Left turning vehicle

[Beachy]

I had a close call this morning with a pick-up truck that turned left in front of me from the opposite direction. It all took place in 3-5 seconds, the first second I thought "I can't believe he just pulled out in front of me". The following few seconds I was relying on my brakes.

I was doing about 40mph, not only did he pull in front of me, but then he stopped. I couldn't see it at the moment, but when he decided to risk the turn, a pedestrian was crossing the street, that's why he stopped. I was in the right lane and had a mini van to my left and no where to go. I could only hope these Chinese brakes would stop me in time, and they did.

I've been riding street bikes for over twenty years, and have always feared the left turning vehicle. That's the closest I've come to one, and it happened so fast, and I stopped only a few inches from him.

It's Memorial day weekend and many people on the road left their brains at home, had a few beers or both. Be careful out there this weekend.

[ltdhpp]

Glad you're ok!
I always reduce my speed when multiple factors are around like that... its really the only thing you can do (or could have done, if you collide) when it's a matter of poor judgment from drivers like the one in that truck!
I also regularly do a panic-brake check just to make sure it's good enough. I'm pretty impressed with how quick mine can stop.

[tortoise]

Although a little over-dramatic . . this lay-down video is a good example of countersteer (lean left and push left grip).

[nougat]

tortoise, that video, I did almost exactly that avoiding a SUV turning in front of me on an old Yamaha cub class. Except I only got to about 45 degrees before the SUV stopped, and I let off the brakes. The bike righted itself and I went on.

All that happens in a total split second, too.

[jwalz1]

Too new to scootering to have encountered the left turner, but whenever I approach an intersection and traffic is moving I try to guage my path of the intersection with how the oncoming traffic is moving. I speed up or slow down so that an oncoming vehicle taking a left turn will NOT cross my path or I will not cross theirs if you take my meaning.

But when traffic does not allow me to do that, and our paths may cross, I pull the trigger on my brights and hold (my whole front end lights up like a christmas tree on a Downtown), cover the brakes and be ready, and weave slightly in the lane to get noticed.

Watch the video on how to avoid a "SMIDSY" (Sorry Mate I Did'nt See You) It is worth the 7 minutes.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqQBubilSXU