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Cruiser
Posts: 162
Northern NJ | Ride like you're invisible and everyone is crazy.
Because they are.
Ride safe folks. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 13
| Missouri has a highway campaign this year on billboards, bumper stickers, traffic boards, etc. "Watch out for motorcycles".
The best part of my day is when I pull out of my driveway on my Vision. The second best part of my day is when I pull back into my driveway. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | I wish there was a strong enough grass-roots effort to make ALL drivers aware of paying attention, not just for motorcycles, but for everything. I see the same things happen whether it is a bike or a car, it just is more pronouced for us riders because the same mistake between two cars, means death with a motorcycle involved. People in general are way to distracted when they drive, and that includes US that rides bikes. I want 100% of my attention to be on the road, that is why I don't have friggin' gadgets on my bike like GPS's or cup holders. Just me, just sayin', but the focus should be on all drivers to pay a friggin' attention to the task at hand, and then we would have much fewer accidents.
Pay attention, pay attention, pay attention to your driving is all that needs to be said.
Edited by Cap'n Nemo 2011-07-16 12:34 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | I drove inter city commuter buses for a few years, believe me you are just as invisable in a 32 ton, 62 foot long, 11 foot tall vehicle thats painted bright colors and covered in lights.
I really got freaked out one afternoon in Seattle on I-5 when this moron and his wife swooped in front of me in very heavy,stop and go traffic just as trsaffic came to a sudden stop, so closely that I couldn't see his rear plate but I could plainly see his three year old sitting in a car seat in the back,if I'd have hit him, the bus would have stopped about even with the back of the front seat |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| I was in a southern state and the lighted over head freeway sign said
watch out for motorcycles there ever where
I wish all states would do it and I can't wait for the state and government politicians to pass the law no fricking sell phone while driving. If you can't afford a ear peace don't talk. It might be some one life you save today. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 45
Jax, FL | This morning in Orange Park FL, DOT digital sign read "HANG UP AND DRIVE". |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | I was told by a fellow rider today that even in bright sunlight my signals are easy to see. He hates bullet turn signals says they cause wrecks |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | I had a decal on the tailgate of a very much missed '72 Chevy 1/2 ton that said on the left side 'Want to be a better driver?' and on the right it said 'then stick that cell phone up your ass' I got A LOT of thumbs ups from people behind me @ red lights! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 40
| It's sad indeed when we loose another rider to simple carelessness. It's funny how when you notifiy the police that a vechicle cuts you off they blow it off like "well there's nothing we can do, do not pursue the other vehcile" My responce is well I need to take matters in my own hands then! Right away they want to threaten you with being arrested for making threats or the like.
I feigned pulling my piece once on some fool who thought that playing cat and mouse with me was a great idea. The look on his face was not to be forgotten. The cops say that pulling your piece on some idiot is against the law because it's a deadly weapon. I rationalize this their 3800+ lb car is a deadly weapon when it's used to intimadate me.
Kill a biker go to jail. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Would I like to agree with you Zeke, sure, but only to a degree. I would hope our police would be involved in more important issue than chasing down jerks who cut me off. I wouldn't be able to get to where I'm going if I even persued the notion. I ride in anticipation and avoid their idiotic behavior, and try to remind them of it if I can. I also have to remember no matter how big I think I'm am, my bike and I are no match for any car. Also, people now-a-days are crazy and many could care less how you feel. Feign pulling a piece? they might just return the favor with a real one and blow you off your bike.
On a more positive note, a little over a year ago I could have bit it in an intersection when an old lady ran the light on me. I always hesitate on the green just for that purpose and this time it paid off. As I roll from the light I catch the movement of a vehicle coming from my right. Knowing it was a runner I hit the brakes hard and fortunetly the front wheel turns to the left and the bike drops just as she passes inches in front of my, never making contact. I thought for sure I would not be able to avoid contact, but I did. As I jump off my bike I point at her wanting to curse her off into the cornfield. I happened to be going to the bbq right at the intersection so when I enter, I ask if anyone just see what happened; not a soul, not even the table full of State Troopers. I go to them and tell them I don't expect them to do anything but I told them what happened. As a courtesy they ask for a describtion of the vehicle. I'm pacified at this time and I go order my food. A few minutes later a county cop comes in and ask if I own the bike and he says he has something for me to see.
