Another Brush With Death

[mixongw]

I was south bound on I-71 between Cincinnati and Louisville. I was in the left lane doing about 75mph. I checked my mirrors and turned on my right turn signal in preparation for changing into the right lane. The right lane was clear so I started to move over. All of a sudden a large, red 18 wheeler was about a foot from my license plate, in the left lane. He blasted his air horns. I quickly moved over the the right lane. So quickly, in fact, that I nearly lost control. The semi then came over into the right lane forcing me to take the exit at Carrolton, KY. I pulled over at my earliest oportunity in order to regain my composure. I then found myself in tears, thinking about what would have happened if I had gone down. This was clearly attempted vehicular homicide. I got no plate numbers or any other identification. I am now afraid to ride on an interstate and I trust no one who has more wheels than I do.

 

[Rover]

This guy should be hunted down! Shame no ID could be made.Glad you are safe.

 

[JAYD]

Almost killed

Almost killed

Yeah, i know the feeling. I was chased down by some mad killer in an 18 wheeler many years ago. Followed me off the interstate on to the service road, i could see the spinach between his teeth in my mirror,the only thing that saved me was going thru a red light to escape,taking a gamble and nearly killing myself in the process.there are maniacs out there who just want us dead,and there is nothing to prevent this.i'm glad your ok and my prayers are with you,be strong.

 

[Allie]

That sounds horrible, he had to be going pretty fast to come out of nowhere. I don't like the big freeways much either, people do like to come up really fast, and it can be difficult to catch them in the dinky bike mirrors.

 

[Greg B]

Don't ever rely on mirrors alone. Do a full head check. If you need to twist you whole body to get a good look behind, DO IT!!!
Better than getting killed.

 

[Billy Ricks]

A couple of years back while driving out of New Orleans in my truck I was almost hit by two semis within about thirty minutes. The first time was downtown near the Superdome. A city truck was coming off one ramp to my right as I was coming off another to his left. He had a yield sign that he barreled through and into my lane. I had to slam on the brakes to keep him from running into the side of me. Then as I was on the entrance ramp from I55 to I10 east another semi driver came all the way onto the entrance ramp from the main lanes and almost took us out. Two times I wish I would have been packing.

 

[TheCafeKid]

I'm going to guess that statistically speaking, and has been my experience the freeway is safer than inner city surface streets. All th traffic is going the same direction, and generally you can either keep everything in front of you where you can monitor their actions, or keep them behind you...well behind you.

Generally speaking there is a safety margin of 10mph faster than four wheel traffic that most troopers and cops will silently allow motorcyclists. It's not a rule perse, but if traffic is flowing at 65mph and you're doing 75, I've found I've never gotten popped. There have been a few times where I was sure I was smoked after taking evasive action (read hauling ass) to get away from a moron but apparently the cop saw what was happening and decided I wasn't attempting to be Johnny racer, but merely trying to save my own neck.

Don't be afraid of the highway. Simply learn and practice a few necessary precautions when traveling on it.
1: assume you're not seen by anyone.. Because you aren't.
2: never ever ride where you can't see the person in front of you in their mirrors. If you can't see their faces, they don't see you at all.
3: get away from packs of cars. If you find it necessary to speed a little so be it. Or slow down. But don't run with large groups. You blend in to sheet metal, you will be run down.
4: try to anticipate problems. If you see someone driving while on their phone, tailgating, changing lanes erratically or the like, get away from them.
5: movement is helpful. Swerving back and forth in your lane to flash your headlamp in a cars mirrors will help you be noticed. I also tend to ride with a bright colored or white hanky in my back pocket. Yeah, it sounds like a big bad biker thing, but the hanky whipping around in the wind is movement and will attract the eyes.

Riding afraid is not a good state of mind to ride in. It will cause you to make mistakes, tense up and make bad decisions based on fear. Be cautious, but conquer the fear or you may wind up hurt.
Glad however that you did make it out safe.

