I'm quite resigned/used to and prepared for the 'left-hook' where a car overtakes you and turns left into a side road immediately after passing. Poor and dangerous driving though it is, but a fact of current cycling life unfortunately. It's been my experience previously that it's normally carried out at the speed the car was travelling before the turn followed by braking and a left turn signal (if you're lucky) after it's passed .
I've had a couple of low speed left-hooks recently where the car crawls past at low speed (having presumably already slowed for the turning manouvre). On the first occasion the driver realised (by looking over their shoulder after they had passed me), that they were going to collide with me if they completed the turn and stopped in the middle of the road. I was riding straight-on (though prepared to stop, or turn with them when I realised what was happening).
On the next occasion a couple of evenings ago,again I was riding straight-on past a left turn, heard a car coming from behind, subconsciously I thought the car might turn left, sure enough it crawled past and I saw it's side repeater indicator flashing, this time I stopped to avoid a collision. Again the driver looked over their shoulder and saw me.
The over the shoulder look both drivers gave me led me to believe they both knew where I was distance-wise relative to their vehicle and the junction, but initiated their turn anyway. I found it quite alarming as everything was happening in slow motion almost.
Has anyone else experienced this ?
'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
Yes. And I'd guess that most of us have experienced most of the possible combinations. And for many of us that's both while riding a bike and while driving a car.
Good to hear that you avoided the possible collisions and injuries.
Apart from their poor driving when you look back at these do you think that you could have done anything differently?
Thanks
Jonathan
Good to hear that you avoided the possible collisions and injuries.
Apart from their poor driving when you look back at these do you think that you could have done anything differently?
Thanks
Jonathan
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
[quote=Jdsk post_id=1633591 time=1630055306 user_id=46950
Apart from their poor driving when you look back at these do you think that you could have done anything differently?
Jonathan
[/quote]
Thank you Jonathan.
That's an interesting question. I'm quite used to taking a primary position on e.g blind bends etc, but hadn't considered using it at junctions before now, so that's a possibility . I'm not totally convinced of it as a technique though, I suspect most motorists don't understand it and see it possibly as 'getting in my way', causing confusion/frustration and potentially moving an accident caused by an overtake over onto the opposite side of the road with the extra risk that might entail.
Off for a ride now, have a safe 'un yourselves.
Apart from their poor driving when you look back at these do you think that you could have done anything differently?
Jonathan
[/quote]
Thank you Jonathan.
That's an interesting question. I'm quite used to taking a primary position on e.g blind bends etc, but hadn't considered using it at junctions before now, so that's a possibility . I'm not totally convinced of it as a technique though, I suspect most motorists don't understand it and see it possibly as 'getting in my way', causing confusion/frustration and potentially moving an accident caused by an overtake over onto the opposite side of the road with the extra risk that might entail.
Off for a ride now, have a safe 'un yourselves.
Nu-Fogey
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
Thanks
I was wondering about positioning. And also about turning and looking, both to inform my own decision making and for the beneficial effects of engaging the driver's attention.
Enjoy the ride. : - )
Jonathan
I was wondering about positioning. And also about turning and looking, both to inform my own decision making and for the beneficial effects of engaging the driver's attention.
Enjoy the ride. : - )
Jonathan
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
You're better out a bit at road junctions anyway since a driver coming from the left from the junction may not see you if you're too close the the side of the road. I always move out a bit more approaching left hand road junctions making sure the car behind is far enough back to be able to react to my new position. If the car behind is approaching too fast to be able to move out more then I stay tight and slow right down to allow it to pass first.
I am here. Where are you?
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Pete Owens
- Posts: 2445
- Joined: 7 Jul 2008, 12:52am
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
It is better to think of the primary position as your default position and treat a move to the left or right as a deliberate decision to signal your intention to other road users. At the approach to a junction or on a moving to the left or right is an indication that you are about to turn. Between junctions it is an indication that you are happy for people to overtake within the lane at that point.
