Almost Hit a Cyclist Today

[SunFlower]

I was driving today on a road that is VERY popular with cyclists. I ride it all the time. It has two lanes in each direction. I was in the right hand lane and a truck is right next to me on my left. Suddenly the truck starts coming into my lane. I veered to the right quickly and slammed on my brakes because right in front of me is a cyclist. I just missed him by maybe a foot. I was so pissed and about to speed up to say something to the truck when I see a police car in my rear view mirror speeding up to him with his lights on. I was so stoked the cop was behind me and saw the whole thing.
I wanted to stop and see what he would be ticked for but I didnt. I hope at the very least he got a lane violation ticket but for some reason I think he didnt get anything.

[StrangeWill]

A truck is drifting into your lane, and you swerved....

[Carusoswi]

It's good that your combination of avoidance maneuvers averted an accident. Did you have time to honk at the truck? Did he signal his intent to change lanes, or was his encroachment more of a drift as if he was not aware or not paying attention to holding his lane?

The former might be construed as an honest failure to see you, the latter more likely negligence or, God forbid, impairment on his part.

You don't state what the truck driver did following his encroachment into your lane. Did he proceed to complete the lane change or did he make a correction and return to his original lane position?

The feeling of anger on your part is normal, but, before I could concur with your desire to see the truck driver ticketed, I'd want more information concerning the questions above.

We all make (or almost make) driving mistakes. If his was honest (and especially if there was time and honking was part of your avoidance reflex), then, I would have expected him to self correct, perhaps offer a gesture of apology of some, that sort of thing.

If he just moved into your lane without checking, then, IMO, he deserves a ticket.

If he unknowingly started drifting into you, then I hope he was arrested for driving under the influence of whatever he was on at the time.

Glad you were able to avoid an accident and spare death or injury to the cyclist.

Caruso