Near miss this morning (was I in the wrong)

almillar

coinxopertated - as I said in my post, if the driver HAD checked their mirror, they would have seen a bike overtaking. If they did as you said, and not pulled out, they would have slammed into a row of parked cars.
My point being, the driver HAD to move out, and should NOT be expected to stop just because a bike is overtaking. Knowing the bike was there would have been better driving, but I still don't understand what the biker expected the driver to do, except maybe anticipate the road ahead better. Then again, that's exactly what the biker should have done.
All these people saying mirror, signal, manoeuvre - what is the signal for just moving over slightly in your own lane?

System

almillar wrote: »

All these people saying mirror, signal, manoeuvre - what is the signal for just moving over slightly in your own lane?

I regularly drive along a street with cars parked on one side of the road, half on the pavement, when I am approaching these I always indicate as I have to move out to the white line, this lets the people behind you know you're moving out, and also shows the people coming head on that you are moving out, which usually means that cars coming head on move over a little in their lane to give you room even tho you are still technically in your own lane - maybe I'm always at fault but I've never had the same experience as the op for whatever reason...

Strider590

the_r_sole wrote: »

I regularly drive along a street with cars parked on one side of the road, half on the pavement, when I am approaching these I always indicate as I have to move out to the white line

Thumbs up for this, it annoys me no end when people don't indicate to move around obstacles, like parked cars or cyclists...... I was taught to them when they learnt to drive, it's in the highway code, but most never f**king do it.
I suppose the worst are large vans and 4x4s, they love to suddenly swerve out and leave you about to rear end a cyclist or a small parked car.

OP failed to check mirrors and failed to indicate intentions, but the biker was filtering and should have been paying MUCH more attention to what was going on around him.
What the OP did is so common that it should be entirely predictable to an experienced biker.

bigjl

Velcro_Hotdog wrote: »

Judging by the coments it looks like I could have done things better as could the biker (thanks for the feedback) Thankfully in this case no one was hurt.

I think some people are being over critical of your driving.

Biker should have been able to read the road much further than you due to sitting higher.

The biker was overtaking.

You were moving out in a line of traffic to clear parked cars.

Did you actually cross the lines dividing the road?

Bikers should always consider what other drivers may be doing and not just try and blame other road users for everything.

Biker was in a hurry and the only way you had a decent chance of seeing them was if you were checking your mirror more often than is normal for the average road user.

Perhaps if you were an advanced driver using Roadcraft or IHCD System of Car Control techniques when you constantly check all three mirrors.

As others have said Biker perhaps has a bit of a chip on his shoulder towards car drivers.

Perhaps justified.

But not in this case.

Especially as his actions failed to take into consideration oncoming traffic, which was not a problem for you and your road positioning.

Chalk it down to experience.

Perhaps try to increase the amount of times you check your mirrors when approaching a hazard such a parked cars, that cause you to have to move your road position.

Have a bit of a practice.

Check right mirror, left mirror then internal mirror.

The more you do it the better you will be at it and it will soon become a habit.

And soon you will find yourself as aware if what is going on behind you as in front of you.

Don't stress too much about it.


You make some fair points strider.

Except in this instance I would consider the biker was overtaking rather than filtering.

almillar

We've established that the OP says they did NOT cross the white line. If you are going into the other lane, of course you indicate, but if you're staying in your own lane, you don't indicate every course correction.

gazzak_2

OP, imagine it was another car and not a bike. In that case the other car would have been totally and 100% at fault, and if seen by a patrol car liable to be prosecuted for dangerous driving.

The bike rider was totally at fault.

MEM62

Unfortunately, some of replies on this thread reflect the all too common attitude that all motorcyclists do not ride responsibly and are usually in the wrong. The mere fact that bikes are able to filter is seen as irresponsible riding even when done in a safe and lawful manner. And it is often my experience the strongest opinions come from those that have never ridden. I accept that there are those who's roadcraft leaves a lot to be desired but these are the few that create the bad reputation for the many.

In this case both parties share some of the blame in my opinion. Firstly, you should not pull out to avoid parked vehicles without checking your mirror. You may not have been changing lanes but you were altering your road position. This is not just for the sake of anyone on two wheels that may be filtering. What if the vehicle on the outside of you is too far over to the left or perhaps you have a wide vehicle compromising the space that you are moving into. Also, the rider if he was exercising proper forward vision should have seen that you would need to pull out to avoid the parked vehicles and altered his riding plan accordingly. As the more vulnerable road user I would expect the rider to take much more responsibility for ensuring his own safety and it sounds as if his riding skills could be improved along with his courtesy.

I disagree strongly with any motorcyclist that aggressively confronts a driver in such cases. It does nothing to help our case as responsible road users. However, please appreciate that we face hazards from poor driving on all to regular a basis. If you make a mistake and hit another car you dent metal. We on two wheel are more vulnerable and such careless mistakes can and do kill and seriously injure many riders. So if you have just nearly wiped someone out on a bike you there will be times when you will get a 'spitited' response to the situation. It's not right but perhaps human nature after a near miss.

Horizon81

MEM62 wrote: »

If you make a mistake and hit another car you dent metal. We on two wheel are more vulnerable and such careless mistakes can and do kill and seriously injure many riders.

Take the car then. You know it's safer so why take the bike? Just the sheer thrill of knowing some doddery old man in a Honda might not see you and knock you off? Nevertheless I know several bikers and don't know a single one who at some point hasn't fallen off through their own fault.

But in the OP's story (which will run and run) the biker was not filtering, he was overtaking a car which was passing parked cars. Almillar and gazzak's posts are spot on. Typical militant rider on 2 wheels - usually that's an accolade reserved for cyclists.

MEM62

Horizon81 wrote: »

Take the car then. You know it's safer so why take the bike? Just the sheer thrill of knowing some doddery old man in a Honda might not see you and knock you off? Nevertheless I know several bikers and don't know a single one who at some point hasn't fallen off through their own fault.

A prime example of my point re the way motorcyclists are viewed. When I ride a bike it's because I choose to do so in the same way that everyone else has the right to choose their mode of transport. It is an efficient and enjoyable way of getting around. Your suggestion that I ride because I am motivated by the thrill of the prospect of being knocked off just underlines your ignorance.

Velcro_Hotdog

I think it's safe to say that BOTH me and the biker could and should dothings differently in future. I know I will!

Thanks for all the replies I really appreciate them. After 10 years on theroad incident free it's obvious that I still have room for improvement.