If you think of it that way then you are not moving out to take the lane, just returning to the your normal default road position.
If you think of it that way then you are not moving out to take the lane, just returning to the your normal default road position.
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Paradiddle
- Posts: 123
- Joined: 7 Jul 2020, 10:39am
- Location: London
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
Not signaling or signaling late is also a pet peeve of mine 
Most drivers in my area are quite aware of cyclist before turning left but I've had the occasional left hook. Out of habit I tend to look and try make eye contact before approaching left turns to remind them of my presence, which seems to work. I also tend to slow down slightly when the car is slightly in front of me before junction but most of the time they signal and wait for me to pass.
You can't really do anything by the time they are in the middle of the turn because you're right at their blind spot. So I find that the best way to avoid the situation is by making sure they know you're there before they make the turn.
Most drivers in my area are quite aware of cyclist before turning left but I've had the occasional left hook. Out of habit I tend to look and try make eye contact before approaching left turns to remind them of my presence, which seems to work. I also tend to slow down slightly when the car is slightly in front of me before junction but most of the time they signal and wait for me to pass.
You can't really do anything by the time they are in the middle of the turn because you're right at their blind spot. So I find that the best way to avoid the situation is by making sure they know you're there before they make the turn.
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
Thanks for all the replies, food for thought .
Here's a picture (click) of the second junction where I stopped to avoid collision, the car was level with me approximately by the drain cover in the foreground of the picture, I stopped to avoid contact just before where my bike is parked in the photo'.
It was the slow speed of the car and the deliberate initiation of the turn when the driver had seen me is what's perplexing to me, they might have only been doing 20mph max.
The irony of the sign's wording on the post did not escape me when I took the picture yesterday.
Maybe the drive thought it read 'Kill Your Speed, and a Cyclist'.
Take care out there !
Here's a picture (click) of the second junction where I stopped to avoid collision, the car was level with me approximately by the drain cover in the foreground of the picture, I stopped to avoid contact just before where my bike is parked in the photo'.
It was the slow speed of the car and the deliberate initiation of the turn when the driver had seen me is what's perplexing to me, they might have only been doing 20mph max.
The irony of the sign's wording on the post did not escape me when I took the picture yesterday.
Maybe the drive thought it read 'Kill Your Speed, and a Cyclist'.
Nu-Fogey
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
At least the grass verges are clean.
I am here. Where are you?
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
Given the bend / limited forward vision, I'm surprised that the driver thought is was safe to overtake there! (But maybe I shouldn't be, given the subsequent left hook...)
"42"
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
I am here. Where are you?
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
I very rarely get left hooked (road positioning possibly).
The last time I recall being left hooked they started their turn quite wide, so there was plenty of space for me to follow the drivers trajectory on their inside, thumping the near side windows as we went. They never stopped, but just carried on.
I turned round to resume my straight on path, with a voice (cyclist catching me up) saying someting about "intersting driving"(!)
The last time I recall being left hooked they started their turn quite wide, so there was plenty of space for me to follow the drivers trajectory on their inside, thumping the near side windows as we went. They never stopped, but just carried on.
I turned round to resume my straight on path, with a voice (cyclist catching me up) saying someting about "intersting driving"(!)
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
Is it possible that the driver was uncertain which junction to take, and then got overloaded?
Jonathan
Re: 'The Slow Left-Hook' - A Telegraphed Punch?
Cowsham wrote: ↑28 Aug 2021, 5:11pm Lucky it wasn't a "Right Turn Clyde"
https://images.app.goo.gl/jdx1cK3F77dXG2Se9
I'd almost forgotten those pair of films, good-hearted light comedy, a bit out of character for Clint Eastwood at the time.
I saw the first one at the flicks in Gt Yarmouth, 1979 !
Anythings possible, the situation didn't have a dithering / uncertain driver vibe though.
Thanks again for all the replies, I've got it of my chest sufficiently I think.
Stay safe & enjoy the ride !
Nu-Fogey