Almost trashed my Corolla this evening..

[AndrueC]

I was travelling to my model railway club along the B451 toward Bishop's Itchington. A tractor was approaching from the opposite direction and because it was a large tractor I moved over into the gutter. As I moved over I could see a car following the tractor. Then the car turned right (my left) straight into my path. I avoided a collision and would award myself 9 out of 10:

Things I did well:

• Very fast on the brakes and I smashed that pedal into the carpet. Great reaction time. No half-baked breaking.
• While still breaking I steered around the vehicle. No fishtailing, just a clean swerve around it.

Things I'm not so sure about:

• I sounded my horn angrily. To be fair I didn't start using the horn until the initial swerve was complete so at least I waited until I felt in control before relaxing my grip on the steering wheel.
• I'm pretty sure that I assessed that there was no on coming traffic and that it was therefore safe to go on to the opposite side of the carriageway. Unfortunately it happened so fast that my memory is hazy. I really hope that if there had been more oncoming traffic I'd have held my line and just accepted a tee-bone as better than a head-on but I just don't know (I hope I never have another opportunity to find out).

I'd also give a 'well done' to the Tesla following me they were already a safe distance but they must have reacted quickly because when I had a chance to look in the rear view mirror they'd dropped well behind.

I was enjoying that short stretch of road up 'till then. I can drive all the way from the start of the 50mph near the M40 through half the village and out to the NSL on Battery power so with a Tesla behind me I was thinking 'You're not the only one who can drive on electric power' 🙂

Anyway I felt I had to post this as a warning to others and a reminder to always be on your guard. Drive safe, folks.

[Dylanfan]

Well done, as the old song goes “all shuck up”.

[Tee_J]

Wow! I'm sure you breathed a HUMONGOUS sigh of relief once the adrenalin rush had subsided...!! Good on you for great reaction and response...and good on Toyota for a well-sorted chassis to complement the anti-lock braking!   

[Cyker]

Glad you're okay!

I have also had reason to be thankful for the improved driving dynamics and vastly improved ABS, traction and stability control in the newer models!!!  

It is reassuring to know the car remains so controllable even in emergency situations! (Unlike my Mk1 and my Fiesta   )

I do sometimes wish the horn was tied to the auto-hazard flashers that trigger when you emergency brake!

 

[yossarian247]

Glad you're alright. 

I was once in a similar situation and was forced to swerve completely onto the grass verge to avoid a head-on collision with someone who was overtaking a line of vehicles on a long sweeping bend. I was very lucky that I saw him early on and had time to react, plus that there was a verge at that point wide enough for me to drive onto and get out the way. The strange thing was that for about three days afterwards I kept seeing the same car and driver around the local area, and each time he saw me he looked very sheepish! 

[AndrueC]

9 hours ago, Tee_J said:

Wow! I'm sure you breathed a HUMONGOUS sigh of relief once the adrenalin rush had subsided...!! Good on you for great reaction and response...and good on Toyota for a well-sorted chassis to complement the anti-lock braking!   

Yup. It's possible the traction control helped out as well but I don't know. I only noticed the ABS doing it's thing.

It's possible the errant driver couldn't see me for the sun but I'm not sure. But there was no hesitation in their move. They'd reached the junction (some kind of farm track) and just turned.