Nearly caused a car accident

[Grayjj]

Yesterday I was driving on a fast country road. There was one car behind me and one in front. Ahead of us was a group of 3 cyclists. The car in front of me indicated and moved out to overtake. I could see a car in the distance coming towards us but believed there was time for us both to pass the cyclists. But I had misjudged. For a couple of horrible seconds I was on the same side as the approaching car, which was blaring it's horn at me throughout (understandably). I managed to move over in time but closer to the cyclists than I would have liked. Thank God no one was hurt. It was just awful.

I've since replayed the moment over and over in my head a thousand times. I have been driving for 30 years and never done anything like this. I feel guilty and ashamed that I put others at risk. I am also terrified I will be reported and prosecuted for dangerous driving. I can't sleep or eat and feel constantly sick. I don't know what I hope to achieve by posting here but I'm too ashamed to tell anyone I know, yet I need to tell someone.

A family member of mine has just, last month, been killed when out cycling because of a dangerous driver. Nowhere you were in a hurry to get to or thought overtaking would get you moving along more quickly on your journey is worth someone else’s life.
We are all absolutely devastated at our loss. Hopefully this will make you think twice the next time. Sorry you got such a fright, it’s a horrible thing to happen x

I think this too. Clearly the OP is at fault as she didn’t have right of way but I have definitely slowed down if I’ve noticed an on coming over taking car is chancing it a bit. Yes, the car doing the overtaking is being dangerous but you also have a responsibility to take safe action if you can. If you’ve time to blare a horn you’ve time to slow down. Don’t beat yourself up OP, you miscalculated and were not trying to be deliberately dangerous. The main thing is no one was hurt.

Sorry, but f* you! There's a safe way to pass cyclists that requires patience. Yes, it might take miles. That's the reality of living in proximity with other humans. They have the same right to use the public thoroughfare as you do. Or how could cyclists get anywhere? Imagine they are friends!! Chill out and leave time to get somewhere.

*Edit - that was in response to someone saying cyclists were annoying

Lots of folk aren’t used to passing cyclists on roads. It would be good to practise overtaking.

The car coming towards you could have slowed and taken avoiding action. More helpful than beeping.

Whatever.

Agreed. I had a colleague who’s brother in law died (cyclist) in exactly this situation.

Speaking as someone hit head on by a lorry on the wrong side (my side!) of a country road, don’t be a d*ck, you should have pressed your brakes and pulled back in until was SAFE to pass. No one should be in so much of a hurry to get anywhere that they endanger lives. I can only imagine what went through the head of the driver you were fast approaching for a head on collision, because I’ve lived it. I have life changing injuries. Everyone seems to be condoning you because they also find cyclists annoying. You need to hear the reality of what you could have caused. Take more care in future.

Sheesh the perfect drivers are out in force tonight! Show me a driver who hasn't ever made an error of judgement (be that pulling out on someone at a junction/roundabout, cutting someone up changing lanes, or whatever it may be!) while on the road and I'll show you a liar.

It is clear from your post this was an error of judgement and you're not routinely dangerously overtaking cyclists so I'm not sure why we need all the lecturing. You are obviously shaken up, and I've no doubt the others involved were too, but chalk it up to experience and be thankful you can learn from your near-miss. Cut yourself some slack from all the self-flagelation and shame 😘

It’s really hard to judge a group of cyclists that are together but not necessarily going the same speed. Don’t beat yourself up, nobody was hurt, and this will factor into your judgement next time.

It's the truth. Groups of cyclists on the road are tricky to deal with and can create dangerous situations.

Lots of things about driving are 'tricky'. In this situation the OP says she overtook without checking the road ahead was clear.
Blaming the cyclists is crazy. Even the OP doesn't do it!

a few years ago I decided to overtake someone when driving in Glencoe. I thought I had enough time before meeting an oncoming car in the distance. I only just made it. I still have visions of me being on the wrong side of the road head on with that car and it was totally my fault. I have never overtaken on a single lane road since. Not worth it.

I’m, truly, shocked by a lot of the replies to this post; I am both a motorist and a cyclist and the ‘cyclists are annoying’ is boiling my blood. I spent 5 months off work because someone didn’t think about their behaviour on the road. I will live with the consequences of their poor behaviour for the rest of my life.
‘If’ one of the cyclists was using a camera, you ‘might’ get reported for a close pass - which is an offence and can lead to a prosecution. It is unlikely it would be classed as dangerous driving though.

Honestly, lots of things piss me off - but that doesn’t give me the right to excuse my behaviour.

I am sorry you feel crap - but I guarantee the cyclists feel much worse having had a close pass,

I agree.

Thank you to everyone who replied to me. It will be a very long time until I can get this out of my head and it is absolutely a lesson learned. I'm so very sorry for those of you who have been personally affected by an incident like this. I appreciate and understand your comments and thank you for still replying to me with kindness.

Groups of cyclists are not inherently dangerous.

However some drivers reaction to them are dangerous. Both for the cyclists and oncoming vehicles.

If you are not able to control your emotions or actions when faced with a potential delay to your journey then YOU are the problem.

Indeed. Cyclists are an utter fucking nuisance and they shouldn't be on the road.

It happens OP everyone makes mistakes, I was almost in a car crash a couple of weeks ago that was 50% my fault and I'm a very cautious and considerate driver. Nothing happened thankfully but I still felt like shit all day. It's fresh in your head. It'll pass x

Hi, I just wanted to say please don’t beat yourself up over it. We have all made incorrect split second decisions. If you feel able to, get back to driving (even if it’s just short journey to start with) as avoidance won’t help with your anxiety x

Every driver has made a bad judgement or a mistake and if they tell you otherwise then they're lying. Once you get a fright like this, it can make you a better driver.

They have 14 days to issue you with a notice of prosecution if you're the registered driver of the car. But you'd need to have been really unlucky and had one of THOSE dashcam people behind or in front of you.

Don't let it make you ill. Nobody got hurt and you are remorseful and want to learn from it.

I've seen a few near misses around cyclists riding this way! Honestly not sure why they risk it.

Very well put. We make judgement calls and the trouble with driving is that the stakes are high. But we learn from mistakes and I expect you will be very cautious now. Kudos to you for reflecting on it.