Near Disaster [at least for me]

[KVH]

Yesterday a young skraggly haired driver and passenger in a Mazda darted out from a small side street into traffic to make a "reckless" left turn in front of traffic coming in the two near lanes from his left.

I was coming from the farther (outer) of those two near lanes, but I guess he couldn't see me due to the low profile of my TR4 behind a car in the nearer lane to my right. He barely cleared that first car to my right whose driver hit the brakes, and then as he rounded his turn suddenly he saw my car in the next lane.

I hit the brakes and skid along the road with smoke coming from all four wheels. My car was still skidding as I missed him by about a foot.

My car would have been totaled, and I wouldn't be at San Luis Obispo or any other TR gathering for a good long time.

It happened too quickly for any sign language of disapproval, though I considered making a U-Turn to hunt him back down.

I'm just posting out of frustration with bad drivers on the road. We're privileged to have these cars, and our health, so the price should be that we drive with great caution, defensively at all times, anticipating the unexpected, and looking out at each moment for stupid.

Enjoy the day and be careful. I'll be out there again.

 

[tinman58]

Wow I am glad that every thing turned out O.K. That would be terrible to crunch a nice TR4 or for that matter any body getting hurt. I hope that the "young skreggly haired kid got the s--- scared out of him. Getting your car smashed is no fun, Belive me I know.

 

[UmmYeahOk]

It happened too quickly for any sign language of disapproval, though I considered making a U-Turn to hunt him back down.

Be careful, I had something similar happened to me. I had the choice of either letting her hit me (which every cop I spoke to said I should have) or hit the curb, damaging my car. I managed to catch up with her after pulling over to check the damage and got all her information down, including telephone # and email (one of those stupid 1 person doggie day care businesses. I was very kind in the email and on the phone but it was clear that I wasnt dealing with some kind person who merely made a mistake in forgetting to look. Since she was so rude to me on the road and phone, guess what I did. Same thing you did, explained everything about what happened in detail on a forum much like this... ...within hours I had a call from her attorney threatening to sue, claiming that stating that my words was damaging to her company and she could lose business because of it. She refused to even let me contact my own attorney demanding that I siest and desist immediate and remove everything that I said, and when I didnt, threatened the forum administrators themselves!!!

Apparently what she did is a slap suit, which is illegal in many states, just not this one. Anyway I did eventually talk with my lawyer, and he was right, she has no case. Stating fact and opinion is protected buy some historical US document or whatever =) Besides that, turns out shes only been practicing law for a few years, and specializes in DWI and divorce cases.

 

[NickMorgan]

Glad to hear that you managed to avoid the Mazda. It is very worrying how often people don't seem to see my TR3 or maybe they expect that it is going more slowly. I drive very defensively because of not wanting to damage the car and because there are no seat belts for me or my passenger.
It is great driving the car as intended on B roads, but there is a constant worry about what other drivers may be doing, especially with the number of SUVs on the road today.

 

[UmmYeahOk]

It is great driving the car as intended on B roads, but there is a constant worry about what other drivers may be doing, especially with the number of SUVs on the road today.

I cant see people while driving, but when Im a passenger I look... ...you will not believe how many drivers out there are on the phone! We're talking about 1 in every 3 vehicles!!! What on earth is so freakin important that you have to be on your cell phone? No, cell phone, and driving? I think its pathetic that they even have to make laws on this stuff. Its like drinking and driving, you should know better. And now texting?!? Ok, so at what point when youre reading a writing are you actually looking at the road? Whatever happened to common sense? Wanna know why I leave my ipod on shuffle when driving? because I know I cant look at something like that while I drive, why do none of these people think that?

In my state its currently only illegal in school zones, and only in certain towns, wonder how long before its everywhere.

 

[Geo Hahn]

We've had 2 TR4s totalled here in Tucson in the last few years -- both were hit by larger vehicles and though the drivers escaped unharmed, the cars did not fare well.

Not news to anyone here I suppose -- but I always try to be aware of how small the car is, how easily overlooked and how easily other drivers can overestimate the distance it is from them (due to the small scale).

