I Almost Crashed! Queens Rd Melbourne on Tuesday Morning 17th of Jan

Cheap Bastard on 18/01/2023 - 18:26
Last edited 19/01/2023 - 00:35

Pretty simple. I was driving listening to the greatest hit in the world. Life was great! The next moment, almost had a crash with a semi and oncoming vehicles.

Scenario:
Driving down Queens Rd in the morning around 9:20am (dashcam footage shows 10:20am because I'm too lazy to adjust DST time), there's a period between 5am-11am, where inbound turns into 3 lanes. There is a sign. However, there is a short stretch of road that has no line markings and is a bit tight. I'm driving alongside a big semi towards the unmarked road ahead on the RHS. He indicates right for roughly 5 seconds, then proceeds to push me out onto the oncoming lane. Luckily there were no cars headed my way and the crisis was averted. Phew!

From my perspective after reviewing the footage:

  • His move to the right was completely unnecessary as it seemed like an intentional, possibly malicious(?) move to nudge me out of the lane. This is reinforced by the fact that the footage shows his sudden change in direction, taking up more space on the RHS of the unmarked lane(s), and moved back to the middle lane after making his point clear.
  • If he had maintained course and not veered right, I simply would have slowed down more to go behind him. There was nowhere for me to go at the time as another semi was right behind him.
  • How good was Jennifer Paige back in the day!?

Added a fun poll. Change your mind. Doesn't bother me.
Put yourself in both perspectives of the truck driver and mine. What are your thoughts?
I'll comment and reply if I feeeels like it. Deep down, I hope he's on OzB and reading this.

Dashcam footage: https://vimeo.com/790319356 (Skip to 2min mark)
Co-ordinates: -37.84865339835693, 144.97764102939985

EDIT: Some of you have asked for aerial sketch of this. I have delivered.
This represents the facts of the truck's movements which I have compared with the video. I have an adjudicator with me who can corroborate my story, however, if you wish to talk to him, he's sleeping after having some milk before bed. So he cannot reply =)
Anyways, this may give a better indication of what happened rather than the coming to the swift conclusion of, "3 lanes merged to 2, truck was in front, he has right of way, blah blah blah". In most cases, yes, I would agree with this. In this case, and in my eyes, it's not so black and white.

Sketch: https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/139298/101169/car_inci…

FINAL CONCLUSION
After reviewing the footage and getting a lot of votes and feedback, I've come to the realisation that I was in the wrong in this scenario. Simple!
Quick Summary:
* The 2 far right lanes, DO, in fact, merge into one. There is no middle lane. It's just mistakenly perceived that way because it quickly goes from 3>2>3 again during this allocated time.
* The truck driver was probably indicating right to let me know in advance as a warning that I was going to get squeezed as he had right of way being in front
* https://youtu.be/EIhSnaqou0I - This will remind me to be more aware on our roads around trucks. I hope it will do the same for you.
* Thanks to you all for the newly found insight.

Poll Options expired

  • 28
    Truck driver's fault. You should report that dangerous prick!
  • 6
    Truck driver's fault. Let it go.
  • 15
    No one / both are at fault. There should be clearer signage and road markings
  • 51
    Your fault. Luckily no one was hurt.
  • 220
    Your fault. Learn to pay more attention to your surroundings and stop listening to trash music.
Automotive

Comments

  • Dr Techno on 18/01/2023 - 23:46
    +1

    cant compute. its missing the customary MSPAINT diagram.. MSPAINT or it didnt happen. :P

  • Cheap Bastard on 19/01/2023 - 00:41
    +13

    Appreciate the responses all! I hope someone else has learned something from my mistake. I know I have. Peace out!

  • Euphemistic on 19/01/2023 - 06:19
    +1
    1. You avoided the crash. We’ve al made mistakes like this. It’s not the end of the world.
    2. You were in a blind spot beside a huge truck, nearly got squeezed into oncoming traffic and still went back to the trucks blind spot a few seconds later.
    3. There is NO “right of way”. There is a responsibility to give way from one party, but the other party doesn’t have right of way and at some point also must avoid a crash by giving way.
  • Weezle on 19/01/2023 - 07:19
    -1

    What did you expect to happen when you drove in his blind spot?

  • pjcook on 19/01/2023 - 08:57
    +4

    OK, never stay alongside a Semi, especially a B-Double for any time longer than absolutely necessary… You were in his blind spot so it's all on you mate.