Well, the lady behind me making a left turn had followed the runner and called the police. She got her to stop and told her she had hit me when she ran the light. The police got there, escorted her back down to the bbq place where we met up. She was in total tears and very shaken and said she was sorry. She said she never saw the light, never saw me and she was from out of town. I told her and the police there was no contact and no damage. I believe they wrote her up for running the light, I'm just not sure. It was a wakeup call for me that I can't pay enough attention even when I believe that I am. I have never told the wife ever about that incident. I believe she would make me quit riding if I did. She's become very skiddish about riding because of the way people drive, frankly I don't blame her.
Ride safe. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 20
| It has gotten to the point where I just expect EVERYONE to drive like $h!t and act accordingly whether I'm on the bike or in the car. It seems the worst are the women in the SUVs with the cell phone permanantly attached to their ear and driving like a bat out of hell. Everyday I see at people literally staring at their cell phone while driving at speed on all sorts of roads - freeways, county roads, city streets.
I have handled alot of MVA cases and people always say "I didn't see them" while the truth is they weren't paying attention. If I'm taking their deposition I don't let them get away with it. If they say "I didn't see them" I say "How is that possible? Are they invisible?" Then I'll hold up a sheaf of papers and ask them when the last time they texted or were on a cell phone call before the impact. You can sometimes actually see them start to squirm.
Texting while driving is already against the law here but of course the cops don't enforce it. It's always after the fact when someone is dead or seriously injured that it becomes an issue. Part of the problem is that THE COPS always have their head buried in the computer so they're never paying attention to what's going on in the car next to them. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 20
| It has gotten to the point where I just expect EVERYONE to drive like $h!t and act accordingly whether I'm on the bike or in the car. It seems the worst are the women in the SUVs with the cell phone permanantly attached to their ear and driving like a bat out of hell. Everyday I see at people literally staring at their cell phone while driving at speed on all sorts of roads - freeways, county roads, city streets.
I have handled alot of MVA cases and people always say "I didn't see them" while the truth is they weren't paying attention. If I'm taking their deposition I don't let them get away with it. If they say "I didn't see them" I say "How is that possible? Are they invisible?" Then I'll hold up a sheaf of papers and ask them when the last time they texted or were on a cell phone call before the impact. You can sometimes actually see them start to squirm.
Texting while driving is already against the law here but of course the cops don't enforce it. It's always after the fact when someone is dead or seriously injured that it becomes an issue. Part of the problem is that THE COPS always have their head buried in the computer so they're never paying attention to what's going on in the car next to them. |
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New user
Posts: 1
| I know this is an old thread and nobody will probably ever see this but after reading what all has been said on here (I just found this) I have to put my two cents in. I was the passenger on the motorcycle with William Causey. I knew him very well. He had been riding for a good 30 years. He was very careful ESPECIALLY when I was on the bike with him. He was always very aware of his surroundings. The guy that hit us was in our lane of traffic without his headlights on at about 10pm. If anyone knows the Alamac Rd area you know it is a very dark street. The punishment the guy was given was the loss of his license for a year and 50 hours of community. The sheriff on the scene did NOT order a blood test. I've seen the police report. There was other information that was relayed to me and my family (but not the police) that the guy that caused it was actually high. He had been at a party and was on his way to get more weed. Yesterday was two years exactly since I lost Bill and not a day goes by that I don't wish he was still here. He was a responsible rider.
Anyway for anyone that cares to know about this particular accident from someone that was actually there... Here ya go. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22
| vklassen - 2013-06-12 10:11 AM
There was other information that was relayed to me and my family (but not the police) that the guy that caused it was actually high. He had been at a party and was on his way to get more weed.
Right there is the crux of the problem. People 'knew' more about the other driver but no one told the police. Why not? Do you expect the police to read minds? If people don't report what they know then they have no complaints when something doesn't get pursued.
Why no blood test? Because the police need probable cause to get the court order. If people didn't tell them what they knew then the police can't work to establish the PC needed to get the order.
People whine and complain because the police didn't do more. The fact is THEY didn't do more. The police can only work with what is given to them. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 24
Alberta | jeffmack - 2011-06-19 10:51 AM
man i hope you guys aren't on my jury if i ever need one. Guilty until proven innocent i guess. These things aren't called "purposes" for a reason, thats why they are called accidents. Now if the driver was negligent or reckless I am sure the investigation will bring this out and the book will be thrown at the driver and rightfully so, I'll be the first to volunteer to dig the ditch to put him under the jail. With all we don't know, to be calling for someones head without any facts is reckless, fruitless, and un-American. I am sure the investigation will bring out the fact, if not the riders family will handle it as they see fit.
