Tragic group ride...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,863
Likes: 21
From: Kennewick, WA
Banning all the flashing lights and any other distraction does not fix the problem. The problem is there are idiots on the road that can't drive! To fix the problem you take the idiots off the road.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
The modulator did its job. It drew attention to the bike. Sounds like the old guy in the car slowed down to be cautious, which is a good thing. It wasn't necessary for him to slow, but it wasn't illegal or negligent to do so either. If he overreacted or slowed suddenly (panic stop), we don't know. Regardless, he wasn't at fault. The same thing could have happened if the old man saw a deer on the side of the road, or a tractor, or a cop with a speeder pulled over. He slowed, nothing more.
The female driver of the 2nd car was unable to stop. She was driving way too fast (undoubtedly, since she hit a car so hard as to spin it out of control), and distracted. I'd bet money that there was a cellphone involved, and they should check the records to see if she was texting.
So the cause of the accident was the distracted female driver, who was operating her car in a negligent manner. Not the old man, not the headlight modulator.
How do you prevent this? First, drivers need to be aware that modulators exist and are designed to catch their attention. Second, older drivers need to be tested annually for their license, and not passed because the tester's pity or personal feelings (i.e., "Joe's a nice old man. I'd hate to take his license away"). Finally, texting while driving should be a crime equal to DUI, and repeat violators should have either their license pulled or a signal jammer installed in their car, just like the breathing devices that the courts make some use.
I don't know how many times I've seen idiots driving and using their cellphone to do whatever. If I could take their keys away from them, I'd do it in a minute!
The female driver of the 2nd car was unable to stop. She was driving way too fast (undoubtedly, since she hit a car so hard as to spin it out of control), and distracted. I'd bet money that there was a cellphone involved, and they should check the records to see if she was texting.
So the cause of the accident was the distracted female driver, who was operating her car in a negligent manner. Not the old man, not the headlight modulator.
How do you prevent this? First, drivers need to be aware that modulators exist and are designed to catch their attention. Second, older drivers need to be tested annually for their license, and not passed because the tester's pity or personal feelings (i.e., "Joe's a nice old man. I'd hate to take his license away"). Finally, texting while driving should be a crime equal to DUI, and repeat violators should have either their license pulled or a signal jammer installed in their car, just like the breathing devices that the courts make some use.
I don't know how many times I've seen idiots driving and using their cellphone to do whatever. If I could take their keys away from them, I'd do it in a minute!
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