  • 82norm on 19/01/2023 - 09:04
    +4

    Rule 101, never sit next to a truck longer than necessary. You were asking for trouble.

  • kolorijo on 19/01/2023 - 09:09
    +3

    Either drive behind or ahead a semi like that, don't linger next to them since you will be in their blind spot

  • GordonD on 19/01/2023 - 09:14
    +7

    This video is the sort of thing they should be running as road safety education on TV. The OP would have been found responsible if there'd been a crash. He's the one who would have been injured or killed if there'd been a head on. But he wasn't doing anything illegal, just a little foolish, driving beside a B-double approaching a lane merge, and didn't realise what was happening when the merge occurred. In fact not realising what happened right up until other people here pointed it out to him.

    Its the reason very long vehicles like B-doubles should never have been allowed on city roads. Not that the B-double driver did anything wrong. He did what he had to do in the circumstances given the poor design of the road - merging the lanes closest to oncoming traffic. He signalled to warn the OP, when he didn't legally have to. He was ahead. He was clearly aware enough of what was happening that he apologised afterwards.

    • Jolakot on 19/01/2023 - 10:44
      +1

      This is my conclusion too; OP would have been at-fault here, but a scenario like this shouldn't have been possible in the first place

      You don't want to be gassed out by being behind a bdouble and you see that there's a right lane to overtake it, but that right lane is ending with very little warning

      Should at least be a bunch of on-road merging arrows beforehand to give people enough warning, as those huge trucks obscure traffic signs on the left as well

      • Lichen6420 on 19/01/2023 - 13:15
        +1

        Sign was pretty big and on the right too. Was in the video. OP must have been oblivious and totally missed it.

        • Jolakot on 20/01/2023 - 08:14

          Clearly I'm oblivious too because I totally missed it as well 😂

    • MtGeobugi on 19/01/2023 - 12:24

      Agreed 1000%

  • northern nsw on 19/01/2023 - 10:13
    +4

    Never ever ever drive beside a large truck for an extended distance…you've got nowhere to go in the event of an incident like this.

    • trapper on 20/01/2023 - 13:46

      Yeah it's not a safe place to be, get ahead or drop behind.

  • triks on 19/01/2023 - 10:43
    +6

    scary to think some people think OP was in the right!

    • Jolakot on 19/01/2023 - 10:47

      OP was objectively in the right here, when they should have stayed in the middle and not overtaken a turning bdouble

    • randomusername2017 on 19/01/2023 - 10:48

      Poll lacked the "I don't like big scary trucks" option so the votes had to go somewhere…

    • TEER3X on 19/01/2023 - 20:10
      +1

      Mate, half the bloody drivers out there don't know what the fark they're doing

  • RoadZilla on 19/01/2023 - 10:47
    +4

    I never drive parallel to a semi truck. NEVER!

  • skillet on 19/01/2023 - 12:10
    +1

    I can assure you that the truck driver wants nothing but a safe journey so don't imagine things. You have done nothing to provoke the truck driver so he couldn't have build up hatred in split seconds. Most likely you are in the blind spot. In situations like this foot hard on brake pedal will quickly avoid danger. Small passanger cars are toys in front of a 10-20T trucks.

    • Lichen6420 on 19/01/2023 - 13:29

      Much more than that, they can carry 34T of cargo + weigh of the prime mover and trailers (up to 55T)

  • drfuzzy on 19/01/2023 - 12:37

    I bet your Uber passengers were as pleased with your driving as they were with your music choice.

  • fahadbinyousaf on 19/01/2023 - 12:40
    -2

    it seems truck driver is at fault

  • FloatingPoint on 19/01/2023 - 13:51

    In theory I think truck was at fault. The sign says keep 3 lanes, so there are 3 lanes. No merging required. There is no sign suggesting there is a form 2 lanes.

    In reality I would not stay next to a B-double for anything more than 5 seconds. Also whoever design and approve that stretch of the road are just stupid.

    • Mistredo on 20/01/2023 - 12:31
      +1

      Check the video again. There is a nice signage that indicates merging ahead.

  • Mislovic on 19/01/2023 - 14:58

    his hands gestures seems to suggest he was trying to avoid someone/something in the left lane?

  • BluebirdV on 19/01/2023 - 14:58
    +2

    Driving in cities is horrible. Take public transport and live.

  • Munki on 19/01/2023 - 15:20
    +1

    Dan Andrews is clearly at fault.

