Idahotom
06-02-2016, 12:06 AM
When I leave my workplace, I have a 13 mile drive home. After 3 miles I have a choice, stay on the "old highway", or get on the interstate. They run side by side, so no difference in miles. The Old Highway is posted 45 mph, most drive it 48-52 mph, the interstate is 80 mph. Depending on the day in town I've just had, and how soon I want to get the hell outa town, I'll often get on I-15 and drive it 60-65 mph, especially if there is a car or two in front of me driving especially slow, below the 45 per limit, on the old hwy, when I come to the I-15 on ramp. Rather then dawdle below 45 when I really want to get home, I'll hop on the big road and just drive it slow.
After 8 miles, my small town off ramp comes up, I had the cruise control set at 62, and the traffic was light (rural area). Only from force of habit did I glance in my rear view mirror before I hit the right turn signal while at the same time killing the cruise control. I noticed a black full sized SUV some distance behind me, and it appeared to be closing fast. No big deal, there was no one in the fast lane, ( I also keep an eye on that) no reason the SUV couldn't pass me on the left and continue on it's way while I took the off ramp without dropping its high rate of speed.
For whatever reason, as I slowed slightly below 60 just about 50 yds from the 45 mph off ramp, I looked again and saw the SUV closure rate had continued, and it had not changed lanes. My first thought was "some asshole is going to buzz me as he blows my doors off", no big deal. Again, keep in mind the SUV had nobody except me to deal with, I wasn't slowing it down or getting in it's way. Now, about 25 yds from the off ramp itself, it continued to rapidly close, and right at the very last split second I realized it was going to hit me if I didn't take evasive action. I swerved to the right, onto the shoulder, just as the SUV swerved to the left, then it went into a series of swerves left/right while in the fast lane, nearly rolling. Now we were along side each other, and I thought for sure it was going over. To the drivers credit, the swerves damped out and the SUV got back under control and we had a brief moment of side by side eye contact. The lady driver made a series of hand movements that I took to mean "thank God you were watching your rear mirror, my bad, your initial swerve woke me the hell up, and I was able (barely), to miss rear ending you." I, to my credit, gave her a friendly wave, "it's cool, we're OK, that's the important thing".
I rode motorcycles too many years to not check my ass end before slowing, and man it really paid off today.
After 8 miles, my small town off ramp comes up, I had the cruise control set at 62, and the traffic was light (rural area). Only from force of habit did I glance in my rear view mirror before I hit the right turn signal while at the same time killing the cruise control. I noticed a black full sized SUV some distance behind me, and it appeared to be closing fast. No big deal, there was no one in the fast lane, ( I also keep an eye on that) no reason the SUV couldn't pass me on the left and continue on it's way while I took the off ramp without dropping its high rate of speed.
For whatever reason, as I slowed slightly below 60 just about 50 yds from the 45 mph off ramp, I looked again and saw the SUV closure rate had continued, and it had not changed lanes. My first thought was "some asshole is going to buzz me as he blows my doors off", no big deal. Again, keep in mind the SUV had nobody except me to deal with, I wasn't slowing it down or getting in it's way. Now, about 25 yds from the off ramp itself, it continued to rapidly close, and right at the very last split second I realized it was going to hit me if I didn't take evasive action. I swerved to the right, onto the shoulder, just as the SUV swerved to the left, then it went into a series of swerves left/right while in the fast lane, nearly rolling. Now we were along side each other, and I thought for sure it was going over. To the drivers credit, the swerves damped out and the SUV got back under control and we had a brief moment of side by side eye contact. The lady driver made a series of hand movements that I took to mean "thank God you were watching your rear mirror, my bad, your initial swerve woke me the hell up, and I was able (barely), to miss rear ending you." I, to my credit, gave her a friendly wave, "it's cool, we're OK, that's the important thing".
I rode motorcycles too many years to not check my ass end before slowing, and man it really paid off today.