While i don't disagree with you on all forms of distracted driving. I will say that texting while driving is probably the most abused of these. I watch people play with their phones for the duration of their trip. It appears that those who do, will keep that phone in their hands, non stop. The other offenses seem to be shorter lived behind the wheel, while texting is continuously happening.

They are consciously averting their attention. A drunk person is at least "trying" to pay attention.(tongue in cheek)

 

Ditto. This is my pet peeve. Where is MADD? Oh yeah, they text too.....

 

not to poke the hornet nest but let the insurance company dictate it. If you ride with a helmet your insurance is one price...ride without a helmet another.

 

Half of motorcycle crashes are single vehicle crashes. There is a higher percentage of riders impaired by drugs/booze than cage drivers. Among the impaired riders the amount of drugs/booze in the body is significantly higher than what is in cage drivers.


What does this say? It's not always the "other guy". Far too many times the enemy is us. Just think what about would happen to the fatality and injury rates among motorcyclists if we all rode to avoid those single vehicle crashes and quit riding impaired.

 

It already is that way in Florida. You must carry additional personal injury insurance if you choose to ride without a helmet. Helmet use should be a personal choice, period. So should seatbelt usage but that's a differant discussion.

 

One of the techniques I use, I dont like follwing any cars so if at all possible I try to stay in front or several car lengths behind. I ride with allot of guys that like to ride right on the cars bumper. I dont like that!

 

Pay attention for traps, avoid if possible or at least slow down and be prepared for action if I can't avoid. Always have escapes paths identified. The rear is also an escape path if you have room to brake quickly so don't ride with someone on my tail. Enter curves at a proper speed - don't slow in the curve. Pay attention to what is going on ahead of me, as far as possible - watch from brake lights, cars swerving, cars bumping over pot holes/railroad tracks. Stay back from trucks that may have things blow/fall off. Pay attention to erratic drivers. Pay attention to what is going on behind me. Never be surprised by a car coming up next to me because I've already seen it. Beware of cars crashing across lanes to make an exit. Watch out for merging traffic at on-ramps even if you aren't in the right lane - cars in the right lane may suddenly change lanes on you because of the merging traffic. Don't ride when I'm pissed about work, kids, spouse, ...


The list goes on and on.

 

Myself and my lady friend were riding south on I-71 in Columbus, Ohio last Friday evening, heading to the AMA Bike Night...and right before the I-71 & I-70 split, the traffic stopped, with plenty of notice mind you...I stop.. no issues. I look up in my mirror just in time to see a car ALMOST rear-ending us!!! She gave the "Sorry" wave and then traffic proceeded to move again. So, as she goes around us, I glance over and she already has her head down, looking at her phone that is sitting on her steering wheel! AGAIN!! I sped up and got beside her and looked over at her...it took her a few seconds to even look up from her phone to see me glaring at her...I told her to put the phone away!!! She mouths "sorry.. so sorry" and I am saying.."How sorry would you be if you HIT US!!" It took me hours to calm down from that one!! Needless to say!....
Rant over..
Glen

 

It sounds good in theory but you can tell your insurance that you wear a helmet to get the cheaper price and then just not wear it when you ride.

 

Here in Canada helmet laws have been around for as long as I can remember. I tried riding without a helmet a couple of years ago on my way back from Sturgis and didn't like it much. I suppose it's what you're used to.

Stiffer fines and penalties are fine for cars and trucks, but the same must then be considered for riders. Excessive speed and reckless riding, impaired riding and whatever else, then should carry a stiffer penalty because the consequence is greater. I wonder, of the 10% increase, how many of those could have been avoided on the part of the rider. We've all been pushed around by a car or truck, simply either not seen or given no regard, and yeah, it pisses me off. It also pisses me off when I see some yahoo riding like it's track day and the road is his/her track. This isn't limited to sport bikes either. Riding like a moron, and having no ability to correct for anothers bad judgement. It could clearly be the fault of the car/truck according to traffic laws, but I'd much rather be alive and wrong than dead and right!