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So, after almost a year of hypermiling, I had my first serious near miss. I was cruising along at 55 in the right lane and there were a bunch of people passing on the left. A tractor trailer comes barelling up behind me, puts on his blinker, and changes lane into the line of cars. The car that was in the space being filled swerved off onto the median, lost control, and ended up in front of me facing me. I swerved onto shoulder and managed to stop before smacking into her car. There was no car to car or car to truck contact, but the person in the left lane smacked a couple of walls and guardrails.

Results
Me/My car: Untouched
Person in the Left Lane/car: She seemed OK, but obviously shaken up. Car totalled
Trucker: Untouched

Even though I know I did nothing wrong, I still feel guilty about the accident. Because if I were speeding alont at 75 like everyone else, none of this would have happened. I'm actually tempted to give up the HMing to avoid it from happening again. ( I know that thought really isn't rational 'cause increasing speed definitely won't decrease my chance of an accident)

Ken, that's a scary thing to have happen but if you watch carefully, you'll note that such careless and dangerous driving occurs at much higher speeds as well. When you see the same maneuver at 85mph, you realize that your speed really doesn't factor into it as much as you might think at first.

Take courage and continue to watch attentively (as you did!!) to stay safe.

Even though I know I did nothing wrong, I still feel guilty about the accident. Because if I were speeding alont at 75 like everyone else, none of this would have happened. I'm actually tempted to give up the HMing to avoid it from happening again. ( I know that thought really isn't rational 'cause increasing speed definitely won't decrease my chance of an accident)


First off, concentrate on the positive. Your quick reactions to the car appearing in front of you saved the incident from being much worse. Second, don't blame yourself for what is obviously the trucker's fault. Going 75 in a 60 and then changing lanes over another car. I know those trucks are big, which is why I mostly see them merge slowly into other lanes, allowing a horn to be heard.

At least everyone turned out ok.

Yeah, I'm happy that no one was hurt. I'll keep on chugging along at 55... sometimes it gets a little scary though.

Yeah, I'm happy that no one was hurt. I'll keep on chugging along at 55... sometimes it gets a little scary though.

Trucker was in the wrong, You were the only one really paying attention out there. Sometimes the truckers refuse to acknowledge the smaller vehicles that go slower than they.

Think of it this way: let's say you were going a lot faster and going by the truck when the truck suddenly decides to change lanes (because they didn't notice the person in front of them abiding by the speed limit) when you were halfway through passing him.

I know some will do this from experience. Take care out there.

I've been in potential positions like this, only with a BIKE in the left lane. I take extra precautions to help them get through. Mainly, speed up to hold the truck in my lane until the bike is clear. @#$& the mpg in that case. I do what I can, but you can't always help when another does something dumb right beside you.

With your description it seems clear that the truck is at fault (improper lane change) or (failure to yield right of way)

If I understand the description it was a 4-lane road and the truck was moving over to pass you on the left. If the truck and (car beside truck) was behind you , how did the car wind up in front of you? You must have seen this in mirror, right?

I hope that the trucker realized that he ran someone off the road and stopped.

With your description it seems clear that the truck is at fault (improper lane change) or (failure to yield right of way)

If I understand the description it was a 4-lane road and the truck was moving over to pass you on the left. If the truck and (car beside truck) was behind you , how did the car wind up in front of you? You must have seen this in mirror, right?

Your understanding is correct. And I did see the car heading off into the median in my side view mirror... when that started happening I slowed down and pulled about halfway onto the right shoulder to try to give the truck some space to maneuver. Meanwhile, the driver of the other was accellerating to get out of the way of the truck... That's how she got ahead of me.

My guess is that it was primarily the trucker's responsibility for changing lanes w/o yielding to the car in the lane. But I also think that the other car was far enough back where slowing down a little and letting the truck in was probably the best/safest thing to do. Instead she mashed the accelerator and tried to get in front. She may have been intentionally blocking the lane, which didn't help the situation.

I hope that the trucker realized that he ran someone off the road and stopped.

The trucker stopped. He wouldn't claim fault though.

:mad: It WAS his fault, though. He was the one who changed lanes. Whoever is already in the lane has priority over someone who wants to move into it.

If the trucker had been driving a bit farther (eye lead time) ahead then he wouldn't have been surprised. He could've made a lane change out of convenience rather than nessecity. It was sure his fault. I'm glad you were observant and cautious and no-one got hurt. I find that trucks are amoung the worst drivers on the road today , mostly taking right of way where they do not have right of way.