As for "...making a U-Turn to hunt him back down" may I remind you that AZ has some of the most liberal laws in the nation on the subject of possession, carrying and use of firearms. Though possibly somewhat satisfying I would be reluctant to confront anyone, especially someone who has already shown poor judgement.

Now that you've flat-spotted those old tires -- it is definitely time to get the replacement you've talked about.

 

[tdskip]

Oh man, well I'm glad you are OK but I bet that got your heart rate up. being in a situation like that were you didn't do anything wrong but you still can't be sure you'll come out of it ok really is infuriating.

When I'm on the bike I try to ride as if everyone is trying to hit me or will do something sudden. It's saved my bacon more than once, and I think I'll take the same approach here. It's gotten that bad out there for our cars I guess.

Again, glad you are OK.

 

[TR4nut]

The best news is that you as well as your car are safe and sound. I think driving these little cars makes us better drivers overall, staying alert at all times, anticipating the bonehead moves that will happen, keeping good spacing around the car as much as possible, etc.

 

[UmmYeahOk]

We've had 2 TR4s totalled here in Tucson in the last few years -- both were hit by <span style="font-weight: bold">larger</span> vehicles and though the drivers escaped unharmed, the cars did not fare well.

Umm... ...isnt EVERYTHING a "larger vehicle?"

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Not news to anyone here I suppose -- but I always try to be aware of how small the car is, how easily overlooked and how easily other drivers can overestimate the distance it is from them (due to the small scale).[/QUOTE]

I knew my gt6 would be too small for modern day roads before I bought it. Ive always sought out cars that were flashy and easily noticed, and people have already told me that my gt6 will definitely turn heads, but driving around in a show winning bright red mustang thats twice its size, I know that either its too small to be seen in peoples mirrors, or people just dont even bother checking their mirrors... ...and thats just changing lanes... ...I cant tell you all the times Ive locked up my brakes and had to swerve off road to avoid all the people who have to turn in front of me. I mean, even if I had ABS and 21st century braking technology I still would have hit half of these people if I couldnt swerve. And is it impatience that they cant wait on me, no! Because they always seem to drive 10 mph under. They just dont bother looking. BTW, this is why I dont speed or yak on my cell phone, there would have been no way I could stop in time if I went any faster or had any distractions.

Oh man, well I'm glad you are OK but I bet that got your heart rate up. being in a situation like that were you didn't do anything wrong but you still can't be sure you'll come out of it ok really is infuriating.

When I'm on the bike I try to ride as if everyone is trying to hit me or will do something sudden. It's saved my bacon more than once, and I think I'll take the same approach here. It's gotten that bad out there for our cars I guess

Some people call it a 6th sense, I always call it "What if" Basically "what if this idiot decided to do this, then what do I do to react?" My husband says its good, that youre supposed to do that in traffic. I however hate it because I feel that when I expect the worst in people I will always receive that. And can you blame me? So pretty much I DONT WANT to think about an idiot wanting to pull out in front of me with no room, because I know, some how, I have told that person to go ahead and do that. Some times a driving maneuver, is so insanely stupid that one simply cannot imagine that without seriously being messed up themselves that when the "what if" idea pops into my head I will simply ignore it saying that there no way in heck anyone with a valid drivers license would ever consider doing that. Of course because the idea came up, they do it, and since I ignore it, I cant react.

 

[PeterK]

We have a new "distracted driver" law in Maine that includes being distracted by texting, cell phone, munching down a Whopper, and anything else that would cause an infraction. But being skraggly haired and/or owning a stupid 1 person doggie day care isn't enough cause for a ticket.

Many drivers today just don't pay attention to their driving.
Our cars are so low that we have to be especially carefull that we are visible to other cars.

Real happy you and your 4A are not hurt. Did the skid flatspot your tires?

 

[angelfj1]

because there are no seat belts for me or my passenger.

No seat belts????? Doh!

