Jake
June 11th, 2003, 03:06 AM
YOU ARE RIDING along a familiar four-lane urban arterial, approaching a major intersection with a left-turn lane in the center, divided from the other traffic lanes by a solid white line. You have dropped back slightly behind the car ahead, having noticed an out-of-state license plate and the nervous head turns of a driver who seems to be lost. When the driver enters the left turn lane, you are relieved to have him out of your way, and accelerate toward the intersection to make the green light.
But, before you get past the car, the driver suddenly swerves across the white line, back into the traffic lane, almost on top of you. You quickly roll off the gas, swerve right and brake, barely squeezing yourself into a "white line" position inches from the other vehicles. The "tentative turner" gets through the intersection, but you are now stopped by a red light. You can barely control your rage at the illegal, arrogant and stupid actions of a driver who doesn’t seem to have even noticed you.
Yes, you had the right of way, and you skillfully avoided a collision which would have certainly knocked you down. But you could have done more to avoid the situation. Once you became aware of an out-of-state driver who was apparently confused, you could have separated yourself from that vehicle, either by changing lanes, by dropping back, or by getting around between intersections.
In the driver’s confused state, he may not have seen you at all, or may have assumed you would maintain your same position and speed. Even without a "tentative turner" present, it isn’t clever to accelerate toward a busy intersection where motorcyclists are often forced to take evasive action.
But, before you get past the car, the driver suddenly swerves across the white line, back into the traffic lane, almost on top of you. You quickly roll off the gas, swerve right and brake, barely squeezing yourself into a "white line" position inches from the other vehicles. The "tentative turner" gets through the intersection, but you are now stopped by a red light. You can barely control your rage at the illegal, arrogant and stupid actions of a driver who doesn’t seem to have even noticed you.
Yes, you had the right of way, and you skillfully avoided a collision which would have certainly knocked you down. But you could have done more to avoid the situation. Once you became aware of an out-of-state driver who was apparently confused, you could have separated yourself from that vehicle, either by changing lanes, by dropping back, or by getting around between intersections.
In the driver’s confused state, he may not have seen you at all, or may have assumed you would maintain your same position and speed. Even without a "tentative turner" present, it isn’t clever to accelerate toward a busy intersection where motorcyclists are often forced to take evasive action.