Treat Williams hit by left-turning motorist

[rocker59]

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

[sdcr]

RIP

That is the very  common, left turn car driver, turning into his Honda.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Same thing happened to me two weeks ago. Fortunately, I survived. My BMW K75 did not however...

[Ncdan]

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.

[Kev m]

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.

[bigbikerrick]

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

[OldMojo]

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.

[LowRyter]

Thanks Dan. 

Sorry for the losing a fellow rider. 

[bikeridertim]

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.

[Moparnut72]

California recommends riding with high beam on during daylight hours.
kk

[Ncdan]

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.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

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...

[sdcr]

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 “.

[Stretch]

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!      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

[Ncdan]

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.

[rocker59]

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.

[Stretch]

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

[normzone]

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.

[Moparnut72]

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

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

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". 

[LowRyter]

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.

[moto]

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.

[rocker59]

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". 

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.

[rocker59]

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.

[Ncdan]

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.

[LowRyter]

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.   

[Cam3512]

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. 

[LowRyter]

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.

[Ncdan]

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.

[SmithSwede]

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.