I was driving home from work tonight in my 240sx on a 2 lane road. (one lane going north, one south). It is a country road where you can only pass at a very select few locations. I was behind a slow car for about 15 miles, and 10 of those miles another car was following very close behind me. It was raining and dark out, so I was keeping my distance from the car in front of me and making sure to slow down for the turns.
We get to a part of the road where you can pass, but the passing lane turns into a turn lane. This makes the passing lane about a quarter mile long. I hit my left directional and get into the passing lane to pass the slow car, and as soon as I do that, the guy behind me does the same. He moved in a way that made it look like he wanted to pass both me and the car I was passing, and the fact that I passed first apparently pissed him off. So he turns on his high beams and tailgates me until I get over in the right lane again. I figured he would pass me and I would be done with him, but he was running out of space to pass. (Amazing that his Geo Tracker didn't have enough power to make the pass..go figure).
So rather than passing me, he decides to cut between me and the car I just passed. So here he is, literally an inch from my rear bumper and an inch from the bumper of the car I just passed. He has his high beams on and is way too close for comfort. I decide to accelerate to get him off my ***, so the gap widens a little. After 5 seconds of this, I had to slow down for a turn, so I applied my brakes. (Not hard, mind you, just so I didn't slide the rear of the car around in the turn and crash...you know, the important kind of braking.) Just as I do this, the guy who was paying so much attention trying to blind me with his high beams on a dark rainy night, hits me. He bumps my rear bumper just enough to put me into a spin.
So, recap: I am on a 2 lane road where the speed limit is 45mph. I am trying to slow down for a turn when I get bumped from behind.
The rear tires break loose and the car comes around to the right. Surprised, I countersteer to the right and feather the gas pedal. (I've seen enough drift videos to know how that works :thumbsup.) The momentum of the countersteer and the rear wheels spinning brings the rear of the car back around the other way. I let off the gas and slowly apply the brakes. However, the wet ground made sure the car oversteered again, putting my passenger door at a 90 degree angle with the ******* Geo's headlights. I countersteer again and do the same thing. This time I let off the gas and the rear swings back around once more. The car enters a sideways slide and I come to a screeching stop facing the way I just came about 4 feet from a fence and a ditch. (Which would have easily flipped the car if I didn't get it under control).
The car stops in a hail of tire smoke, rain, and burnt rubber. I open the door to get out and the Geo guy guns it. Revs the hell out of his motor and takes off. I couldn't believe it. He just took off. Then, the 2-3 cars after him did the same thing. They all just left. Amazing.
So, I just encountered my first hit and run. I would go to the police, but all I know is it was a Geo Tracker and the driver was an *******. At least my driving was able to get me out of a serious accident. I was going pretty fast to be sideways. Scary. I am quite pleased with the fact that I managed to control a nasty slide on a very narrow road though. I somehow managed to avoid hitting cars and other objects along the way. At least I have proof that I am getting better at driving.
Just a crazy day.
hit and run
By the time I got turned around he would have been long gone.
Glad to hear no serious damage and no injuries. Your thread title was completely inappropriate, however. You stated clearly that the cops would have little-to-no information with which to work, so what good does it do to ask "where are the cops when you need them?" I'll change that for you.
Did you make any effort to contact the police? Why not? Did you think maybe there would(or should) be a cruiser sitting in a driveway or side street at the scene of the incident? Members of this forum, and myself in particular don't have much patience or tolerance when people preface their misfortunes(albeit self-inflicted; you did not need to pass, you chose to, at night, wet conditions) with an accusatory title such as "where are cops when you need them"
After reading and re-reading your post, it's an unfortunate situation, but it seems you could have avoided the entire incident altogether by simply following the slow car at a safe distance, and practicing a higher level of patience. Better luck next time, I suppose.
Did you make any effort to contact the police? Why not? Did you think maybe there would(or should) be a cruiser sitting in a driveway or side street at the scene of the incident? Members of this forum, and myself in particular don't have much patience or tolerance when people preface their misfortunes(albeit self-inflicted; you did not need to pass, you chose to, at night, wet conditions) with an accusatory title such as "where are cops when you need them"
After reading and re-reading your post, it's an unfortunate situation, but it seems you could have avoided the entire incident altogether by simply following the slow car at a safe distance, and practicing a higher level of patience. Better luck next time, I suppose.
It is more a figure of speech then anything else. People always say they hate the cops unless they are at the right place at the right time, and this certainly would have been one of those places and times. Again, just a figure of speech.
Yes I could have stayed behind that car, but there was absolutely no danger in passing someone where it is legal to do so, and still maintaining the safe speed limit at the time. The unfortunate part is the guy in the car behind me that let his emotions behind the wheel get the best of him. Road rage is not a pretty thing.
I apologize for abusing your patience and tolerance on this internet message forum. I will do my best never to do that again.
Yes I could have stayed behind that car, but there was absolutely no danger in passing someone where it is legal to do so, and still maintaining the safe speed limit at the time. The unfortunate part is the guy in the car behind me that let his emotions behind the wheel get the best of him. Road rage is not a pretty thing.
I apologize for abusing your patience and tolerance on this internet message forum. I will do my best never to do that again.
Although I disagree with some of what SmithSR says , I do agree that whenever there is an accident involved you want to ALWAYS call the police... what if that same driver caused another accident down the road? or what if there was a child in that Geo?
Sorry to hear about the car and that's real ****ty that nobody stopped when you could have been seriously injured.
EDIT: also how do you know one of the other drivers didnt get his plate number and call the police??? That sure would help them out as far as information goes. This goes back to my hit and run .. a cab driver chased the guy down and got his plate number for me and came back and gave it to me at the gas station and told me where he parked his car up a one way street i might add.
Sorry to hear about the car and that's real ****ty that nobody stopped when you could have been seriously injured.
EDIT: also how do you know one of the other drivers didnt get his plate number and call the police??? That sure would help them out as far as information goes. This goes back to my hit and run .. a cab driver chased the guy down and got his plate number for me and came back and gave it to me at the gas station and told me where he parked his car up a one way street i might add.
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leftovercrizack
- Posts: 216
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2003 2:17 pm
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leftovercrizack
- Posts: 216
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2003 2:17 pm
