Common sense will help keep you safe
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: brownsburg
Common sense will help keep you safe
Most accidents are at intersections and most drivers never see the other guy coming.
This happened to me in 1995, I was following a dump truck at about 40 mph through an intersection in my 93 Mustang GT when the dump truck suddenly turned without signalling I proceeded through the intersection and a guy getting ready to turn never saw me, I T-boned him, he survived thanks to quick responders the jaws of life and a lifeline helicopter, and he fully recovered from his injuries. Both of us learned a lesson the hard way.
I was reminded of this saturday night when a guy on a crotch rocket passed me and another bike and several cars on the right side at a very high rate of speed through a busy downtown intersection. A young lady was turning left at the intersection and never saw him. Luckily for him he had quick reflexes and had just enough time to get the bike down on its side before colliding with the car. The bike stopped dead where it hit the car, he slid about 50 feet down the road through the intersection and jumped right up, he was ok but the bike was totaled.
The young lady was at fault but I can assure you and the couple on the other bike riding with me will concur, she NEVER saw him coming, he was going too fast, she looked and he wasn't there she turned and in a blink of an eye he was there.
Thankfully he was ok but it could have been avoided by just using common sense. Slow down and look both ways before going through an intersection, don't assume that because you have the right away they are looking for you.
Be safe my brothers
This happened to me in 1995, I was following a dump truck at about 40 mph through an intersection in my 93 Mustang GT when the dump truck suddenly turned without signalling I proceeded through the intersection and a guy getting ready to turn never saw me, I T-boned him, he survived thanks to quick responders the jaws of life and a lifeline helicopter, and he fully recovered from his injuries. Both of us learned a lesson the hard way.
I was reminded of this saturday night when a guy on a crotch rocket passed me and another bike and several cars on the right side at a very high rate of speed through a busy downtown intersection. A young lady was turning left at the intersection and never saw him. Luckily for him he had quick reflexes and had just enough time to get the bike down on its side before colliding with the car. The bike stopped dead where it hit the car, he slid about 50 feet down the road through the intersection and jumped right up, he was ok but the bike was totaled.
The young lady was at fault but I can assure you and the couple on the other bike riding with me will concur, she NEVER saw him coming, he was going too fast, she looked and he wasn't there she turned and in a blink of an eye he was there.
Thankfully he was ok but it could have been avoided by just using common sense. Slow down and look both ways before going through an intersection, don't assume that because you have the right away they are looking for you.
Be safe my brothers
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 18,776
Likes: 42
From: Walker WV by way of NEW YORK CITY
a lot of accidents happen with emergancy vehicles at intersections.
all vehicles had lights and sirens going, that I had contact with
A lot have to do with the responding apparatus driver not paying attention to their surroundings at intersections
Speed is factered in w/responding apparatus
all vehicles had lights and sirens going, that I had contact with
A lot have to do with the responding apparatus driver not paying attention to their surroundings at intersections
Speed is factered in w/responding apparatus
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 193
Likes: 1
First of all, if you ride a motorcycle, there are no accidents - there are only crashes. Accidents happen to you. Crashes are something you are responsible for. As in, "I crashed." Not, "I was in an accident." Get it?
Secondly, there is no "laying it down." As in what the OP wrote - fortunately he was able to get the bike down before he hit the car. Or whatever. No. This is not something one chooses to do. This is something that happens when a rider panics, locks up the rear brake or front brake or both, and basically causes the motorcycle to crash. As in, "I crashed." This is not an accident. It is the product of poor riding decisions, and lack of rider skill.
There it is people. Riding and surviving is the product of proper skills and proper mental attitude. You can choose to dismiss either or both, and claim they're not for you. Doesn't change the fact. It's only a matter of time.
Secondly, there is no "laying it down." As in what the OP wrote - fortunately he was able to get the bike down before he hit the car. Or whatever. No. This is not something one chooses to do. This is something that happens when a rider panics, locks up the rear brake or front brake or both, and basically causes the motorcycle to crash. As in, "I crashed." This is not an accident. It is the product of poor riding decisions, and lack of rider skill.
There it is people. Riding and surviving is the product of proper skills and proper mental attitude. You can choose to dismiss either or both, and claim they're not for you. Doesn't change the fact. It's only a matter of time.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,501
Likes: 26
From: Sheboygan,Wi
Secondly, there is no "laying it down." As in what the OP wrote - fortunately he was able to get the bike down before he hit the car. Or whatever. No. This is not something one chooses to do. This is something that happens when a rider panics, locks up the rear brake or front brake or both, and basically causes the motorcycle to crash. As in, "I crashed." This is not an accident. It is the product of poor riding decisions, and lack of rider skill.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,455
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
First of all, if you ride a motorcycle, there are no accidents - there are only crashes. Accidents happen to you. Crashes are something you are responsible for. As in, "I crashed." Not, "I was in an accident." Get it?
Secondly, there is no "laying it down." As in what the OP wrote - fortunately he was able to get the bike down before he hit the car. Or whatever. No. This is not something one chooses to do. This is something that happens when a rider panics, locks up the rear brake or front brake or both, and basically causes the motorcycle to crash. As in, "I crashed." This is not an accident. It is the product of poor riding decisions, and lack of rider skill.
There it is people. Riding and surviving is the product of proper skills and proper mental attitude. You can choose to dismiss either or both, and claim they're not for you. Doesn't change the fact. It's only a matter of time.
Secondly, there is no "laying it down." As in what the OP wrote - fortunately he was able to get the bike down before he hit the car. Or whatever. No. This is not something one chooses to do. This is something that happens when a rider panics, locks up the rear brake or front brake or both, and basically causes the motorcycle to crash. As in, "I crashed." This is not an accident. It is the product of poor riding decisions, and lack of rider skill.
There it is people. Riding and surviving is the product of proper skills and proper mental attitude. You can choose to dismiss either or both, and claim they're not for you. Doesn't change the fact. It's only a matter of time.
I'm an outspoken hardcase in here about rider situational awareness and learning better riding skills but **** does happen buddy to the best of us , those skills are what will allow the rider to make a choice of how it's going to happen with some amount of control . Hopefully saving bigger injury or their lives .
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,494
From: Decatur, Alabama
Secondly, there is no "laying it down." As in what the OP wrote - fortunately he was able to get the bike down before he hit the car. Or whatever. No. This is not something one chooses to do. This is something that happens when a rider panics, locks up the rear brake or front brake or both, and basically causes the motorcycle to crash. As in, "I crashed." This is not an accident. It is the product of poor riding decisions, and lack of rider skill.
There it is people. Riding and surviving is the product of proper skills and proper mental attitude.
There it is people. Riding and surviving is the product of proper skills and proper mental attitude.
If you want to see a perfect example of how a bike is laid down in order to avoid a crash rent the movie "Hooper". In it, a stuntman rides a dirt bike down the street then "lays it down" to avoid hitting an 18 wheeler that pulls out in front of him. The rider and bike slide right under the trailer and both come out on the other side of it no problem.
Carl
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,476
Likes: 5
From: Republic of Texas
Watched a guy on a Harley dodge a woman that was pulling out in front of him a couple of weeks ago. He made all the right moves and cleared her with a few feet to spare. The reason she pulled out in front of him was because she was too fat. She wasn't able to turn her head enough with the angle of her vehicle to see what was coming. His avoidance wasn't just common sense --it was skills, awareness, anticipation, reaction, and big pebbles.