Who rides motorcycles?

[hunt4570]

I was slowing to make a left turn with my turn signal and brakes activated when a p/u truck rear ended my goldwing. No serious injuries. There was no question that the accident was the fault of the truck driver and his insurance covered everything. Fortunately no serious injuries for me or my wife, the goldwing was totalled. Obviously the p/u driver was distracted probably with his phone. I guess some idiot could say it was my fault because I was on the road.

Or you were not looking in your mirrors well enough, if you are slowing for a turn or whatever you need to check your mirrors well and make adjustments if needed..

 

[Peter 315]

Maybe, but on a bike you ride with a whole different mindset, or you probably will have problems..

I know I have a bike do you ?

 

[3930dave]

I disagree mostly, but I do flash my rear brake light with my front brake lever while stopped at a light. I do this until a car stops behind me.

I'm a rear-flasher too.

Obviously, no one particular tactic guarantees anything...... my strategy is to consistently layer enough of them together to hopefully gain some increase in road-safety.

When I stop behind a vehicle, I usually position hard Left - I'd rather not get hit at all, but if it happens, I'd sooner be zoomed into a lane-split, than crushed into a bumper....... pick your Lesser Evil......

Bikes can have more escape options than cagers, but if you are first in line at a Red, facing heavy cross traffic, options are limited.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Or you were not looking in your mirrors well enough, if you are slowing for a turn or whatever you need to check your mirrors well and make adjustments if needed..

Approaching an intersection at speed, how much time do you spend watching your mirrors for rear activity ?

(Serious question).

Rgds, D.

 

[lman]

Or you were not looking in your mirrors well enough, if you are slowing for a turn or whatever you need to check your mirrors well and make adjustments if needed..

That sounds kind of like when somebody's face gets in the way of the other person's fist. I guess your opinion would be that the fault would go to the person that got hit. Sounds like a typical defense attorney, blame the cops instead of the offender.

 

[hunt4570]

I disagree mostly, but I do flash my rear brake light with my front brake lever while stopped at a light. I do this until a car stops behind me.

Still need to leave yourself an escape route. Ride through the intersection, ride up between cars that are in line, maybe ride over onto the shoulder, pay attention to those mirrors and be ready to do something. Have a plan in mind and execute it if necessary.

 

[hunt4570]

Approaching an intersection at speed, how much time do you spend watching your mirrors for rear activity ?

(Serious question).

Rgds, D.

Enough to know whats going on! Front back and both sides...

 

[hunt4570]

That sounds kind of like when somebody's face gets in the way of the other person's fist. I guess your opinion would be that the fault would go to the person that got hit. Sounds like a typical defense attorney, blame the cops instead of the offender.

Its YOUR job to keep yourself safe out there, no one elses.

 

[hunt4570]

I know I have a bike do you ?

Yep, a 2007 I bought new, nearing 100,000miles.

 

[3930dave]

Enough to know whats going on! Front back and both sides...

I was curious about your comment concerning rearward visual resolution in that incident.

People have different riding styles. Approaching a cross-intersection, at least 90% of my attention is on forward and cross-traffic, given volumes and driver indifference here.

A quick glance in my mirrors might tell me how fast a vehicle is closing on me, but given how many drivers act here (deliberate last minute swerves), I don't usually prioritize that over what is going on in the intersection forward of me.

Discerning rearward driver road-attention ? I'd need eagle-vision and West Coast Mirrors on my bike to distinguish driver activity (dozing, staring at private parts or text screen, relighting crack-pipe......) from vehicle placement and velocity.

If your mirrors and eyesight give you resolution to that ^ level, I salute you. Seriously, not jokingly said.... as I'm all for enhanced situational awareness - life in general, but definitely for on the road.

Rgds, D.