‘I felt powerless – so I started filming’

Today it was a good thing that I didn't have a gun along on my ride. I was soooooo mad. An incompetent semi driver almost killed me. I was on a county road and pulled close to the edge of the road (no paved shoulder) so he could easily go by. No traffic was coming. He started out OK but then seemed to forget that he had a double trailer on behind and I came quite close to getting sideswiped. I would have ended up in jail had I been armed, I think. Oh how I wish for a missile launcher at such times!
 
I know it's been a while, but I get what you mean by feeling powerless – capturing things on film can be a powerful way to express that! Sometimes, the best way to work through challenging moments is by recording them, giving us a voice when we feel like we don’t have one. And it’s cool that you’ve started filming – so many filmmakers start that way, just needing a way to feel understood.The Prague Film School could be worth checking out if you want to dive deeper. They have a great setup if you're going to sharpen your skills or find more inspiration. Using film to turn something you’re struggling with into art is brave.
 
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nobody here knows the meaning of the left arm up thing at all. i just signal with the appropriate arm straight out. i also try and make eye contact with anyone in any of the three visible sides of an intersection, you just never know.
Re: eye contact: motorcyclists also emphasize the importance of making eye contact with motorists, typically at intersections. I don't have a lot of faith in this tactic; it's because some drivers seem to interpret your eye contact as permission for them to proceed. I prefer to take my right of way when I am entitled to it, and forge right ahead in that case. But I have really good peripheral vision, and keep an eye on the vehicle in case they don't see me, or don't care. The only actual issue I have had with a car is when I T-boned a passing car at an intersection because poor visibility lead me to not see the car coming from my left. Evidently the driver did see me, but assumed I was turning right into the bike lane (according to his/her statement on the police report). I now tend to pull out almost into the lane so I can have unrestricted view of oncoming traffic. Also hoping to alert drivers of my presence. It's a crap shoot out there, folks.

By the way, I agree with signaling with the right arm for a right turn.
 
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