Prior to braking I immediately check my 6 and make sure it stays clear until there are at least two cars stopped behind me. Glad it all worked out.
Prior to braking I immediately check my 6 and make sure it stays clear until there are at least two cars stopped behind me. Glad it all worked out.
It was one of those moments where you have to make a choice in an instant--gas it and go thru a light that will obviously be red when you cross the line , or make a quick stop.
We've all been there in a cage or on a bike.
I chose to stop--isn't that what you are supposed to do when a light changes to yellow?I had just been given a traffic warning last month for doing this exact same thing in my truck-- that time I chose to gas it. That warning has made me a little gun shy about blowing a yellow light.
"Checking my six" never entered the equation, it wouldn't have changed anything anyways. The other choice would have meant going into an intersection with traffic...
The only thing that saved me from impact was the sound-- when I heard the screech, I instinctively let off the brakes a bit thinking it was me. That lengthened my stopping distance an additional few feet. Had I kept on the brakes all the way to a full stop, he would have hit me.
Sometimes, having all the right gear, extra lighting etc... still isn't enough when the other guy makes a bad choice....
Old but interesting reading...
http://blog.motorists.org/6-cities-that-were-caught-shortening-yellow-light-times-for-profit/
I'm sorry Ron but lt1 is right.
Situational awareness, you should have already known about the car behind you and you should have formulated a plan as you approached the intersection. You always have to play the 'what if' game in your head...
I'm glad that you're ok this time but the next time you may not be. It's in your hands.
you know, I was about to get all pissed off and fire off a snooty reply, but after heading into the Plant and doing some re-piping on my boiler, I realized he is exactly correct. I am right at that stage (2-3 years of riding) where there is a peak in accidents due to complacency--nothing has happened yet, so nothing will, right?
This is my wake up call. I have that book and I need to read it again. It's time, after all it's not just me on the bike most times....