TCK

 

[1980GS1000E]

Good advice, definitely. I still don't see how a semi could all of a sudden be so close you when a second before, you had checked your mirrors. Always know what is going on around you and leave yourself an out.

 

[tom203]

Don't be afraid of the highway. Simply learn and practice a few necessary precautions when traveling on it.
1: assume you're not seen by anyone.. Because you aren't.
2: never ever ride where you can't see the person in front of you in their mirrors. If you can't see their faces, they don't see you at all.
3: get away from packs of cars. If you find it necessary to speed a little so be it. Or slow down. But don't run with large groups. You blend in to sheet metal, you will be run down.
4: try to anticipate problems. If you see someone driving while on their phone, tailgating, changing lanes erratically or the like, get away from them.
5: movement is helpful. Swerving back and forth in your lane to flash your headlamp in a cars mirrors will help you be noticed. I also tend to ride with a bright colored or white hanky in my back pocket. Yeah, it sounds like a big bad biker thing, but the hanky whipping around in the wind is movement and will attract the eyes.

Riding afraid is not a good state of mind to ride in. It will cause you to make mistakes, tense up and make bad decisions based on fear. Be cautious, but conquer the fear or you may wind up hurt.

TCK

Great advice! I've always pretended that I was invisible (bike riding only! )and so I'm never surprised when weird stuff happens. I added a pair of amber marker lights to front, just to attract a bit of attention and "maybe" help folks spot me.

 

[Billy Ricks]

As Josh has said, move a little faster than the pace of traffic when possible and make sure you stay in the mirrors of vehicles you're overtaking. Riding or driving out in the left lane for anything other than passing tends to tick some people off, it does me when people just hang out there. It's also against the law in Texas. The left lane is intended for passing only. It rarely gets enforced but it is the law.

 

[spyug]

Riding afraid is not a good state of mind to ride in. It will cause you to make mistakes, tense up and make bad decisions based on fear. Be cautious, but conquer the fear or you may wind up hurt.

Very good advice for everything in life especially bikes. I firmly believe that if your inner voices tell you not to ride, don't. If you are fearful and can't overcome it quit as something bad will eventually happen.

As several mention, the highways are statistically safer than surface streets but they are generally populated by more speeders and aggressive drivers in general. It behooves all highway riders to have situational awareness at all times. No drifting off. Keep your head on a swivel, shoulder check often and especially before changing lanes and don't ever relie on the mirrors alone.

Like riding a horse that throws you, its best to get right back on and try again before the fear really settles in. If its still with you wait a bit and try again a little later. If it remains then you have some choices to make.

Hopefully, you will learn from this, chalk it up and move on.

Good luck.

Spyug

 

[tkent02]

Riding or driving out in the left lane for anything other than passing tends to tick some people off, it does me when people just hang out there. It's also against the law in Texas.

It's against the law everywhere, but it's generally unenforced in the US. There's easier revenue in enforcing speed limits.

 

[ddaniels]

This story reminds me of the movie, "Duel". Scary stuff.

 

[Dogma]

Riding afraid is only useful if you use the fear to drill in some situational awareness. Lots of other good advice so far. The interstate is the safest, but I'm not sure about really congested interstate passing through a city. Coming south on I71 into Columbus during rush hour is something I avoid now. Just too much to keep track of, radically changing speeds in the congestion, unsecured loads... Nope.

Attempted vehicular homicide is extremely rare, and probably not limited to or in any way connected with the Interstate. It could happen anywhere the villain thinks he can get away with it. Learn to keep your eyes peeled and get back on the horse. Lots of people ride as though everyone is out to get them. It's not a bad idea.

 

[Skateguy50]

It's against the law everywhere, but it's generally unenforced in the US. There's easier revenue in enforcing speed limits.

