Back To The Parking Lot (Drawing Board)

[Sandman]

Had a close call this morning that I thought I would share. I was on the interstate for my normal morning commute, traffic was moving ok (the usual 65-85 mph variance depending on merging traffic & smooth straight stretches of road), nothing out of the ordinary, when up ahead, from the passing lane (the road had a slight arc to the left here), I saw a line of brake lights.

I still don’t know what the cause of the slow down was (not a normal occurrence), but traffic came to a complete stop before getting back up to about 30 – 35 mph when all of a sudden traffic again came to an abrupt halt. The road here was straight and I could not see past the SUV in front of me. I thought I had enough distance between us, but I was wrong.

I estimate being 15 yards from the SUV when the brake lights came on. I know there was brief hesitation on my part before braking to see if it was going to be just a momentary tap on the brakes, but when I realized this wasn’t the case, I had to brake hard. While I was trying to stop, I knew I didn’t have enough room before hitting the SUV so I chose a path to the left over the rumble strips. I ended up stopping with the whole front tire past the SUV’s bumper.

On a pucker factor from 1-10, I’d rate it a 4+, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to crash because I had enough room to go around the SUV, but I felt like an idiot for not being more aware of the surroundings and better prepared for action. And to add insult to it all, I stopped in 3rd gear and stalled it. I was so focused on braking and choosing an escape route I failed to pull in the clutch and downshift. I ended up having to start back out in 2nd gear as traffic started moving almost immediately after I stopped.

So like the title states, it’s back to the parking lot for me, and I think I’ll start off with some quick stop drills.

As a general rule, I allow 1 car length of distance for each 10 mph increase in speed. In a car it has worked for me, but apparently it is not enough for me on the C-50.

Thanks for listening…

[drgibson]

I find the 2 second rule easier to calculate when going down the road.

[Apertureguy]

Yeah...a little review never hurts.

I bet if you had been able to downshift...you probably would have been able to stop in time.

Don't beat yourself up too badly...you got caught unprepared...get back into the parking lot & regain that confidence and skill.

As an added drill, I used to have the kids toss a yard toy...it had a sand weighted bottom...so would stop wherever it landed.

I'd have them toss it & I would have to stop in time before I got to wherever it landed. Training is a great tool...but you should try to make the drills as realistic as you can...otherwise you can cheat yourself.

Knowing full well when you're supposed to do the hard/fast breaking drill isn't nearly the challenge you get from a fast stop...where you don't know where the end will be.

[Firedog]

The important things: you lived to ride again and you realized your desire for continued practice. Good job!

[Clint]

Hey, pat yourself on the back for picking an escape and successfully negotiating it. At least you didn't "lay it down to avoid an accident". LOL!

[Louis]

A little practice never hurts.

[Ext1jdh]

Good to see that the "swerve" instructions that the MSF teaches come in handy in real life. Good on yer.

[ChicsterMG]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Hey, pat yourself on the back for picking an escape and successfully negotiating it. At least you didn't "lay it down to avoid an accident". LOL!

That's what I was thinking.
You may have made a mistake or two, but you did the most important thing right, you avoided an accident.

[Colorado Cajun]

I found myself in almost the same situtation about a week ago. I realized when it happened that I didn't give myself the proper distance between me and the car in front of me. I also wasn't watching far enough in front of me as thought in the MSF class. Take it as a learning experience and move forward. If you feel that the parking lot is the best place to improve on a situtation like that then the parking lot it should be. Don't let it discourage you.

[texrider]

I like the part in most owner's manuals that says, " If a collision appears likely to happen, DO SOMETHING!"

[Colorado Cajun]

Originally Posted by Ext1jdh

Good to see that the "swerve" instructions that the MSF teaches come in handy in real life. Good on yer.

That swerve saved my a$$ when I was cruzin behind a car one day, not paying attention to what was in the road ahead of us. There was a stalled out pick up truck with no lights or anything to signal it was dead stopped in the middle of the road. When I swerved, I looked back after and there was a girl sitting in the drivers seat talking on a cell phone. The girl should have been waving traffic over but instead she sat in the truck. That was the most dangerous thing she could have done for everyone including herself.

[Ext1jdh]

Originally Posted by Colorado Cajun

not paying attention to what was in the road ahead of us.

but good on yer nonetheless