I feel like crap... close call

[CJB]

Folks, I'm sitting here, responding to this and that about guns and ammo... trying to hold it all in, but its no use. I came very close to pulling out my PM45 tonite. Too damn close. I'm on my Harley... sitting at a red light with two cars ahead of me, about 1/3 way over in the lane from the edge. Driver behind me starts inching up. His bumper was even with my tail light, so I turned and said "hey STOP!". He did. Then he started inching up again, and I lost it. His bumper was now even with my rear shock, and my directional was about 1/2 inch from his fender. I used very coarse language, pointed my finger right at his face, and told him in no uncertain terms to STOP. He stopped. Then he started inching up more, and his bumper hit my leg. That was all she wrote, I totally lost it, turned and called him every name in the book, upon which the driver got out of his car and started yelling back. He reached inside his window (door was almost closed) and I came to the point where I was REALLY afraid. I saw the light change in his windshield reflection, cars moved, and I got the hell out of there.

I've got knots in my gut just recounting this. My heart is pounding again too. The guy was an ol' geezer! Older than me even! (comedic relief). Seriously... late 60's sort of guy, but not your joe average pensioner... and frankly I dont give a hoot how old he was. He hit me after being warned twice, and he got out of his car, and he reached.... I didn't know what was gonna happen next.

Tell me its gonna be ok.

[Bawanna]

Can't promise OK for sure but fair to middlin is almost a for sure thing.

Hopefully we can all laugh about all this tomorrow. You did the smart thing getting the wheels in motion for a different location.

[Thunder71]

Glad you're alright man, what an a-hole!

Now, I have my thoughts - but I'd like to hear yours after the fact, what you would have done different, if anything, etc.

[TurkeyHunter]

well unless he's out in front of the window right now i guess your good, i also ride and to get very frustrated when others dont pay attention to us on the road and dont even care i think you handled yourself alot better than i would have so give yourself a pat for being observant and removing yourself from the situation

[CJB]

Toned down the language a bit...been more explicit with instructions perhaps. Thats it. I couldn't go anyplace, I was boxed in with only a foot between my front wheel and the next guys bumper.

First words... stop, next warning was the A word - Ahole to be exact, when he hit me it was MF this and you MFer that... I was pissed. Then again, it happened in seconds... thats all it takes... seconds... scary.

Let me also say, from his position, as he hit my leg, another six inches and I'd have been over... he'd have knocked my balance and support off.

(edit clarity of the vulgarity)

[wyntrout]

Well, I think you just had a real good adrenalin surge, but how you could have reacted any better is beyond me... unless you just twisted the grip and tried to get the heck away from the guy. You just don't know how things can go, but it could have gotten really ugly and even if you had drawn and shot the guy in self defense, you still had the option you took, which has to be the best outcome. You could be in jail while the law triess to figure if you did the best thing or let things escalate.

It sucks and I've been there... trembling from the letdown after the adrenalin surge and wondering if I should have let things escalate and shot a moron. Carrying a gun carries great responsibility and you have to give up some options. You might feel bad... think it wasn't manly or something, but no one died or was injured, and that clearly could have happened.

You'll try to second guess things and wonder if you should have acted differently, but you're alive and hopefully you won't run into that S.O.B. again.

That's a big reason I don't ride bikes anymore. I like the protection... the security... and being able to carry a lot of stuff with me. Ride safe and stay aware... situational awareness is your best defense... in most situations!

Wynn

[CJB]

Oh I know I'm good legally... its my morality thats bothering me.

I was attacked three times in 2010 by the same woman - a renter. Last time she punched me in the mouth a few times while I was gardening (on my knees). At that point, I defended myself. Cops said I should have done more.... but in my own mind... I had to take a long time to sort and iron out me coming to my own defense by using my hands on a female. I did the right thing, and I did defend myself... but the mental aftermath... its not fun.

[Thunder71]

As a former rider, I can say I always left plenty of room between myself and the vehicle in front of me in case I needed to get around them (stalled, whatever). You have to leave yourself an escape route, sounds like you were the cream in a Twinkie there.

Were you centered or off to one or the other side of the lane? Just wondering how he was able to get so close in the first place.

There's 0 question he was in the wrong, just trying to think of things that would help prevent this from happening to you or others again in the future is all.

[cesande]

Don't ride myself but lived in Dallas for a long time and can tell you first hand about many a road rage incidents.

1) he was wrong by a long shot
2) you did precisely what you are legally bound to do... flee first if you can
3) I totally appreciate the position you are in now... working through the aftermath....

I am a martial artist and have to deal with similar feelings often....

Should I have defended myself with that level of force... was it needed since we were both unarmed... etc... etc...

I am glad a fellow CCW'r is ok in the end.

[CJB]

As a former rider, I can say I always left plenty of room between myself and the vehicle in front of me in case I needed to get around them (stalled, whatever). You have to leave yourself an escape route, sounds like you were the cream in a Twinkie there.

Were you centered or off to one or the other side of the lane? Just wondering how he was able to get so close in the first place.

There's 0 question he was in the wrong, just trying to think of things that would help prevent this from happening to you or others again in the future is all.

I was in the right lane, 1/3 over from the left edge. There is a bike path, he was partially on it. Its is also a "downtown" intersection. I appreciate the distance and escape route scenario! I've had to use it once, when a car came up fast and skid on wet pavement! Nobody hurt, I got to the side (grass, then sidewalk) he missed the car ahead of me by ... enough room, not much.

He did a normal stop, then started inching in, creeping over, like he was gonna try and hang a right on red... but he couldn't do that, since there were cars ahead of me. I have no idea if he had some sort of intention that went wrong, or he was just spacing. I think spacing, and I think he'd been drinking - coming back from dinner perhaps. There was a female with him.

Talkin' about it makes me feel a little better. Its gonna be a toss n turn night for sure tho

[Thunder71]

Yeah, I can imagine it shook you up good - I've had way too many close calls on a bike so I do understand.

All is well, get a good night sleep and try not to dwell on it - you did good, just keep it in the back of your mind when riding (yeah, yet another thing to keep there).

[JFootin]

Glad you're alright, CJB. I know from my brother's experience that there are a small number of people who have a malevalent hatred for motorcycle riders. And I think this guy is one of them. It sounds like his actions were intentional.

Back in the 60s, my older brother rode a Triumph ( also owned a hog at one time). He was proceeding up a neighborhood street when an older man pulled out of his driveway RIGHT in front of him. He had to lay the bike down and run himself to a stop. (He was in his 20s and could run faster than anyone I have ever known.) Before the man pulled out, my brother could see him looking at him in a focused manner, not looking through him like he didn't see him. When he asked the man why he had done that, he said "I don't stop for no G. D. motorcyle!" The man was a retired local police officer, and it would have been useless to try to bring charges against him or collect damages.

Thunder made some good points. Leave plenty of room from the car in front of you, and center your bike in the lane. A riding partner is a good idea, too. Two Harleys side by side will fill the lane.

[340pd]

You saved probably $10,000 in legal fees by not pulling your gun. Good job.

[3one5]

Your home writing to us not filling out a report. Or worse.

[zamboni]

You did the right thing by getting out of there. You had no legal reason to draw at that point, and if you stuck around to see him pull a gun out of his car it may have been too late. It all ended well under the circumstances, so just keep telling yourself you did the right thing and try to stay positive.

I actually came very close to drawing my gun for the first time 3 nights ago. I won't hijack this thread with the story, but like you, I feel my actions were correct. I am not thinking about the what ifs, but concentrating on what I did correct, and I came away with even more confidence that I am a responsible CC'er.