Treat Williams hit by left-turning motorist

[moto]

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.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

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.

[wirespokes]

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.

[LowRyter]

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. 

[tazio]

Personally, I'm sick to death of hearing "Simply didn't see him" excuses..
Rant over.

[Frenchfrog]

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 !

[Moparnut72]

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

[rocker59]

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.

[moto]

I think France was the last country to allow amber headlights.
...

France used to require them I believe.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

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.

[John A]

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.

[Stretch]

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

[bacongrease]

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". 

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.

[Scout63]

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.

[Moparnut72]

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

[MerleLowe]

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.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

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.

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.

[tommy2cyl]

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.

[Stretch]

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.....

You're credited! 

                                                 -Stretch

[twowheeladdict]

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”.

[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

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.

[bacongrease]

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.

[bacongrease]

 The wifey watch's these cop shows, an amazing number of drivers stopped have no license, or ins.
 Or even an ID.

[rocker59]

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.

[Huzo]

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.

[guido guzzi]

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. 

[sdcr]

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.

[Huzo]

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 ?

[SIR REAL ED]

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?   

[SIR REAL ED]

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.......   

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.