Quote:
Originally Posted by latunabernie
Jeff you ride motorcycles.
Would you have done this on your bike?
You were aware of the speed differential of all vehicles around you.
Should have let him go by and be someone else's problem.
You never know how crazy the person in the other vehicle is.
Bernie
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Yes, I do ride motorcycles. Probably more than I drive cars, to be honest. It's a large part of how I learned to be situationally aware, and how I spotted this guy when he was still a couple hundred yards behind me.
I'm not sure what part of this you think I would not have done on a motorcycle.
I was simply driving along, maintaining a steady speed, pretty much just keeping pace with traffic around me. As I explained, there was no real "speed differential" between myself, nor the vehicles surrounding me. I guess I'm not sure why you believe there was any differential, I certainly never said there was. Maybe the typical few MPH we see in normal traffic. We were all just blithely cruising along together, just a normal morning in traffic on the freeway. So, um, yes - that is exactly what I would have been doing on a motorcycle.
When he tried to pass me on the left and found he had no room, then dove back in far too close behind me, I maintained my speed and stayed in my lane. You'll note there was a car to my right, and another just off my bow to the left. I had nowhere to go either. My response was to flash my brake lights, a pretty universal "hey buddy, back off". As I stated, I did so without changing speed - I did not "brake check" him. Steady speed, no change in position. Trying to be as predictable as possible. Yes, I do that when on a motorcycle as well. Oh, when on a bike, I do often add my left hand, in a downward position, giving the universal "back off" wave. No difference here either then.
When he finally managed to dive in front of me - again, the entire time I was staying in the same lane at the same speed - he brake checked
me. So I hit the brakes (I had no choice, I was still boxed in), and hit the high beam. That was really my only "act of aggression", but yes, I would have done that on a bike as well.
At that point, he was in front of me and entirely free to go. And, well, prior to that, I had done nothing to block him, hold him up, or keep him from leaving in any way whatsoever. I never changed lanes, never sped up, never slowed down. You say I "should have let him go" - how was I
not just letting him go?
When I finally saw a gap to my left, I took that first opportunity to do my best to "exit, stage left", and get out of the situation. I moved two lanes over, into the HOV lane. Trying to get away from him and defuse the situation by putting distance between us. Exactly what I would have done on a bike. And, again, he was in front of me by then, free to go.
So, I guess I'm confused by your statements. The only thing I can come up with is that you were confused with certain parts of my story. I hope this clears it up for you.