Topic: you're never safe no matter how safe you are

[547]

just saw a broadcast on fox news about a guy on a bike rear ended and killed by a lady in a SUV.
they asked the lady about what led up to the collision
turns out she was painting her nails.
dumb A$$
be safe everyone

[fuzzybutt]

good friends of mine here were rear ended in their new smart car by a woman that was turned around in the drivers seat yelling at her kids. she hit them going about 40 mph in her bmw suv. thank god they werent killed.

[547]

those smart cars are kind of scary how small they are
people just need to drive smart and do what they need to do when they get where they're going
instead of while they're getting there

[fuzzybutt]

i have learned over the years to have eyes looking in 6 different directions at once, really learned that driving otr trucks then all the time i've spent on motorcycles.

[heffay]

driving down the road I always point out what drivers are doing before you can see in the car to see what they are doing.
elizabeth is always amazed at my skills.   

seriously tho...

driving slow... on the phone
driving erratically... arguing on the phone
not using signals... on the phone
looking lost... on the phone
in my F'ing fast lane... on the phone!

[Sam Green Racing]

On the phone is a serious offence in the UK, what's more, if I were to get done for doing it, I'd loose my job

Sam.

[Retro Rocket]

Its a serious offense here to, but there's no cure for stupidity....

Mick

[heffay]

watch your 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12-o-clock

must find bobble head or exorcist smiley.

[seaweb11]

I've often wondered if they are such a smart car, why do people look so stupid driving them

I always try to watch my rear views at a stop in an intersection, but sh#t will happen no matter how diligent you are.  Be safe out there.

[cb750fbomb]

On the phone is a serious offence in the UK, what's more, if I were to get done for doing it, I'd loose my job

Sam.

I wish it was a serious offense here, but I see cops driving right past people that are driving like idiots while on the phone. Around here they seem to usually be driving REALLY SLOW with disregard for anyone around them. Everyone in Nashville usually drives like that anyway, though.

[Demon67]

Re  rear ended there should be a charge for criminal stupidity.
Bill the demon.

[Gordon]

watch your 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12-o-clock

must find bobble head or exorcist smiley.

How about Bill Nye?

[Damfino]

Here in Indiana not too long ago, a bike was stopped at an intersection waiting for a green light, green light came but before he could get too far he was run over from behind by a trucker. Apparantly the truck driver was watching the signal and not what was on the road in front of him. Even though he was slowing as he was coming to the red signal, once it turned green he stepped on the gas and ran the guy over. Claims he never saw him....

[Gordon]

Claims he never saw him....

Why is that always the first thing people say after they run over someone?  Is that supposed to make it better or something?

[cb350twin]

How about Bill Nye?

THE SCIENCE GUY!   

[Duke McDukiedook]

I've often wondered if they are such a smart car, why do people look so stupid driving them

I always try to watch my rear views at a stop in an intersection, but sh#t will happen no matter how diligent you are.  Be safe out there.

That's why you should always leave it in first gear at a stop.
Never know when you might have to boogie.

[heffay]

How about Bill Nye?

THE SCIENCE GUY!   

perfect!

[fuzzybutt]

i'd love to have a smart car, just one problem. i'm as big as the car lol.

[heffay]

i'm not a huge guy... but i feel that way when i get in elizabeth's saturn.
i can't actually get in the car without moving the seat back. 
short people!

[Bill K]

 Im on the road alot w/ my job, propane delivery. Its amazing how many people are on the road not watching where they are going. Ive seen people read the paper, shaving, make up, of course phone, and THE WORST, TEXTING !! Damn people watch where your going !

[fuzzybutt]

getting in and out is a bit awkward for me (getting better as i lose more weight) but once inside it's a really comfortable car. rides nice and smooth for a small car too. i drove a 300 mile round trip wedensday to go see ilbikes and his amazing collection (i'm going to have dreams about that green h2 for weeks) i turned 34mpg with the cruise control set at 76mph most of the way.

[mrblasty]

Two days ago I was behind a pick up truck as it was turning into a parking lot, as the truck clears the road and start to pick up speed this woman on her phone starts to pull out in front of me. I saw it coming but had a little fun with her and got on my horn and started revving it up(I'm running an open 4-1 header) yelled at her to wake the #$%* up.  She started yelling at me to get out of the road and started to flipping me off all the while with the phone to her ear, so I blocked her from getting out of the drive way long enough for the traffic to fill in behind me thus holding her up even longer.  Some days i can just take #$%* in stride, Tuesday was not one of those days.