I don't agree. The word accident was made up to try and give people a "way out" of an incident that happened. People with: mind not on task, eyes not on the job, proper safety equipment not worn, lack of training, lack of experience, not looking for hazards, etc, expose themselves and others to injury. Most people say. "oh it was an accident", and think it was an act of God. It's not an act of God. ALL INJURIES and "ACCIDENTS" are preventable, it just depends on how much time, energy, money, and thought a person is willing to put in to protect themselves and others. IMO, 90% of the population have never received a safety training course, and the only people who know how to use the process to protect themselves and others are Military people and Fire Fighters.
I know that there are many people who don't have the mental capacity to see potential problems and hazards and how to mitigate the situation.
For the biker; Ask yourself, "what are all the things I could do so I can safely ride my bike"?. (There are several things that quickly come to my mind)
For the car driver; Ask yourself, "what are all the things I could do so I can safely arrive at my destination?
This is my opinion on the topic. It would be great to see people using this type of mind set to hold themselves and others to a higher level of accountability and awareness. |
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Tourer
Posts: 416
Prairie City, IA United States | I drove to work today because of my honey do list required me to pick some things up. Driving down the 4 lane highway I passed or met a number of motorcycles. The 1st one I passed was a young man on a enduro bike. He was wearing a silver backpack and from 300' away he was pretty much invisible. After I passed him I looked in the mirror and his headlight was so dim that after 500' you couldn't see it. I watched several other bikes along the way and again several had dim lights or colors on that blended into the surrounding terrain. How do we expect a car to see us if we are camouflaged? Another observation that I have made in the past is what a color blind person sees. 3% of the US population is red green colorblind. red with a green background (median, ditch) looks green to a color blind person. I know, I work with a guy that is colorblind and it is quite a handicap to distinguish color differences. I think it is time to shed the pirate outfits and get some brighter colors on when riding. Even a little color would make a huge difference. Also look at your lights to make sure they are bright and properly set. |
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | vklassen - 2013-06-12 11:11 AM
I know this is an old thread and nobody will probably ever see this but after reading what all has been said on here (I just found this) I have to put my two cents in. I was the passenger on the motorcycle with William Causey. I knew him very well. He had been riding for a good 30 years. He was very careful ESPECIALLY when I was on the bike with him. He was always very aware of his surroundings. The guy that hit us was in our lane of traffic without his headlights on at about 10pm. If anyone knows the Alamac Rd area you know it is a very dark street. The punishment the guy was given was the loss of his license for a year and 50 hours of community. The sheriff on the scene did NOT order a blood test. I've seen the police report. There was other information that was relayed to me and my family (but not the police) that the guy that caused it was actually high. He had been at a party and was on his way to get more weed. Yesterday was two years exactly since I lost Bill and not a day goes by that I don't wish he was still here. He was a responsible rider.
Anyway for anyone that cares to know about this particular accident from someone that was actually there... Here ya go.
I'm very sorry for your loss. Sometimes, life just plain stinks. The punishment doesn't fit the crime, it is far short of justice. I hope there was some sort of civil suit against the driver, but given his age, I doubt it would go anywhere. I hope you recovered from your injuries without permanent damage.
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | Double post
Edited by baadawg 2013-06-13 5:07 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 174
Edmonton, AB | vklassen - 2013-06-12 9:11 AM
I know this is an old thread and nobody will probably ever see this but after reading what all has been said on here (I just found this) I have to put my two cents in. I was the passenger on the motorcycle with William Causey. I knew him very well. He had been riding for a good 30 years. He was very careful ESPECIALLY when I was on the bike with him. He was always very aware of his surroundings. The guy that hit us was in our lane of traffic without his headlights on at about 10pm. If anyone knows the Alamac Rd area you know it is a very dark street. The punishment the guy was given was the loss of his license for a year and 50 hours of community. The sheriff on the scene did NOT order a blood test. I've seen the police report. There was other information that was relayed to me and my family (but not the police) that the guy that caused it was actually high. He had been at a party and was on his way to get more weed. Yesterday was two years exactly since I lost Bill and not a day goes by that I don't wish he was still here. He was a responsible rider.
Anyway for anyone that cares to know about this particular accident from someone that was actually there... Here ya go.
Vklassen....I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing the first hand info.
Every ride that ends with a safe arrival back home is a blessing. |
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this guy just bought this vision
