Taxi driver reversed into my car (How could I have avoided?)
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2016 1:11 pm
Hello
I am enthusiastically learning commentary driving (I have Chris Gilbert's Roadcraft DVDs) and wonder how I could have prevented this accident (in Australia):
I was turning right on a two-way carriageway (2 lanes each way) into a public car park. While half-way across the road and at a slow speed before traversing the gutter, a taxi that had stopped about ten metres to the right (in the bus lane) started reversing unexpectedly. I immediately depressed the horn for a continuous five seconds or so (a long time!), but he nevertheless continued reversing right into the front right side of my car. I remained stationary.
I've thought of two things:
1) I could have made special note of the taxi's presence prior to making the turn (as its presence in the bus zone probably means he's in transition for a pick up/drop off?) and asked myself, "What's he doing?" [but I didn't really take note of the taxi's presence as it didn't seem relevant to my turning into the car park],
2) I (maybe) could have reversed somewhat when I realised he was reversing towards me (if I'd had better situational awareness), but was fixated on simply watching the taxi vehicle reverse while sounding my horn. But the danger would have been reversing into traffic unless my situational awareness was out of this world o_0
It happened at a very slow speed while I was still in the road (awkward!), and it seemed almost impossible to prevent. I was doing my commentary driving, but I can't help but think it wouldn't have happened to Chris Gilbert. I wonder how he would have dealt with this situation. Possibly number 1) above?
Thank you for any feedback/comments.
I am enthusiastically learning commentary driving (I have Chris Gilbert's Roadcraft DVDs) and wonder how I could have prevented this accident (in Australia):
I was turning right on a two-way carriageway (2 lanes each way) into a public car park. While half-way across the road and at a slow speed before traversing the gutter, a taxi that had stopped about ten metres to the right (in the bus lane) started reversing unexpectedly. I immediately depressed the horn for a continuous five seconds or so (a long time!), but he nevertheless continued reversing right into the front right side of my car. I remained stationary.
I've thought of two things:
1) I could have made special note of the taxi's presence prior to making the turn (as its presence in the bus zone probably means he's in transition for a pick up/drop off?) and asked myself, "What's he doing?" [but I didn't really take note of the taxi's presence as it didn't seem relevant to my turning into the car park],
2) I (maybe) could have reversed somewhat when I realised he was reversing towards me (if I'd had better situational awareness), but was fixated on simply watching the taxi vehicle reverse while sounding my horn. But the danger would have been reversing into traffic unless my situational awareness was out of this world o_0
It happened at a very slow speed while I was still in the road (awkward!), and it seemed almost impossible to prevent. I was doing my commentary driving, but I can't help but think it wouldn't have happened to Chris Gilbert. I wonder how he would have dealt with this situation. Possibly number 1) above?
Thank you for any feedback/comments.