  • Gnostikos on 19/01/2023 - 15:29

    Lol, ironic that "Crush" by Jennifer Paige was playing as you nearly got taken out by a semi-trailer.

  • herecomestheoost on 19/01/2023 - 16:40
    +1

    :D

  • CocaKoala on 19/01/2023 - 17:28
    +1

    Looks like you don't know basic rules of merging. A bit worrying that some people here think that you were in the right.

  • Kranbone on 19/01/2023 - 18:31

    I thought you cannot enter someone's lane unless it's safe to do so. If someone's in that lane, or that someone has to brake, then, my understanding is, it's not safe to do so.

    It's important to pay attention to your surroundings, but it's also more important to obey the road rules.

  • gstfree on 19/01/2023 - 20:10
    -3

    Truck driver at fault. You have right of way on your lane. If the truck need to change lane it should give way.

    • Mistredo on 20/01/2023 - 12:29

      The truck is zip merging.

      • gstfree on 20/01/2023 - 19:22

        Sorry I didn't see zip merging. If it's zip merging it's another story.

      • gstfree on 20/01/2023 - 19:24

        In general I keep distance from all trucks.

  • Some Human on 19/01/2023 - 20:21
    +6

    Usually if I'm at the tail end of a semi and it indicates it's intention to move into my lane, I slow down and let it in. I imagine it's difficult to change lanes in a vehicle 6x longer than my own, so I like to make their life a bit easier.

    • kiriakoz on 19/01/2023 - 23:27
      +1

      That's actually being a good bloke/lass which has no place in modern Australian society.

  • Homr on 19/01/2023 - 20:21
    +2

    wow the truck driver saved your life by merging slowly

  • lgacb08 on 19/01/2023 - 21:53

    For a moment I thought you were the Elantra in front of me last Saturday morning, this is not even close to crash. Last Sat that sedan actually went on the middle lane about 100m further from where you braked before realising it travelled the wrong lane.
    I went through this road gazillion of time but didn't realise it is 3>2>3, no wonder it always get congested.

  • kiriakoz on 19/01/2023 - 23:27

    Glad you're okay, probably your fault but better to live and learn than be arrogant (not saying you were, you were just giving your point of view, I guess).

    The first song was absolutely horrendous but I can get around a bit of Crush by Jennifer Paige.

  • thebargainhunter3000 on 19/01/2023 - 23:52
    +1

    Thought this event could be expressed as a song (thanks ChatGPT)
    Verse 1:
    Driving down Queens Rd in the morning light
    Dashcam shows it's 10:20, but it's really 9
    Inbound lanes turn to three, there's a sign in sight
    But a short stretch of road, no lines in sight

    Chorus:
    I'm driving alongside a big semi, heading towards the right
    He indicates for five seconds, then pushes me out of sight
    Luckily no cars were coming, crisis averted with a sigh
    But from my perspective, his move was unnecessary and not right

    Verse 2:
    The footage shows a sudden change in direction
    Taking up more space on the right, with intention
    If he had just maintained his course, I could've slowed down too
    But with another semi behind him, I had nowhere to move

    Chorus:
    I'm driving alongside a big semi, heading towards the right
    He indicates for five seconds, then pushes me out of sight
    Luckily no cars were coming, crisis averted with a sigh
    But from my perspective, his move was unnecessary and not right

    Bridge:
    Put yourself in both perspectives, truck driver and mine
    What are your thoughts, did he do it on purpose, was it a sign
    Deep down, I hope he's on OzB, reading this today
    Change your mind, it doesn't bother me, but what do you say

    Outro:
    How good was Jennifer Paige back in the day
    A fun poll, a reminder to be careful on the way
    Driving down Queens Rd, be aware of the trucks ahead
    And the unmarked lanes, where a crisis could be bred.

    • Cheap Bastard on 20/01/2023 - 00:04
      +1

      Hahahah. That's gold. If only it was it the form of Tupac 'Changes' tune.

