billyymc

Nah, this is as off base as some of the other comments are getting. Up until that one moment the ride was very safe and pleasant. That particular road is very rideable any time of day, with a nice wide clean shoulder. It's a very popular route with cyclists as mr. bill can attest.

What I've mostly gleaned from this is that our group had a lapse in situational awareness. There have been some helpful insights and comments here, but it's devolving into a crapfest.

FBinNY 

This is probably the extent of your fault (for lack of a better word). As you described the details earlier, it seems that the driver opted to pass in anticipation of making her turn and underestimated your speed, or the distance needed to clear you and turn safely.

This is a very common highway accident, where people don't want to move into the slower right lane before exiting, then get caught out and force the turn at the last second before passing the exit entirely. Since it's so common as a car on car accident, there's no reason to feel that you're being on a bike was a factor, except for the fact that drivers commonly underestimate bicycle speeds with similar results.

So, yes, some added situational awareness of what a driver MIGHT do there, could maybe have helped, especially if you were psychic.

When you see a car passing over your left shoulder as you approach an intersection or exit ramp, you can't know what's in the driver's head, so all you can do is be ready for whatever they might do. In any case, your friend managed it well, scrubbing off enough speed to avoid a collision, and in the end, that's what matters.

StanSeven

Agree. Since you received helpful insights and comments you looked for, and you are the thread starter, the thread is closed.