SUV mom

[Burgi]

Nearly got run over this afternoon within a block of my house. I live near an elementary school and there is a middle school a little further down the street from that. So twice a day the area is mobbed with swarms of parents carting their darlings back and forth to school (since, apparently, children are no longer born with legs so that they can walk).
As I began to turn left onto my street a SUV passed me on the left, effectively blocking my turn. Luckily, I was able to swerve out of the turn and not be taken out.
Not being able to leave well enough alone I followed the vehicle to the light a block down, pulled up next to the passenger window and knocked. The woman graciously rolled down the window so that I was able to explain to her that I didn't appreciate her attempt at running me over. I really don't know if she got it but she did apologize. I hope the kids in the back seat tell all their friends what dope their mom is. 
Just shows accidents can happen anywhere and for those that think "I'm just going a short way, it'll be fine" (myself included) you just never know.

[drdubb]

Most vehicle deaths occur near home.

[fortyhourdays]

Glad you're safe, and glad you took the time to enlighten her.

[cmyers]

Glad you come through it unharmed.

[Soupskin]

Glad you are OK!

Knocking on windows like there here will get you shot.

[Hondo]

Good to hear that you avoided the collision! Very cool letting her know her mistake so nicely.

[luckylindy]

Glad you avoided the dreaded SUV mom.  Amazing how they "don't see us".

[tbante]

I am suprised that she apologized. That means she 'kinda' cared as opposed to someone who shruggs their shoulders or given you the one finger salute.

[Bumblebee]

What is it with crazies lately?

Stay proficient. Stay very, um, make that extremely, proficient. It doesn't matter what their eyes or head does. Watch the front tire for movement.

I did a maximum braking emergency to a full stop from 50mph today. A crazy cage (big huge SUV/moving steel wall) rolled through the RED LIGHT just as easy as you please. Once the idget saw me, they kept rolling directly at where I was about to be. Their apology for attempted murder was in the form of a very angrily brandished middle finger and words that would get me banned from this board for at least a decade that I could hear through earplugs at 10 feet. I hit the stebel button and the cage got really irritated then jumped right out in front of a high speed pickup in the left lane. I still have no idea how that didn't result in impact.

Cities are only good for three things: Wearing out brake pads, wearing out stebel horns and giving me nasty multi-gallon blast of adrenalin that's really bad on my nervous system.

I'm done - cities are officially mercenary in/out missions only from now on.

[SliverXZennon]

Their apology for attempted murder was in the form of a very angrily brandished middle finger and words that would get me banned from this board for at least a decade that I could hear through earplugs at 10 feet.

Isn't it amazing that it's YOUR fault that THEY ran a red light? People are un-@#@%$*&-belivable!! I just don't understand the mindlessness of people driving. And with so many distractions, how come law makers aren't stepping up to the plate on this? I can't go a day without seeing a complete moron chatting away on the phone or talking while stopped ON A RAILROAD CROSSING!  

I guess I come from a different breed of human. One that realizes that I'm driving a ton of steel (in a cage) and could harm more than just myself for an idiotic act. Society has become so dependent on doing things NOW, that that 30 second phone call that resulted in running over a motorcyclist or pedestrian, couldn't have waited 2 minutes until you got home. Un-focused + vehicle = deadly weapon.

/rant

Burgi, glad to hear you are OK!   Seriously, I would have flipped out and that mom would have heard more words than she bargained for.. way to keep a cool head.

[Laminar]

Most vehicle deaths occur near home.

Most vehicle trips start and end near the home.

[coffee_brake]

Wow maybe it was the lunar cycle, I came as close as I ever had to getting hit by a car yesterday too...on the Nighthawk...less 200 feet from my house.

Four-way stop, a beat-up Chevy Blazer and I got there the same time, stopped, and I rolled on through. He had no signal on. Suddenly there's a rusty bumper two feet from my tank and I've swerved without even knowing it. The guy braked so hard his passenger door came open. He was turning left and had no clue I was on the other side of the four-way-stop. Probably didn't look.
And I, I was hungry and almost home. I didn't make the effort to doubt his ability to drive and keep a closer eye on him.
I was already in my backyard when the adrenaline hit.

Well we can all say we made it to safety without a crash..but in my case I did wrong, too, by assuming the other guy would follow the oh-so-simple four-way stop rules...

[fishball]

Glad you are okay Burgi, you too CB.

[LOKi]

there was something going on yesterday. Went to the CVS right up the street for some mixers. The streets are packed and people are milling around everywhere. There was a parade last night and I live 5 blocks from the parade route. So my alert level is at max.

On the way back riding through the hood some lady in a old Honda just backs right out without looking. I stopped in time and quickly looked behind me to make sure the car fallowing was going to stop too. The lady then pulled forward extremely slow, then moved over to the side but still rolling forward. She still had not noticed what she had done. The fact that she was still rolling gave me pause. Was she about to whip it around and go the other direction? Was she going to poke her nose out and try and back into a driveway? One stupid action usually leads to another but I was getting a little impatient at this point. I slowly pull forward. I notice her window is open and think "this is going to be good". Laid on the horn right as she would get the full blast of it. She slammed on the breaks and finally came to a stop on the side of the road. I even saw her jump in her seat. Hope she wet herself and ruined her parade.

