GMC Bus - 1 Ford Escape - 0

[buddydawg]

I was involved in a collision yesterday on my way to Stone Mountain. 

I was headed up Hwy 124 about 5 miles north of I-20.  It is a 4 lane divided hwy and I was in the inside lane.  A woman driving a Ford Escape was attempting to turn across the opposing lanes of traffic and turn in my direction.  I saw her pull across and she never looked at me, actually she was looking down possibly at her phone.  The only defensive move I could make was to move to the right as far as I could which put my wheels on the dividing line to the right lane.  If I had not done this I would have hit her with the front of the bus.  She hit me about halfway down the driver side of the bus.  It really didn't do any damage to the bus.  Most of the damage is scratched paint and some gouged trim, plus it scraped up my 4 day old tire.

I was traveling with my wife, stepdaughter and 3 month old son.  No one was injured including the driver of the car.

[fe2_o3]

Good job of defensive driving..If you had let her hit head on it would have been ugly..Good news that no one was hurt...You may have saved a life..Again good job...Cable

[Bus Busted]

Sorry to hear about that, but glad it turned out well. It seems I am always getting out of the way of someone that "Driving is the second most important thing they are doing at the time" 

[seaton@mta]

I am very happy that no one was injured.  Did you blow horn?  I'm sure you did and then the idiot froze rather than taking it as a warning.  Some of our most common accidents here in NYC with our buses all have the same excuse.  "I didn't see the bus."  Too many people doing too many things other than driving and being aware of their surroundings.  I'm curious, what kind kind of attitude did she give you?

-- Seaton

[trucktramp]

Another fine example of The Law of the Biggest Bumper.

[seaton@mta]

That reminds me.  I have the Help S rubber bumpers on my fishbowl.  I have the original chrome bumbers at home and was considering re-installing.  But i decided to keep the rubber bumpers.

Seaton

[Boomer]

Bimbo on a cell phone?  Biggest hazard out there.  Congrats, you got lucky.

[buddydawg]

I never used the horn.  I guess I was concentrating on the action ahead.  The driver said she never saw me,  I don't know how though I was the only tracffic on the highway at the time...

I've got the big rubber bumber on my bus.  I thought about changing it once but decided this one is more functional, it makes a nice step as well.

[Gary '79 5C]

Nice job to avoid as best you could !

Where is the Escape? Pictured vehicle is a Ford Edge.

[buddydawg]

Nice job to avoid as best you could !

Where is the Escape? Pictured vehicle is a Ford Edge.

Edge... Escape...  It's all the same, right?   

[Runcutter]

"She never saw me."   Reminds me of many years ago, I was breaking in a driver on our Boston line -- with a 4905.  Coming out on a one-way, 3-4 lane street, a teenager pulled out in front of the bus -- bang.  She said the same thing, I didn't see the bus.  I couldn't help it, I told her it was 40 feet long, 10 feet high, 8 feet wide, yellow and silver -- "Are you sure you didn't see it?"  Of course, to see, you have to look first.

Congratulations on avoiding what could have been a bad one.


Arthur

[buddydawg]

I know what you mean about how someone could not see it. How is that possible. My bus is 40ft and brigtht red. It had to look like a bal of fire coming down the hill.

We are leaving for Helen Ga about 5 today. I hope for no more troubles.

[Gary '79 5C]

Edge... Escape...  It's all the same, right?   
[/quote]

Tomato, Tomato,,,, You are right !! It's all the same.    I own two Escapes & my SIL has an Edge, so I questioned.

Have a great day, and New Year, coming up !!

Gary