Felt kinda bad...

[NewValker]

So I took a scoot to the Communist state of Conn. today. Looked up 2 guys that have retired from my work the last couple of years. Had a good catch up visit with each of them and headed home to meet a buddy and go to the local car show in his 56 dodge. Got into town and headed for the gas station.
Anytime I’m on a congested road I flip the hi beams on, more visibility can’t hurt right?
I hit 4th and see a white Buick coming out of a street on my left, cover horn, cover brake. It ain’t stopping so I hit the Stebil, drop a gear, and start to move right. Car stops dead on the yellow line and I had plenty of room to pass it on the right.
Ok, they’re everywhere and we know it. Pull in for gas and see the same car come in too. Great, I smell a confrontation and I’m not carrying. Parks at next island, and before I had my helmet off, this 70-ish woman comes running over to me. She apologizes over and over saying she’s sorry she didn’t see me.
And when she heard the horn, she looked again and saw me and stopped.

I snapped at her that I’m not ready to die because you don’t pay attention. Then she starts crying...tells me her husband rides and she did exactly what she prays nobody does to him.  She’s shaking and crying and everybody pumping gas is staring at us.
I put my helmet down and told her the important thing is we’re both going home safe today.  (Wow, the old Craig never would of let it go that fast...)

When I got back on my bike, she got out of her car, came over apologizing again, took my hand and told me to be safe. Great, now I feel even worse for yelling at her. I’m sure she was sincere.

When I left, I looked over at her and gave her a wave.

Ride safe all,
Craig

[Serk]

So I took a scoot to the Communist state of Conn. today.

Wait.... MA isn't more communist than Conn? I thought it was the other way around???

(Seriously, not that I'm fond of either communist state)

Regardless, glad you survived your trip into communism and socialist behavior to tell the tale!

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think the new Craig is a better man than the old Craig.  But, I understand what you mean. I don't know if I've mellowed enough as you have. It sounds like she clearly was upset that she almost killed you. Many wouldn't be.

Glad the hip is letting you get out in the danger zone. 

[Valkorado]

The young man who rear ended my bike and almost made me a pick-um-up hood ornament said he was sorry too.  Risky passion we share,  that's for sure.

Glad you avoided the impact zone.

[Bighead]

I am With Serk on the coomy state thing but glad you are here to tell us about the close call.

[gordonv]

She apologizes over and over saying she’s sorry she didn’t see me.
And when she heard the horn, she looked again and saw me and stopped.
<snip>
I snapped at her that I’m not ready to die because you don’t pay attention. Then she starts crying...tells me her husband rides and she did exactly what she prays nobody does to him.
<snip>

The driver of the semi that pulled out in front of me and blocked the road, I hit, also came out saying he was sorry and a rider!

Since I found myself under the tractor and an arm length away from the rear tires, I was just happy to be alive.

Don't feel so bad, your reaction was normal, it could have been a lot worse earlier if she hadn't stopped. But upon reflection, and time, you chilled nicely and left on good terms. But you can see where she wasn't looking (for motorcycles, but only for a car).

I don't believe in accidents. That implies you couldn't do anything about it. It was inattentiveness.

[Rams]

At least she stopped to apologize.

The other vehicle in my crash kept rolling and didn't even look back.   

[Jess from VA]

Yeah, I think I would be so gobsmacked at a heartfelt apology she drove out of her way to give me, I wouldn't remember to still be angry.     (to err is human, to forgive divine)

On the other hand, if there had been an impact and I (or my bike) was laying under her car, I'm pretty sure an apology wouldn't improve my attitude at all.  

My worst anger and behavior (while riding) has resulted from the close calls that scared me the worst.  Fear brings on flight or fight, and I want to fight (if I'm not running away).  Once or twice I've been a near raving lunatic, with my heart pounding like a machine gun, for about 20 seconds before I regained self control.  That is weakness, and should be resisted by any seasoned rider.  When you are that angry, you are not thinking clearly (and the prisons are full of people with poor impulse control).

A couple of those scariest moments were not caused by another driver but my ME.  So I'm punching my own helmet (what the hell were you thinking....you dumb ass?).  Like almost losing it highside, then lowside, then highside again, then saving it (and not going down the mountainside).  

But the vast majority of them have been bad driving cagers.  

[hubcapsc]

I remember trying to cross one of those intersections where you have to
be aggressive to get to the other side... I started to punch it, but
I did the "look twice, save a life" thing that I hope is always my habit...

Anywho... I didn't pull out in front of the motorcycle... it is dangerous out there.

-Mike

[Hook#3287]

Craig didn't say Ct was MORE or LESS commie than MA, just that it IS commie.

Glad you didn't meet her while lying in the road.

You weren't wearing sneakers, were you?

[Oss]

Just happy you made it out alive and unhurt

Oss

To paraphrase a quote about flying
Any ride you can walk away from at the end with the bike and yourself intact is a good ride

[Bigwolf]

I have been on both sides of this scenario.  Honestly, I cannot say which side of it is more frightening and frustrating.   .  The lesson I feel, from my experiences, is that humans often make mistakes, even with the best of intentions.  I try to ride/drive with that in mind.

I am glad it all worked out well for you and you walked away with little more to show for it than a heavy shot of adrenaline. 

I would bet that that event will be replaying in that woman’s mind for several weeks to come, maybe longer.

[Crackerborn]

Glad it was a near miss rather than the other option. When I was rear ended the perp dragged the bike over a half mile under his cage and still drove off. When the LEO's finally caught up to him (via tag number from witnesses) he claimed nothing happened and off-roading caused the undercarriage damage.
The part that still bugs me about that incident, even with 5 witnesses he got off with a warning and I got to fight with the protection, err, insurance companies.

