Sheriff almost took me out today!!
#1
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Sheriff almost took me out today!!
I was riding along on my road bike doing like 17mph - single lane road. Two cars pass me, the second being a sheriff. I could tell he was on his radio, and talking to his partner/passenger. The sheriff turns right just after he passes me!! If I hadn't noticed his right-hand turn signal, I would have been over his car. I had to SLAM on my brakes. I've had cars do this to me before (in fact twice just in the last two weeks), but a police officer??
Last edited by lineinthewater; 09-29-09 at 03:58 PM.
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I didn't know if anyone would catch the reference.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Deputy+council
more than a years' paid holiday and rehired after vehicular manslaughter
yep, watch out for those sheriff deps.....they is above the law
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Deputy+council
more than a years' paid holiday and rehired after vehicular manslaughter
yep, watch out for those sheriff deps.....they is above the law
#9
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Yeah, well today I *yielded* to a fire chief, who was making a left turn, coming the other way.
I think it is best to yield to any vehicle that has flashing lights on the roof, even if they aren't illuminated.
Also, the United States Post Office has right of way in all circumstances.
Note: I have been watching Youtube a lot lately, so I haven't visited bikeforums everyday. Besides being a cyclist/custom bike builder, I am also a railfan. I have a special fondness for shortline railroads, and have been viewing them a lot on Youtube lately. My theory is that if more people rode trains and bikes, there would be a lot less cars on the roads.
I think it is best to yield to any vehicle that has flashing lights on the roof, even if they aren't illuminated.
Also, the United States Post Office has right of way in all circumstances.
Note: I have been watching Youtube a lot lately, so I haven't visited bikeforums everyday. Besides being a cyclist/custom bike builder, I am also a railfan. I have a special fondness for shortline railroads, and have been viewing them a lot on Youtube lately. My theory is that if more people rode trains and bikes, there would be a lot less cars on the roads.
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The driving of police officers does tend to demonstrate the dangers of attention to other things than one's driving. Some just can't stay off the radio even in a two person unit.
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In all honesty, it was probably a case of being careless rather than malice. It's not at all uncommon for non-cyclists to not realize how fast a cyclist can go. Part of riding defensively is anticipating certain mistakes by others and being able to react to them to avoid a crash.
Now, if it would make you feel better, you might want to send a FRIENDLY note to the sheriff's office informing them that even after passing a cyclist, one should be especially careful if turning right b/c of the potential for a right hook.
Now, if it would make you feel better, you might want to send a FRIENDLY note to the sheriff's office informing them that even after passing a cyclist, one should be especially careful if turning right b/c of the potential for a right hook.
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I thought about that. I think it will fall on deaf ears.
Last edited by lineinthewater; 09-30-09 at 07:44 AM.
#16
aka Phil Jungels
You really should call the Sheriff, not just another deputy, and register a formal complaint. He would like to know who those guys are, too....
#17
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I was going to say hotbike must be some kind of brainiack... but i think you summed it up nicely.
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Did the sheriff ever realize what he did?
I would have yelled as soon as I seen it coming, and I'm pretty sure he would have heard me.
I would have yelled as soon as I seen it coming, and I'm pretty sure he would have heard me.
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Answer:
No.
I was too busy slamming my brakes. Self-preservation comes first. Pretty hard to hear through shut windows at 20mph. And, even if he heard something, it certainly wouldn't have been fast enough to allow him to react. Happened too quick.
No.
I was too busy slamming my brakes. Self-preservation comes first. Pretty hard to hear through shut windows at 20mph. And, even if he heard something, it certainly wouldn't have been fast enough to allow him to react. Happened too quick.
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Police officers and sheriff deps are first of all professional drivers trained at great expense (our expense, mind you) and equipped with well maintained vehicles. They are trained far beyond the level of the bozos driving hazardous materials trucks or taxis. I do not care what the appologists say, they have absolutely no excuse, that works for me, when they kill a pedestrian (fremont, ca. child in crosswalk) or a cyclist (see above reference). Having two cousins and a next door neighbor on the force, I can also say they generally don't care about cyclists and their chiefs' and unions are very good about protecting them. Watch out for them, don't let them kill you, forget about it and move on. We truly are not in the loop in any way shape or form. Our lives do not matter and certainly not our opinions. We have a great one going on in the bay area where a ex cop working as a investigator for the prosecuting attorneys office parked her escalade on top of some people stupid enough to stop for a light. She was falling down drunk. The SJ Police officers threatened the paramedic that wanted her brought in and refused to execute field sobriety tests (her dad was a leutenant on the force...sorta like Dep. Council).....the union is weighing in on thier behalf now. do not write a letter, you will have death threats......they protect their own. I won't make that mistake again....move on. I was brought up with respect for the law, I lost it quite honestly, through long experience.
#23
meandering nomad
Something similar happened in my city. A pig(I won't insult good cops by calling him one) left a local bar ****-faced drunk, drove off and hit a bus and a navy police car then fled the scene. It took his dept. over 12 hours sitting on their hands so he could sober up before they questioned him and then he pushed his 12 yr. old son to say he was driving the SUV. Needless to say he is still on the force and in the bar every day.
#24
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