So, after almost a year of hypermiling, I had my first serious near miss. I was cruising along at 55 in the right lane and there were a bunch of people passing on the left. A tractor trailer comes barelling up behind me, puts on his blinker, and changes lane into the line of cars. The car that was in the space being filled swerved off onto the median, lost control, and ended up in front of me facing me. I swerved onto shoulder and managed to stop before smacking into her car. There was no car to car or car to truck contact, but the person in the left lane smacked a couple of walls and guardrails.

Results
Me/My car: Untouched
Person in the Left Lane/car: She seemed OK, but obviously shaken up. Car totalled
Trucker: Untouched

Even though I know I did nothing wrong, I still feel guilty about the accident. Because if I were speeding alont at 75 like everyone else, none of this would have happened. I'm actually tempted to give up the HMing to avoid it from happening again. ( I know that thought really isn't rational 'cause increasing speed definitely won't decrease my chance of an accident)

What was the speed limit where you were driving? After all, the speed limit is the limit, not the starting point. Also, it's impossible to prove how many accidents you weren't in over the past year because you have slowed down and are more attentive to your driving that if you were still driving as you were.

I am sure that what I do to hypermile has lowered my blood pressure and has lowered my risk of accidents and near misses. Had you been going 68 instead of 55, would you have had enough time to avoid hitting the lady who wound up in front of you? Maybe not.

I usually follow a slow truck. That way people see the truck going slow and take appropriate action. Although it sounds like it may not have helped in your case.

That's nice if you can find one. They're kind of rare around here, unless you consider 70 mph to be slow.

The trucker stopped. He wouldn't claim fault though.

Well I can understand that. In any accident you don't want to admit fault incase it really isn't your fault, it can come back to bite you in the tail. Did the trucker try to blame anyone else? What is his side of the story?

On a related note, did you do anything, such as turn on your hazards or anything else to let the trucker know you were going slower than traffic.

Well I can understand that. In any accident you don't want to admit fault incase it really isn't your fault, it can come back to bite you in the tail. Did the trucker try to blame anyone else? What is his side of the story?

On a related note, did you do anything, such as turn on your hazards or anything else to let the trucker know you were going slower than traffic.

His story was that she accelerated to pass after he put on his blinker and started changing lanes... I don't think that's completely true though.

You're right on the admiting fault thing... I wouldn't have admitted fault either.

As far as hazards are concerned... I generally don't do that on my commute to/from work. Oh, and I've got a bright red car that pretty much stands out on its own.

I drive against the flow of traffic so the road is usually pretty empty with occasional "clusters" of traffic going by me. This dude had plenty of time to see me and figure out that he was gaining on me quickly.

Also, it's impossible to prove how many accidents you weren't in over the past year because you have slowed down and are more attentive to your driving that if you were still driving as you were.

I am sure that what I do to hypermile has lowered my blood pressure and has lowered my risk of accidents and near misses. Had you been going 68 instead of 55, would you have had enough time to avoid hitting the lady who wound up in front of you? Maybe not.


So true.

I find that trucks are amoung the worst drivers on the road today , mostly taking right of way where they do not have right of way.

I don't agree. However, since the trucks are very very large you always notice and remember when one is driven poorly. I see more bone-head moves by Mommy-vans or SUVs than big-rigs. More ones by box-trucks than big-rigs, too.

Per capita in my area, though, it seems to be BMW 7-series drivers. I marveled today that one sat behind me for a little while, put on its turn signal, passed, signaled to get back into the lane, and was on its way. All without impeding anyone, cutting anyone off, or in general acting like it owned the road. That is unusual in my experience with the 7 series...

Then again, that could be largely perception as well. I do not keep detailed records of all cars around me and which of them are driving stupidly. ;)

-soD

What was the speed limit where you were driving?
I'm curious too. I'm glad no one was seriously hurt!

So, after almost a year of hypermiling, I had my first serious near miss.

(I hear George Carlin...)

I think you mean a near hit.

On-topic,
I agree with 98CRV on how your hypermiling may have already saved you from an accident, but that we will never know because it never happened. Speed limit is a LIMIT, and if someone is going faster than it, he/she is the one at fault.

As far as hazards are concerned... I generally don't do that on my commute to/from work. Oh, and I've got a bright red car that pretty much stands out on its own.

