Oblivious drivers
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 4
Oblivious drivers
As an example of how oblivious people are... this morning on the way to work I was behind a woman at a busy intersection. The light was red and we were all waiting. The green turn arrow came on for traffic on the opposite side of the intersection, and the cars started rolling through, including a guy on a softail.
Suddenly, this woman just gunned it and drove thru the intersection, right through the cars that were turning in front of her. They honked, hit their brakes, swerved, ect., to avoid her, but the bike had the worst time. I cringed as I watched him jam on his brakes and wobbled as he nearly lost it trying to avoid the cars that suddenly slowed and cut in front of him to avoid the idiot woman. Incidently, she just kept going. It easily could have been him right in her path.
I don't deal with traffic enforcement, but I am a LEO and drive an unmarked car. Rarely will I bother with the idiots I see on the roads unless they are doing something seriously dangerous. This definately was one of those occassions.
When the light turned for us, I sped up and caught up to her, then pulled her over. We had a little chat & she admitted that she just thought that she saw the light turn green. She said she was thinking "why are all these cars turning in front of me?" as she plowed through the intersection, and didn't really realize what she had done until she got thru. Very nice woman, very appologetic. She felt horrible because she realized that she had her head up her *** & it almost caused someone to get hurt.
It never fails to amaze me the stupid (and dangerous) stuff I see out on the roads, mostly by well-meaning & normal people. Cellphones are the work of the devil when it comes to the road, but equally as bad are newspapers, food, makeup, shaving, video games... it never ends.
Stay safe out there guys! They really ARE trying to take us out!
Suddenly, this woman just gunned it and drove thru the intersection, right through the cars that were turning in front of her. They honked, hit their brakes, swerved, ect., to avoid her, but the bike had the worst time. I cringed as I watched him jam on his brakes and wobbled as he nearly lost it trying to avoid the cars that suddenly slowed and cut in front of him to avoid the idiot woman. Incidently, she just kept going. It easily could have been him right in her path.
I don't deal with traffic enforcement, but I am a LEO and drive an unmarked car. Rarely will I bother with the idiots I see on the roads unless they are doing something seriously dangerous. This definately was one of those occassions.
When the light turned for us, I sped up and caught up to her, then pulled her over. We had a little chat & she admitted that she just thought that she saw the light turn green. She said she was thinking "why are all these cars turning in front of me?" as she plowed through the intersection, and didn't really realize what she had done until she got thru. Very nice woman, very appologetic. She felt horrible because she realized that she had her head up her *** & it almost caused someone to get hurt.
It never fails to amaze me the stupid (and dangerous) stuff I see out on the roads, mostly by well-meaning & normal people. Cellphones are the work of the devil when it comes to the road, but equally as bad are newspapers, food, makeup, shaving, video games... it never ends.
Stay safe out there guys! They really ARE trying to take us out!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 57
From: PA
Meh... same ****, different day. Nothing amazes or surprises me anymore. If I'd have been the other rider, I'd have blamed myself more than the cager if I'd have gone down. Sounds like the guy was paying attention and because of that, prevented himself from becoming a statistic.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 94
From: Massachusetts
Most of the distracted "techniques" of drivers nowadays is the cell phone, particularly texting.
With all the technology today, why can they have a kill switch in the car??
The ignition is on, the cell phone shuts off, no signal....period! Your cell phone will not work with the car on.
You need to make a call, you pull over to a rest area or parking lot, shut off your ignition.....and your cell phone works!
Someone calls you while your driving? Your phone is off, so it goes to voice mail. You get your messages when you shut your car off.
Why is this so difficult? Imagine the lives and injuries saved............
EDIT:
I see there is already a heated debate going on in this thread about this very subject: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/off-t...one-death.html
With all the technology today, why can they have a kill switch in the car??
The ignition is on, the cell phone shuts off, no signal....period! Your cell phone will not work with the car on.
You need to make a call, you pull over to a rest area or parking lot, shut off your ignition.....and your cell phone works!
Someone calls you while your driving? Your phone is off, so it goes to voice mail. You get your messages when you shut your car off.
Why is this so difficult? Imagine the lives and injuries saved............
EDIT:
I see there is already a heated debate going on in this thread about this very subject: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/off-t...one-death.html
Last edited by ElectraGlideSteve; May 24, 2012 at 11:29 AM.
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 4
Most of the distracted "techniques" of drivers nowadays is the cell phone, particularly texting.
With all the technology today, why can they have a kill switch in the car??
The ignition is on, the cell phone shuts off, no signal....period! Your cell phone will not work with the car on.
You need to make a call, you pull over to a rest area or parking lot, shut off your ignition.....and your cell phone works!
Someone calls you while your driving? Your phone is off, so it goes to voice mail. You get your messages when you shut your car off.
Why is this so difficult? Imagine the lives and injuries saved............
