Road hazards

[Guzzidad]

   Hit a gopher tortoise yesterday in Florida. I was surprised it didn't shake the bike too much. I think I got him in the head area and not the bulk of his shell but I did hear a crunch. I was behind a pick-up truck that straddled him. Half a second to react, but he didn't stand a chance on that busy road.

[n3303j]

Once watched an extension ladder appear behind the truck straddling it on Route 95. Served as a reminder to maintain a good maneuvering distance behind all leading vehicles.

[Pescatore]

Wallboard appeared in my case.
Luckily it was not broken up and I rode over it. I still have flashbacks that freak me out.
I try to not ride in the middle of the lane, regardless of distance.   Plus it's usually slick.

[Huzo]

   Hit a gopher tortoise yesterday in Florida. I was surprised it didn't shake the bike too much. I think I got him in the head area and not the bulk of his shell but I did hear a crunch. I was behind a pick-up truck that straddled him. Half a second to react, but he didn't stand a chance on that busy road.

Did you review your decision to sit half a second behind the leading vehicle ?

[John A]

Around here the deer are like rats, running around all over without a care or scared into wild runners. At night we are always ready to play dodge deer. It gets interesting when other vehicles encounter them for there is no telling how drivers will react.   Sometimes it happens so quickly reaction is not possible. Once I was following a semi, a ways back because a thrown tread can take a rider off the bike. He hit a deer at fifty mph. The animal instantly turned into a mist of feces, blood and parts. Another time a deer ran out from the left into the path of an oncoming semi with the same result. I got a good view of that one.Both happened at night, instantly and in the same area . I worry about a car taking me out while trying to avoid one. A semi driver generally will not try to avoid one but a car driver will, loosing control.

[Huzo]

Three main ones..
Texting drivers.
Drivers using their ‘phone texting while driving.
Oncoming drivers reading texts while driving.

I drive very large trucks on the road and you can see straight down into the vehicle..(not always a bad thing… )
60% of drivers are interacting with their phone while driving and of these, 30% are actively texting or hand held talking.
Holding it down near the wedding tackle while texting is the most popular…

[Canuck750]

In 2007, two up on a BMW R1150 RT westbound out of Death Valley on a long climb with Joshua trees all over the place, a car coming down the two lane road let loose it’s left front wheel about 50 yards out from us. The bang sounded like a gunshot and the whole wheel bounced down the hill and flew across the road in front of us as the car hit the ditch on the left side of us.
I was still shaking half an hour later. My wife had shut her eyes and didn’t see the wheel fly across the road in front of us.

[Gliderjohn]

Back in the 70s was driving in the wintertime on the KS turnpike fairing late at night. Semi icy. See a tow truck in the meridian and a car in the right ditch. Next thing there is a cable in front of me between the truck and the car. Can't stop but was able to direct the car into the ditch before hitting the cable but now stuck. Tow truck pulled me out for free.
GldierJohn

[DougG]

FUNNY STORY...ANIMALS IN THE ROAD

Here in the Adirondacks in upper NYS, animals are often on the road and drivers are well aware of that fact.   A few weeks ago I came around a turn and noticed a few cars in the opposing lane stopped and a big (at least 25 lb) turkey hen was standing on the double yellow line.  A few seconds later, eight little turkey chicks started across the road in single file.  About half way across, four of them turned around and went back.  Mom followed to retrieve  them and as she did, two of the ones that had successfully crossed turned back to the original side of the road.  This went on for several minutes until all eight chicks and the hen had made it safely across the road.  As traffic started up again, I could see every driver laughing and as one of them passed, he shouted out the window, "Kids these days".
Be well, stay well,
DougG

[chuck peterson]

A billboard vinyl 1/2 on the ground…

The other half in the air…

Right in front of me

Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzze e

[Ncdan]

While responding to an accident with personal injury, I hit a 3 by3 that a box truck had just straddled, on the interstate.
I was running around 80mph and there was no avoiding the contact. I gripped the tank with my knees and just prepared myself for what was the inevitable.
The ole 82 CB900C crossed over with just a mere “bump” and all was ok. That is once my rear released the saddle naugahyde from its grip.

[kballowe]

***T falling off of trucks..... and they all seem to be in front of ME !

[John A]

Deb and I were on a trip to western Montana. She on her V65C and me on a Bassa with the dog, on a two lane going through some passes. We were following a truck and trailer waiting for a place to pass with some traffic behind us. We entered a construction area with cones on both sides of the lane. Going around a corner, the trailer in front started clipping cones and we started dodging them as they went all over. It was kind of fun until we started to get stung by the huge swarm of bees we had ridden into. If we’d been in a car, I wouldn’t even remember it.

[Tkelly]

I hit a swarm of bees going 85 across western Iowa.Fortunately I had a windshield on my  California  which got covered with honey.

[Gliderjohn]

Just remembered. Many years ago riding in Arkansas. Got stuck behind an RV which was stuck behind a truck pulling a hay trailer load with the old style small bales. Mumbling under my breath my tune soon changed when about a third of the hay bale load suddenly fell off the trailer. I stayed directly behind the RV as it was chucking bales left and right keeping my path clear until we could stop. Poor guys in the truck now had a whole trailer to reload in high humidity and 90s temps.
GliderJohn

[Cam3512]

Did you review your decision to sit half a second behind the leading vehicle ?

Agree.  If you’re hitting stuff that the car or truck in front of you straddles, you’re following way too ‘effin close. 

[Cam3512]

About 15 years ago I’m heading home from a rally on my ‘74 Eldo after dark.  For some stupid reason I took the Schuykill expressway (76) through Philly toward NJ.  Heavy truck traffic in the dark.  Going under an overpass, my rear wheel starts sliding back and forth like I hit a patch of ice.  As I got control I see a freshly killed deer carcass in front of me.  Just hung on and hit the big speed bump.  The Eldo took it surprisingly well, with a loud crunch I tore right through it.  Turns out the slippery part was a huge blood puddle.  The thing must’ve been creamed by a truck a minute before I got there.  Pulled over as soon as I could to finish crapping myself.  I was picking deer flesh and hair off my block for weeks.  Never travel on a road that has the word “Kill” in it…

[Scout63]

I hit a deer on the Skyline Drive at well over 50.  It wasn’t fun but no injuries and the BMW airhead took me on to California with a few repairs. A few years later I passed an extension ladder north of Boston on Route 93.  Luckily it was laying the long way.

[sdcr]

About 15 years ago I’m heading home from a rally on my ‘74 Eldo after dark.  For some stupid reason I took the Schuykill expressway (76) through Philly toward NJ.  Heavy truck traffic in the dark.  Going under an overpass, my rear wheel starts sliding back and forth like I hit a patch of ice.  As I got control I see a freshly killed deer carcass in front of me.  Just hung on and hit the big speed bump.  The Eldo took it surprisingly well, with a loud crunch I tore right through it.  Turns out the slippery part was a huge blood puddle.  The thing must’ve been creamed by a truck a minute before I got there.  Pulled over as soon as I could to finish crapping myself.  I was picking deer flesh and hair off my block for weeks.  Never travel on a road that has the word “Kill” in it…

Cam,
Around here, it’s also known as the Sure-Kill Expressway

[v7john]

I learned to keep back from livestock trailers after following a double-deck sheep lorry. I was trundling along on my ancient BSA unable to pass. The amount of piss that came off that top deck was amazing.

[rocker59]

One Thousand One,  One Thousand Two.

 

[Guzzistajohn]

I had a possum run across the road in front of me on the Tiger one evening. I made up my mind I was not going to swerve, what happens, happens.

I went back to check, he had a "V" notch right through the middle of him