 

[Brosky]

I know that sick feeling all to well. Lucky, as with us no one was hurt, but we did lose the use of the car for two months.

 

[Geo Hahn]

...when the "what if" idea pops into my head I will simply ignore it saying that there no way in heck anyone with a valid drivers license would ever consider doing that...

At moments like that I recall:

"That guy's gotta stop... He'll see us." (reportedly James Dean's last words)

 

[mallard]

The joy of driving in AZ. Not sure of your location but if you live in the valley be very carefull. Nobody cares, it's all about themselves. I sold my Harley after I moved here because it was so dangerous.

 

[KVH]

Thanks folks. By the way, I do assume everyone is armed, and I'd really never chase anyone down (anymore, nowadays). I'll check those tires to see how they look. I was at least relieved how well my brakes worked.

 

[JodyFKerr]

Glad you're safe, I have more of those near misses driving in AZ than I'd like to admit. I have two rules:

Rule #1: People are stupid.
Rule #2: See rule #1.

When applied, those rules explain everything. I got rear-ended here in Phoenix 4 times over the span of two years. Finally figured out that the reason I was getting rear-ended was that I was downshifting and not using the brakes. Because the little red lights on the back of my car didn't light up people weren't able to determine that I was slowing down! Now, when I downshift I've added a brake tap or two into the process to tell the idiot behind me I'm slowing down.

Luckily the cars hit were my '53 Studebaker (which is a TANK, go ahead, hit it, I won't notice. The metro that rear-ended it was totalled, I got a scratch in my chrome, which in the end was more expensive than the Metro remains) and an Isuzu Rodeo with a ball hitch that stuck out a foot.

In terms of driving, if you plan for every person on the road to do the dumbest thing possible it makes the experience much easier. Now I "see" stupidity far before it actually occurs.

Jody

 

[Number_6]

A long time ago I was out for a drive in my GT6 and I had to slam on my brakes and come to a screeching halt at an intersection because a 18 wheeler tanker truck barreled thru a stop sign with out even slowing down. There was an old guy standing on the sidewalk and saw the whole thing. He started yelling at me "You should have gone! You had the right of way! Not that truck!" I told him "Yeah, right they could carve that on my tombstone: 'I had the right of way'"

Another time, it was a dark and stormy night, I parked my GT6 at the curb went into a store to buy some stuff, milk & bread. When I came out of the store I found that the driver's side rear fender was all caved in. Of course nobody saw a thing. I had pry at it to get fender away from the wheel so I could driver it home.

The insurance company said they were going to total the car and give me $300 for it. I told the insurance appraiser in very colorful language no way is that going to happen. I'd been paying them well over $2000 dollars for years in insurance for that car. They're not going to get away with that. The car was still very drivable. They finally settled with me and agreed to pay me the $300 + the deductible to have the car repaired.

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Thanks folks. By the way, I do assume everyone is armed, and I'd really never chase anyone down (anymore, nowadays). I'll check those tires to see how they look. I was at least relieved how well my brakes worked.

Yeah, I do assume that.....and am.

But, forum rules, can't go there.......

If you ARE going to chase them down, have 911 on the cell, recording everything that is said.

Often comes down to a "he said....she said" situation, and if 911 has it recorded, it's what WAS said!

 

[mikecyc72usa]

Try to ride a bike on roads anymore. I'm talking pedaling, not motorized. I've ridden all over the world with racing, and the US is by far the worst, especially in TX so far. I've had to chase someone who hit me and took off, and I had 911 on the phone, they got a kick out of me giving the first half of the plate number and telling them to hold on while I caught back up to him. I've had guys get tough with me at intersections when I'm on my bike, then I stand up and it's obvious I'm a 6ft tall 180lb very fit person. Maybe the years in Special Forces shows somehow, but every time these guys back down. I don't get it, we all will get to our destinations all of a few seconds later if we were all courteous and drove smart. Just stay safe.

 

[angelfj1]

By the way, I do assume everyone is armed

Yeah, that's why the rest of the world thinks we're a bunch of uncivilized nutters!