Another "Was I wrong?" thread

[JonT]

Here is the scene, i'm coming home from uni, doing a bit of filtering down regent road in manchester on my way to the motorway.

I'm behind a lorry, it indicates and moves into the lane on the right, I am now in the left lane with no traffic infront of me as it was only the lorry between me and the lights. There is an obstruction that extends into the road about 1meter. I Have plenty of room to get to the front in this lane which has no traffic in it.

I move off forwards, but the lorry as soon as it passes the obstruction it indicates left and pulls back into the lane, me being half way passed it I whack the throttle open to clear him before i'm crushed, the guy beeps the horn and starts shouting obsenities at me saying i'm fucking stupid etc...

Now if the lorry looked like it was simply moving over to clear the obstruction (ie not cleanly moving entirely into the over lane) I would not have attempted to pass it.

Now as far as I am aware it is the responsability of the person changing lane to make sure it is clear to do so, not the responsability of over people to slam the anchors on to make space...

Give me your opinions please. (I am not a new biker but I thought that this would be prudent in this section)

Oh and I know you are not meant to undertake, but in this position it is acceptable because the person in the second lane has to slow down to stop at the lights.

[Joe?]

IMHO

I am with you on this, it is the person who ias changing lane's responsibility to check it is clear before manouevering. I woui;d also have thought if he where moving to avoid the obstruction he would not have moved entirely across the other lane.
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[ncrn]

Im not 100% really, I wouldnt attempt to undertake, especially not a lorry, so in that sense you shouldnt have moved forwards.

But at the same time he should have checked to see if there was anything in the inside lane before he moved over,
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[JonT]

I know it was a failure on my part not to guess that the lorry was simply manouvering arround the obstruction in an over zealous way, however if I had not started to move forward I would of been stationary with a lot of empty road between me and the traffic lights.

[feef]

was it not a bit of a coincidence that the lorry pulled out just as an obstruction came along?

I'd have assumed that the lorry was merely pulling over to avoid the obstruction. Having driven big vehicles before, it can be hard to judge where the back of your vehicle is, and whether it's clear of the obstruction.

undertaking anything has it's risks, and is a naughty.

undertaking a truck in those conditions is just plain stupid.
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[Clanger]

50/50 in this case.
You are in the wrong for undertaking
Lorry driver in the wrong for assuming nothing is there and moving back in.

I think its a case of being thankful you didnt get hurt and letting it go!
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[Joe?]

[techierob]

looks like six of one and half a dozen of the other, but I'd take your side seeing as the truck driver started giving out to you

[thx1138]

Just file it in the bit of your mind you use to concentrate when you are riding, and it'll be there next time you need it, don't worry about wether you were in the right or not. No good being in the right, if you are also in hospital.

[Clanger]

[ncrn]

[THCi]

[wilbur]

IMHO you were not in the wrong. Just stupid. Artics have massive blind spots.

A handy hint from behind the lorry is to figure out if is left or right hand drive. Ride accordingly. Check the plates. Remember if you cannot see the driver he/she cannot see you.

[fzr_400]

IMHO the truck was to fault as alot of them just move a little around the obsticale like half way in the lane or they keep their right indicator on to show their intention, he should of checked there is no excuse for that but you must also remember it is illegal to undertake, i would of stopped and told him to use his mirrors even though i drive truck in a yard and know you can loose other trucks let alone a small bike. Its just a good job vehicles are fitted with side indicators or you might not be here to tell the story.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Fault is difficult to say, but undertaking in such a situation is not something I would be prepared to do. Too likely that they are going to go back to the right (like going up the inside of someone on a roundabout, might well be perfectly legitimate but far too many people straight line roundabouts without looking).

[Rob-B]

The lorry driver was in the wrong for not checking before moving back into the lane, but really you should have assumed he was going to move straight back over as he was just getting past the obstacle, defensive riding FTW!