Right, cut the bull on this one - prove to me that loud pipes save lives..
I can only speak from personal experience.
I've had my bike with shortshots (loud!) and most folks are audibly aware that i am around them.
Fast Fwd 6months to my Dad buying a Street Bob w/ stock pipes (inaudible).
When i ride his bike i have people merge in front of me and just about run me over because they don't know i'm there.
Don't know about you, but i feel safer when i'm putting off a little exhaust music.
So do I, but I NEVER depend on it in any form. Barking pipes, lights on, you're sitting in the most visual side of your lane, you're holding back some space and demanding your own, you're avoiding vans and trucks that hide you...and some zippy will look you dead in the eye and STILL pull out on you.
Thankfully, not ALL of them are brain-dead, and your pipes and lights will alert them to the chunk of meat they don't really want under the car, regardless of some of the ignorant opinions in here.