I was motoring down Renfro Road the other day and began approaching the intersection of Brimhall Road. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this intersection, Renfro is a through road and Brimhall intersects into Renfro with a stop sign at a “T” intersection. Drivers on Brimhall Road must turn either north or south and can’t go straight across.
I was traveling southbound and when I checked the intersection. I saw a large black pickup truck waiting to turn right, or north towards me. I looked unter the truck and noticed another vehicle waiting to turn left, or south.
Having been through several driving schools as a police officer, I anticipated the car behind the pickup making a turn directly in front of me. I let off the gas and prepared to brake accordingly.
Holding true to my beliefs, the driver began turning across the northbound lane directly into my path while the truck was still waiting to make the right turn. There was no way the driver of that vehicle could have seen me or any other vehicle approaching and simply pulled out. Once she cleared the truck, she stopped abruptly as I was braking my Ultra Classic. I was able to let off and go around her front fender.
Had I not anticipated the “stupid” move, I would have certainly struck the vehicle.
I slowed and she stopped beside me which gave me an opportunity to inform her that motorcycle riding is safe until drivers like her get on the road. She said she couldn’t see me and I told her she could not see anything except the side of the truck that was next to her vehicle at which time I drove off, albiet, with a higher heart rate.
The point of this information…Watch and anticipate that drivers will make the worst possible move at the worst possible time. Remember, these people are talking on cell phones, eating, text messaging, and doing everything else except concentrating on their driving. By anticipating their poor driving habits, you’ll be able to go home on your Harley rather than go to the hospital in an ambulance.
RIDE SAFE AND STAY ALERT
Dave Fisher, Road Captain