Soft Lane Change Saved My Life Today

[James Burleigh]

When I found myself in front of an aggressive driver in the tunnel this morning on my way into the office, I could have made a couple of better choices, sure, but life's a--you know--journey. Sometimes we're fortunate enough to survive our poor decisions and will hopefully learn from them. Today was one of those there days...

I first spotted Jake Lips when he suddenly appeared behind me at the freeway tunnel entrance when he executed an obnoxious lane change. Coming out of the tunnel onto the the five lanes of thick but fast-moving freeway traffic, I was in the no.1 fast lane. Jake Lips gets frustrated behind the slow-moving motorcyclist, and so in my mirror I see that Jake Lips changes lanes over to the right into the no. 2 lane.

Ahead of me is a car and a wide-open lane to the right (no. 2 lane). So I execute a soft lane change right, which it seems saved my life (Soft lane change: just jump over the line at first, and then slowly merge toward the center of the lane, vs. jump right into the center--thank you, Pat Hahn). Well, at the average speed of traffic, I figured I had no cars that could be approaching that spot I wanted to merge into, so I didn't check my mirror or turn my head, and besides, I had the hedge of the soft lane change. Most important, at that point I didn't realize that Jake Lips was actually C*R*A*Z*Y! :crazy:

Y'all know what happened next: Just after I had taken my eyes off Jake Lips and accelerated, Jake Lips blasted to his right into the no. 3 lane. So as I'm merging into the no. 2 lane while accelerating and leaning (because there's a marvelous sweeper coming out of the tunnel :yahoo: ), suddenly out of my right-side blind spot and merging right on top of me in a white Cadillac SUV as large as the Titanic is Jake Lips, and he's flying! He's going to hit me.

I take some kind of evasive action that I can't even remember, with the effect that he pinches me out next to the car I was trying to pass, and then moves into the fast lane and flies on outta there. I then observed Jake Lips change lanes about 12 more times from the fast to slow lanes in the next half mile into spaces you wouldn't think a huge SUV could make.

So anyway, I always try to glean some wisdom from these sorts of adventures. Here it comes....

Wisdom of the day: :graduated: Always practice soft lane changes, and even if you think there are no cars there, CHECK THAT MIRROR AND BLIND SPOT!

Thank you, Lord, for watching over me...!

Jb

Alive to try it all over again tomorrow morning....

 

[rangerray]

Glad you didn't get killed. I know I've seen Jake Lips in my part of the country too. I've never heard of a soft lane change, but now that you mention it, I suppose I do it without thinking. I also just dive right in sometimes, but I always do the headcheck before crossing the line.

Mean people suck.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I hope that we are all reminded to be patient and do things the right way from this story.

 

[painman]

Got to stay mellow JB to stay alive in that commute. There are some real crazies as you witnessed on that road. And being on the bike can make a no-win situation in an altercation. Stay safe bro. and let them have their day. PM. <>< B)

 

[Toecutter]

Glad you didn't get killed...Mean people suck.

And you'd be missed around here, by some of us....

I know I've seen Jake Lips in my part of the country too. I've never heard of a soft lane change, but I always do the headcheck before crossing the line.

I get the soft lane change thing, but I'd appreciate a little enlightenment on the "Jake Lips" term.

I rarely ever do a head check before a lane change. It can't be done in a fire engine, so I've adapted "trusting my mirrors" to everything I drive. In the cages, I just lean forward to decrease the mirror reflection angle and eliminate the blind spot. On the bike, I lean forward and away from the direction I intend to go, while keeping the mirror image in view. It also helps to keep track of all the trailing traffic, which minimizes the occasional surprise bogey.

Sounds like you had a close encounter with the aforementioned surprise bogey. That guy was probably fighting some serious inner battle to be in that big of a hurry. It wasn't about you. Everybody was in his way this morning.

It really grinds on me when laggers suddenly wake up once I catch and am looking to pass them. If they were actually going that fast all along, I wouldn't have caught up. Conversely, when somebody runs up on me, I try to get out of their way ASAP.

Have fun tomorrow!

 

[kaitsdad]

let it go.

take a breath,

and let it go.

keeps you alive.

 

[feejer222]

I'd appreciate a little enlightenment on the "Jake Lips" term.

+1

I rarely ever do a head check before a lane change. It can't be done in a fire engine, so I've adapted "trusting my mirrors" to everything I drive.

Surely driving a fire engine you are used to people making way for you.....dont get too comfy with that feeling.

The head check (shoulder check over here) is essential, and I cant believe you survive without it. A bike cop I used to know said they call it the 'life saver'. It has saved mine more than once on the bike and on 4 wheels. Mirrors are good but I couldn't ride my bike and trust them completely. I drive a van most days and have to trust, but still find myself doing a head check on the motorway when changing lanes. I have drummed it into my wife (forgive the phrase...sat here sniggering), that she must do it, having only learned to drive 6 years ago, and will do the same with my kids as they learn.

Soft lane change; I understand the theory but don't agree with it. Surely it leaves approaching traffic at the rear with an impresion that you are drifting from lane to lane and are unpredictable?

 

[NoCage]

The head check (shoulder check over here) is essential, and I cant believe you survive without it. A bike cop I used to know said they call it the 'life saver'. It has saved mine more than once on the bike and on 4 wheels. Mirrors are good but I couldn't ride my bike and trust them completely. I drive a van most days and have to trust, but still find myself doing a head check on the motorway when changing lanes. I have drummed it into my wife (forgive the phrase...sat here sniggering), that she must do it, having only learned to drive 6 years ago, and will do the same with my kids as they learn.

Amen on the head check... the mirrors can tell you "no" (to changing lanes), but only a head check can say "yes".

 

[dcarver]

JB - good post. Hadn't heard the term 'soft lane change' but use it daily..

 

[Kaelaria]

Use the mirrors, just don't trust them. A bike/car is not a fire engine, the comparison is moot.

I can't signal a turn in a Cessna, but that doesn't mean I don't do it on my bike either.

 

[radman]

Why Rad don't pack. You didn't happen to notice if there was a size 12 Alpinestar imprint centered in a large dent on the drivers door, didja? Jake and I are old pals, ya see.