Glad I did my front brakes this year!

Had a harrowing experience yesterday. Following a slow-poke van on a 45 MPH two-way, he seems to signal a left turn, I'm glad--finally can get around him and go the speed limit. Well, what I saw was a very weak, seemed-to-be-blinking left brake light (which I thought was a turn signal), and nothing lights up on the right side of his van. So naturally I expected him to take a left into some side road or driveway. Wrong! Just as I'm moving to go around him to the right, he starts his right turn. It's a good thing I wasn't in too much of a hurry, since I was able to clamp down on my front brake--the wheel actually locked at what I'm guessing was 25-30 MPH. Nearly soiled myself. but I didn't crash into him, thank God, but came within what must have been inches. I actually remember seeing a bit of smoke from my front tire, and hearing it skidding, so I know the wheel locked. and to my surprise she actually stayed fairly straight while the front wheel was locked. So glad I didn't pile the fat girl into that guy's junky van! Anyway, keep your brakes working like they should. Never know when they'll save your six.