first real scare

[lifeon2wheels]

Been riding for only 3 weeks now.

On one of the major roundabouts on my way back I had to turn right on a round about - 3rd exit. I placed myself on the middle lane [ Right most lane turns right , middle lane allowed to go straight or right] . I had started indicating right while waiting for the green light. On green and upon reaching the middle of the roundabout , I continued to follow the lane markers leading me to the right. [right indicator still on]. A car came speeding past from the lane to my right indicating left i.e he wanted to go straight on -second exit. He must be waiting on the right most lane besides me at the red light.

Instincts took over and I think I braked enough to miss him by a few feet.

I understand he must be a crazy, impatient driver. But I would like to hear from other riders what do they do to avoid being in this situation in the first place ?

Is it always best to position in the right most lane for turning right on a major roundabout?

[Funky]

Sadly you can't always protect yourself against numpties. It sounds like he started in the wrong lane and was hoping to get a jump on everyone to change lane. If he hit you, it would have been his fault.

Knowing that a bike is faster off the line than most cars I tend to position myself in the fast lane (then go really slow)

[billinom8s]

unfortunately now you are on a bike you will see road users in a different light.

what you have to do now is quite simple

TREAT EVERY OTHER ROAD USER LIKE THEY ARE OUT TO KILL YOU


where as when with an instructor you are a very visible presense on the road and something to avoid, now you are a thing to be pushed around. Like funky says either get yourself in a postion to get out of trouble using the bikes power OR ride defensively and make it so that the car driver doesn't want to hit you and has to put themselves and their car in danger.


you have to understand - bikers are a soft tagrget.

ride with your lights on - always
position yourself in a positive position in the road lane
always look at the car drivers that look ready to knock you off - eye contact makes them backdown, they will be looking at you whilst heading towards you.
loud pipe so they can hear you

i'm sure that others will be along later to add other survival tips

[deej]

Personally I would have been in the right hand lane ready to turn right

Remember that just because your indicators on doesn't mean car drivers will have seen them

[monkey8414]

i had same kinda thing a while back in scotland which resulted in me having a little lie down in the middle of a busy roundabaout ...... think it was only a 2 lane roundabout .... was turning right so in right hand lane inacating right, (there was 1 bike in front and 2 behind me) car on inside lane assumingly turning left ...... past 1st exit and car is still there so i as there are 2 lanes on the exit i was taking i again assume they are also exiting right! ......... WRONG they proceed to continue around the roundabout in the left lane braked to avoid them and it had been raining all day so down i went turned out it was a polish guy in a hire car .... and his missus had the cheek to say " Why were you driving towards us!!!!) anyhow rant over i agree with billinom8s you have to imagine that everyone is going to do exactly what they shouldnt and that they are all numpties

[tickertyboo]

car drivers dont REALY want 2 kill u but they do a bloody good job of trying remember that and ride in a manner to reduce their chances of wiping u out, u r quicker more nimble and more aware than them.
i tend 2 be quicker than them better than them and throwing some f***s at them when they do attempt to turn me into a strwberry stain always makes me feel better
your road possition can change due to traffic conditions and speed just keep you eyes open and be ready for muppetry when it happens coss it always will. ride 2 arrive allive

[lifeon2wheels]

Thanks for the replies.

Went past the same round about quiet a few times since then and positioned to the far right lane this time. As some of you suggested, using the horses under the saddle to speed away from the cars definitely helps avoid the danger of them behaving badly. It also gives me time for a safe exit to the left lane. Thats the reason I used to stay in the middle lane earlier.

Eyes Wide Open

[Mervin]

I remember when they first marked the lanes on the roundswell roundabout at the top of Barnstaple you took your life in your hands all the cagers stayed in the left lane and then tried to cut across you as you exited on too the 361 again, best bit was with the artic see em trying to pull across and squeezing em so they had to stop in the middle of the roundabout blocking the exit from barnstaple cos they where half way down the trailer and nowhere to go, you still have to be very careful there now as a few still do it
merv

[badgerKDD]

well on Tuesday of this week, after putting the bike back together I rode home from work, about a 10/15 min journey and was nearly pulled out on 3 times, all by people not looking properly. Luckily my idiot radar was on on full alert ;) !

I do the stare at people trick when approaching junctions, even if they are not looking they always seem to end up looking at you, maybe its subliminal or something .....