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[laylonlor]

yesterday got my bike out  all ready to go , and heard there was a crash 5 miles away, where a lady ran into a biker,.......,and within an hour while drinking coffee on my front porch,... ,here comes a mc down my country road where the speed limit is 40, and my neighbor, was coming home, and turned into her driveway ,right in front of a mc , he hit her and totlaled her car and his bike, terrible scene!!! flew the biker out, i just put my bike back in the garage, looked like a bad day to ride, nobody see's  one headlight anymore

[Phantom309]

Yep ... that sucks after what you saw, but you can't let it ruin YOUR day. If we all thought like that none of us would ride anymore. It is a lot more dangerous nowadays to ride with all the cell phones/distractions than it was years ago, we just have to be more cautious now. What helps me when I go out is to always expect the worst and try to prepare for it ahead of time to avoid stuff like that ... or lessen the chance of it happening. Now if I were the guy on that bike in that situation I would slow down and think ... Is this idiot gonna turn in front of me? Some stuff is out of your hands sometimes, but being defensive helps.

[2k]

Takes some of the fun out of riding, but I have learned that just because your light is green or there is a car that should wait........that doesn't mean go!!! Sad but True.

[VaEagle]

I agree too many distractions for today's average driver. Most people don't realize when they are behind the wheel they are in control of deadly force and it needs their full attention to keep it under control. It bugs me to see on other websites when truck/car owners want to disable the video disc safety that prevents them from watching movies when the vehicle is in gear. To me if driving is that boring that they need to see a movie then get off the road!
I also agree with operating a bike defensively and keep your eyes moving and your head clear. I know some members here get irritated by the use of headlight/tail light modulators or Motolights But I think it helps other drivers see us on the road and I would rather be seen as a brief annoyance then to not be seen at all.

[D-N-D]

I would have done the same thing put the bike away and tomorrow will be another day to go riding.

[Indenial]

One thing I'll have to say, is that during Sturgis this year, you could really tell the bikes with the Daymakers on them. They stood out and were really bright. Especially the Road Glides with two lights.

[PinkE]

I have driven defensively for a long time, I had a car make a left turn right in front of me a long time ago, I was on a 2 wheeler, I pulled over, got myself back together(mentally) and continued on my way, the other car never even stopped, prolly never even saw me, or just didn't care.  I always cover my clutch, one finger, and have my right foot and fingers ready to hit the brake.  Back in the 70's I was riding on the back of our bike, a car started coming over in our lane, never saw or heard us (Honda), I reached my leg out and kicked the side of her car, she woke up, and moved back over in her own lane.  It's like when I used to ride horses, there is a Dragon around every corner ready to jump out at you, be prepared if at all possible.  Drive like there gonna pull out in front of you, because one day, someone will.  Be careful out there.

[Eagle Eye]

Excellent advice PinkE! 

I ride the same way. I expect  others to try to occupy my space. I'm ready and don't assume nothing is around the blind corner if I can't see ahead of my ability to stop.

Prayers for the down.

[kiro]

I’m certain all of us are likely better than good defensive drivers on two wheels – we have to be to stay out of trouble. Although probably not the case with the neighbor turning in front of the rider, cell phone use is by far the single greatest hazard developed in my time riding going back to the early 1970’s. It’s far more difficult to anticipate what drivers will do now than it used to be - cages rolling, not always completely stopping at traffic lights and stop signs, running stop signs, never looking up where we can make eye contact because they’re texting or reading their phones, wandering into our lane, etc. There are many factors involved that must be overcome, but I don’t intend to stop riding because of them. Maybe if I were the rider who collided with the neighbor I’d change my opinion, but in my forty years riding that hasn’t happened yet, but you just never know when it's going to be your turn.

[kansaskim47]

One of my best friends was killed on his motorcycle in 1964.

When I heard about it, I called my mom to come pick me up so I wouldn't have to ride home.

I think it is the only time I ever heard her say a bad word."You get your a$$ on that motorcycle and get home".

I think she knew at that time that riding would be my life-long passion.

[screaminCVO]

For these distracted drivers, I said to my wife - we need to take the camera and she can start taking pictures of these people on their phones and post them where everyone can see........not sure if this was the case here but there are way to many distracted drivers!!

[mrdinny]

For these distracted drivers, I said to my wife - we need to take the camera and she can start taking pictures of these people on their phones and post them where everyone can see........not sure if this was the case here but there are way to many distracted drivers!!

You are so correct. Only thing worse than a drunk driver is a texting driver.

[moscooter]

 

That lady has likely been making the same turn into that driveway for years and years.  Everyone else should be aware of that fact and just know that if she is coming down the road toward her driveway,  by damn.............she is in fact gonna turn as per usual no matter what.

[King2013]

I never realized just how crowded the roads have become until I got hit. It's not just the distractions but it's also the quality of the drivers on the roads today. I usually have at least one close call every time I take the bike out. Maybe they just seem closer now, but I can't believe some of the crap I see out there even while I'm in my car.

[moscooter]

 
Take another look next time you watch a baseball game on TV and they zero in on the crowd in attendance.  You'll see several that have their heads down staring at their smart phone while really paying no attention to the game itself.  they are too caught up in texting friends or checking out email, etc.

Same with people at other venues/sports games/in restaurants or where ever.   Most of the time, when I get a phone call from my adult kids,  it will be while they are out on the road going from point A to point B and using that time to make a call is the predominant thing to do anymore.