Well, it looks like someone popped my Prelude’s cherry this morning at approximately 0912 PST on Van Buren Blvd (North bound) about 300 yards before the 91W on-ramp (Google Map link of collision location). I was heading out to Lake Forest to drop of a Remington 700 action to have rebarrelled, so I took Van Buren to get to the 91W.
Anyone from the Riverside area knows how bad the traffic slows in the #1 (left lane) on the North bound side of Van Buren near the on-ramps, because everyone is trying to make that left turn. Well, obviously, this morning was no different and I was coming up to the end of the line of traffic stopped at that light. I slowed down to about 2-3 mphs near the dead stop and coming out of gear to neutral when I hear tires screeching. I look in my rear view mirror and see a bunch smoke and some guy coming in pretty hot, then *pop*, I feel the impact.
I pull over and the guy pulls over about 75 yards ahead of me and he pretty much hangs back when he sees me letting out my frustration through loud F-bombs. After about 5 minutes of me cooling off then on the phone trying to contact Riverside PD, we finally exchange information. His reason for running into me? He didn’t know which lane he needed to be in for the 91W off-ramp and tried to merge into my lane.
Why are people so against missing a turn? Is it that hard to just turn around at the next safe intersection? Why do you have to try and make the turn when you know you’re risking cutting people off and/or running into someone? Sudden lane changes are not safe. If you are coming up to your next turn and are in the wrong lane/position to safely make the merge to get to it, just pass it. Then just make a turn-around at the next safe intersection or parking lot.
I really should have just taken Alessandro to Central to the 91W this morning. Or Van Buren to Washington to Indiana to the 91W.
My car still has less than 26,000 miles on it. I’ve kept this car as cherry as possible since 2001 and now it’s been sullied by a careless driver.
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