Rider error, 100%. You can't do anything safely if your assuming while you ride.


Here in central Florida, I try and leave a couple car lengths or more so there is time to look for a lane change if there is a sudden stop in front of me. But, apparently this means cut in front of the bike since he left a space if your driving a death cage.

One guy cut in front of me even after I tightened the gap. He came from behind me, into the right lane even though there was no place to go once he got beside me, other then in front of me. Knowing this, I tightened the gap to one car length...
So, he took the liberty of squeezing in about 10-12 inches from my front fender at 45-50mph.

I pulled up along side and asked him if he would like to pull over and discuss his poor driving habits, but he didn't seem to want to?


It's amazing more people aren't killed by all the self absorbed idiots on the road trying to save a minute getting to work. Some are riding motorcycles too.

 

Actually mirrors only tell me when I can't go, not when I can go.

 

I have to disagree with this (even though I still do it). In April 2009, a bus pulled out, moved over 2 lanes and then began to stop - all just 100ft. ahead of me going 45mph. I had a 1 1/2 car opening next to me - looking to move over instead of becoming a bug spot on the back of the bus.

Looked back to make sure the rear car wasn't moving up, started moving over and rear-ended the car now in front of me who was stopping because of the car ahead of them stopped and then started to turn RIGHT in the same area the bus was turning LEFT.

Ouch . . . my last MC accident was in 1980 . . .

 

Glad to hear the guy walked away...well sort of. I see this all the time, not running into the side of trailers mind you but target fixation by a rider following another. It's easy to get sucked in when riding in a tight group. With the hand full of guys I ride with we're usually 75 yards apart or more when on the open road. That Top Gun "I'm not leaving my wingman" bullshit make little sense to me.

 

Sounds like to me you committed to a lane change instead of trying to negotiate the stop. Another common mistake. You didn't leave yourself an out. The time you spent trying to change lanes should have been spent making the stop.

 

Totally agree, I hit a dog one time that just appeared from thin air. I could not walk, but I hold the 'low crawl' record from my lane to the curb.

 

Have to disagree. "Many times". If you find that you often do not have the time to turn your head, then you are driving too aggressive.

If you are turning your head to do a lane change because of a potential hazard in front of you, then you should be slowing down any way. If you look over your shoulder and the lane is blocked, then you already started to slow down.

 

Exactly! Too many aggressive riders making excuses for their reckless behavior and scoffing at the most basic of motorcycle riding "rules".

I had 2 buddies who used to ride like you guys. Emphasis on had and used to...

 

I couldn't disagree more if I tried! You NEVER NEVER NEVER change lanes or turn without actually turning your head FULL in the direction you want to go! It is an inevitable recipe for disaster!! This is a perfect example.

I can almost guarantee you that the rider won't make the mistake of just trusting his mirrors again. He never saw the trailer but rode right into it! That's fu**** up! As far as running to the side of the road goes, that's the human instinct for survival.

 

um- if you can hear the trailer- there is no need to turn your head.

you already have a negative input in the order of :

sound

peripheral

turning the darn head and staring at the space you're gonna try to occupy.


Too many Darth Vaders think they are bulletproof

if my exposed ears tell me there is something beside me, there is no need to turn my head

mike