Me

[Cret]

This morning on my bike.

I failed to pay full attention to something and even though I was going fast, or on the face of it doing something bad, a simple failure to spot something obvious could have potentially been pretty bad.

Very embarrassed indeed.

[Taggart]

I think you should report yourself to the police.

[Cret]

No chance. I can't be bothered making a statement, plus it would be my word against mine.

Seriously though it was an unpleasant reminder that you always need your wits about you on the road. I try to ride/drive sensibly, and don't like to consider how bad I was say 15 years ago, but you still make mistakes, and sometimes it's only circumstances/coincidence that is the difference between a harmless mistake and something catastrophic.

[man83g]

Good on you for admiting your mistake. Bet there aint many about that would hold there hands up to a goof on the road..

[Cret]

Cheers - I'd way rather not have done it in the first place though. I criticise other people in this part of the forum when I see them do stupid things (although generally when it's more than one thing, so it's apparent they're reckless or just don't care), so it's only fair that I can criticise myself.

It's embarrassing, but if it helps to make me pay extra attention in future to avoid this then it's useful.

[ah kid]

so can you tell us what you did or is it too painful or embarrassing

[Cret]

Well let's say that I assumed something was going to turn right (as it was in a lane to turn right) when it actually was going to swing across and turn left across both lanes. A totally unexpected maneuver by the other vehicle in question (that was a lot bigger than me!), but if I'd been fully paying attention I would have noticed what it was about to do.

Like I say I wasn't going fast or anything but clearly I wasn't paying as much attention as I 'thought' I was.

I'll not make that mistake again.

[emesde]

I admire your self deprecation . Although I think it is probably misplaced in your case.
Making a mistake does not make you a bad driver.
It's the person who goes out not caring if they make a mistake who is usually the bad driver,and those people who learn nothing from their mistakes.
Sometimes we make mistakes and pay the full price for doing so ----although in reality we usually get off lightly and learn from the incident and dont make the same mistake again.
That makes you an improving and more aware driver, rather than a bad driver.

[Cret]

Makes sense ta, and it's kind of a reflection on my earlier comment about the kind of people I criticise myself ie, not the ones who appear to have simply made a mistake, but the ones who are blatantly reckless and show it at nearly every opportunity.

The bit that probably bugs me most now is that the few people who saw it are likely to think I'm an idiot and/or dangerous. Doesn't change whether or not I actually am, but I don't like the fact that as a rdirect esult of my mistake other people will have that perception. I could have done with a huge magic neon sign over my head that said "I can't believe I actually just did that. Sorry".

[emesde]

Know what you mean , but the people who saw you will probably have much bigger issues to worry about ----and mistakes that dont end in injury / loss /damage are soon forgotten ,by others.
Its your own ego that is dented --Get over it , and dont be a naughty boy again .