[tramp]

i'm always thankful of the old lady who cut me off and told me thay cars have the right of way
i drive like i'm a fly and everyone else is a fly swatter

[Demon67]

When I lived in the LA area, moons ago I worked about 1/2 hour from where I lived and started to take the freeway to work, of course on a bike after about 3 days back and forth on the San Bernadino freeway I said to hell with it and started to take the service rd and it was faster safer etc, any how whilst on my travels I could look over at the San Berdoo and see people driving with their knees shaving, doing their hair, make up, eating, playing cards and now with cell phones it must be even worse, so nothing has changed in 40+ years except to get worse and from that perspective wearing a helmet is a pain because it cuts down on sight and sound and positional awareness, you have to be alert for the least little change in sounds, motion, whats around you, to survive. The thought has occurred to me that strapping 25 lbs of C4 on the bike and a detonator would mean that when they ran over you it wake them up temporarily of course you'd have to leave papers saying that you were the start of a motorcycle movement that was trying to bring alertness to cage drivers and soccer moms. God that would make them twitch.
Bill the demon.

[themotoworks]

i've somehow learned to read what drivers are going to do before they do it, I can somehow tell when someone wants to change lanes before they even do, or signal or anything, or when they're going to try to pass etc... it's really weird but it works... except when I get surprised!!!!!

[cb750fbomb]

When I lived in the LA area, moons ago I worked about 1/2 hour from where I lived and started to take the freeway to work, of course on a bike after about 3 days back and forth on the San Bernadino freeway I said to hell with it and started to take the service rd and it was faster safer etc, any how whilst on my travels I could look over at the San Berdoo and see people driving with their knees shaving, doing their hair, make up, eating, playing cards and now with cell phones it must be even worse, so nothing has changed in 40+ years except to get worse and from that perspective wearing a helmet is a pain because it cuts down on sight and sound and positional awareness, you have to be alert for the least little change in sounds, motion, whats around you, to survive. The thought has occurred to me that strapping 25 lbs of C4 on the bike and a detonator would mean that when they ran over you it wake them up temporarily of course you'd have to leave papers saying that you were the start of a motorcycle movement that was trying to bring alertness to cage drivers and soccer moms. God that would make them twitch.
Bill the demon.

Oh no. A biker jihad with suicide bombers

[andy750]

I can now add bicyclists to the list....I ran into one last night while making a right-hand turn at stop lights where I had right of way - the pedestrian cross-walk sign was on stop/red but this stupid girl runs it like it wasnt there and crashes into my front fender...I was furious as I had to slam on the brakes in a turn...she pointed at the crosswalk sign and said she had right of way...I pointed at it and said - its RED!!!!!!!!!!!! Aaaarrrggghhh.....K2 fender dented at the top  You are never safe from stupid people....

cheers
Andy

[Bob Wessner]

Sorry to hear Andy. Bicyclists are a never ending battle here in Ann Arbor also. Most, like anyone else are decent, common sense endowed. Unfortunately, there are enough not so endowed that they make life miserable. They hog lanes, run lights, cross in front of traffic with no warning.. you get the picture.

[fuzzybutt]

i know theres one lady here in forest acres that will never cut a biker off then yell at them like it's their fault after she had to have a new mirror put on the bmw suv 

[Gordon]

i've somehow learned to read what drivers are going to do before they do it, I can somehow tell when someone wants to change lanes before they even do, or signal or anything, or when they're going to try to pass etc... it's really weird but it works... except when I get surprised!!!!!

There was a discussion a couple of years ago where member "333" called this special ability that motorcyclists have "Enlightened Paranoia".  I think about that phrase every time I ride to work now because it succinctly and accurately describes the mental state you have to be in to survive on a motorcycle in traffic. 

You have to be aware of everything in your vicinity, be able to instinctively and instantaneously pinpoint what those objects can most easily do to harm you, and then put yourself in a position that would least likely allow that to happen. 

It would be really interesting to see a real-time brain scan of of an experienced
motorcyclist while riding in traffic. 

[mystic_1]

Agreed!

Situational Awareness

That said, one can never be perfectly safe and even with careful preparation you can find yourself in unavoidable situations, thus "Hope for the best, plan for the worst" is another favorite of mine.

mystic_1

[upperlake04]

  You have to be aware of everything in your vicinity, be able to instinctively and instantaneously pinpoint what those objects can most easily do to harm you, and then put yourself in a position that would least likely allow that to happen. 

  Excellent Gordon - logical and concise. You obviously don't smoke that stuff much any more.

[shacolaid]

I just read Havoc's post and responded there.    I reiterate what others have said. Stay alert! My great state of PA recently voted down a law that would require hands free cell phone use.
Granted, studies show that even talking with a hands free device is dangerous, but at least cage drivers would have 2 hands on the wheel when they hit you.