Well think about how many red cars are out on the road. Almost all of them are moving at or close to the same speed as other cars. You are the exception on the road, by hitting your hazards it draws attention to your car. Alerting other drivers that you are doing something that is out of line with the normal. It gives them a chance to notice your car, assess it's condition (in this case, driving slower than traffic) and make adjustments as necessary.

Personally, I use my hazards for semis and the occasional lead foot not paying attention flying up on me.

The speed limit was 65. I usually do between 55-60 on this stretch of the road depending on traffic. Traffic was pretty light, so I was just doing 55.

Maybe I'll start using the flashers as the traffic clusters come up on me. Thanks for the advice.

I think you deserve a pat on the back for attentive, controlled driving. :woot:

Using flashers isn't a bad thing depending on the amount of traffic flow you're involved in. If I used flashers I would have to leave them on solid, so I never use them. My major defense on people coming up fast is RR and my rear view mirror.

The speed limit was 65. I usually do between 55-60 on this stretch of the road depending on traffic. Traffic was pretty light, so I was just doing 55.

Maybe I'll start using the flashers as the traffic clusters come up on me. Thanks for the advice.

Your speed seems reasonable to me. I generally stick to 55 in a 65 with light traffic as well. I haven't had any close calls yet, but I'll keep an eye out for situations similar to the one you just went through. RRing and ready to hit the flashers or even accelerate when necessary.

His story was that she accelerated to pass after he put on his blinker and started changing lanes... I don't think that's completely true though.

You're right on the admiting fault thing... I wouldn't have admitted fault either.

As far as hazards are concerned... I generally don't do that on my commute to/from work. Oh, and I've got a bright red car that pretty much stands out on its own.

I drive against the flow of traffic so the road is usually pretty empty with occasional "clusters" of traffic going by me. This dude had plenty of time to see me and figure out that he was gaining on me quickly.

I've seen it happen before where semi's turn on their blinker and then some a-hole behind them tries to switch lanes and pass them before the semi moves over.

With hazards, I pretty much just decided to use them on all freeways now, even on that little stretch of 55mph in Austin since everyone still goes 65-70 as long as there's no traffic. I've found that by using the hazards a lot of people move over into the other lane a good half mile behind me. Without the hazards I'd get alot of retards riding my bumper for a few minutes, then angrily passing me. Or those people that wait till the last second to pass you. When the lights are flashing it seems like a good 95% drop in both of those situations occurring.

Also one of the other things I do now is always drive with my lights on on the freeway. Well actually I've been doing that since I've been hypermiling, but I just added in the hazard lights more recently.

Now in all truckers defense, those guys do sit in those trucks driving them for what, 7 or 8 hours per day? Plus they're pretty much never home. I'm sure it's a stressful situation for some.

I've seen it happen before where semi's turn on their blinker and then some a-hole behind them tries to switch lanes and pass them before the semi moves over.
Pretty much SOP around here. When it happens, it's SO tempting to pull into the left lane and do a reverse pass with the semi, but that would snarl up traffic even worse. So I just mentally cuss out the offending 4-wheeler.

It's also a good idea to flash your lights when the rear of the trailer clears you so the semi can swing back into your lane ahead of you - especially if his right turn blinkers are on as he goes by. That way he can swing right back into your lane before idiots start passing him on the right. Plus you get the benefit of a bit of his wake as he pulls away.

I've found that by using the hazards a lot of people move over into the other lane a good half mile behind me.

I do this for semis and buses only, and flip off the flashers as soon as they start to change lanes behind me. If there is enough truck and bus traffic, it happens often enough that other traffic gets the idea, and this way I don't leave the flashers on continuously: I suspect that flipping them on draws a bit more attention than if they are on all the time.

When traffic is moderate enough that it travels in packets, it's hard to stay sharp enough to take full advantage of the periods when the road is empty behind me.

I observe this type of behavior quite regularly with truckers. Many of them seemingly just don't give a !@#$.

The problem with a lot of the bad truck drivers is that they know that they're the biggest thing on the road and that the other traffic has to accomadate them or face dire consequences. As a result, rather than wait until it is clear to change lanes they will put on their signal and then change lanes expecting any traffic in the way to speed up/slow down or change lanes to make room.
Justin-I believe a trucker can legally be behind the wheel for eleven hours at a time, I'm sure many exceed that.