A close shave

[chrisp]

Friday night I was queued in static traffic on the Hampton Court Way A309 (in the car) as needed to use it that day and had left a gap for a large white van to pull out from a road on my left to do a right turn. It was pouring with rain and bloody horrible. (He fortunately didn't just swing right out and into the oncoming lane) as just as he levelled with the middle of the road, an L plated scooter shot down the middle of the road flashed past me on my right. In the split second I was witnessing this my stomach churned as it looked like the bike was going to slam into the side of the van but miraculously he managed to do a little wiggle and appeared to brush the front offside of the van and continued on his way!
I and the van driver were so relieved. It brought back memories of when my 20 year old nephew was killed in a similar type incident some years ago when a van driver had swung out in front of him.
It got me thinking of what I would have done had I been on the scooter as I would have been riding down the middle just the same. Would I have seen the van? If I had would I have braked and potentially skidded on my non-ABS tmax? Would I have been riding slower then the guy I saw? Just reiterates to me .. Anticipation, anticipation, anticipation...

[Turisu]

When filtering, I always look out for gaps in stationary traffic that might indicate a possible side road. Also there's really no excuse for filtering non-moving traffic at that speed, especially in poor weather.

[chrisp]

Yes, there's more chance of a car swinging out for a U-turn too. As there was no oncoming traffic I would probably have positioned myself well into the oncoming lane and at a speed that I could stop comfortably. Having hazards like this though is why I commute on the motorway most of the time.

[johnp]

When i filter i take extra care in looking ahead and the gaps of traffic, as i have had a vehicle pull out like that on me before.

[Steve_D]

Easily done. A couple of weeks ago I DIDN'T take notice of a gap in the traffic and as I was filtering on my SH between a bus lane and a line of slow moving traffic, a car coming from the other direction turned right across me and knocked me flying. I ended up in hospital just a day before my holiday. Just a bit of muscle damage but enough to take the shine off my holiday. Only good thing is that the personal injury compensation I have been offered plus the damages to bike (thankfully repairable), damages to personal possessions plus loss of earnings will get me a brand new bike and still have enough left over for another holiday. Either another SH or more likely a BV 350. Lesson learned though and I'll have to be more aware in future.

[andyscooter]

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/sho ... ?t=4195785&

like this one then

[Funkycowie]

When i filter i take extra care in looking ahead and the gaps of traffic, as i have had a vehicle pull out like that on me before.

Especially hard because you now don't have a bike, unless you ride the wife down the center of the traffic.

[Earl]

Easily done. A couple of weeks ago I DIDN'T take notice of a gap in the traffic and as I was filtering on my SH between a bus lane and a line of slow moving traffic, a car coming from the other direction turned right across me and knocked me flying.

I'm confussed not comming from a big city and such, but surely if you were between a bus lane and traffic you were undertaking?

[barryG]

I never let traffic out, for that very reason.

[Steve_D]

Easily done. A couple of weeks ago I DIDN'T take notice of a gap in the traffic and as I was filtering on my SH between a bus lane and a line of slow moving traffic, a car coming from the other direction turned right across me and knocked me flying.

I'm confussed not comming from a big city and such, but surely if you were between a bus lane and traffic you were undertaking?

On that basis, isn't all filtering undertaking then?