      • thebargainhunter3000 on 20/01/2023 - 09:59
        +1

        Think it has come out pretty good:
        Verse 1:
        Rollin' down the boulevard, ain't no love in the air
        Got my eyes on the road, but my mind ain't nowhere
        Traffic thick as thieves, got me feelin' the heat
        Ain't no room for error, gotta watch my seat

        Chorus:
        Ridin' next to a big rig, tryna keep up with the pace
        He swerves to the right, tryna take up more space
        Got my heart in my throat, but I swerve out the way
        Ain't no room for mistakes, gotta play it safe

        Verse 2:
        Cops on my tail, ain't got no time to lose
        Got my foot on the gas, tryna shake the blues
        Big rig's in my way, got me feelin' the hate
        Ain't no love for the road, just tryna make it to my fate

        Chorus:
        Ridin' next to a big rig, tryna keep up with the pace
        He swerves to the right, tryna take up more space
        Got my heart in my throat, but I swerve out the way
        Ain't no room for mistakes, gotta play it safe

        Bridge:
        In the driver's seat, got my eyes on the prize
        Ain't no time for games, just tryna stay alive
        Big rig's in my way, but I ain't givin' in
        Gotta keep on rollin', gotta keep on winnin'

        Outro:
        Rollin' down the boulevard, ain't no love in the air
        Got my eyes on the road, but my mind ain't nowhere
        Ain't no room for error, gotta watch my seat
        Ridin' next to a big rig, tryna keep up with the beat.

    • ShouldIBuyIt on 21/01/2023 - 09:39
      +1

      Mind boggling you don't have 100s of upvotes by now

  • kaleidoscope on 20/01/2023 - 00:10
    +1

    oops… your fault and lucky escape. learn a valuable lesson and move on!

  • syousef on 20/01/2023 - 08:35

    What a crap place to put a zipper merge. I can see why that stretch of road is notorious. You were in the wrong, and you could have avoided it by hanging back, but that stretch of road requires you to be familiar with it in advance to avoid an accident. That sign you go past that indicates the lane conditions at different times of day is ridiculous and doesn't give the driver enough time to assess what the rules are, the zipper merge is only visible for a second beforehand and the truck starts changing lanes almost immediately after indicating. I wonder how many people have died or been maimed here. The presence and quality of the music wasn't the issue.

  • jerjergege on 20/01/2023 - 10:11
    +1

    See sign at 2:04.

  • Mistredo on 20/01/2023 - 12:27
    +1

    Putting rules aside, it is never a good idea to be next to a truck that is indicating.

  • trapper on 20/01/2023 - 13:44

    Was that a burp at 2:48 haha

  • Menzoberranzan on 20/01/2023 - 14:36
    +1

    Seeing OP driving right next to the semi for so long made me cringe. He had plenty of opportunity to speed up in front and get out of a danger zone but instead chose to linger and get into this situation

  • TightAl on 20/01/2023 - 16:43
    -1

    You should learn how to drive.
    Even after self reflection, you still think you are right?

    I drive this road every week and folks just don't learn SMH.

  • knk on 20/01/2023 - 17:58
    +1

    Regardless of who's at fault here you just shouldn't have been in the trucks blind spot

  • Eeples on 20/01/2023 - 21:53

    It’s a zip merge.

    OP seems to think somehow that the truck indicating means he is moving in to ‘his’ lane and so is somehow in the wrong.

    …. when in fact the vehicle ahead indicating in a zip merge is the proper procedure (at least in NSW).

    https://youtu.be/I2Rd8z_VHpE

  • ShouldIBuyIt on 21/01/2023 - 09:25

    Why did you wait ages to overtake? Every single time I overtake a truck I make sure I clear it asap to avoid this kind of situation. Because even if you were not in fault, do you really want to take that risk with a truck. Bit like crossing at pedestrian because you've got priority on cars - rules won't help when you're dead ^^

    • ShouldIBuyIt on 21/01/2023 - 10:05

      Ok so clearly this is the issue. Should have cleared the truck instead of slowing down at the traffic light.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/01/2023 - 15:02
    +2

    Brah you have less situational awareness and a slower reaction time than a Nimbin Hippie - put the bong down and give it a moment before driving; if unexpected things are happening regularly to you on the roads - it is the first clue that it may be you …

  • factor on 22/01/2023 - 18:48
    -1

    The overhead gantry (at 2:10, and later) has electronic lane arrows that show at the time of driving it was actually 3 lanes (matching the lane sign at 2:05).

    Of course, it was 3 quite tight lanes and driving parallel to the truck through that disaster of lane markings was unwise.

    This is all more obvious in Google street-view, all slowed down. Armed with that information, review of the video makes clear the truck driver moved into another line of traffic without giving way. That is a clear breach of the road rules. That said, most important rule is to stay alive, and get out of the way of a heavy vehicle if it is struggling for road space.

  • Eeples on 26/01/2023 - 21:58

    Regarding your final conclusion.

    It is quite proper to indicate left or right if you are moving left or right when performing a zip merge.

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