EDIT:
I see there is already a heated debate going on in this thread about this very subject: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/off-t...one-death.html
With all the technology today, why can they have a kill switch in the car??
The ignition is on, the cell phone shuts off, no signal....period! Your cell phone will not work with the car on.
You need to make a call, you pull over to a rest area or parking lot, shut off your ignition.....and your cell phone works!
Someone calls you while your driving? Your phone is off, so it goes to voice mail. You get your messages when you shut your car off.
Why is this so difficult? Imagine the lives and injuries saved............
EDIT:
I see there is already a heated debate going on in this thread about this very subject: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/off-t...one-death.html
It's amazing to think that SOMEHOW the world survived back before there were cellphones, isn't it?
This woman wasn't on the phone, as far as I could tell. I think she just truly had her brain on autopilot.
Last edited by Ghosteh; May 24, 2012 at 01:30 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
Likes: 26
From: Southern Oregon
stupidity never ceases to amaze me anymore. Having the right away or not why would you gun it thru oncoming traffic.
Special note: I think all cell phones (unless they are paired with a blue tooth device) should automatically be disabled when they are operated at anything over a walking pace
Special note: I think all cell phones (unless they are paired with a blue tooth device) should automatically be disabled when they are operated at anything over a walking pace
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,115
Likes: 51,405
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
I bet she felt just horrible , right up to the next time she does it .
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; May 24, 2012 at 03:02 PM.
Trending Topics
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 121
From: Mpls, MN
Tombstone reads, "Was killed by a really nice woman"
There are no accidents, there are driver errors, and being nice don't mean squat, like Twisted said, "Till the next time she does it"
This country is failing miserably when it comes to driver education and enforcement, stop the revenue generating speed traps and get LE out on the road is the only way I see to get people to wake up.
She had people turning in front of her and kept going????
Had she pulled forward and stopped, I could see it, but to keep going...no.
btw, thanks for stopping her, maybe just maybe it will do a bit of good.
Al
There are no accidents, there are driver errors, and being nice don't mean squat, like Twisted said, "Till the next time she does it"
This country is failing miserably when it comes to driver education and enforcement, stop the revenue generating speed traps and get LE out on the road is the only way I see to get people to wake up.
She had people turning in front of her and kept going????
Had she pulled forward and stopped, I could see it, but to keep going...no.
btw, thanks for stopping her, maybe just maybe it will do a bit of good.
Al
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,036
Likes: 8
From: Temecula, CA
I did what she did once. Sitting at a light, friend behind me, light for the left turn lane turns green and I plow through the intersection. It didn't click until after I had cleared the intersection that the light for me was still red. Had a CB in the car at the time (before cell phones obviously) and I got on it to my friend behind me.
"That light was still red, wasn't it?"
"Yea, it was. What the hell were you thinking?"
"Don't know, I saw green somehow and went..."
I haven't done it since. Felt like such a dumbass. I swear though, for some reason I saw my light turn green in my mind but my eyes couldn't correct it until I had already gone through it. Sometimes I think our brain just switches off. Thank god I didn't hurt anyone that night and that this woman didn't hurt anyone either. I'm sure the talking to you gave her plus her own personal feelings will keep her from doing it again...at least I hope so.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,115
Likes: 51,405
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
I'm probably going to catch a rash of **** for this.
I did what she did once. Sitting at a light, friend behind me, light for the left turn lane turns green and I plow through the intersection. It didn't click until after I had cleared the intersection that the light for me was still red. Had a CB in the car at the time (before cell phones obviously) and I got on it to my friend behind me.
"That light was still red, wasn't it?"
"Yea, it was. What the hell were you thinking?"
"Don't know, I saw green somehow and went..."
I haven't done it since. Felt like such a dumbass. I swear though, for some reason I saw my light turn green in my mind but my eyes couldn't correct it until I had already gone through it. Sometimes I think our brain just switches off. Thank god I didn't hurt anyone that night and that this woman didn't hurt anyone either. I'm sure the talking to you gave her plus her own personal feelings will keep her from doing it again...at least I hope so.
I did what she did once. Sitting at a light, friend behind me, light for the left turn lane turns green and I plow through the intersection. It didn't click until after I had cleared the intersection that the light for me was still red. Had a CB in the car at the time (before cell phones obviously) and I got on it to my friend behind me.
"That light was still red, wasn't it?"
"Yea, it was. What the hell were you thinking?"
"Don't know, I saw green somehow and went..."
I haven't done it since. Felt like such a dumbass. I swear though, for some reason I saw my light turn green in my mind but my eyes couldn't correct it until I had already gone through it. Sometimes I think our brain just switches off. Thank god I didn't hurt anyone that night and that this woman didn't hurt anyone either. I'm sure the talking to you gave her plus her own personal feelings will keep her from doing it again...at least I hope so.