Well, it finally happened. I saw my first big wreck while riding my bike. I live in the Dallas area, and there is a ton of traffic pretty much everywhere, all the time. And, I've seen a lot of wrecks while driving my truck. Heck, even saw some wicked ones in the Army years ago, crazy what an M1A1 will do to a little Citrogen, but that is another story.

Somehow, however, though I've heard a few screeches of locked brakes, and seen near misses, I have managed to not have actually seen a wreck while riding my Sportster around town.

I gotta tell ya, it sure feels different seeing a bad wreck when you're on your bike.

Some idiot, probably texting, driving a huge F250 or 350, pulling a huge trailer full of construction debris, locked his tires, counldn't stop the weight, and rammed up the back of some little sedan. Bent it like a tin can, smashed it, and it all happened about five feet from me. I was sitting in the left turn lane at an intersection, just waiting on the light while traffic whizzed along to either side of me. I was looking in my mirrors at the time, checking to make sure the car coming up behind me in the turn lane actually saw me, ready to scoot if he didn't when I heard the locked up tires. It only took a nano-second to figure out the truck in the opposite lane wasn't going to stop in time, and the first thing that went through my head was Cr&p, he might turn my way to avoid hitting the car in front of him!"
Needless to say, I checked over my right shoulder, saw the lanbe was clear, popped clutch and shot out of there like my a$$ was on fire and my ***** catchin'.
I saw him smash the car as I whizzed by. I guess traffic going the other way had backed up, and the truck wasn't paying attention, couldn't stop, and whammo.
I was a little nervous riding the You just never know, especially in traffic, where danger is going to come from. You can never be too aware.

I guess what I really want to get across is this guys and gals. Be fricken careful out there! I try to keep an eye out, maintain proper distances, watch for idiots opening doors, cutting lanes without signaling, etc. My old MSF instructor taught me too look at car's wheel position at intersections, etc., and I try to do that as well. I especially remember to ride like I am invisible to cages, cause, hell, we are!
But, like all of you too, sometimes you get comfortable, or take a peek at the scenery, whatever. That's cool. Gotta live, part of the ride. But brothers and sisters, be watchful. Be careful out there. All of us could use that reminder. I got mine, thought I should share. Gotta look out for each other.