Author Topic: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles  (Read 5584 times)

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Offline faux fiddy

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Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« on: February 29, 2012, 12:49:27 PM »
I was talking to a guy just yesterday  with a few months old Monster 1100, a friend pullde up and asked him about the scratches on the pipes, which I hadn't noticed.  He said he was run off the road hit and run with the bike just six hours old.

Today I got this e-mail:



From a former Naval Aviator:

This is a great illustration of what we were taught about scanning outside
the cockpit when I went through training back in the '50s. We were told
to scan the horizon for a short distance, stop momentarily, and
repeat the process. I can remember being told why this was the most
effective technique to locate other aircraft. It was emphasized
(repeatedly) to NOT fix your gaze for more than a couple of seconds on any
single object. The instructors, some of whom were WWII veterans with years
of experience, instructed us to continually "keep our eyes moving and our
head on a swivel" because this was the best way to survive, not only in
combat, but from peacetime hazards (like a midair collision) as well. We basically had
to take the advice on faith (until we could experience it for ourselves)
because the technology to demonstrate it didn't exist at that time.





Click on the link for a demonstration: **http://www.msf-usa.org/motion.html
« Last Edit: February 29, 2012, 11:04:46 PM by fiddy of industry »
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Offline Duke McDukiedook

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #1 on: February 29, 2012, 01:58:02 PM »
Because a motorcycle is not the size of a car or something larger like a tractor trailer.
We are not perceived as a threat and are ignored by the brain.
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Offline Duanob

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #2 on: February 29, 2012, 02:32:13 PM »
Cause they give a driver's license to just about anybody that can walk into a DOL! Whether they read the manual or not.
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Offline fastbroshi

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #3 on: February 29, 2012, 03:30:33 PM »
Link isn't working.
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Offline Prospect

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #4 on: February 29, 2012, 03:38:28 PM »
Link isn't working.
[/quot
Link isn't working.

Cut and paste the link into your browser and remove the space between - and usa the space between . and html.  It's a spam prevention technique. 

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Offline apex_seeking

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Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #5 on: February 29, 2012, 03:40:54 PM »
Because they have a cage in the way. Or a phone glued to their head.

Offline Gordon

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #6 on: February 29, 2012, 03:43:34 PM »
Cause they give a driver's license to just about anybody that can walk into a DOL! Whether they read the manual or not.

Pretty much this.


Seems like I get pulled out in front of or nearly side-swiped as often in my car as I do on a bike.  It's just more adrenaline-inducing and more memorable when it happens on a motorcycle, because the consequences would be much worse.  Driving a car these days has become just about as much of a passive exercise as it possibly could be without actually completely removing the driver from the equation.  Cars are rolling living rooms with all the same comforts and distractions, and the larger the vehicle the more safe and secure the driver feels, to the detriment of the safety of all the other people around them. 

Offline FunJimmy

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Offline apex_seeking

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Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #8 on: February 29, 2012, 04:03:59 PM »
What's crazy is that the manufactures who claim to be "drivers" are taking the driving out of the car. It seems like they can all park themselves now and I remember seeing shows on how they are making vehicles that follow the road so drivers can sleep. It removes people from the equation. I guess people ARE the problem but I thought driving was a responsibility that we should enjoy and relish, not relegate to computers and sensors.

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #9 on: February 29, 2012, 07:38:08 PM »
What's crazy is that the manufactures who claim to be "drivers" are taking the driving out of the car. It seems like they can all park themselves now and I remember seeing shows on how they are making vehicles that follow the road so drivers can sleep. It removes people from the equation. I guess people ARE the problem but I thought driving was a responsibility that we should enjoy and relish, not relegate to computers and sensors.
     



Amen Sir....

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #10 on: February 29, 2012, 11:00:20 PM »
I agree with everything said here but would like to add, I think there are just as many stupid motorcyclists around as well, i am extremely careful and aware of motorcyclists when driving but there's always the idiot that overtakes on the inside or sits in your blind spot and has no idea of what he is doing. I was about a kilometer from an  accident site on a motorway last year on my way to work. all traffic was at a standstill, we had been sitting in the same spot for a good 10 minutes when i opened the curb side door to get out and stretch my legs, as i opened the door some idiot squid on a late model GSXR1000 went past me at about 50MPH or more, it frightened the crap out of me, if i had opened the door a second earlier he would have been a statistic, i did look but he was going that fast {we were on a bend} that i didn't see him at all, it was a 30 meter drop straight into hardwood trees...... There are a lot of people with no idea at all.....
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Offline faux fiddy

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #11 on: February 29, 2012, 11:07:17 PM »
Link isn't working.

Okay, fixed it. It had a space before html, too. Check it out, it's pretty strange. Things disappear when you stare.
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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #12 on: March 01, 2012, 04:30:09 AM »
Motorists pull out in front of other motorists, semis, police cars ambulances, motorhomes, suvs, greyhound buses, etc, etc, etc.

Why should we feel special? Expect it and be ready for i to happen.
Just because you have the right of way dosent mean they are going to give it to you.
 
I don't believe we have any reason to feel special.

Ride like you are invisible.

Offline MoMo

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #13 on: March 01, 2012, 05:08:17 AM »
Motorists pull out in front of other motorists, semis, police cars ambulances, motorhomes, suvs, greyhound buses, etc, etc, etc.

Why should we feel special? Expect it and be ready for i to happen.
Just because you have the right of way dosent mean they are going to give it to you.
 
I don't believe we have any reason to feel special.

