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I was heading home from work about a week before Christmas a couple of years ago, when I encountered a driver that I still cannot find words to describe.
Let me set the scene. I am travelling on a 3 lane motorway with a speed limit of 110kph (approx 70mph I think) I am in the left lane (the slowest lane) doing about 95kph in my brand new shiny Jeep. In the lane next to me is a Ute about 10 feet ahead of me and about 30 feet behind him is a huge B-Double petrol tanker. They are doing about 100kph.
There is nothing behind me for about a km (this is important)
I see ahead of me a non-descript early model dark blue sedan in the breakdown lane. Not usually a problem, but for some reason my spidey sense started tingling. I’m about 50 feet from the car when he decides to merge into the slow lane. Now under the correct circumstances (see prompt acceleration) this would not be a huge issue. However, this car A) did not indicate and B) was only going about 40kph (25mph)
I on the other hand was still at about 75-80 (I had backed off when I saw him starting to merge into my lane) I practically stand on my brakes but realize I do not have enough breaking distance. Alternatives? Change lanes? Remember the tanker truck? Well he is now right along side me. No where to go there that won’t end in a fiery death.
So my only choice is to whip into the breakdown lane. By now I have slowed to about 45. I dump back a gear or two and plant my foot to get the hell away from the guy who was completely oblivious to me, the tanker and both our horns honking. Once past him I pull back into my lane accelerate back up to 90 and (slightly shaken) go about my way.
But wait! There's more……..
About 10km down the motorway is my exit. I exit and get stopped at the traffic lights going onto the cross road. There is only one lane turning each way and a painted “traffic island” in the middle (again this is important) I am at the front of the queue and there is a small truck and car in the middle “island” that had obviously had a small accident there are 2 police leaving the scene to return to their car. One of the cops comes up to me and asks that I let the 2 vehicles go first when the light goes green. Not a problem. Light goes green and I let them take off in front of me.
As I am moving off, my spidey sense goes off again and I see a dark blue “something” in my side mirror. This turned out to be THE SAME DRIVER!!!!! He merrily just drove up the middle of the “traffic island” lane and then just turned straight in front me (again) almost taking out my front bumper.
Completely oblivious he continues on his merry way.
I look around for the cops hoping to catch their eye and point out said Darwin Award nominee only to find they had already gone.
I drive home then proceeded to have a small nervous breakdown over the whole thing.
To this day, I still shudder at how close I came to having a major accident.
Let me set the scene. I am travelling on a 3 lane motorway with a speed limit of 110kph (approx 70mph I think) I am in the left lane (the slowest lane) doing about 95kph in my brand new shiny Jeep. In the lane next to me is a Ute about 10 feet ahead of me and about 30 feet behind him is a huge B-Double petrol tanker. They are doing about 100kph.
There is nothing behind me for about a km (this is important)
I see ahead of me a non-descript early model dark blue sedan in the breakdown lane. Not usually a problem, but for some reason my spidey sense started tingling. I’m about 50 feet from the car when he decides to merge into the slow lane. Now under the correct circumstances (see prompt acceleration) this would not be a huge issue. However, this car A) did not indicate and B) was only going about 40kph (25mph)
I on the other hand was still at about 75-80 (I had backed off when I saw him starting to merge into my lane) I practically stand on my brakes but realize I do not have enough breaking distance. Alternatives? Change lanes? Remember the tanker truck? Well he is now right along side me. No where to go there that won’t end in a fiery death.
So my only choice is to whip into the breakdown lane. By now I have slowed to about 45. I dump back a gear or two and plant my foot to get the hell away from the guy who was completely oblivious to me, the tanker and both our horns honking. Once past him I pull back into my lane accelerate back up to 90 and (slightly shaken) go about my way.
But wait! There's more……..
About 10km down the motorway is my exit. I exit and get stopped at the traffic lights going onto the cross road. There is only one lane turning each way and a painted “traffic island” in the middle (again this is important) I am at the front of the queue and there is a small truck and car in the middle “island” that had obviously had a small accident there are 2 police leaving the scene to return to their car. One of the cops comes up to me and asks that I let the 2 vehicles go first when the light goes green. Not a problem. Light goes green and I let them take off in front of me.
As I am moving off, my spidey sense goes off again and I see a dark blue “something” in my side mirror. This turned out to be THE SAME DRIVER!!!!! He merrily just drove up the middle of the “traffic island” lane and then just turned straight in front me (again) almost taking out my front bumper.
Completely oblivious he continues on his merry way.
I look around for the cops hoping to catch their eye and point out said Darwin Award nominee only to find they had already gone.
I drive home then proceeded to have a small nervous breakdown over the whole thing.
To this day, I still shudder at how close I came to having a major accident.
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