Sad story - how do you handle this scenario?

[GatorGreg]

Sad story - link below:

Orlando man named as moped driver who died in crash
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/bre ... story.html

It's unclear from the article if the moped guy was in a dedicated left turn lane but I've driven that exact intersection before and I'm pretty sure it's just one lane in each direction for both roads. I'm betting the driver of the car was looking at his phone when he crashed into the moped from behind. Today I was stopped at a light and I look in my mirror and I see the driver and passenger behind me both staring down at their phones! We were both stopped but it still made me nervous.

Anyway the lesson I'm taking away from this is if someone is in a vehicle behind you don't make a left turn if you have to slow down significantly to do it unless there is a dedicated left turn lane. Probably safer to just turn right into the next parking lot or another street and then turn back around and make a left to go back (with the benefit of a light or stop sign or at least if you're in a parking lot no one is flying up behind you hopefully) and then turn right where you originally wanted to go left. But then someone might run up your ass while you're turning right - I guess there's no solution really - even strobing/pulsing brake lights and a neon jacket wouldn't help if someone is looking down at a phone.

[Ishkabibble]

Vigilance.

I cannot speak for anyone else, nor can I suggest what the best course of action for any situation might be, but in my personal case, I always check both my mirrors, and if need be, a visual check of what's coming up behind me, whenever I have to make a "course change".

That's lane changes and turns.

If I have a dedicated lane, I'll use it, but I always try to remind myself that the collection of metal behind me is being operated by someone who does not see me.

I always try, and mostly succeed I think, to leave myself an out, just in case.

Defensive riding. The car that will hit me will be the one I didn't see coming. And it most likely will be driven by someone who had their nose in a phone.

[flyingzonker]

Sad story - link below:

Orlando man named as moped driver who died in crash
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/bre ... story.html

It's unclear from the article if the moped guy was in a dedicated left turn lane but I've driven that exact intersection before and I'm pretty sure it's just one lane in each direction for both roads. I'm betting the driver of the car was looking at his phone when he crashed into the moped from behind. Today I was stopped at a light and I look in my mirror and I see the driver and passenger behind me both staring down at their phones! We were both stopped but it still made me nervous.

Anyway the lesson I'm taking away from this is if someone is in a vehicle behind you don't make a left turn if you have to slow down significantly to do it unless there is a dedicated left turn lane. Probably safer to just turn right into the next parking lot or another street and then turn back around and make a left to go back (with the benefit of a light or stop sign or at least if you're in a parking lot no one is flying up behind you hopefully) and then turn right where you originally wanted to go left. But then someone might run up your ass while you're turning right - I guess there's no solution really - even strobing/pulsing brake lights and a neon jacket wouldn't help if someone is looking down at a phone.

I ride a road sometimes where I can get off in two spots, one at an intersection and one about 300 yards before the intersection. If I am approaching the first (non-intersection) turn-off and I see there are cars behind me, I give up on the idea of turning there and go on to the intersection. Half the time the light is red and I have a pretty good chance of not being rear ended. If the light is green as I approach the intersection I put my blinker on and, if I have to wait before I can make my turn, I hope for the best.

I agree with you that it is better to avoid left turns in situations like the one described in the OP. I have done just that many times. Another thing I do, upon approaching an intersection when the light has just turned red and there are cars coming up behind me, is to keep going--after first making pretty sure the cross traffic is hold still.

[gn2]

I always try, and mostly succeed I think, to leave myself an out, just in case.

Key 4...?

[GatorGreg]

Vigilance.

I cannot speak for anyone else, nor can I suggest what the best course of action for any situation might be, but in my personal case, I always check both my mirrors, and if need be, a visual check of what's coming up behind me, whenever I have to make a "course change".

That's lane changes and turns.

If I have a dedicated lane, I'll use it, but I always try to remind myself that the collection of metal behind me is being operated by someone who does not see me.

I always try, and mostly succeed I think, to leave myself an out, just in case.

Defensive riding. The car that will hit me will be the one I didn't see coming. And it most likely will be driven by someone who had their nose in a phone.

Good advice and great sig by the way

[GatorGreg]

I ride a road sometimes where I can get off in two spots, one at an intersection and one about 300 yards before the intersection. If I am approaching the first (non-intersection) turn-off and I see there are cars behind me, I give up on the idea of turning there and go on to the intersection. Half the time the light is red and I have a pretty good chance of not being rear ended. If the light is green as I approach the intersection I put my blinker on and, if I have to wait before I can make my turn, I hope for the best.

I agree with you that it is better to avoid left turns in situations like the one described in the OP. I have done just that many times. Another thing I do, upon approaching an intersection when the light has just turned red and there are cars coming up behind me, is to keep going--after first making pretty sure the cross traffic is hold still.

Yeah "hoping for the best" is not something I like to do often. I've never done that red light thing on a bike but I remember doing it once in my car when I had a big dump truck riding my ass and the light turned red - figured there was no way he would stop in time.

[you you]

I always try, and mostly succeed I think, to leave myself an out, just in case.

Key 4

Sutherland?

[Mel46]

My advice is to echo what someone else has already said. Given the choice of turning where there is not a dedicated aged turn lane, with a light, or just turning across traffic, I would look in my mirror as well as for oncoming traffic. If it looks like the individual behind me is coming on too fast, I would go to the light. In fact, we have a similar situation at the second entrance and exit from our subdivision, so we have to be aware in both directions before considering darting across traffic or slowing down with traffic behind us. After having my SUV destroyed at this same intersection, I now choose to go to the light.
Unfortunately, I have known of others down in Florida who had made the wrong decision in multiple ways, including no helmet, since it is not required there. They too paid the price of stupidity...or lack of proper caution.

[gn2]

I always try, and mostly succeed I think, to leave myself an out, just in case.

Key 4

Sutherland?

No, key 4 of 5

[Ishkabibble]

No, key 4 of 5

Wait, what?

I missed something here.

[gn2]

The five Smith System keys, thought you might have had Smith System training.

[Ishkabibble]

Never even heard of it...

I have had two different defensive driving courses provided by former employers over the years though. Neither one were this "Smith System"....

[dick the den]

Any person getting caught,using the phone whilist driving.Shound be banned for life.Fined lots of money,have there vehclie crushed.Then they might learn.

[Mel46]

I like that phone solution, but around here there are so many attorneys that when some dimwit housewife crashes into someone while doing 45 in a 35 zone, while texting while driving, and turning around to talk to her kids instead of looking ahead, the attorney will have the law challenged and will eventually win. Then the law would be changed to require them to allow busy housewives to drive while doing everything EXCEPT driving. It is not uncommon in our area. If enough people crash in the same area because of their own stupidity, then the laws will be changed to allow them to runner anyone or anything in their path!
OK, I'm done.