Nearly died yesterday

[masseyrider]

Few years back coming home down the highway doing 70+mph in the fast lane.
It was dark and I was behind a van that partially obscured vision too far ahead.
All of a sudden he shots left into the middle lane leaving me staring at the tailgate of a pickup at a dead stop in the right lane.
Wouldn't have been able to make the stop and even if I had the guy behind me was right on my ass. Most likely would have been rear ended.
I just made an automatic reaction. No time to check traffic in the lane to the right I turned to the left and shot past this dumbass on the shoulder between him and the center barrier. I missed him by feet.
My passenger couldn't believe how quickly I had reacted and was still shaking when we got home.
Checked the morning news and nothing about any accidents fortunately.
I credit years of experience (and buckets of luck) for getting away with that one.
What kind of idiot stops in the passing lane?

 

[MTGreen]

That's scary. I'm glad to hear that you are OK.

I heard a guy on the radio talking about head on accidents on the Interstate, and it's more common then most people realize. Drunks drive up the wrong Onramp and don't realize it. Or they black out for a second and cross the medium and end up in the other lanes. They get in "their" right lane and anybody driving in the correct direction in the left lane ends up dying from a head on collision.

The guy on the radio said that you should always stay in the Right lane when driving at night. Almost no head on accidents happen in that lane.

Flip side is the right lane is where you hit the elk. Better chance of survival with the elk though

 

[jaxs]

My scarcest involved a train. Me and my family in my car,sister and her family in her car late one night returning from vacation at mom's. Tiny West Texas town with no sign of life but us. Half dozen train tracks with cars sitting on either side of street. A high balling train came from between parked rail cars missing my back bumper by inches and sister was barely able to stop before hitting train. The idiot began honking after he went by and was still honking as he went out of hearing as I sat on side of road with a nose bleed.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Glad you did not get hit. Guardian angels hard at work.

I’m a first responder and we had a 45mph vs 120mpg head on accident. This was the Surburban that was doing 45. The elderly couple lived with minor injuries. The young man driving the car at 120 did not make it.

 

[Jstpssng]

What kind of idiot stops in the passing lane

Someone who loses power unexpectedly? Granted he should have been able to coast off the road.

Years ago when Malls were popular we got a lot of Canadian shoppers. One Friday afternoon I was headed down the interstate and the traffic for the mall offramp was backed up into the right lane, so I pulled into the outside lane. I was probably doing about 60 when the car in front of me stopped.

Dead.

In the passing lane.

I did some fancy downshifting and braking, then checked my mirrors. If there had been somebody bearing down on me I would have gone out into the median and let the bozo in front of me take the hit.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Few years back coming home down the highway doing 70+mph in the fast lane.
It was dark and I was behind a van that partially obscured vision too far ahead.
All of a sudden he shots left into the middle lane leaving me staring at the tailgate of a pickup at a dead stop in the right lane.
Wouldn't have been able to make the stop and even if I had the guy behind me was right on my ass. Most likely would have been rear ended.
I just made an automatic reaction. No time to check traffic in the lane to the right I turned to the left and shot past this dumbass on the shoulder between him and the center barrier. I missed him by feet.
My passenger couldn't believe how quickly I had reacted and was still shaking when we got home.
Checked the morning news and nothing about any accidents fortunately.
I credit years of experience (and buckets of luck) for getting away with that one.
What kind of idiot stops in the passing lane?

Good job on your part and why I'm against FSD. What would a Tesla have done if in FSD mode?

 

[ultrarunner]

Lost friends to traffic accidents and they did nothing wrong..

Often the other driver impaired and escaped without injury…

 

[ultrarunner]

I took this last week…

Mother of 2 on the way to work broadsided by a drunk driver with such impact the car rolled until coming to rest on utility pole

Speed limit 30 mph

The drunk 30 year old driver escaped without a scratch…

Life can change in an instant…

 

[CliffordK]

Whew. At those speeds it's amazing how fast the gap closes.
Good reflexes, saved your wife's life.

It does close, but not impossibly fast. Consider passing someone on a 2-lane road. We've all done it. Looks good, move over, see someone appear ahead, and one makes a decision to continue passing, or pull back in and try again later.

The issue with the OP was a semi truck like a wall. Can't dodge right as the truck is there, and can't dodge left as what if the other car also dodges left.

Slamming on the brakes is good, but the reaction of the truck driver might also be to slow down.

Hopefully the OP's traveling companion called 911 to report the wrong way driver.

Glad you are still here and posting. Many years ago. Fellow came up behind my truck and began to pass me. Guess he did not see the motorcycle coming in the opposing lane.

Stuck my arm out the window and waved wildly. He must have seen the cycle then. He ducked back into the lane.

Bet the fellow on the cycle filled his shorts. It was such a VERY close call.

Riding a bicycle, it happens to me regularly.

I wave (and pull over as far to the right as possible), and the drivers usually ignore me. I don't know how dangerous it is, but it makes me very uncomfortable.

The worst was actually a few years ago in Crater Lake National Park. Narrow two lane road without shoulders. I was descending a hill at around 30 to 40 MPH, and "taking my lane". Drop off to my right. And not the best road surface.

Car coming up the hill decided to pass some bicycles climbing the hill, and take half of my lane (including the area that I was occupying at the time). Waving, and no response from the driver.

Obviously the cyclist will move out of the way... but, respect other road users, especially if you are unable to evaluate the road conditions that they are experiencing.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

About 40 years ago wife & I going South on a 4 lane highway this guy was going South in the Northbound passing lane, across a median strip. Speed limit was 55 and that's about how fast he was going. He was drinking. I sped up so I was maybe 10 car lengths ahead of him, turned flashers on and flashed my headlights on-off. I stayed in passing lane. The Northbound traffic got the message and moved over letting him go. This went on for 30+ miles and of course never did we see a cop. I finally gave up and turned around.
Hopefully I warned some people.
We've seen some horrific accidents over the years.