Ride like you are invisible.


Best advice you can give someone is ride like you are invisible.

My observations from 40 years of experience(and writing hundreds of insurance estimates) is most car/cycle accidents could have been prevented if the mc rider wasn't going too fast for conditions...Larry

Offline cb650

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2012, 05:30:03 AM »
 You are invisible to half and the other half dont give a fuc.   No matter if you in a car or  whatever.
18 grand and 18 miles dont make you a biker

Offline wardenerd

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #15 on: March 01, 2012, 05:34:22 AM »
In Fayetteville it is typically the Obama sticker on the back bumper of the car which interferes with the driver's vision

Offline cb650

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #16 on: March 01, 2012, 05:41:29 AM »
True to a extent.  I got ran into the curb by a truck with hardly and Jesus stickers all over the back.  I find audies are the most arrogant /stupid followed by bmw and lezus.
18 grand and 18 miles dont make you a biker

Offline apex_seeking

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Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #17 on: March 01, 2012, 06:04:02 AM »
Wow. We went to profiling. All right...

I just don't trust anyone on the road. It's my life and I act like they don't care, which they don't.

Ride and drive like you're invisible. Those are words to live by.
« Last Edit: March 01, 2012, 06:06:19 AM by apex_seeking »

Offline tortelvis

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #18 on: March 01, 2012, 06:37:21 AM »
Cell phones; the curse of the 21st century!

Offline Xnavylfr

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #19 on: March 01, 2012, 06:53:22 AM »
I try to teach anyone thats is getting on a bike for the FIRST time, that the width of a power pole from a car seat 15 feet away makes them dissappear. I've won a pocket full of cash from this.
Now in NC there is a new LAW about cellphone use while driving as a distraction, in the same law they FORGOT to include looking at your GPS for directions or the touch screen to change from radio to mp3 to cd to bluetooth all that computer BS you DON'T need in a vehicle!!!!


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Offline wardenerd

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #20 on: March 01, 2012, 07:41:01 AM »
I have a BMW and a Lexus but I am only slightly above average......

Offline BeSeeingYou

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #21 on: March 01, 2012, 09:05:12 AM »
In Fayetteville it is typically the Obama sticker on the back bumper of the car which interferes with the driver's vision

I find these folks to be an even bigger problem.  Obscured vision and the lack of ability to think rationally. ;D

Offline heffay

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #22 on: March 01, 2012, 09:28:46 AM »
This thread was interesting
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #23 on: March 01, 2012, 10:35:59 AM »
These forums are a No Politics Zone, so let's not go down that road. 

Offline faux fiddy

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #24 on: March 01, 2012, 01:34:11 PM »
Cell phones; the curse of the 21st century!

I was pulling out of an alley a few days ago into a line of traffic to make a left turn. When the light turned green to let them go, I pulled into the street, assuming the car in the way was going to move .  I sat as the lady who was intensely looking at her cell phone lost six car lengths on the line of traffic I was trying to get into.  The front of my car was about two feet from her door without notice.

So my horn was about 2'6" from her door when I gave it a good blast. I was looking down into her window. She must have pooped.
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Offline cb650

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #25 on: March 01, 2012, 02:41:09 PM »
Wow. We went to profiling. All right...

I just don't trust anyone on the road. It's my life and I act like they don't care, which they don't.

Ride and drive like you're invisible. Those are words to live by.
Yes but if it fits   ;D   You still across the hiway?
18 grand and 18 miles dont make you a biker

Offline apex_seeking

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Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #26 on: March 01, 2012, 07:21:23 PM »
Wow. We went to profiling. All right...

I just don't trust anyone on the road. It's my life and I act like they don't care, which they don't.

Ride and drive like you're invisible. Those are words to live by.
Yes but if it fits   ;D   You still across the hiway?

Across the highway I am!

Offline dave500

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #27 on: March 02, 2012, 12:38:05 AM »
who drives on here for a living,,i do,im not perfect but most people once in cars are #$%*heads full stop.

Offline heffay

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #28 on: March 02, 2012, 08:06:23 AM »
who drives on here for a living,,i do,im not perfect but most people once in cars are #$%*heads full stop.

I do, bout 150-250 miles a day driving in phoenix metro traffic.  Agreed.

Elizabeth and I were on our way to the DMV the other day and old geezer #$%*head blows thru the red light from the side without looking and turns right in front of us, I get in the left lane to go around, he then pokes around in the right lane for a bit then cuts me off again to go around the car in front of him!  I go on his right side to give him the evil eye, and all he does his not look at me, shake his head, and guns it to beat me to the construction zone!  <  #$%*head
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Offline ThomasD883

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #29 on: March 07, 2012, 02:42:35 PM »
I drive a minimum of 120 miles per day for work, sometimes as much as 3-400. I've learned to let the a$$hats do as they please, leave room and let em cut you off, you all know they will be at the next light right with you. Make every decision, don't leave any thing in the hands of the distracted teen next to you. F em , f em all.
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Offline sangyo soichiro

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Re: Why Motorists can't see Motorcycles
« Reply #30 on: March 10, 2012, 09:44:48 AM »
I like that email you quoted, Tree Fiddy.  Good stuff, and interesting.

On another note, does anyone else here notice that pedestrians diddy-bop along and don't pay much attention to traffic?  Almost everyday I see one cross the street without even glancing to see if cars are coming.  And don't get me started on bicyclists that are supposed to obey the same traffic laws as motorists, yet I see them blow through stop signs all the f****** time!   >:(
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