Anatomy of a near miss.

[Bricktop X PWR]

Just a bit of fun on a slooow Sunday at home!

This sort of thing really is standard fayre living rurally as I do.

Most back roads are relatively quiet here, and it is my observation over the last 5 years living in West Wales, that folk do not necessarily take as much care as they should.

I have had quite a few near misses over the years, but due to my 'Cat Like' reactions (?) it has yet to end up in a collision. (Long may it continue)

All comments welcome.
Always interested in others point of view.

P.S. As a rule I don't tear about the back roads, (Honestly Occifer) but today I was concious that I was going to be pushing it to get to Maccy D's for breakfast.

Although a NSL stretch of road, I usually do 35 to 40 mph past that junction.

Today, I was probably doing 8mph more than usual.

Doesn't sound like much granted, but in another situation, it might be enough to make a difference.

And not a good one.

 

[Caramaddy]

I hate rural roads and avoid using them if at all possdible. You probably have no choice. If two motorists are driving fast then the chances of having an accident must be high. Possibly it is my age but I feel the standard of driving and impatience is getting worse.

 

[HazardLights]

I am left wondering where the sound effect escaped from...

I am not being critical as we all relax a bit on roads we know but it's probably a case where my retired police officer father would point out that anticipation of the possibility of the event should have led to a more sedate pace or other preparation for the unexpected. Having said that I have relaxed on familiar roads on the assumption that nobody is stupid enough to do X and then had to take evasive action as it's surprising how bold/inattentive other people can be.

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

I am left wondering where the sound effect escaped from...

The good wife! ?

 

[HazardLights]

The good wife! ?

That explains it. Cheekily I edited my response while you were giving it the thumbs up.

 

[5teep]

I drive 800-1000 miles a week on mostly country roads and near misses are not uncommon (loads of tourists + narrow roads).

I'm used to it with the tourists but something I've noticed is the rate of near misses with HGVs seems to be much higher than it used to be, not sure if that has something to do with the relaxed driving test for that licence but it's scary.

 

[Alb]

From the video, it looks like you were driving in the middle of the road as you went through the junction.

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

From the video, it looks like you were driving in the middle of the road as you went through the junction.

ish. @Alb.

It is a country road and when I do 'jink' left I run over the farm drive entrance.

If that would have been the verge and my LKA was on (which it wasn't) the car may of turned me into the front of the 4x4 before I reached the junction, especially if I was driving tight to the verge.

On the back roads where I live if I forget to switch off the LKA, then it is always moving you away from the left hand side of the road, and forcing you out further than you would like.

No rhyme or reason with it though!

One of the main reasons I switch it off every single time.

 

[dsimpkins]

P.S. As a rule I don't tear about the back roads, (Honestly Occifer) but today I was concious that I was going to be pushing it to get to Maccy D's for breakfast.

A Maccy D's breakfast is not worth a car crash. I'd rather go a bit slower, and go somewhere else for breakfast.

 

[decrep]

My write off, and scariest near miss, was caused by assuming the other driver knew I was there. Both on very quiet roads, where the other drivers just didn't check to see if there was anybody else about.

I guess, just be more wary on quiet roads, assume nothing.

 

[tsedge]

My view is that you were driving too fast for the conditions and the visibility of the approaching junction.

Most of the roads in Devon are small lanes and people unfamiliar with them don't realise how slowly they need to drive in order to be able to stop if an oncoming vehicle suddenly appears.

Because of the "blind muppets" factor, I tend to reduce my speed even more.

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

As a point of confirmation, I've come out this morning and deliberately got up to speed to activate LKA (Still 37mph?) to test my theory (up above @ post#8)

Surprise, Surprise!
It never 'armed' itself, so even with me deliberately driving to the verge the car did nothing until it saw some clearly defined road markings!

Hallelujah! Praise be! etc etc.

Before update R59, this would arm (still at 37mph) regardless of road markings, hence the propensity to nudge you back to the middle if 'it' thought you were drifting left to the verge.

That, this morning, was a welcome discovery which also means I shouldn't need to disable it every trip.

Several trips out will confirm or deny this fact.

 

[derek31a]

I don't think that you were driving too fast, more a case of the usual "My vehicle is bigger than yours so I'm safe and I'm pulling out regardless" syndrome! Too many drivers like that on the roads these days. Looking at the video, it didn't look like there were any road markings which makes it difficult in the event of an insurance claim.

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

I don't think that you were driving too fast, more a case of the usual "My vehicle is bigger than yours so I'm safe and I'm pulling out regardless" syndrome! Too many drivers like that on the roads these days. Looking at the video, it didn't look like there were any road markings which makes it difficult in the event of an insurance claim.

A bit quicker up to that junction than would be normal for me, knowing it as I do, but we'll within the 60mph posted speed.

 

[SteveO]

My view is the other driver should have given way.

Doesn't matter if you were doing 20 mph or 120 mph and driving on the RHS of the road (as if overtaking a stationary vehicle etc.) he was coming out of a side road junction as far as I can see, hence look both ways and give way.

The question I always ask is if they were doing their test and had performed that manoeuvre would they have passed, I think not.

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

How about this for a "Slice of Fried Gold?"

Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre???




Bonus points awarded for knowing who uses the quote up above.

 

[siteguru]

You booted it too early ... yes the other driver was a div, but you should have waited until the road straightened until you booted it, because of just such an occurrence. (Plan ahead).

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

You booted it too early ... yes the other driver was a div, but you should have waited until the road straightened until you booted it, because of just such an occurrence. (Plan ahead).

Hardly booted @siteguru!

Merely tickled.

You've never experienced an X Power I take it?

My major failure in that incident was underestimating the Nissan drivers desire to make progress.

I mean For Figs Sake , he was a Nissan driver!

(His last car was a Nissan GTR!)

 

[OriginalBigAl]

Bloody hell , I've got palpitations just watching the video. You've said in the past the X-power is like a motorbike, just as invisible it would appear! From the "body language " of the car it didn't seem as though he was going to do a overtake. The car in front of him did seem to slow down and then brake, but only saw that after repeated viewings, and by that time you were nearly level with "him". Nicely avoided but a bit lucky there was a gap in the other carriageway.

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

Just jammy tis all m8.

That would have been a very different outcome if I hadn't had that gap to move into.

Totally caught me off guard!

I never even had a chance to melt my horn!