Glad everyone manage to miss their could of should of accidents.

[Bumblebee]

Most vehicle trips start and end near the home.

I keep moving my home all the heck over the country and it does not solve the frigging problem.

on the phone or talking while stopped ON A RAILROAD CROSSING!

I have no problem with Darwin getting involved by stepping up to the plate with a speeding freight train. That's what they're doing to us on motorcycles since the relative impact forces are comparable. Fair's fair.  
The cage that ran the light on me was NOT on a cellphone or talking. The wacko just simply decided to drive right out into actively crossing traffic.


I do not like trash compactor funnels. Those bother me worst than anything. It's where an opposite direction left turner decides they have to push the turn by pretending to go for your back tire by aiming at your front tire while at the same exact moment, the stopped right turning cage on the side street pulls out in front of you and swings wide taking half of the left lane that is now being blocked by the left turner who is now aimed at your fuel tank because you got on the brakes because you have nowhere to go. The only way to be worse than that is to have a tailgating cager behind you shoving you into the rapidly closing funnel throat.

[Burgi]

Knocking on windows like there here will get you shot.

If I didn't manage to get myself shot in Detroit I don't worry much about it here.  For the most part people in this area are a much more easy going bunch (as opposed to most cities I've been in). It took a long time for me to adjust from aggressive, stupid drivers to oblivious, stupid ones. 

Cities are only good for three things: Wearing out brake pads, wearing out stebel horns and giving me nasty multi-gallon blast of adrenalin that's really bad on my nervous system.

Percentage wise, I have had far more near misses in rural areas than in urban. The devil you know, I guess. Besides, I'm getting up there in age, I gotta take my adrenaline rushes where I can find them. 

there was something going on yesterday.

I'm just picturing everyone in your area with their big gulp daiquiri tucked into the cup holder next them. 

[Bumblebee]

Percentage wise, I have had far more near misses in rural areas than in urban. The devil you know, I guess.

Constantly living on the road gives a unique perspective. In general and somewhat state dependent:
Cities: Unreasonable high risk. A week in the city = 2-3 years of risk in the country.
Rural, near towns/cities, acre+ housing type areas: Extreme risk. Higher risk than cities most of the time. They think they're the only ones on the road and act like king/queen of the Universe, they are invincible, you are a bug.
Towns: Low risk yet more dangerous than cities because you expect them to behave which they mostly do..except when they don't.
Podunk Nowhere Towns: Have a picnic in the middle of the street, all is good, expect people to join you.
Country, middle of nowhere: Occasional wacko. Low risk, extremely dangerous when they finally do something stupid.
National/State parks: Rare wacko, usually around holidays, always in-state license plates, always american drivers.
Interstates very bad, back highways good, low use main roads very good, improved surface roads excellent.
Outside the 3 hour limit: Zero threats in 40+ years. Nature is the risk out there.

Besides, I'm getting up there in age, I gotta take my adrenaline rushes where I can find them. 

You are perfectly welcome to my entire allotment of terror induced adrenaline blasts anytime you want them. It's all yours. 

[LOKi]

I find interstates to be the lowest risk. At least everything is moving in the same general direction and relatively the same speed. No cages turning left in front of you. No running stop lights, passing you on the left as your making a left turn, backing into your lane from a driveway or not seeing you as you cross an intersection. The risk points are any place a vehicle can enter your path traveling a different direction. These just don't happen on the interstate.

[leftfield6]

Cities: Unreasonable high risk. A week in the city = 2-3 years of risk in the country.

Note to self:   Do not let SOQS ever see this quote!  With all the drama going on in our house about me commuting in Atlanta traffic, this would be a deal-killer.   

[Brittles]

I find interstates to be the lowest risk.

+1
While they can be more stressful I think the statistics confirm that statement.

[Bumblebee]

I find interstates to be the lowest risk.

I think it depends on where and what you're driving. W TX or nowhere AZ it's quite safe. CO front range is not amusing. High mass vehicle going uphill at/below the speed limit on an interstate will get you pushed off the road unless you're buried in the middle of a bunch of truckers with the same problem. Proximity to cities have a lot to do with it. City people tend to be extremely impatient and intolerant.
Long forgotten back highways where about 90% of my long range driving is done are surprisingly safe and low stress since you're pretty much the only one on them - nothing to run into you. (At one point last summer I went well over 150 miles without seeing another vehicle on the road)

Note to self:   Do not let SOQS ever see this quote!

You can send the extortion money to....Bumblebee at 
aww dangit, I don't have a mailing address...  I'll just send you the bill when I buy the DS. 

[roadrunner]

Burgi & Coffee ... sure glad you're both OK!

[praetorian]

Glad you were vigilant and able to avoid her.....and tactful too.....great job... 

[Laminar]

How haven't I seen this moderator before?

[coffee_brake]

 CO front range is not amusing. High mass vehicle going uphill at/below the speed limit on an interstate will get you pushed off the road unless you're buried in the middle of a bunch of truckers with the same problem.

That's a freakin' scary section of interstate! I was on a big bad Concours and the cagers were pushin' me around!