Narrow escape

I scared the crap out of myself on the road today. Stopped at a red light, I saw that I was in the wrong lane (of two); the street name was poorly marked, and too late I realized I wanted to make a left. I was on the right-hand side. So I did, illegally I'm sure, the same thing many drivers would do: I backed up so that I could pull into the left lane. I think, but am not sure, that I even made a slight pause after putting the car in reverse so that anyone approaching could see the lights for a moment before I moved.

I totally DID NOT SEE the car that was sneaking very closely along my right side in order to try to make a right on red. (Think of where a "blind spot" might be, on the right, then make it within inches of the back corner of your car).

I did look behind me, but over the wrong shoulder. (Some drivers never turn around at all....)

That could have been BAD. It wouldn't have meant injuries, but it would have been expensive and avoidable and stupid.