Sharing The Road

[Dubld]

My wife and I were traveling north on highway 218/27 Sunday and were nearly run off the road by a truck driver. Normally, I try to avoid trucks but I also like to see what's in front of me. (Difficult to see around a truck) He was in the right lane and I wanted to pass, but then he changed to the left lane. I moved to the right lane and it was clear so I passed him. Just as we were reached his cab, he decided he wanted to be back in the right lane. I had to move over to the warning track and speed up to avoid being hit. He received a finger full from me after we were in front and clear. When close calls happen, I think about what I could have done differently to avoid it in the future. Unfotunately, there will always be distracted drivers on the road and I know you have to drive defensively, especially when on a 2 or 3 wheeler.

 

[Bob Ledford]

That is one of the reason I never assume that the turkey I am about to pass see's me because I am invisible! I will flash my headlights and pass like a rocket ship going into orbit!

 

[Highwayman2013]

Sometimes it's hard to have patience out on the road. Of course the right thing to have done was not to pass on the right even though the trucker was in the wrong. I drive an 18 wheeler everyday and see what goes on out there and yes I have lost my patience numerous times. Glad you made it and are OK. It's good to ponder what to do next time. Be safe out there!

 

[Dubld]

That is one of the reason I never assume that the turkey I am about to pass see's me because I am invisible! I will flash my headlights and pass like a rocket ship going into orbit!

That is good advice, Bob. Never assume that the other driver sees you. Ryde safe.

 

[Bob Denman]

Ride as if you're invisible, and the other guy is drunk, hung over, just got fired, had a fight with his wife, and his daughter just ran off with a guy who looks just like you! :shocked: nojoke

 

[ARtraveler]

Ride as if you're invisible, and the other guy is drunk, hung over, just got fired, had a fight with his wife, and his daughter just ran off with a guy who looks just like you! :shocked: nojoke

:agree: Never take anything for granted. Assume the worst, and you will be prepared for most anything.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

ON THE RIGHT

Sometimes it's hard to have patience out on the road. Of course the right thing to have done was not to pass on the right even though the trucker was in the wrong. I drive an 18 wheeler everyday and see what goes on out there and yes I have lost my patience numerous times. Glad you made it and are OK. It's good to ponder what to do next time. Be safe out there!

Just so there is no confusion on this ,,,PASSING on the right is only" ILLEGAL " if you have to leave the legal traveled portion of the road to do so.....On a road where two lanes are going in the same direction the left lane is designated as the passing lane.....However if there is some IDIOT who just wants to drive at or below the speed limit in the PASSING LANE .....Well I'm going to pass on the RIGHT ,,and it's legal in the jurisdictions I'm familar with.......Mike :thumbup:

 

[muonwhiz]

Yes to all above. And you might consider installing a stebel air horn on your bike. Unlike the stock horn, it is loud enough to get the attention of 18 wheelers. I have blasted more than a few of them out of the lane when they tried to get up close & personal with me and spyder!

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: A good set of horns can be useful...
I once used a set of Fiamms to "blast" a kid in a Mustang off into a guardrail when he tried to lean on me and my 'Wing in traffic... nojoke

 

[Gunny]

I have a tendency to ride with my brights on, during the daylight hours, just to give me a little more visibility and with trucks I make sure its clear and then see just how fast my spyder will run....cant leave anything to chance dont want the long haired Col spending all my retirement at Wal Mart

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Similar thing happened to me a couple of days ago. I was passing a convoy of trucks. There were four of them each tailgating the one in front...you know how they like to save gas while risking everyone else's safety. They were going about 65 in a 55 zone. I started to pass on the left at about 80. Those kinds of truck drivers scare me.

So, anyway, I pass the fourth one in line...I have almost passed the third one in line--I was even with his front bumper. All of a sudden the second one in line decides that he doesn't want to tailgate any more. He flips on his blinker and starts to move over--apparently without looking. I braked hard...slowing from 80 to 53 quickly. (I guess they were not going 65!) THE TRUCKER THEN GAVE ME THE FINGER. No longer trusting the driving skills of a trucker that I didn't trust anyway, I hung back and stopped trying to pass. He continued moving over, and I was afraid of being rear ended by a white sedan following me.

The road widened to three lanes about 1/4 mile later, and I was outta there like a rocket. Where's the highway patrol when stuff like this happens?

 

[MarkLawson]

While riding, I always assume half the drivers are blind and the other half are deliberately trying to run me over.

 

[Dan McNally]

Driver's Ed, 1965, Syracuse NY. We had to memorize a poem that has stuck in my mind, all these 47 + years . . . "He was right, as he sped along, but he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong." When I was stationed at Offutt AFB in the mid to late 70's I had a CDL and drove a truck for Mayflower Van Lines. There are HUGE blind spots around an 18 wheeler and anytime you are near them on a bike, you are in truly "in harm's way." If this trucker was so absorbed that he failed to see you when you were passing on his left, chances are he didn't see you at all on the right. When I'm in this boat, I just back off . . . way off, as a tire casing coming off an 18 wheeler can really screw a biker up! I'm glad you survived this close encounter.

 

[Chupaca]

Here's what you do..!!

trust in no one..be looking two steps ahead and leave myself a way out..!!

 

[NancysToy]

Be sure you can see their mirrors, because that's how they see you, flash your lights, honk your horn. Never pass a semi on the right unless your life insurance is paid up. Never linger in the passing lane on the left. Best advice of all...learn to be patient. They are way too big to argue with. You won't bother them any more than a bug hitting their windshield.

 

[SteveMac]

That is one of the reason I never assume that the turkey I am about to pass see's me because I am invisible! I will flash my headlights and pass like a rocket ship going into orbit!

:agree:
When I pass a big truck, the I really PASS a big truck. Speed be darned. I not only worry about them being distracted, but those treads can fly at any moment. That would not be pleasant. So I don't mess around when I pass commercial vehicles. :shocked:

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: Stay out of their hip pockets; and GO! when you decide to go... :2thumbs:

 

[boborgera]

Nothing new, Ive been cut off in my truck, car, bike , trike.
It happens, and it will happen again.:banghead:
The only difference is on a Bike/trike is it's up-close and personal.
You have to develop a 6Th sense and try to anticipate what the other guy is gonna do,
And expect him to do the opposite.. Also when you make a iffy pass do it fast and keep on going'
No Jersey salute.......

 

[NancysToy]

:agree:
When I pass a big truck, the I really PASS a big truck. Speed be darned. I not only worry about them being distracted, but those treads can fly at any moment. That would not be pleasant. So I don't mess around when I pass commercial vehicles. :shocked:

:agree: My old driver's ed teacher always said "Pass with authority!" That pretty well covers it.

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

Left side, passing side
Right side, suicide :lecturef_smilie:

You may be right but don't end up being dead right :lecturef_smilie: