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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: rocker59 on June 13, 2023, 07:45:56 AM
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Actor Treat Williams hit and killed by a left-turning motorist in the very small town of Dorset Vermont.
A reminder that it can happen to any of us at any time.
Be vigilant.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/12/entertainment/treat-williams-death/index.html
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/13/treat-williams-prolific-character-actor-dies-in-motorcycle-crash-aged-71#:~:text=Treat%20Williams%2C%20prolific%20character%20actor%2C%20dies%20in%20motorcycle%20crash%20aged%2071
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RIP
That is the very common, left turn car driver, turning into his Honda.
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Same thing happened to me two weeks ago. Fortunately, I survived. My BMW K75 did not however...
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There are a couple things we can do to increase our odds of a collision in this situation as well as increasing our chances of survival if the collision does occur.
As soon as it be obvious that a vehicle is attempting to make a left turn, in the face of oncoming traffic, I always do the following.
1- decrease my speed regardless if I’m going the speed limit or not and attempt to make eye contact with the driver. The slower the speed, the more it increases one chances of survival if a collision occurs.
2- rapidly blink your headlight from high beams to low beams. This will get the attention of even the worst case of a driver not paying attention.
3-keep slowing your speed until you actually make eye contact with the driver of the vehicle making the left turn.
4- don’t be shy of the use of your horn, it is a warning device.
5- visible attire is always a plus, along with good riding equipment.
6-lastly if the collision is inevitable, stand on the pegs at the last instant before the collision. This action may propel one over the vehicle and not into it. Skinned body parts is far better than the sudden stop of one’s head against the vehicle. This actually worked for me in the only motorcycle/vehicle crash I’ve been in. I still got 3 cracked ribs but the riding gear took the brunt of the rest of the impact with the road.
These techniques were basic training when I was a motor officer and I feel they were responsible for my survival the five years I road a bike in the city limits of the 3rd largest city in NC.
Let be safe out there and ride as if every vehicle in certain situations we do the wrong thing.
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2- rapidly blink your headlight from high beams to low beams. This will get the attention of even the worst case of a driver not paying attention.
Around the North East, flashing your headlights is a sign that you are waving someone to go in front of you... that could have a bad effect.
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Thanks for the" Tips", Danny. Coming from a motor officer, like you, they carry alot of value.. One thing I would add is, the human eye/ brain is designed to detect lateral movement, for survival. when approaching an intersection, with cars ready to turn left in front of you, wiggling the bars slightly side to side, catches the eye of motorists. I do it almost like by "muscle memory" and I am pretty sure it makes a big difference, by the reaction I see in motorists faces....Thats where the eye contact parts also come into play!
Rick
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2- rapidly blink your headlight from high beams to low beams. This will get the attention of even the worst case of a driver not paying attention.
I've always been wary of this one because there are other traffic situations where this is frequently understood to mean "go ahead". I feel like this could introduce confusion.
Presumably this is a rural 2-lane scenario. What I'll do instead is move side to side within my lane - a slalom more than a weave - in order to occupy the whole lane and hopefully draw attention to my approach.
And of course I run fork mounted auxiliary lights to create the light triangle that better communicates closing speed.
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Thanks Dan.
Sorry for the losing a fellow rider.
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One of the things I learned in a FREE Ride NC Class was to weave in your lane, just enough to make a driver notice you and make them think "What the Hell are they doing"
I do it and am amazed how many people notice.
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California recommends riding with high beam on during daylight hours.
kk
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Around the North East, flashing your headlights is a sign that you are waving someone to go in front of you... that could have a bad effect.
Around here it’s a norm for many riders to utilize the headlights that constantly isolate from low to high. One would think that they would be constantly involved in left turn related incidents. It is something to consider.
By all means avoid using any of the recommendations offered here that’s contrary to your personal preferences.
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Around here it’s a norm for many riders to utilize the headlights that constantly isolate from low to high. One would think that they would be constantly involved in left turn related incidents. It is something to consider.
By all means avoid using any of the recommendations offered here that’s contrary to your personal preferences.
A headlight modulator is different than flashing your high beams...
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One of the things I learned in a FREE Ride NC Class was to weave in your lane, just enough to make a driver notice you and make them think "What the Hell are they doing"
I do it and am amazed how many people notice.
I’ve been doing this tactic for years. More so, if I’m riding in a heavy traffic area. Last year, a woman behind me, pulled up next to my bike, and told me “your the worst motorcycle rider I’ve over seen”. I smiled and said, “ thanks, glad that you noticed “.
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One of the things I learned in a FREE Ride NC Class was to weave in your lane, just enough to make a driver notice you and make them think "What the Hell are they doing"
I do it and am amazed how many people notice.
THIS! :thumb: :bow: Because relative traffic motion is, "fore and aft" or "up and down" from the perspective of oncoming traffic, the
side-to-side movement REALLY gets their attention.
I figured this out decades ago - I don't want to flash my high beams and have that interpreted as a, 'Go Ahead!" sign,
especially as one of the major factors in car/motorcycle accidents is the car driver misjudging the closing speed of
and/or distance to the motorcycle. (No disrespect intended to motor officers and their training.)
I didn't realize that this tactic was actually TAUGHT until now! (Maybe I oughta take a refresher class or two, eh?!)
It's a shame about Mr. Williiams. May he rest in peace.
-Stretch
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A headlight modulator is different than flashing your high beams...
Like I said, use what works for you. Avoiding this type of crash is the objective, whichever technique one uses.
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Presumably this is a rural 2-lane scenario.
The left-turning motorist was apparently turning into an auto repair business, in a 40mph zone. Two lane State Highway within village limts.
My takeaway is this was a "look through him" situation in which the motorcyclist had little or no reaction time.
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My takeaway is this was a "look through him" situation in which the motorcyclist had little or no reaction time.
That's an unfortunate fact of life when motorcycling.
My thinking is that there's a time\distance window for motorcyclists, where if another driver does the exact wrong thing at the
exact wrong time, there's absolutely, positively, NOTHING that can be done to avoid a collision. The trick is to either eliminate
or reduce this window as much as is possible. Speed increases the duration of this dangerous window. Heavy traffic increases
not only the duration of any one dangerous window, but gives the motorcyclist multiple windows to worry about. It seems that
experience enables the subconscious to kinda prioritize these windows in order of most to least dangerous while the rider is actively
scanning his or her surroundings and doing all of the other things needed to successfully traffic jam.
Anticipation is also WAY more important than reflexes. If the rider KNOWS something is going to happen, he or she can begin
preventive/evasive maneuvers sooner rather than later.
The Late Denis Jenkinson's Book, "The Racing Driver" is one of the best books ever written on roadcraft. He discusses the
differences between racing on a closed course and hi-speed rally driving - the latter of which has a great deal in common
with our world of motorcycling. A great read, (and also entertaining!), if you can fined a copy. I read it decades ago when I
was learning to drive, and got an awful lot out of it.
https://www.amazon.com/Racing-Driver-Theory-Practice-Driving/dp/0837602017
-Stretch
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Re [Ncdan]s "stand on your pegs" counsel, I took a traffic class some decades ago taught by a retired CHP motor officer, who advocated vaulting for collisions.
He said if collision is about to happen, release your grip on the bars and push off your pegs/floorboards with your legs.
The theoretical goal was to clear the offending vehicle in a single somersault and land on your feet running.
He had a couple of tales of people who were (mostly) successful at executing that move. He advocated practicing it three times in your mind, then storing that memory for emergency use.
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I used to race small kneel down outboard boats. It was high speed racing and in close quarters with the rest of the pack. When I left the races in my truck with a truck camper and pulling a trailer with the boat I felt more in danger than when I was racing. I feel the same way with my motorcycle. Even though it is inherently more dangerous, supposedly, I feel safer as I have more space around me, excellent brakes and acceleration to avoid hazards.
kk
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The left-turning motorist was apparently turning into an auto repair business, in a 40mph zone. Two lane State Highway within village limts.
My takeaway is this was a "look through him" situation in which the motorcyclist had little or no reaction time.
My situation almost exactly - 40 mph zone (and I was under the limit), two lane highway (US219), still within Marlinton city limits. 71 year old lady in a Ford Focus headed south, in front of the Dairy Queen, no signal on. Turned in front of me when I was approx. 30 ft. from her. Almost zero time to react. Big blue BMW K75 with LED headlight on high beam. "I didn't see you". :shocked:
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I will disagree with one part of Dan's advice, be careful flashing your headlight. Some drivers take it as a signal that you're giving them the right away.
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I recommend wiring your passing flasher button to your headlight high beam, your insanely powerful LED spotlights, and your two sets of horns (OEM and air). Then press the button. Never seems to need a second application.
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My situation almost exactly - 40 mph zone (and I was under the limit), two lane highway (US219), still within Marlinton city limits. 71 year old lady in a Ford Focus headed south, in front of the Dairy Queen, no signal on. Turned in front of me when I was approx. 30 ft. from her. Almost zero time to react. Big blue BMW K75 with LED headlight on high beam. "I didn't see you". :shocked:
Travelling 40 mph, two vehicles will close 30 feet in what? A quarter second? Basically no reaction time. It's those kinds of close calls and accidents which scare me the most.
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I recommend wiring your passing flasher button to your headlight high beam, your insanely powerful LED spotlights, and your two sets of horns (OEM and air). Then press the button. Never seems to need a second application.
Add a xenon strobe and wire all that to your front brake switch. That would be something! And, would really simplify all the multi-tasking!
On an ABS bike, you could wire it all to start in when the ABS engages. That way every brake application wouldn't wake the dead.
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The methods I listed were from my past training as a motor officer. To use the “flashing” of lights, from a distance, when approaching a given approaching traffic situation is and has been an acceptable way of making an approaching vehicle noticeable. Yes if one waits until being in close proximity of said turning vehicle I’m sure it could be construed as being a jester of politeness, suggesting the turning vehicle can have the right of way. Here’s where experience and common sense comes in. The technique has served me well over the years.
Let’s not get hung up on arguing on this one technique that I passed on from my training.
Use what techniques you wish to use and disregard which you don’t trust.
Now let’s move on.
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Travelling 40 mph, two vehicles will close 30 feet in what? A quarter second? Basically no reaction time. It's those kinds of close calls and accidents which scare me the most.
riding today, a huge vulture appeared right at my face, I screamed, ducked and closed my eyes.
Then it was gone.
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Lots of good avoidance suggestions here. Do not agree with “making eye contact with the driver”. Clearly they’re not seeing you, and our eyes should be directed elsewhere. Just happens way too fast.
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The methods I listed were from my past training as a motor officer. To use the “flashing” of lights, from a distance, when approaching a given approaching traffic situation is and has been an acceptable way of making an approaching vehicle noticeable. Yes if one waits until being in close proximity of said turning vehicle I’m sure it could be construed as being a jester of politeness, suggesting the turning vehicle can have the right of way. Here’s where experience and common sense comes in. The technique has served me well over the years.
Let’s not get hung up on arguing on this one technique that I passed on from my training.
Use what techniques you wish to use and disregard which you don’t trust.
Now let’s move on.
It makes more sense when you explain it like that. I didn't catch the part to flash lights at distance to get their attention. I agree with the eye contact, always have relied on that. Dan, I wasn't trying to make an issue out of it. I think that the discussion helped clarify it or at least made me understand the point better.
BTW- I got a flash from a car today before being near assaulted by a buzzard. I think the flash saved me a ticket.
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It makes more sense when you explain it like that. I didn't catch the part to flash lights at distance to get their attention. I agree with the eye contact, always have relied on that. Dan, I wasn't trying to make an issue out of it. I think that the discussion helped clarify it or at least made me understand the point better.
BTW- I got a flash from a car today before being near assaulted by a buzzard. I think the flash saved me a ticket.
Thanks for the acknowledgement LR. I guess I should have bypassed the “common sense” aspect of the list of suggestions and offered an 8 hour class, as I was in, so I could have been more precise about each point😂
By the way,was that “buzzard” riding a Harley or European style and was he in the bushes or behind a bridge abutment?🤔.
Y’all have fun with this, I’m going back to my hiding place.
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I’m a huge believer in using the horn. Have a loud aftermarket horn. I’m not trying to be polite. I want them to notice.
I’m also a huge believer in the the SMIDSY maneuver. Aggressive lateral motion gets their attention.
Finally, cover your front brake. I’m covering the front brake lever in 99% of intersections.
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Add a xenon strobe and wire all that to your front brake switch. That would be something! And, would really simplify all the multi-tasking!
On an ABS bike, you could wire it all to start in when the ABS engages. That way every brake application wouldn't wake the dead.
I was oversimplifying my actual approach. I have wiring that uses only the horn button and the flasher button to achieve three warnings, in turn:
1) up to half a block away, on seeing a potential problem, the flasher button activates my high beams and the ridiculously bright LED spot lights;
2) if things haven't gotten better as I near the problem, the horn button blows the OEM horns;
3) at close range, if the other steps haven't worked, pushing the horn and flasher buttons together operates all lights and horns (including an air horn) simultaneously.
So I agree with NcDan that bright lights at a distance are the best early warning. They are used too far away to be mistaken for ceding the right of way.
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YouTube is full of helmet cams of motorcyclists honking their horn or rev bombing at a car that pulls out in front of them, sometimes still hitting the vehicle, when they could have instead taken action to brake or swerve instead of honking. Be sure to pair any signaling with actual action when possible.
As for strobe lights, many people with photosensitive epilepsy can and do drive and ride, best to keep that close to the modulation of standard lighting so you don't cause a safety issue while trying to prevent one.
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I have to disagree with the use of high beams or blindingly bright spots. My brother used to run with his brights (probably a 100 watt halogen) and when following, would blind me through the rear views. Terribly rude!
Oncoming, it's difficult to judge speed when the lights are so bright you can't look directly at them.
Swerving makes sense - never thought of it. Thanks for that.
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the smart thing is to slow down if you can so you can stop if it happens. But it's usually too late or happens with no warning.
like dodging a buzzard out of nowhere.
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Personally, I'm sick to death of hearing "Simply didn't see him" excuses..
Rant over.
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Don't know if yellow bulbs are legal in the US ...over here they are and you see about one vehicle in 250 000 with them as they went out here during the eighties .I'm strongly considering getting one as you really notice them !
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A lot of ADV riders use them here in their auxiliary lights. I don't think that is a problem, however I think a yellow headlight would be.
kk
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Don't know if yellow bulbs are legal in the US ...over here they are and you see about one vehicle in 250 000 with them as they went out here during the eighties .I'm strongly considering getting one as you really notice them !
I think France was the last country to allow amber headlights.
In the 1990s and 2000s, I used to regularly see twin-lamp sportsbikes and sport-tourers running one yellow lamp and one white lamp. Since all the bikes have gone to single flush headlamps, amber headlights are not seen.
I don't think amber headlamps are illegal in The USA, but running only amber on the front would likely get you stopped and questioned, if not ticketed, by local authorities.
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I think France was the last country to allow amber headlights.
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France used to require them I believe.
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Yes, France did require them. https://www.hemmings.com/stories/french-cars-yellow-headlights/
Many European cars have also had a history of having clear turn signal lenses, not sure the specifics of that but I've seen plenty of them that way.
For whatever reason the modern Moto Guzzi V7s come with gaudy large incandescent turn signals bulbs as a part of the USA spec. I replaced mine with the Euro LED ones, much easier to see those during both day and night even though they're physically smaller.
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When they taught us in ‘82, they said if you can avoid hitting anything, you’ll probly walk away. But if you strike anything, your odds are not so good because that’s how you get hurt. I got a certificate for advanced patrol and persuit on a ‘71 Ambassador from the Louisiana state police. It was a tough course, one of the Tyler, TX cops wiped out on the last high speed test so he flunked.
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https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-surviving-on-the-roads/ (https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-surviving-on-the-roads/)
This fascinating article explains how our eyes work and why we aren't
always seen on our bikes. Really interesting and applicable to riding
motorbikes. Written by an ex-RAF pilot.
Can't remember where I originally got the link from......
-Stretch
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My situation almost exactly - 40 mph zone (and I was under the limit), two lane highway (US219), still within Marlinton city limits. 71 year old lady in a Ford Focus headed south, in front of the Dairy Queen, no signal on. Turned in front of me when I was approx. 30 ft. from her. Almost zero time to react. Big blue BMW K75 with LED headlight on high beam. "I didn't see you". :shocked:
Well.....was she charged? A slap on the wrist? Were you well compensated?
I am always curious how these turn out as far as charges against the driver. :copcar:
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I wire dual Fiamm horns into my bikes. When you need a horn you NEED it. On my /5 I wired small Twisted Throttle LED auxiliary lights below my front turn signals. I ditched the on/off switch and wired them hot whenever the key is on. They seem to really get attention. They also distinguish the bike from a one eyed car. All that being said, between traffic and wild animals, riding is a total crap shoot. Gear up and pay attention.
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https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-surviving-on-the-roads/ (https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-surviving-on-the-roads/)
This fascinating article explains how our eyes work and why we aren't
always seen on our bikes. Really interesting and applicable to riding
motorbikes. Written by an ex-RAF pilot.
Can't remember where I originally got the link from......
-Stretch
Maybe me I think I posted it here some time ago. Very interesting and explains a lot.
kk
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YouTube is full of helmet cams of motorcyclists honking their horn or rev bombing at a car that pulls out in front of them, sometimes still hitting the vehicle, when they could have instead taken action to brake or swerve instead of honking. Be sure to pair any signaling with actual action when possible.
As for strobe lights, many people with photosensitive epilepsy can and do drive and ride, best to keep that close to the modulation of standard lighting so you don't cause a safety issue while trying to prevent one.
I've noticed the same on YouTube and wondered if they were doing that just for views or actually ride that way. Almost universally, the situation is predictable yet they ride (often accelerating rapidly) right into it. If you have time to hit the horn or rev-bomb you had more than enough time to slow/stop and simply avoid the issue. Even better, predict traffic behavior and there won't be a situation to react to in the first place.
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Well.....was she charged? A slap on the wrist? Were you well compensated?
I am always curious how these turn out as far as charges against the driver. :copcar:
Charged with "failure to yield the right away". Unknown what punishment. No compensation thus far - took the WV troopers a week to file the accident report (they have up to 14 days). She filed a claim with her insurance company almost immediately, I filed one as soon as I got the police report (which I had to request and pay $25 to get!). I received nothing at the accident scene - no accident report, none of her information or anything. Waiting to hear from her insurance co. claims adjuster.
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https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-surviving-on-the-roads/ (https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-surviving-on-the-roads/)
This fascinating article explains how our eyes work and why we aren't
always seen on our bikes. Really interesting and applicable to riding
motorbikes. Written by an ex-RAF pilot.
Can't remember where I originally got the link from......
-Stretch
This is an excellent article but did miss one crucial point. In our temporal visual field of both eyes we do have a true blind spot along the midline. This is due to the fact that the optic nerve head does not have photo receptors that the rest of the retinal has. The highest center of vision, the fovea, has cone
receptors which provide our distinct straight ahead vision. The peripheral retina has rods which provides primarily contrast and detection of movement as stated in the article. So, not only do saccades come into play, but also our natural blind spot in each eye. This is why it is crucial to make two scans right to left because if an object was in your natural blind spot on the first scan at a roundabout or stop sign, by the time you check the second time the object has
moved and you are now able to see it. Another important point to remember is that not everyone sees well or within specified legal limits to operate a vehicle either due to not wearing their glasses, cataracts for the older among us or excessive tearing or dry eye. Cataracts can cause not only blurry vision but extreme glare either with sun at a particular angle or car head lights at night. I do this for a living, you would be absolutely amazed at the amount of people out their driving that are nowhere near compliance to state law requirements to operate a vehicle legally, and they swear they see just fine.
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Maybe me I think I posted it here some time ago. Very interesting and explains a lot.
kk
Could well be. Being a lazy cuss by nature, I didn't run the source to ground..... :rolleyes:
You're credited! :bow:
-Stretch
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Personally, I'm sick to death of hearing "Simply didn't see him" excuses..
Rant over.
When they say that after pulling in front of a school bus full of children no one believes them.
When they say that about motorcycles everyone agrees with them.
When the SUV driver said that after cutting off the guy I was riding with I said “well glad to know you didn’t cut him off on purpose”. Followed by “maybe if you would have actually looked you would have seen him”.
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Actor Treat Williams hit and killed by a left-turning motorist in the very small town of Dorset Vermont.
A reminder that it can happen to any of us at any time.
Be vigilant.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/12/entertainment/treat-williams-death/index.html
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/13/treat-williams-prolific-character-actor-dies-in-motorcycle-crash-aged-71#:~:text=Treat%20Williams%2C%20prolific%20character%20actor%2C%20dies%20in%20motorcycle%20crash%20aged%2071
Saw a clip on NBC news last night. Turns out he was just down the street from his home. The driver who hit him and the guy who owned the business where it happened, and saw it happen, knew him. Small town. Sad deal.
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So I read the daily police log, to find out if there were any burglaries , drug deals near me, or whatever.
I am surprised at the number of hit and runs reported. And a
few, like a neighbor, never bothered to report.
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The wifey watch's these cop shows, an amazing number of drivers stopped have no license, or ins.
Or even an ID.
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The wifey watch's these cop shows, an amazing number of drivers stopped have no license, or ins.
Or even an ID.
It's also amazing how many murder suspects take their phones with them to commit their crimes. The cops pull the GPS files and tower pings, and BOOM! that story about being somewhere else just fell apart. Then there is all the internet "how-to" searching that happens right before the crime is commited. LOL! Every dang time. The cops search the suspect's Google Search history and combined with the cell phone history, the suspect is toast.
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The errant driver only reacts to a perceived threat. You are not a threat so he/she doesn’t care, they feel superior because they are bigger and assume greater importance.
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Far too often I find myself riding in the middle to right part of the lane when following cars. This is 2 lane highways and surface streets.
When following larger SUVs and trucks the oncoming vehicles cannot see me. Stay close to the centerline and stay visible. :bike-037:
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The errant driver only reacts to a perceived threat. You are not a threat so he/she doesn’t care, they feel superior because they are bigger and assume greater importance.
Very broad stroke, to say “ he/she doesn’t care. They feel superior...”
To take a life by a motor accident can be terribly traumatic, and scarring for the car/ truck driver. I doubt that very few feel that cavalier about a tragedy like this.
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Very broad stroke, to say “ he/she doesn’t care. They feel superior...”
To take a life by a motor accident can be terrible traumatic, and scarring for the car/ truck driver. I doubt that very few feel that cavalier about a tragedy like this.
They care about the consequences for sure.
I’ll change it a bit if you like…
They do not rate you highly enough (at the time), as something to be computed in their brain, so as to be be worthy of their attention.
It’s a process of prioritising risk/reward.
I’m sure I passed a half eaten sandwich somewhere on the side of the autobahn last year in Germany…..
But I don’t recall seeing it.
Now the same thing on my riding line in a corner…? Yes.
Just while y’all are getting your flame throwers ready..
Why does Treat Williams get more press than Allen Williams ?
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riding today, a huge vulture appeared right at my face, I screamed, ducked and closed my eyes.
Then it was gone.
Isn't a Buzzard the official Moto Guzzi symbol bird?
You shoulda made eye contact, not close your eyes!
What were you thinking? :wink:
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I will disagree with one part of Dan's advice, be careful flashing your headlight. Some drivers take it as a signal that you're giving them the right away.
Being raised in the Great White North, that is the common interpretation I was raised with. I have noticed it means the same here in Virginia, but, IMO, only after making eye contact. In my experience, it is extremely obvious when the approaching driver is saying "go ahead!"
But of course, if the other person is not signaling they are going to make the turn, you obviously don't know what they are planning to do. If they don't see you, it doesn't matter what you do!
A few quick left/right weaves seems a good practice. Let the other person think you're a bit out of control, and they may decide to keep their distance.
Charlie was traveling at 60 ft/second. 30 feet = 1/2 second. Sounds like no reaction time to me. No light, no horn, not even a middle finger....... :wink:
The other safety tip I have heard is if you are in one of two lanes going in the same direction thru an intersection, pair up with a bigger vehicle thru the intersection so they can be your blocker!
Although from my dump truck driving days I can assure you that some people can't see big, bright red dump trucks running with the lights on either. Lucky for them, I had fast reflexes at age 19 and I was running empty. If I was carrying a load they would have been toast.
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…..
Why does Treat Williams get more press than Allen Williams ?
I was wondering if & when a WG member in the same circumstance would get a comparable amount of ink.
Seriously, it’s easy to to say and plan. When the hsit hits the fan in an instant, most people don’t do what they say they would. Me? I’ve learned living hard won’t necessarily kill you when you think it should, even if you’re trying. I’ve also seen how being careful doesn’t necessarily lead to the good outcome some think they deserve.
if Mr Williams loved riding his bike and he died doing it, …. ? What would you rather die doing?
Live every moment like it’s your last. At your last moment, you’ll finally be right. So says the man that cuts headstones for a living..
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I was wondering if & when a WG member in the same circumstance would get a comparable amount of ink.
Seriously, it’s easy to to say and plan. When the hsit hits the fan in an instant, most people don’t do what they say they would. Me? I’ve learned living hard won’t necessarily kill you when you think it should, even if you’re trying. I’ve also seen how being careful doesn’t necessarily lead to the good outcome some think they deserve.
if Mr Williams loved riding his bike and he died doing it, …. ? What would you rather die doing?
Live every moment like it’s your last. At your last moment, you’ll finally be right. So says the man that cuts headstones for a living..
The closest I ever knowingly went to dying and was unscathed, was putting the aluminium mast in a catamaran while standing in knee deep water.
I thought the shrouds had fouled because the mast would not go completely upright.
Turns out the mast had leaned against an overhead 240 V power line…. :embarrassed:
I didn’t look up because I didn’t “care” enough to safeguard my OWN life…!
So how possible is it to show such callous disregard for another’s ?
A conscious or subconscious lack of mental prioritisation.
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The closest I ever knowingly went to dying and was unscathed, was putting the aluminium mast in a catamaran while standing in knee deep water.
I thought the shrouds had fouled because the mast would not go completely upright.
Turns out the mast had leaned against an overhead 240 V power line…. :embarrassed:
I didn’t look up because I didn’t “care” enough to safeguard my OWN life…!
So how possible is it to show such callous disregard for another’s ?
A conscious or subconscious lack of mental prioritisation.
I’ve decided that it’s about your time. when it’s time to die, there’s nothing you can do to stop it. When it isn’t your time, there’s nothing you can do to make it happen. I can’t explain it, but it seems like some people have no business surviving a given situation while others are killed by something as irrelevant as the flick of a fly’s wing.
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I’ve decided that it’s about your time. when it’s time to die, there’s nothing you can do to stop it. When it isn’t your time, there’s nothing you can do to make it happen. I can’t explain it, but it seems like some people have no business surviving a given situation while others are killed by something as irrelevant as the flick of a fly’s wing.
Yeah when you change your future, you haven’t actually “changed” anything, because there is nothing to “change”.
Your “new future” is the future you were always going experience.
If I have two hats, a red and a green and my unknown future is that I am going to put on the red one, it does not matter if I opt for the green one and then change my mind, thus donning the red one.
That is not a change, because at NO point, was I ever going to wear the green one.
The last line of the story, once enacted is always the future that you were destined for, none of the events along the way altered anything.
There was nothing to “alter”.
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As far as crashes, while riding, i am often reminded of a job my brother briefly had, highway construction.
The company yard was full of wrecked crash trucks and crash trailers. Flashing lights, big signs, cones, flagmen, etc., did not deter drivers who were incomptent. If folks didnt see a huge truck with flashing lights and bright signs, they wont see a little biker.
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Isn't a Buzzard the official Moto Guzzi symbol bird?
You shoulda made eye contact, not close your eyes!
What were you thinking? :wink:
Thinking about it, I think it was a Wild Turkey since it came out of the brush. Turkeys have 1/10 the flying ability and 10 times the weight vs a Buzzard.
So far as screaming, ducking and closing my eyes, totally involuntary. I don't recommend it.
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What kind of sandwich?
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Thinking about it, I think it was a Wild Turkey since it came out of the brush. Turkeys have 1/10 the flying ability and 10 times the weight vs a Buzzard.
So far as screaming, ducking and closing my eyes, totally involuntary. I don't recommend it.
I've seen a couple flying low and fast thru the woods. My first thought was a black bear cub. But too quiet and no trail.
Hitting that thing would have a ruined your whole day and maybe a big chunk of your future.
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What kind of sandwich?
Bratwurst.
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The other safety tip I have heard is if you are in one of two lanes going in the same direction thru an intersection, pair up with a bigger vehicle thru the intersection so they can be your blocker!
This - I try to be slightly ahead as to be in the blocker's field of view, but otherwise become "part of" the bigger vehicle.
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Bratwurst.
Mmmmm, bratwurst…
I wonder if it’s still there
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Mmmmm, bratwurst…
I wonder if it’s still there
Homer Simpson.
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Even in Alaska, where there's not so much traffic, well maybe in Los Anchorage, accidents happen...
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2023/06/23/motorcyclist-from-florida-killed-in-collision-near-tok-that-left-2nd-person-critically-injured/
Not much info on what happened, maybe there'll be a followup article, tho it's just a motorcycle, so maybe not!
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Just got back from a couple hour ride. Twisties, gravel roads, small towns and country. Great stuff and no problems with cars. Until I got 50 yards from home and someone decided to run a yield sign in front of me. Not hit-- it just gave me a chance to use my horn and the Angry Finger. Some good old righteous anger once in a while is a good thing. Reduces the bile. Also reminds one to not relax too much even when on familiar territory.
In my couple decades of riding, driving, and pretending I know what the hell I'm talking about, the weaving-in-lane method seems to be most effective to maintain visibility. But if a car driver is determined to be a prat, they're going to prat.
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Just got back from a couple hour ride. Twisties, gravel roads, small towns and country. Great stuff and no problems with cars. Until I got 50 yards from home and someone decided to run a yield sign in front of me. Not hit-- it just gave me a chance to use my horn and the Angry Finger. Some good old righteous anger once in a while is a good thing. Reduces the bile. Also reminds one to not relax too much even when on unfamiliar territory.
In my couple decades of riding, driving, and pretending I know what the hell I'm talking about, the weaving-in-lane method seems to be most effective to maintain visibility. But if a car driver is determined to be a prat, they're going to prat.
You’re a Tin Tin fan, you have a good outlook.
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Good thread. That fighter pilot vision article very informative.
My own 2 cents, some stuff I learned on safety courses and internet reading:
1) Assume they don’t see you, and if they do see you, they’re trying to kill you.
2) Treat other road users like inanimate objects. In other words they’re just robots/machines and they occasionally malfunction. The point there is you don’t want to waste valuable brain capacity with needless anger, which detracts from your capacity to deal with the situation. Related to this point, is blasting the horn/middle fingering your way into the scene of the accident, when you could have been braking/swerving to avoid it. I think sometimes riders get sucked into this because they feel it is their duty to point out to the guilty party how wrong they are. I learned this one years ago, and since then I rarely get into conflicts as I try my best to take the “mental energy” out of these situations. We’re all fallible humans no matter what we’re riding/driving/flying, etc.