David, it could have been a totally other story.

Luckily I have ABS, but have never had to use it.
I must admit I hate city riding as you're generally stuck between cars and totally at their mercy

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Glad evertyhing came out okay. Yes, that Smart car wasn't so smart after all. Yes, what a Wanker! As far as the rear tire skidding, don't feel too bad. Almost the exact scenario happened to me the other day going to work.

I was on a surface street with two lanes in each direction approaching the Las Vegas Strip. I was in the right lane, but it was getting backed up so I switched to the left lane. As I was starting to accelerate, the car in front of me slammed on their brakes as a confused tourist beside the car in front of me changed it's mind from taking a left hand turn in the left hand turn lane, and forced it's way back into the travel lane. As soon as I saw the car slam on it's brake, I immediatlely hit my horn and slammed on my brakes, my rear tire started to skid, my back end started to swing out towards the left, but that gave me the opportunity to let off my brakes and split the traffic.

The point here is.....now if the car ahead of me used their horn as the other vehicle was trying to squeeze back into the travel lane, it would have given myself a second or two to realize what was happening. Just shows that how other driver's ahead of you who fail to utilize their horn can create dangerous situations behind them. In other words, alert the other drivers around you with your horn so that they can be given some type of warning what's happening ahead. I'm not blaming the tourist, I'm blaming the car ahead of me for not using their horn. Wanker!

 

[n1one]

Glad evertyhing came out okay. Yes, that Smart car wasn't so smart after all. Yes, what a Wanker! As far as the rear tire skidding, don't feel too bad. Almost the exact scenario happened to me the other day going to work.

I was on a surface street with two lanes in each direction approaching the Las Vegas Strip. I was in the right lane, but it was getting backed up so I switched to the left lane. As I was starting to accelerate, the car in front of me slammed on their brakes as a confused tourist beside the car in front of me changed it's mind from taking a left hand turn in the left hand turn lane, and forced it's way back into the travel lane. As soon as I saw the car slam on it's brake, I immediatlely hit my horn and slammed on my brakes, my rear tire started to skid, my back end started to swing out towards the left, but that gave me the opportunity to let off my brakes and split the traffic.

The point here is.....now if the car ahead of me used their horn as the other vehicle was trying to squeeze back into the travel lane, it would have given myself a second or two to realize what was happening. Just shows that how other driver's ahead of you who fail to utilize their horn can create dangerous situations behind them. In other words, alert the other drivers around you with your horn so that they can be given some type of warning what's happening ahead. I'm not blaming the tourist, I'm blaming the car ahead of me for not using their horn. Wanker!

Interesting observation about the horn...I should use mine....I have never used it! It is prbably the least used item on any vehicle...I will try to remember to use the Horn from now on....

Thanks for the reminder.:thumbup:

 

[Cloggy]

Interesting observation about the horn...I should use mine....I have never used it! It is prbably the least used item on any vehicle...I will try to remember to use the Horn from now on....

Thanks for the reminder.:thumbup:

what you've never "done the Vegas" :thumbup:

 

[chokeslam512]

... getting his bollocking. QUOTE]

I love this phrase!

 

[Numpty]

Good that all turned out ok David and you never ended up being the filling to the sandwich.

ARSEHOLES like that should take a bus.

 

[grommit]

Glad you were in control.

Smart cars are so slow that the drivers have a do or die attitude. They also handle like asses (pun intended) as well.