R50/53 A close call
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Today, while returning to work from lunch, some dufus driving a Buick blew through a red light at 40 mph (must not have "seen" it). I was just accelerating through when I caught something moving at high speed out of the corner of my eye. Hey Dumb**s, well at least the ABS works well in a panic stop. He missed taking off my front end by inches (probably single digit inches at that). I almost had to go home and change my underwear. Concentration is still not back to 100%. Looks like a Big Lebowski evening for MGC tonight! Gotta take that almost got turned into a road pizza edge off.
Once again, my theory that the worst drivers drive Buicks picks up some valuable field data. Thanks to Blubelle and the engineers at MINI, there was a happy ending to this tale.
Once again, my theory that the worst drivers drive Buicks picks up some valuable field data. Thanks to Blubelle and the engineers at MINI, there was a happy ending to this tale.
Moderator :: Performance Mods
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,427
Likes: 6
From: A Den in Maryland
Glad to hear that you came out okay in this situation. I had to call on my ABS twice already when I was nearly hit by people doing similar stunts. Props to the ABS, good brakes and tires for working so well when needed!
>> God speed.
Hey! Why is god allowed to speed while everyone else has to obey the limit? Does he/she think they are above the law? Lead by example!
>> God speed.
Hey! Why is god allowed to speed while everyone else has to obey the limit? Does he/she think they are above the law? Lead by example!
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 0
Glad you're ok, MGCMAN!
Close call, that must have been scary!
I had a close call of a different kind last weekend:
(I apologize in advance as this is kinda longish)
Right after getting onto I-45 South (Woodlands/Houston) I ran into in fairly heavy traffic. Turns out there were a bunch of motorcyle riders (on sportsbikes - or crotch-rockets, excuse the expression), about 20 of them.
I've seen this before and it really, really bothers me a lot. These kids were playing around on their bikes and endangering everybody with their antics. Not only that, they were using all four lanes, and holding up traffic and annoying everyone else. No one dared to pass, as they were doing wheelies and swerving across all lanes. I've seen this before and it is one of the most stupid, insane, childish and dangerous types of behaviors out there IMHO.
Well, it had to happen: one of the kids overyanked the wheelie and flipped. He slid across one lane, and the bike cartwheeled across 2 lanes to smash into the center divider barrier, luckily it didn't go across the barrier, although it was only the empty commuter lane on the other side at this time. If a car had been in any of those lanes, and the bike would have landed on a car, there was some serious kinetic energy to be absorbed, since the bike must have been moving at about 55 - 60 mph. The sight of the cartwheeling bike was very scary.
Only because the car drivers were all prudent (or scared) and had stayed well back, did the kid not end up under a car. At least he was wewaring full battle gear and a helmet. He got up immediately, and since traffic was stopped, proceded to pick up pieces of his bike and move them out of the traffic lanes to the emergency lane. People saw that he walked, and other bikers were assisting him, so traffic started moving again past the site of the spill.
And now comes an even worse part:
I was in the 2nd lane from the left, and also pulled away from the site as I saw the biker up and walking and assisted by other bikers. It appears though that another several bikers had moved ahead and not participated in the idiotic high-speed wheelies, and had noticed that these kids where trailing, and that in fact the freeway was empty of cars and traffic had halted. So, they stopped, and one of them turned around and came back down the freeway going the wrong way, to investigate. He was coming straight at me in the left most lane of the interstate going what seemed like about 80-90 mph (althoug maybe it just seemed so fast because our closing speed was my own about 50 mph at this stage and his speed combined), around a slight curve. Luckily I noticed him right away, and luckily the lane to my right was emtpy, so as I slammed on my brakes I was able to also pull into the lane to the right. He at least slowed down as well, but still screamed past me on the left, still in the fast lane. Needless to say, I was a little shaken (not stirred) by this high-speed head on encounter.
Drive as defensively as you can!
And finally, if God is allowed to speed, then so is Darwin!
Darwin Loves You!
_________________
Celeste: 03 EB/W MCS, cold, premium, sports a la carte w. W16"V, Lapis, HK, Forge coolant tank, Alta 22mm SB, saddlebags, interior trim in EB, euro shelf
Close call, that must have been scary!
I had a close call of a different kind last weekend:
(I apologize in advance as this is kinda longish)
Right after getting onto I-45 South (Woodlands/Houston) I ran into in fairly heavy traffic. Turns out there were a bunch of motorcyle riders (on sportsbikes - or crotch-rockets, excuse the expression), about 20 of them.
I've seen this before and it really, really bothers me a lot. These kids were playing around on their bikes and endangering everybody with their antics. Not only that, they were using all four lanes, and holding up traffic and annoying everyone else. No one dared to pass, as they were doing wheelies and swerving across all lanes. I've seen this before and it is one of the most stupid, insane, childish and dangerous types of behaviors out there IMHO.