Not everywhere, but most states. Its on the books in Maine but not in Massachusetts. If I where to go 90 in the left lane here people would still get ticked off and pass on the right. I do ride the left lane but when a decent gap is formed in the middle I shift over, however its a dangerous move as the ticked off guy trying to go 100 in traffic will lane spit to start a pass quicker in his cage around here so I put my blinker on well before I have room to move right then accelerate and slide over pretty fast then slow back down.

Basically its unsafe not to speed once in a while around here, I speed up on pretty much all lane shifts as I can see in front of me way better than behind so if I go 10-20 mph faster than the guy next to me and pass him then change lanes I should be pretty sure no one will slide before me, but I do check 2 lanes over for the far right passers. Oh and many highways here have legal use of the breakdown lane during rush hours so that complicates the right side a LOT more.

 

[Billy Ricks]

Basically its unsafe not to speed once in a while around here, I speed up on pretty much all lane shifts as I can see in front of me way better than behind so if I go 10-20 mph faster than the guy next to me and pass him then change lanes I should be pretty sure no one will slide before me, but I do check 2 lanes over for the far right passers. Oh and many highways here have legal use of the breakdown lane during rush hours so that complicates the right side a LOT more.

I've driven the outskirts of Boston during rush hour and having people use the shoulder takes some getting used to. Our inner loop has as many a 6 lanes on some stretches. You do have to keep track of what is going on 2 lanes over to keep from getting mashed. Sometimes even watching 2 lanes isn't enough if people decide to exit from the far left or head for the fast lane from the far right.

 

[tkent02]

I was south bound on I-71 between Cincinnati and Louisville. I was in the left lane doing about 75mph. I checked my mirrors and turned on my right turn signal in preparation for changing into the right lane. The right lane was clear so I started to move over. All of a sudden a large, red 18 wheeler was about a foot from my license plate, in the left lane. He blasted his air horns.

Not sure I am understanding this correctly. You are dawdling along in the passing lane while not passing anyone, a truck in the passing lane plans to pass you, when you turn on the signal to move over he does pass you, you move over a little too slowly and get honked at. Sounds like he mistimed it a little bit, no big deal. I'm thinking the honking was good for you in this case, better than a light tap. In aggressive traffic, ride aggressively. Waiting until you get honked at to move is probably not being aggressive enough. If your skills aren't up to it, find a different road.

Sure you have the right to be there, but you don't have any right to block traffic in a passing lane.

 

[ddaniels]

Not sure I am understanding this correctly. You are dawdling along in the passing lane while not passing anyone, a truck in the passing lane plans to pass you, when you turn on the signal to move over he does pass you, you move over a little too slowly and get honked at. Sounds like he mistimed it a little bit, no big deal. I'm thinking the honking was good for you in this case, better than a light tap. In aggressive traffic, ride aggressively. Waiting until you get honked at to move is probably not being aggressive enough. If your skills aren't up to it, find a different road.

Sure you have the right to be there, but you don't have any right to block traffic in a passing lane.

Man!!! A bit harsh don't you think?? How'd you like some big friggin' semi to do that to you dude. I think you'd have a different perspective. Do us a favor and wise up, ease off and keep you negative opinions to yourself.

 

[tkent02]

Man!!! A bit harsh don't you think?? How'd you like some big friggin' semi to do that to you dude. I think you'd have a different perspective. Do us a favor and wise up, ease off and keep you negative opinions to yourself.

Cars, trucks, they've been playing this way and killing riders this way for decades. How could you expect anything less? Poking around in the fast lane is a great way to get smashed, it always will be.
If my negative opinion keeps some other rider in one piece, it's good. If you don't like my opinion, don't read it.

 

[ddaniels]

Cars, trucks, they've been playing this way and killing riders this way for decades. How could you expect anything less? Poking around in the fast lane is a great way to get smashed, it always will be.
If my negative opinion keeps some other rider in one piece, it's good. If you don't like my opinion, don't read it.

It's kind of hard not to read it when I'm already in the thread and interested in it. Your point is well taken, but I think your lack of sensitivity, in light of his recent "brush with death" was uncalled for.