Just witnessed a car accident

[ehhsee]

Okay so I was out on my bike, just casually riding round enjoying the nice weather.
I decided to go to Tesco and then head home.
On my way home, I was following a red Ford Escort, and the driver was very erratic.

For most of the journey, he was driving VERY slowly, doing about 35 in a 50 zone.
The traffic lights up ahead were on green, so I followed him through, and suddenly his car pulled to the left.
He was doing about 30mph at this point, and went straight into a wall.

I had to swerve to avoid him, and literally JUST missed the back of his car, I pulled up to check if he was okay, and someone had already called the police + ambulance, so I decided to head home.

I was pretty shook up, this is the first accident I've witnessed.
I'm just thankful that I didn't hit the back of him, if I was going 5mph faster it would have been a very different story.

D;

[Paul the 6th]

Pished or using his phone maybes?

[Pricey12]

Definitely an eye opener. Hopefully they're ok. Makes you realise how vigilant you have to be on a bike :(

[Fallout]

You were right not to overtake him even though he was doing 35 in a 50. When someone is driving in a bizarre manner like this the safest place is a good distance behind them. Imagine if you'd overtaken him and had to stop at those lights. You might not be here today.

It's nice to learn lessons the easy way! :)

[ehhsee]

Weather-wise it's probably the best day of the year yet, which would explain it if he was drunk.
It's definetly opened my eyes, I'm just thankful I wasn't directly involved.
No accidents yet *touch wood* and this has made be just that little bit safer.

[Fallout]

Yeah. Seriously good lesson! I've been lucky that I've learnt all my lessons this way too ... from the safe side of the mistake/incident. You're always learning when out on the bike. :)

[missyburd]

Yey, you live to ride another day. Hope he wasn't too badly hurt, never a nice thing to have to witness.

[NTECUK]

leve a nice big gap.
enjoy the sun and be careful .

[Littlepeahead]

He may not have been drunk. Heart attack, allergy, stroke, diabetic. Sadly all of these things could be the reason, just lucky he didn't take anyone else out with him. If he was drunk then the police will get him breathalised. Might be worth you letting them know you saw the whole thing in case they need witnesses. If he was drunk and it helps get him convicted then you'll have done your bit for society.

And if you haven't already done it, how about some first aid training. In that situation you feel a lot more useful if you are first on the scene and it wasn't a drunk, but someone taken ill then injured.

[Elliott]

Riding in wales the other day and a R6 came round a bend and just crashed straight into the way...... Scares you more than crashing yourself!

[NTECUK]

Good idea LPH.
First Aid could save somone.
Im supprised how Sarah reacts. Her traing just clicks in.

[haggis]

You really should let the police know you were following directly behind, and noticed something was wrong.

For all you/we know, there may be no other witness to their driving behaviour prior to hitting the wall, so that is vital info for them to build up a picture of what happened. I'm sure they will thank you for giving a statement, and your conscience will be better for it.

[Ceri JC]

The more you ride, the more accidents you'll observe. Where someone has clearly been driving poorly that has caused it, always offer to be a witness. It's staggering how many innocent people get forced to accept a 50:50 blame settlement because no one is interested in corroborating the victim's version of events. My testimony got one chap prosecuted for dangerous driving. I was over the moon; had I been in the other lane, he'd have literally killed me. As it was he just spectacularly totalled his Merc and a poor sod's Focus.