[cookiedough]

How come it a lot of times is old ladies (or gents) in buicks?   

OLD lady in a buick century pulled out in front of me clear intersection somehow never saw me and almost t-boned her doing 45 mph after slowing down some for I saw her pull out without looking both ways , thus me slowing down well ahead of time. 

At least she followed you and came up and apologized something 99% of other drivers on the road will never do.  Still does not make it right though there needs to be re-testing driving part when age 70 or 75 on up hate to say it but might help save a few lives?

[NewValker]

So I took a scoot to the Communist state of Conn. today.

Wait.... MA isn't more communist than Conn? I thought it was the other way around???

(Seriously, not that I'm fond of either communist state)

Regardless, glad you survived your trip into communism and socialist behavior to tell the tale!

Yes, Brian I believe it is. They already try to confiscate guns after they make them illegal. MA hasn’t tried that yet, but our    AG isn’t far behind.

Craig didn't say Ct was MORE or LESS commie than MA, just that it IS commie.

Glad you didn't meet her while lying in the road.

You weren't wearing sneakers, were you?

No sneakers that trip Bill, but I do wear them on short rides when it’s hot.

[scooperhsd]

How come it a lot of times is old ladies (or gents) in buicks?  

OLD lady in a buick century pulled out in front of me clear intersection somehow never saw me and almost t-boned her doing 45 mph after slowing down some for I saw her pull out without looking both ways , thus me slowing down well ahead of time.  

At least she followed you and came up and apologized something 99% of other drivers on the road will never do.  Still does not make it right though there needs to be re-testing driving part when age 70 or 75 on up hate to say it but might help save a few lives?

I'm there with you - mandatory driving test on every 2 year renewal at age 70-74 and beyond. I'd tend to put more casual drivers at 70 and those with Motorcycle / commercial licenses later. And sooner at the drivers license examiner's discretion .

[mbramley]

I have been on both sides of this scenario.  Honestly, I cannot say which side of it is more frightening and frustrating.   .  The lesson I feel, from my experiences, is that humans often make mistakes, even with the best of intentions.  I try to ride/drive with that in mind.

I am glad it all worked out well for you and you walked away with little more to show for it than a heavy shot of adrenaline. 

I would bet that that event will be replaying in that woman’s mind for several weeks to come, maybe longer.

 I am with Big Wolf. I went to pull out of my driveway once didn't see the bike coming, would not have hit him as I was turning right and he was coming from the right but still scared the crap out of me. Next day more branches were cut from the tree by the road. It has been proven that people can be paying attention but look right thru us because we are not what their mind is expecting. That was at least 10 years ago and I still play it thru my mind all the time.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I have been on both sides of this scenario.  Honestly, I cannot say which side of it is more frightening and frustrating.   .  The lesson I feel, from my experiences, is that humans often make mistakes, even with the best of intentions.  I try to ride/drive with that in mind.

I am glad it all worked out well for you and you walked away with little more to show for it than a heavy shot of adrenaline. 

I would bet that that event will be replaying in that woman’s mind for several weeks to come, maybe longer.

 I am with Big Wolf. I went to pull out of my driveway once didn't see the bike coming, would not have hit him as I was turning right and he was coming from the right but still scared the poop out of me. Next day more branches were cut from the tree by the road. It has been proven that people can be paying attention but look right thru us because we are not what their mind is expecting. That was at least 10 years ago and I still play it thru my mind all the time.

Exactly ! It would serve us all best to expect them all to pull out in front of us. It's just part of the gig.

[3fan4life]

I have been on both sides of this scenario.  Honestly, I cannot say which side of it is more frightening and frustrating.   .  The lesson I feel, from my experiences, is that humans often make mistakes, even with the best of intentions.  I try to ride/drive with that in mind.

I am glad it all worked out well for you and you walked away with little more to show for it than a heavy shot of adrenaline. 

I would bet that that event will be replaying in that woman’s mind for several weeks to come, maybe longer.

 I am with Big Wolf. I went to pull out of my driveway once didn't see the bike coming, would not have hit him as I was turning right and he was coming from the right but still scared the poop out of me. Next day more branches were cut from the tree by the road. It has been proven that people can be paying attention but look right thru us because we are not what their mind is expecting. That was at least 10 years ago and I still play it thru my mind all the time.

Exactly ! It would serve us all best to expect them all to pull out in front of us. It's just part of the gig.

When I was teaching my son to ride, I told him to always ride like he was "invisible" and not "Invincible".

When I'm riding, I assume that no-one has seen me until they prove otherwise.

If a car is coming into an intersection, I assume that it is either going to pull out in front of me or turn left in front of me.

I don't know what may happen on my next ride, but this practice has saved my bacon a few times in the past.

[Moonshot_1]

The best take away from this is that you saw the problem before it became a problem.

You can't do that every second but you can recognize the problem situations, like yours, and be prepared for them when you enter the situation.

I see a lot of riders whose universe is a narrow cone 50' long. Looking far down the road, checking your 6, seeing the potential problems coming up, being prepared for them like "covering the brake" are great things to condition yourself to do and to practice them all the time.

As to the other drivers that don't see us. Sometimes the reasons are inexcusable like phone use and texting. But there are times, and I've posted some things on this site in the past related to optical illusions and certain patterns in motion that cause a kind of blindness, that folks just don't see us. Not that they are poor drivers or have vision issues, but just can't see us.
We "suffer" from those same issues when we drive. We all do. It is how the brain works, or not work, some times in those conditions.

One of the best examples is the "Awareness Test"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4

An old motorcycle awareness public service announcement from the BBC.
Make sure you count every pass.