Should I have been better prepared for this?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by windsmith, Jun 29, 2012.

  1. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    Watch again. The car to my immediate right moved to their left, then began moving left into MY lane when they tried to overtake the car to their right, which began merging into their lane. It's hard to see from the camera perspective, but I had a little better view of it. :)
     
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  3. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    As much as I shouldn't....

    I have to agree with Gizmo on this.


    You should and could have anticipated the cars doing that.
     
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  4. FatDaddy

    FatDaddy Road Train Member

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    You should have been a little more aware of your surroundings. There were two red flags you should have seen here...first whenever there is merging traffic you should be aware of the possibility that the lane is going to end whether you seen signs or not. In your case you would normlly be ok snce you were in the next lane over. However, a second red flag popped in your line of sight and that was you had a fast approaching impatient 4 wheeler trying to get around. At that point you should have anticipated a problem and cleared yourself from the situation. Either get off the throttle so you don't have to hard brake, change your lane if safe...etc. had an accident occured, you wouldn't have been at fault but as professionals we don't want to be in accidents and should do our part to prevent them...even if was the other "idiots" fault
     
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  5. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    I couldn't move over today because of traffic on my side. Had an idiot in a pickup that wanted onto the interstate. He tried to push me out of the way.

    So he pulls around all 3 lanes of traffic and back into my lane to slow to 45.


    All I could do is slow and then dial 911 with a description and plate number.
     
  6. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    Well, I simply discounted the possibility of that whole mess occurring. I was one lane removed from the lane drop, there was a merge immediately following it, and the cars were both in the lane that was dropping. I expected both of them to move left in an orderly fashion. What gummed up the whole procedure was that the following car tried to overtake the lead car and got pinched by the lane drop. After watching again, I'm not sure that the driver of the following car even realized that the lane was about to drop and was simply planning to overtake the lead car.

    I could also anticipate that the overpass that I'm about to pass under will break loose and fall onto the roof of my cab once I'm under it. Could happen, and has happened.

    I do see your and Gizmo's point, but I suppose my answer would be - at what point do you limit anticipating the possibilities?
     
  7. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    That's why I'm spending so much time here. I learn more here than I could learn in 6 months running team with a 'trainer'. You guys might be ruthless, callous, rude, obnoxious and two-faced, but you're a GREAT wealth of information and experience :)

    I think you're jealous that you think I was able to bypass some of the 'paying your dues' process.

    Trust me, I'm still paying my dues, just not how YOU think I should be doing it :)
     
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  8. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    Idiots and cars are a given. An overpass is almost an act of God. (I also reference the I35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis too)


    You HAVE to believe that cars will do dumb things like that around you. If you don't, you get in a bad situation.

    It's also why I drive as far from the exit and entrance ramps over as I can get without blocking out the far left lane most cases. I also travel with the speed of traffic. It's the safest speed to be.
     
  9. FatDaddy

    FatDaddy Road Train Member

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    Not being condesending....but there is your rookie mistake
     
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  10. apyles

    apyles Medium Load Member

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    all of these situations are instances of what all go throught everyday. The main thing , no matter who was or was not paying attention, is that no paint got exchanged or no one got hurt, except for pride.
     
  11. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    There are some things that put people at too great of a risk.

    If you can't read road markings and claim you never saw a sign declaring the lanes falling off, you are a danger to everyone else on the roads. Honestly, you SHOULD have learned lane markings just to get your license.

    You should have never missed that.

    I can tell from the camera what the lane markings were. Why didn't you?
     
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