I think two issues are getting combined into one here. Yes, whoever crossed the line is clearly to blame. However, regardless of who is to blame, adequate equipment to protect oneself against such errors is in line too. You can still be right and permanently injured or dead.

 

This is what I've been trying to say. I have never denied the fact that you could be right and dead, or wrong and alive.

 

Changing your line when you're hard into a turn is a good thing to practice regardless of what you ride, because someday you might really have to.

 

Good point. When I was first shopping for gear, a good friend (who survived 10 years of commuting on a bike in Los Angeles) advised me to wear a FF helmet because "a man without a lower jaw can't help looking stupid." I took his advice on that and also not being the guy with a $600 jacket and a $100 hat...point being, if you spring for a really high-quality FF helmet, many of the perceived disadvantages can be greatly reduced.

I have an Arai...good peripheral vision, not too heavy, good ventilation and temperature control, no trouble seeing the speedometer, etc.

I am not saying that everyone has to wear ATGATT...we all have to choose what level of risk we are willing to accept. That said, for my part, I think it only makes sense to suit up and give oneself the best possible chance of surviving an accident unmaimed. To be sure there are no guarantees; it's just a matter of improving the odds.

Ride safe, all.

 

uh, did you see the last episode?