Swerve

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A near-miss on the 101 Freeway early this afternoon left me hugely impressed with my driving skills. I was next to the farthest left lane, speeding along at 75 or so when a young Asian-American woman in a white Honda SUV turned sharply left without a signal. She was just a few feet ahead. I'm sure I was in her blind spot. This is why they tell you to quickly look over your left shoulder before changing lanes.

I was breaking the law myself by talking on my cell phone, holding it to my right ear with my right hand. And I was concentrating on expressing a complicated thought when it happened so I wasn't really paying attention. But the same instant that SUV lady barged into my lane, I veered to the left less than a split-second later, and a collision was barely avoided. "God, I'm good!," I said to myself five or ten seconds later. Thank fortune there was no one in the far left lane in my blind spot.

SUV Lady obviously saw that she almost hit me and retreated to the middle lane, but then veered left again three seconds later and passed some other guy, and then went back to the middle.

A minute or so later I drove alongside her vehicle to check her out and see if she was loony-looking or whatever. She was young and fairly attractive and not on her cell phone, and not looking or even glancing my way. Or she saw me coming and figured, "Okay, here comes that guy I almost hit....I'm just gonna stare straight ahead and pretend he's not there." I eyeballed her all the same, made her think about it. I just saved you and me a heap of trouble, Miss Saigon. Drive a little more carefully next time.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 2, 2012 at 2:43 PM

comment #1

Jericho Cane says ...

What do all of those location markers represent?

Posted by Jericho Cane at February 2, 2012 3:27 PM

comment #2

115thDreamer says ...

Outlet Stores!!! That's what the markers are denoting....ahhh, Camarillo. Also, this is why they sell those little round "blind spot" mirrors, to install at the lower left corner of the side mirror - they work. But yes, your larger point is noted - women continue to be terrible, terrible drivers. Can't really be helped - shame.

Posted by 115thDreamer at February 2, 2012 3:33 PM

comment #3

LexG says ...

Last paragraph is CLASSIC. Especially the last two sentences. Gold.

Posted by LexG at February 2, 2012 3:40 PM

comment #4

Storm Serge says ...

Saigon isn't the capital of Asia.

Posted by Storm Serge at February 2, 2012 3:51 PM

comment #5

Anthony Thorne says ...

I agree with Lex, found this a funny post, but found this bit especially funny:

"..hugely impressed with my driving skills"

"I was breaking the law myself by talking on my cell phone..so I wasn't really paying attention"

Impressive indeed! That noted neglecting the blind spot is something I still fuck-up from time to time so I can't point a finger.

Posted by Anthony Thorne at February 2, 2012 3:56 PM

comment #6

FlashDust says ...

Alright when you resort to describing minor traffic incidents then it is time to make my exit.

Maybe John August has something worthwhile to say...

Posted by FlashDust at February 2, 2012 3:58 PM

comment #7

AnnaZed says ...

Jeff, I am glad that you lived to tell the tale though as a cyclist I have to beg you ~ don't use your hands to talk on the phone while you drive, please!

Posted by AnnaZed at February 2, 2012 4:07 PM

comment #8

Jeffrey Wells says ...

Wells to FlashDust: Oh, shut up!

Posted by Jeffrey Wells at February 2, 2012 4:23 PM

comment #9

Zach says ...

You're definitely channeling some Gran Torino-Eastwood here.

"Get out of my lane, Dragon Lady."

Posted by Zach at February 2, 2012 4:36 PM

comment #10

Travis Actiontree says ...

The description of the other driver sounds about right. (if you know what I mean)

I heard they have sideways vaginas, too.

Posted by Travis Actiontree at February 2, 2012 4:42 PM

comment #11

dino velvet says ...

Wow we got ourselves a regular Ben Hur down here...

Posted by dino velvet at February 2, 2012 4:43 PM

comment #12

LexG says ...

Dino: HA!

Posted by LexG at February 2, 2012 5:09 PM

comment #13

A Pop Calypso says ...

You have a car that goes 75!?

Number one for me is DO NOT DRIVE IN ANYONE ELSE'S BLIND SPOT.

Posted by A Pop Calypso at February 2, 2012 5:15 PM

comment #14

dino velvet says ...

Lex : Glad someone got that. I was gonna go with JW saying "Did ya ever think of gettin' yer driver's licence, boy?" as he passes some old coot on the road.

Posted by dino velvet at February 2, 2012 5:38 PM

comment #15

The Reek says ...

You were both in the wrong. Hey, you ever get get tired of lex kissing you're ass?

Posted by The Reek at February 2, 2012 5:53 PM

comment #16

Ray says ...

"I'm sure I was in her blind spot. This is why they tell you to quickly look over your left shoulder before changing lanes."

No, that is why they tell you DON'T DRIVE IN OTHER PEOPLE'S BLIND SPOTS.

Never pace anyone. NEVER.

Posted by Ray at February 2, 2012 6:09 PM

comment #17

Raising_Kaned says ...

Loved the Miss Saigon line.

Only thing that could have possibly made this story any more entertaining is when he was "eyeballing" the driver of the SUV, the whole thing happened all over again involving another driver, in whose blind spot he was driving while distracted.

Posted by Raising_Kaned at February 2, 2012 7:37 PM

comment #18

Raising_Kaned says ...

Having said that, I don't know how any of you assholes drive in/around L.A. on a daily basis.

Only been there once, and the 101 was easily one of the top-five most stressful experiences of my life at the time (then again, I was a fairly new driver at the time, and I'm sure that didn't help).

Posted by Raising_Kaned at February 2, 2012 7:39 PM

comment #19

Barnes78 says ...

If the 101 freaks you out then, for the love of traffic safety, avoid the 110, especially the stretch between downtown and Pasadena....

Posted by Barnes78 at February 2, 2012 8:19 PM

comment #20

Raising_Kaned says ...

Oh, perhaps it was the 110, then...(I know, I know -- "hey, maybe if you actually knew where you were driving it would be a little less stressful").

This was a long time ago, though.

Posted by Raising_Kaned at February 2, 2012 8:26 PM

comment #21

Barnes78 says ...

I've been in LA two years and that stretch of the 110, thus far, is the only one that leaves me scared for my life. It doesn't matter the time of day or night. People swerve along the curves as if it's a fucking Nascar highlight reel on Sportscenter. And the on/off ramps! Jesus H. Tebow. If I'm not mistaken, that stretch was one of the first pieces of freeway in the greater LA area which would explain a lot. All the same, it hasn't had much renovating or updating so....yes, scary.

Posted by Barnes78 at February 2, 2012 8:36 PM

comment #22

BobbyLupo says ...

"No, that is why they tell you DON'T DRIVE IN OTHER PEOPLE'S BLIND SPOTS.

Never pace anyone. NEVER."

He wasn't driving in anybody's blind spot, he was passing through her blind spot. If he was driving at the same pace as her, it wouldn't have been a problem, but because she was driving much slower and just changed lanes at almost the exact wrong moment, there was almost a problem.

Posted by BobbyLupo at February 2, 2012 9:40 PM

comment #23