Today I was riding on some back roads and this guy in a pickup was backing out of his driveway and he stopped so I thought he saw me but I slowed down anyway and kept an eye on him. Apperently it wasn't me that he was stopping for. There was another guy on a sport bike coming from the other direction that I didn't know was there because of a curve ahead of me. As soon as the other rider passed me this guy backed out in front of me and he wasn't going slow either. Before I knew it he was almost all the way across the road and I was hitting the brakes hard and swerving all the way across the road almost into the gravel shoulder on the other side. Talk about pucker factor. Well I ended up missing the bed of his truck by about a foot and the gravel by a foot. This was the closest I have been to death or being crippled for the rest of my life so far. Boy am I glad there was no other oncoming traffic or I would have been screwed as there was no other way to get around him.

Be safe out there everyone, the idiots are everywhere.

 

I guess it worked out like it was suppose to...other than him backing out in front of you. You had your eyes on him and was suspicious and didnt count on anything.

What could you have done different?

Oh, and i bet the grass was a little greener and flowers a little more colorful after that wasnt it?

 

Yeah, I agree. Sounds like you had your alert button pushed and approached with caution but sometimes bad things just happen. Glad it turned out to just be a close call and not something much worse.

 

Glad you're Ok. Learn something from every close call

 

So many things that could be said about the guy who backed out, etc, etc.

Best thing I can say - glad you made it through safe!

 

Yeah after my heart beat went back to normal it was all good.

 

Did you "show him he was #1"? At least you're okay. Just plan on them completely backing out, even if they stop or slow down, IF it happens again.

 

Great job with the anticipation and remember to continue riding with your head on a swivel. I have quit counting how many close calls I've had over the years and instead treasure the rides themselves. Glad you are ok.

 

Very scarey when you have close calls, if I get a chance to tell them what they did then I usually do. Couple days ago a huge Dodge Ram truck did a U turn in front of me and 2 cars causing us all to slow from 45mph to 10mph. I already thought this might happen and had slowed a bit and changed lanes to give myself room. Then when we got to the next intersection Mr Dodge Ram decided he would zip in front of me at the left turn arrows without using his signal, again causing me to hard brake. His black truck was covered in skull logos and stickers, even his license plate holder.

At the next traffic signal I pulled alongside him and gestured for him to wind down his window. Expecting to see some young dude on account of the skulls I was surprised to see an 80 yo guy. I explained very nicely to him that he had cut off 3 of us with his U turn and me again at the left turn signal and to please be more aware of other vehicles AND use your signals. Well it probably won't made any difference if the guy drives like that but maybe he'll look twice and think next time.