My FIRST REAL Scare on the Highway!

[cheriann]

When Chaz and I left for our trip last Friday morning, I had my FIRST real scare

We were in heavy rush hour traffic, and I was watching constantly, always assuming they can't see me. Well, sure enough, one didn't!!!!!!!!! We were all going about 55 mph when this lady in a big SUV in the left lane and RIGHT NEXT TO ME, started coming over into my lane ON ME!!!! I blew my horn and she NEVER stopped moving over. Going that speed, and having to go off the road (no other choice) I could have easily gone down from the loose gravel or worse, gone right into the guard rail. However, I can't explain it, but it happened right at a truck scale entrance, and I had the sense to go riding into that. Honestly, I ended up riding right on through the truck scale and coming out the other end! Chaz didn't see it happen at first (he was in front of me watching traffic himself), but when he had that lady on his rear-end tailgating him, he looked back and saw a bike riding through the truck scale and realized it was me.

I will admit to you all, that I was REALLY shaken up!!! I have had drivers start to come over, but when I blow my horn, they usually stop. Or they may be coming over at a point when I can speed up quickly to get ahead of them, or brake hard to avoid running off the road. This lady was directly next to me and I had no other choice. I am proud of myself for having the instincts to get through it okay, but I was hysterical for 10 minutes!!! It scared me so badly!!!!

I told Chaz I want an air horn on my bike!!!!!!!!!!!! :(" title="" border="0"/>

[Cajunrider]

I know the feeling CheriAnn. I was coming back home from Tennessee on I-55 just North of Jackson, MS when a young lady nearly forced me into the guard rail beneath an overpass. I was riding with the wife and pulling my trailer. The trailer tire was within inches of hitting the guard rail and we were doing 70 mph at the time. She was so close I could have easily touched her. She didn't hear my stock horn but when I screamed at her she turned and saw me. She later passed me up and apologized for not seeing me. My stomach was in knots for the remainder of the 250 miles home.

[recumbentbob]

Glad your OK, that was some good riding on your part.
Close calls like that are scary.

[Top Cat]

Glad you survived the incident and YES get an air horn.

[Cajunrider]

Forgot to mention that I ordered a Stebel immediately after arriving home. It's gotten me out of a couple of jams since. Good riding CheriAnn. Thank God for the weigh station.

[petenomad]

Stebel or Wolo, spend $40 and an hour mounting/wiring and you'll not only feel safer, you'll be safer. A definite improvement over stock.

[zoom45]

+1 on the Stebil air horn. It has saved me many times. Glad you were paying attention! You have to anticipate whate the cagers will do at all times. And yes, if you ever pass through Jackson, MS you can expect some dummy to try and run over you. I deal with them every day. The afternoon traffic is the worse drivers I have seen in any state.
Zoom

[spazz]

Well, I will say that the wife did do some fancy driving in a hurry. I am glad she kept her wits about her long enough to find an escape route.

As far as the horn is concerned! That was the first modification I did to that 900 when it was bought for me new. It has the Stebel Air Horn that is 139 dbs. I think when this woman passed me showing her her IQ, she was on the cell phone and did not even acknoledge me.

[kawgirl]

Very good riding through an extremely sticky situation! Glad you're okay.

[coacha]

Wow! Glad you are ok. We have had a couple cars pinch us off and when I hit the air horn, it get's their attention quick. The horn was my first add on.

[cheriann]

Since I do have the Stebel and yet she STILL didn't hear me, is what is so frightening!!!!
As hubby mentioned, she was on a cell phone, it was hot so she had her air on with the windows up and I am assuming the radio blasting, since she didn't hear my horn!

[nomad561]

Glad you were paying attention and had an escape route. You had a Stebel and she still didn't hear you, then there really wasn't anything else you could have done in that situation.
I have the Stebel as well and while I rely on it to get most peoples attention, I also use my GPS to route me around traffic when possible.
There are going to be times when "due diligence" is the only thing that will save your butt.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Glad you were able to do what you did CheriAnn. A lot of people would have panicked and not have done the right thing. I have had a couple start to do that but saw me just in time.

[johnb]

Glad your instincts were good and you were able to come out of it safely. I had the same thing happen on the BQE here in NY when a guy cut over 3 lanes and didn't see me. The Stebel and a little bit of the shoulder of the road got me out of it.

There are times I wish I could mount a "Peterbilt" air horn.

[petenomad]

She probably "heard" you but just wasn't listening enough to process what that annoying sound was.
And, like others have said - Way to go.