Well, it had to happen: one of the kids overyanked the wheelie and flipped. He slid across one lane, and the bike cartwheeled across 2 lanes to smash into the center divider barrier, luckily it didn't go across the barrier, although it was only the empty commuter lane on the other side at this time. If a car had been in any of those lanes, and the bike would have landed on a car, there was some serious kinetic energy to be absorbed, since the bike must have been moving at about 55 - 60 mph. The sight of the cartwheeling bike was very scary.
Only because the car drivers were all prudent (or scared) and had stayed well back, did the kid not end up under a car. At least he was wewaring full battle gear and a helmet. He got up immediately, and since traffic was stopped, proceded to pick up pieces of his bike and move them out of the traffic lanes to the emergency lane. People saw that he walked, and other bikers were assisting him, so traffic started moving again past the site of the spill.
And now comes an even worse part:
I was in the 2nd lane from the left, and also pulled away from the site as I saw the biker up and walking and assisted by other bikers. It appears though that another several bikers had moved ahead and not participated in the idiotic high-speed wheelies, and had noticed that these kids where trailing, and that in fact the freeway was empty of cars and traffic had halted. So, they stopped, and one of them turned around and came back down the freeway going the wrong way, to investigate. He was coming straight at me in the left most lane of the interstate going what seemed like about 80-90 mph (althoug maybe it just seemed so fast because our closing speed was my own about 50 mph at this stage and his speed combined), around a slight curve. Luckily I noticed him right away, and luckily the lane to my right was emtpy, so as I slammed on my brakes I was able to also pull into the lane to the right. He at least slowed down as well, but still screamed past me on the left, still in the fast lane. Needless to say, I was a little shaken (not stirred) by this high-speed head on encounter.
Drive as defensively as you can!
And finally, if God is allowed to speed, then so is Darwin!
Darwin Loves You!
_________________
Celeste: 03 EB/W MCS, cold, premium, sports a la carte w. W16"V, Lapis, HK, Forge coolant tank, Alta 22mm SB, saddlebags, interior trim in EB, euro shelf
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 2
From: South Bend, Indiana
May the Great One Diety (of YOUR choice) speed you on your way safely!
:smile: :smile: :smile:
Or: God speed.
:smile: :smile: :smile:
:smile: :smile: :smile:
Or: God speed.
:smile: :smile: :smile:
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5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 890
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
>>Once again, my theory that the worst drivers drive Buicks picks up some valuable field data. Thanks to Blubelle and the engineers at MINI, there was a happy ending to this tale.
Once upon a time I had the actual numbers, but I do believe that Buicks have the highest average driver age of any make of car in the USA. I believe it said the average age of a Buick driver was in his/her upper 60s. There may be something to back up that theory.
And yes, I know that not old drivers are bad and that not all bad drivers are old but I am very much in favor of testing driver skills more often as people age. I'd be willing to re-take my test every time I renew my license.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Yes there are way too many people who do stupid (or grossly negligent) things on our roads. My nerves are beginning to gel again, though I feel as if I had 15 espressos for lunch, must be the adrenalin. Thanks for the notes of concern.
Marcus, sounds like you had quite a time with the bikers. That's what race tracks are for, not interstate highways. Sdanaher, I don't have a digital camera. I will try to borrow one and post a pic or two of Blubelle, and her interior so that others can appreciate the proper way to mod a MINI.
Marcus, sounds like you had quite a time with the bikers. That's what race tracks are for, not interstate highways. Sdanaher, I don't have a digital camera. I will try to borrow one and post a pic or two of Blubelle, and her interior so that others can appreciate the proper way to mod a MINI.
Vendor & Moderator :: MINI Camera and Video & c3 club forum
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MGCMAN,
Glad you're ok. I had 2 near misses today. I just don't get it. I was in my own lane at a stoplight on my way to work. There was a lane to my right as well. The light turns green, and we proceed to make our left turn. And the ******* in the right lane pulls into my lane. I had to shoot across the painted median in the middle which turns into a concrete barrier. Good thing these kids were in a Sentra, cause I was able to get out of the way. But in the process, couldn't find the horn which affected my reaction time. I chose to hit the gas rather than honk.
The second incident happened on my way home, I'm approaching a green light to make a right turn, and out of nowhere, this car comes barreling out of a driveway on my right. Again I was able to get out of the way in time, but I gotta think what could have happened if I were a split second earlier. Pure stupidity. :???:
Glad you're ok. I had 2 near misses today. I just don't get it. I was in my own lane at a stoplight on my way to work. There was a lane to my right as well. The light turns green, and we proceed to make our left turn. And the ******* in the right lane pulls into my lane. I had to shoot across the painted median in the middle which turns into a concrete barrier. Good thing these kids were in a Sentra, cause I was able to get out of the way. But in the process, couldn't find the horn which affected my reaction time. I chose to hit the gas rather than honk.
The second incident happened on my way home, I'm approaching a green light to make a right turn, and out of nowhere, this car comes barreling out of a driveway on my right. Again I was able to get out of the way in time, but I gotta think what could have happened if I were a split second earlier. Pure stupidity. :???:
. Gotta thank your lucky stars, MGCMAN 
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