Times Have Changed
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,217
Likes: 3
From: Southern Ohio
I hear you, I've been learning to curb myself or maybe it's why I live in a small town and will do just about anything to stay away from cities. Same a!#!@ but a whole lot less of them with there being less people and less stress.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,583
From: Wisconsin, USA
Here in WI they made a law against texting while driving. They don't enforce it though. This has actually made things worse. Drivers hold the phone in their lap, in an effort to conceal their activity. People at least used to have some of their vision on the road, now nothing.
Be careful what you wish for.
Be careful what you wish for.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 334
Likes: 0
From: ohio
I followed one that was paying more attention to her phone conversation than driving, pulled out in front of me. Close call... I was following her until she decided to talk me - the one she almost crashed into - gave me lame excuse about an emergency....I still do not believe that she "gets it" Her actions will ending up hurting ALOT if people...
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 494
Likes: 63
From: Bay Area, CA
Yeah, times have changed and the roads are MUCH SAFER! Check the numbers. The number of deaths due to drunk driving is half what it was 30 years ago and there are twice the number of people on the road. I remember driving in the 70s and the drunks on the road were all over and it was very scary. You don't see than anymore. True, you have idiot texters, but when you look at the numbers, the roads are far safer than 30-40 years ago.
It's like the murder rate in this country (which peaked in 1980). With the non-stop TV coverage of sensational murders in this country, you would probably guess that the murder rate is higher today than ever. Not true! Not even close to being true, with the numbers in the late 70s thru the early 90s the highest. Check the numbers (again!).
The good old days weren't so good...............SJ Ron
It's like the murder rate in this country (which peaked in 1980). With the non-stop TV coverage of sensational murders in this country, you would probably guess that the murder rate is higher today than ever. Not true! Not even close to being true, with the numbers in the late 70s thru the early 90s the highest. Check the numbers (again!).
The good old days weren't so good...............SJ Ron
I do think that younger drivers are not developing the same skill levels that used to be the norm. I also live in an area with lots of people who are new to the country and sometimes haven't driven before moving here, where they are promptly thrust into traffic. They are much more unpredictable than the texters/talkers, but they do follow the laws.
When I ride in the central valley, where there hasn't been the growth, it's pretty much the same as when I was growing up there.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 88,864
From: Western South Dakota
That's why I've decided to try to make myself as visible and audible as possible;
Modulater installed in the headlignt, don't use it if in a group.
Sometimes even wear safety green sweatshirt and or safety orange T-Shirt.
BAL in the rear, and Rinehart 3.5's for sound, and even then I try to predict the unpredictable.
Modulater installed in the headlignt, don't use it if in a group.
Sometimes even wear safety green sweatshirt and or safety orange T-Shirt.
BAL in the rear, and Rinehart 3.5's for sound, and even then I try to predict the unpredictable.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,553
Likes: 13
From: Sussex, South of England
The older you get the more difficult it is to drive. I had to sell my dads car before he ended up killing somebody. That being said though, there are a lot of ways you could get hurt or killed. In Minnesota a deer could jump out of the woods in front of you, it happens a lot. I think if you have no regrets, lived life well, then when your last day comes face it with courage. It's kind of ***** to ride around scared of an accident all the time. Enjoy your bike, when your time is up its up. The angel of death will get ya one way or another. Wouldn't you rather kack on your bike then from cancer?
No Sir, I don't! I'd die of old age if it is all the same to you. All this "dying in the saddle" is bulls**t to me.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Dubai
Yo everyone,
This is my first post. Purchased my first HD only 2 days ago, a 48 that has yet to be delivered (and obviously the wait is KILLING ME).
I live in Dubai (yep, the Middle East) and driving here is NUTS! Just do a YouTube search for "driving in dubai" and you'll see what I mean.
The interesting part about my story is that I've never ridden before (well, not really - just the usual 125 around a farm). This is my first (real) bike. In a place that is supposed to be "crazy" to drive a car let alone ride...
My point is, it doesn't matter. Those who want to ride, like me, will ride. Regardless of how crazy/insane/unsafe the situations is (and much to the wife's dismay).
I've been driving here for 4 years and it is pretty nuts, but you know what? I don't care. And I bet none of you mature riders did either back in the day. I'm sure it was just as crazy, just as "out there" as it is for me to be jumping on a bike on 200 KPH roads. But you did it anyways. Because you wanted to ride.
I want to ride a HD.
Situations change. The 'want' to ride doesn't.
L - the 'new' guys thoughts.
This is my first post. Purchased my first HD only 2 days ago, a 48 that has yet to be delivered (and obviously the wait is KILLING ME).
I live in Dubai (yep, the Middle East) and driving here is NUTS! Just do a YouTube search for "driving in dubai" and you'll see what I mean.
The interesting part about my story is that I've never ridden before (well, not really - just the usual 125 around a farm). This is my first (real) bike. In a place that is supposed to be "crazy" to drive a car let alone ride...
My point is, it doesn't matter. Those who want to ride, like me, will ride. Regardless of how crazy/insane/unsafe the situations is (and much to the wife's dismay).
I've been driving here for 4 years and it is pretty nuts, but you know what? I don't care. And I bet none of you mature riders did either back in the day. I'm sure it was just as crazy, just as "out there" as it is for me to be jumping on a bike on 200 KPH roads. But you did it anyways. Because you wanted to ride.
I want to ride a HD.
Situations change. The 'want' to ride doesn't.
L - the 'new' guys thoughts.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 149
From: High in the Colorado Rockies
Just the numbers:
1980 Vehicle Deaths
Motorcycle 5,000
Car 51,000
2009 Vehicle Deaths
Motorcycle 4,200
Car 33,000
There are probably 5 to 10 times the number of motorcycles on the road today compared to 1980 AND several times the numbers of cars on the road.
SJ Ron
1980 Vehicle Deaths
Motorcycle 5,000
Car 51,000
2009 Vehicle Deaths
Motorcycle 4,200
Car 33,000
There are probably 5 to 10 times the number of motorcycles on the road today compared to 1980 AND several times the numbers of cars on the road.
SJ Ron
I don't think it's a whole lot different. I used to ride in London in the 80s, I had drivers open their car doors onto me, a taxi cross a roundabout and get tangled up in my engine bars, cut off, didn't see you and so on.
I've just driven home in my SUV 750 miles and a driver in a Uhaul pulling a car almost ran me off the road drifting into my lane. I was lucky that it was a grass median not a wall or rail or I could well be dead today.
I've just driven home in my SUV 750 miles and a driver in a Uhaul pulling a car almost ran me off the road drifting into my lane. I was lucky that it was a grass median not a wall or rail or I could well be dead today.