Having been a full time rider most of my life (started in 1987), have been hit by a car 1 time, and have had my share "close calls".

I can't think of one time where I wasn't partly or mostly responsible by making poor decisions. I know I'll probably get flamed, but IMO, going by my personal experiences and what I read here, if a rider is having enough trouble with other motorists to consider it an issue, they are the problem.

It seems some riders confuse being "cut off" with their unreasonable sense of entitlement to do as they please because they are on a motorcycle. There is a difference between drivers not seeing a rider, and a rider not giving drivers enough time to see them when they are doing things outside the norm.

 

I tend to agree with you. A little over a year ago I asked a similar question in this thread... https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...ose-calls.html

 

I think it's a combination of both. I ride every day and it seems like some weeks it's every day that someone tries to merge over on top of me or is turning left in front of me with not nearly enough room to be safe for either of us. This is all while riding responsibly usually just getting to and from work. People just don't seem to pay attention when they're driving. I don't ride in blind spots, lane split, tailgate, fly around slower traffic or ride with a sense of entitlement because I'm on a motorcycle. People just don't seem to give a damn. I spend all day in a car for work and its almost just as bad. It's just not as life threatening when enclosed in the car. It would be great if people would wake up but that's like wishing to see a unicorn so I just do my best to be aware of my surroundings and stay safe.

 

I really think before kids can get a license they should see some of the things that happen on the road . After 50 years of driving trucks cars and motorcycles I have seen enough blood and guts . I seen a young boy burn in a pickup and can still hear him screaming for help . I,v seen a lot of dead people some friends and some not known to me . So many people driving like it,s no big deal ? Doing things other then paying attention and now cell phones .

 

I've done my share of dumb, but I've also experienced enough driving while distracted by Cell phone near misses, and twice last year I was cut off twice in a two to single lane merge incidents by older (And I'm now 63) drivers.

I watched traffic, positioned myself for a safe merge and suddenly found a car right on my side that had deliberately sped up and was blocking my merge.

There was no reason for this other than an "Oh no you don't." deliberate acceleration to block my merge, and no reason for it to happen other than their attitude. I did gauge and regulate my merge without any undo speed adjustment, no sudden loud acceleration, no weaving, signalled my intent and started to slowly merge, etc. They just did not want me to merge in front of them, plain and simple.

So Yes, we aren't always completely innocent, but at the same time, some people shouldn't be driving because they are too stupid, or too angry.

Those were bike incidents, I also had one in my SUV where I was in a traffic circle, and (Again) an older woman shot in from the yield feeder causing me to jam my brakes to keep from T-Boning her. And she didn't even seem to register that I was right on her door just kept looking straight ahead between the steering wheel and the dash, motoring along.

Some people need to be off the road because they are not able to cope with today's traffic. But it won't happen until they kill someone, or themselves.

 

This reminds me of "If your not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." And this is where I disagree. You can't and never will control what others do, you can only anticipate, prepare and execute. And that's not a 100% sure thing.

 

"I watched traffic, positioned myself for a safe merge and suddenly found a car right on my side that had deliberately sped up and was blocking my merge."

Aren't those morons incredible? I only had that happen once on my bike and I just kept moving over. He blew his horn and hit the brakes. Once I was in front of him he stayed about a quarter mile behind me. Guilty conscious I guess or more likely he didn't want to stop at a light behind me.

 

In this place there are no shortage of bad drivers, I regularly see: cell phones/texting, aggression, "new" Canadians without a clue how to drive (seriously, how do these people pass the driving test? #$@!&%? government probably just gives it to them the same way they get handed everything else), the soccer moms aren't much better with their texting, and neither are the kids in whatever import with more stereo wattage than hp, very few actually shoulder check before lane changes, everyone's always in a rush.
I've made my share of mistakes while riding and driving, mostly when I was younger but I must say it's been a few years since I had a close call. I just learned what to watch out for, learned to anticipate and prepare for the unexpected. Not saying I'm immune because I'm experienced, just that the experience has taught me to be a better/safer rider. No amount of experience will help when a "new" Canadian in his taxi is more interested in texting than actually stopping at the light I'm stopped at and rear ends me.
Far to many people today realize and/or consider how their actions affect others, just to wrapped up in themselves to show any consideration for others.

I need to go for a ride, it kills the static.

 

Pilot error is virtually always involved in every accident or near-miss. I've been down at 55 mph and had other close calls. It pains me that so many try to place all the blame on the other driver--even when a rider rear-ends a vehicle.

Eternal vigilance.

 

not always...thats bull. I sit here in pain because some 74 yr old woman all of a sudden pulled a left in front of me. Been driving 43 years. I never had a chance