Close Call Today

Rumrunner

Just got back from a ride with my son. Me on the XX, him on his 900RR. Along the way while sitting at a red light waiting to turn left from the left lane of a dual turn lane about three cars from the front of the line. We get the green arrow and start moving, me just ahead of him, when a cager in the right lane makes a u-turn in front of him just as he starts turning left. He slamed on the front brake so hard the wheel locked and slid but he didn't go down, managed to get his foot down and catch the bike. The cager saw him at the last second and stopped so fast her car stalled. The guy behind my son locked his brakes too and missed him. Now i'm up ahead looking in my mirrors and see him comming way back thinking he must have ran out of gas and switched to reserve or something. Couldn't believe the story when he told me except he was still shaking and had a red scuff on his leg most likely from his footpeg and a sore left hand from grabbing the bike. I asked if he got the plate number but no luck or maybe he just used up all his luck today. Where do these people come from and who taught them to drive.

You always try to look around and be aware of what's near you but how do you anticipate something like this? He's been riding for about two years now and is positive that if this would have happened when he first started he would not have been able to stop that quick. Thanks for listening and be careful out there.

Taetor

man close one! glad you're both safe. Some of things people do behind the wheel just leave us at a loss!

CanadianBird

No one taught them to drive! It's a sign of the times, cagers are too preoccupied to focus on the task at hand, ie driving safely. Cell phones, coffee, tunes, chatting, make-up, reading, stessed out. All this leads to needless accidents. I don't believe in accidents, just not focused. Unfortunately us, who are 100 % focused on staying alive, are often the recipient of shitty driving. Glad you're ok. Remember, "drive like you're invisible and everyones out to kill you".

DynaChrome

It's emdemic. if I don't have at least one close call with a bad car driver once every ride, I think I'm not paying close enough attention....

Glad to hear he is alright.

__________________
Where we really want to go and well walk in the sun
But till then tramps like us baby we were born to run

Venus97

Glad to hear you and your son escaped w/o injury!

97Bird

That is my exact feeling on riding, and it has always served me well. Today I went out for the first time in a number of years, and it felt natural to ride that way again.

I always get away from the cars and trucks, and stay out of blind spots for sure.

In the past, I almost never had a close call due to my anticipating what the cars are going to do or just getting/staying away from them.

There are some things you can't avoid, but if you get too comfortable and drop your guard.........

I used to have a coworker that rode infrequently. When he would ride in, he almost always said that he just about crashed that day, due to being cut off. I think that was because he was not cautious, or used to looking out for himself.

Glad your son was able to react in time

Gary