Today I was driving a Jeep northbound on I-95 in south Jersey where the road is still 2 lanes in each direction. It was about sunset I think but already darkish. Iwas in the right hand lane and holding the speed limit at 65 mph, using cruise control. Traffic was dense in both lanes and there was a truck in front of me. Next to me there were cars & trucks slowly passing at a speed slightly over the limit.
Far ahead I saw the flashing lights of a patrol car on the shoulder. My state has a one-lane rule and the truck & I both moved into spaces in the left lane, maybe a tight fit, with a car between me and the truck. I believe I had checked all my mirrors looked at the left lane at least enough to think my "safety bubble" was clear. As I moved left the truck braked, the car braked, and I braked harder than usual on an interstate.
Looking left during the move I saw a maroon Harley on my flank braking while veering off onto the left shoulder. The left lane was overcrowded with us who didn't want to slow down but I think the spacing was too small for the speed so everybody had to brake. Soon after passing the patrol car I moved right again. The Harley recovered, passing me and as he did I noticed his tunes were as loud as his pipes. It was a cruiser with the hard bags.
When it happened I thought he was weaving through traffic but later I worried that I just hadn't seen him. When I did see him I recall saying "Where did he come from?" and I can't remember seeing a bike headlight or running light pattern. I thought maybe he went down and I didn't see that either but then I remembered the music as he went by me.
This I can say: I didn't see him and I may have forced him onto the left shoulder when I reacted to events in front of me. So, let's be careful out there!
Far ahead I saw the flashing lights of a patrol car on the shoulder. My state has a one-lane rule and the truck & I both moved into spaces in the left lane, maybe a tight fit, with a car between me and the truck. I believe I had checked all my mirrors looked at the left lane at least enough to think my "safety bubble" was clear. As I moved left the truck braked, the car braked, and I braked harder than usual on an interstate.
Looking left during the move I saw a maroon Harley on my flank braking while veering off onto the left shoulder. The left lane was overcrowded with us who didn't want to slow down but I think the spacing was too small for the speed so everybody had to brake. Soon after passing the patrol car I moved right again. The Harley recovered, passing me and as he did I noticed his tunes were as loud as his pipes. It was a cruiser with the hard bags.
When it happened I thought he was weaving through traffic but later I worried that I just hadn't seen him. When I did see him I recall saying "Where did he come from?" and I can't remember seeing a bike headlight or running light pattern. I thought maybe he went down and I didn't see that either but then I remembered the music as he went by me.
This I can say: I didn't see him and I may have forced him onto the left shoulder when I reacted to events in front of me. So, let's be careful out there!