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Original poster

Nearly in a serious car accident - hand hold please

719 replies

Usedandhurt · 24/10/2023 16:09

Im literally shaking. Just had a driver nearly kill me and my dc on the motorway. He/she must have not checked before they pulled onto the motorway from a slip road, I literally had to slam on the breaks to avoid crashing into them and thankfully the driver behind me and the one behind them etc etc were able to stop also. My dc would have been very badly hurt - it was a huge bus and I can only imagine the driver got distracted.

Im a nervous driver at the best of times and Im literally sick with nerves.

OP posts:
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TallulahBetty · 24/10/2023 16:11

Depends. How come you didn't move over for them to join?

HakunaMatiłda · 24/10/2023 16:14

Whilst you did have priority over joining traffic, surely you could have spotted a gert bus in the slip lane ahead of you and reacted in advance?

littlebirdieblu · 24/10/2023 16:19

Totally agree with PP's why didn't you notice the bus and move over?

Scampuss · 24/10/2023 16:19

As above. Whilst you had clear priority, it is really important to be aware of others drivers, including those joining from a slip road, and thinking about and reacting to what they might do.

Catza · 24/10/2023 16:21

Same questions as above, how come you didn't see him before and slowed down to let him join (providing you didn't have opportunity to move across to the right)? When I was learning to drive my instructor told me to always anticipate danger after passing a junction because drivers will shortly be joining my lane.
Near misses are always very stressful and being an anxious driver really doesn't help. When you are anxious, you can't think ahead to the next step.

coxesorangepippin · 24/10/2023 16:22

Hope you're okay op

Have a sweet tea and a sit down

Not fun for anyone to go through

BettyBunMaker · 24/10/2023 16:22

We're you in his blind spot maybe? Glad you're all ok anyway.

heldinadream · 24/10/2023 16:22

Crikey people give OP a bit of recovery time!
Op where are you now, are you home safe? Can you have a cup of strong sweet tea? You'll feel better soon, the adrenaline and shit needs to process itself through your body. Big hugs. Flowers

bullseyeboat · 24/10/2023 16:23

I can only imagine the driver got distracted.

Like yourself?

How did you come to be level with a huge bus on the ship road and not anticipate them joining the motorway?

AuntyMabelandPippin · 24/10/2023 16:23

Perhaps the PP was already in the middle lane?

That's what happened to me on the M8 once, she just pulled straight into the outside lane from the slip road. Luckily for me I had a sixth sense and managed to brake and I didn't go into her.

OP, I hope you're ok.

crackfoxy · 24/10/2023 16:23

Sorry OP same question here too. I drive the M25 on a regular basis, joining from an A road and there are so many that don't move over to allow new joiners it is dangerous. Yes you have priority but what did you think the bus was going to do? Pull on the hard shoulder (if there was one).

ApolloandDaphne · 24/10/2023 16:23

Don't all be dicks to the OP when she has had a terrible shock. There are lots of times that it is just not possible to move over on a busy motorway. The bus needed to ensure there was a gap. The onus was not on OP to provide this if she couldn't.

Hey OP. It is horrible when thing like that happen. Try not to dwell on it or relive it. Accept no accident happened and try to move forward.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 24/10/2023 16:24

Maybe the OP didn't move over because there was something in the middle lane!

My goodness the lack of empathy in these responses.

OP I'd get this post moved out of AIBU because it attracts all the nasty people. In fact I have reported it and asked MNHQ to move it for you.

LIZS · 24/10/2023 16:24

Was it a European coach? Dm once got hit by a European truck which wandered into her lane and she was apparently in a blindspot.

Conkersinautumn · 24/10/2023 16:25

Having to do a full emergency stop on a motorway is terrifying, I remember very clearly a situation where I had to, my advice is to keep driving as normal, deliberately go through that section again asap to get the nerves reigned in.

ApolloandDaphne · 24/10/2023 16:26

crackfoxy · 24/10/2023 16:23

Sorry OP same question here too. I drive the M25 on a regular basis, joining from an A road and there are so many that don't move over to allow new joiners it is dangerous. Yes you have priority but what did you think the bus was going to do? Pull on the hard shoulder (if there was one).

It isn't that unusual to have to slow down or stop coming down a slip road if the motorway is busy and there is no space.

AmericasfavoritefightingFrenchman · 24/10/2023 16:28

People give OP a break. She had priority, the onus is on the joining traffic to stop if necessary, not the OP to allow them to merge at any cost.

It sounds really scary OP no wonder you’re shaken. I hope you can get home or stop safely for a while and have a hot drink and something sugary to help you calm down. If you’d like to take your kind off it I heard that visual puzzles like Tetris are good for that.

fedupandstuck · 24/10/2023 16:30

I hope you're somewhere safe now and don't have to do any more driving today. I agree with a cup of tea and a biscuit or similar. It will take a bit of time for the images of the incident to fade and it may well replay in your mind many times before that happens. All totally normal. Try not to let it put you off driving, and don't avoid driving - it's better to get back out there sooner rather than later.

Ostryga · 24/10/2023 16:30

Christ MN at its peak shittiness as usual. Op is in shock and feeling crap enough as it is, would it kill anyone to keep their holier than thou judgy comments to themselves for 5 fucking seconds?!

Op hope you’re ok, and your children are. It is terrifying when you have a near miss like that, especially when you have your kids. Take it easy today and try not to think of the worst. It didn’t happen and you’re all fine.

Original poster
Usedandhurt · 24/10/2023 16:40

I did see him but as he was joining at speed I didnt have time to move over to let him out plus there was no possible way to move over anyway as there was no gaps in the middle lane of traffic. For all you PP willing to assign blame to me, when I say Im a nervous driver it takes the form of careful driving, feeding steering wheel though my hands rather than crossing them over etc. I worked for a time in an area where I saw the result of many car accidents. I treat traffic with the respect it deserves.

I have reported to the bus company and the police. It was so so dangerous. I was quite close to home so thankfully I didnt have too far to drive after the incident but I have been violently ill when I got home.

Im sipping water as we speak and trying not to cry.

OP posts:
AsWrittenBy · 24/10/2023 16:42

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Usedandhurt · 24/10/2023 16:42

enchantedsquirrelwood · 24/10/2023 16:24

Maybe the OP didn't move over because there was something in the middle lane!

My goodness the lack of empathy in these responses.

OP I'd get this post moved out of AIBU because it attracts all the nasty people. In fact I have reported it and asked MNHQ to move it for you.

Edited

Thanks enchanted.

OP posts:
ConfessionsOfAMumDramaQueen · 24/10/2023 16:43

I'm afraid people are right. Its customary to let people merge onto the motorway unless its gridlocked. If free traffic and you see a slip road with vehicles, you check your mirrors and move out to let them on if there is room. If not both should adjust speed to allow safe merging.

It was a large vehicle. They can't stop or speed up as quickly as cars. By not letting them on you put them in a bad spot. Had they stopped they wouldn't have been able to merge and get up to a safe speed again. Always always drive with extra care around larger and heavier vehicles. Their stopping distances are much greater and acceleration much slower.

LakeTiticaca · 24/10/2023 16:43

TallulahBetty · 24/10/2023 16:11

Depends. How come you didn't move over for them to join?

You can only move over if safe to do so with a clear gap to move into.
If you can't then the driver entering the carriageway must slow and join the traffic when there is a gap.

Original poster
Usedandhurt · 24/10/2023 16:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

A bus, driving at speed, nearly hit my car with my DC in it. What should my reaction be? its a motorway not stock car racing.

OP posts: