I had a strange on-the-road situation lately. I wasn't thinking attempted
insurance fraud at the time, but on reflection, it may well have been.
I was driving on a 4 lane divided urban street. Just me and a beater Buick
following. PSL was 35, but lights are timed at 40. I was doing 40, cresting a
hill. I hear a beep and the Buick is right up on my bumper. Driver appears
50-ish. I continue at 40. Then I see his right front fender at my door with
only about 1 ft. clearance.
I begin to brake and slide right. He swoops in front of me and brakes hard,
coming to a stop in the middle of a block. Only because I started slowing
early, I had to brake hard, but had room enough to stop, no contact. His
reverse lights then go on, but I didn't see any motion towards me. I shifed
into R just in case. Driver is staring at me in the rearview. Things were at
a stand still/stand-offf for a minute. Then he drove slowly to the next
intersection and turned right.
I'm thinking, "What the hell was that all about?"
(Now I wonder what would have happened if I'd gotten out of my car.)
I was pissed because I couldn't catch up to the "invisible bubble" and get
through the next light without stopping.
