Unfortunately, that just seems to be the way it is. Maybe a modulating headlight would help?

 

Scary stuff. Glad you and your bike are OK.

 

Glad you're ok. Not just cage drivers, though...

Had a guy on a HD bagger, with his little girl on the back, throw a u-turn across two lanes right in front of me. Never turned his head, never looked, just yanked it left.

Luckily, training pays off. (For the record, locking up the rear and crashing is not one of the things you learn.) Squeeeeze HARD on the front brake, and he cleared my front end by no more than a foot.

He did squeal like a little girl when he saw me almost in his left earhole, though. I think after he realized he almost got his daughter killed due to his stupidity, he'll look next time.

 

And he NEVER will consider you could have been a distracted teen in a SUV instead of another bike. He'd of been flatter than day old beer.

Used to be once or twice a month... NOW, it seems like on almost every ride, I see something completely stupid. I've slowed down in my older years and am much more defensive. These stupid things would have been near misses twenty years ago.. Be careful.

Simple math... More cars, AND more stupid people. Bad combination.

 

I keep thinking of adding some script inside my windshield 'eternal vigilance' as a reminder to myself.

 

I really do pay attention to this "safety" stuff, and I've reached a conclusion.

It's not about the "effing cage driver" seeing us. It's not about high-viz gear and loud pipes.

We have to see them. We have to pay attention, we have to looklooklook, thinkthinkthink, whatifwhatifwhatif. And we have to have the skills to do what comes after the "what if".

It's on us. It's always on us. If they don't see us, then we have to see them.

It's on us.

 

Well said!! My new mantra!

 

I agree with all the comments. I've seen people do a lot of stupid crap on the road and I really don't think it crosses their minds that they may cause an accident, much less take out a rider. I've had a number of near misses and if it weren't for me being on the lookout they could have taken me out. You need to pay special attention to people on the cell phone.

 

Glad you came out OK! This is when you just want to get off the bike, drag them out of the car, and absolutely beat the **** out of them...and then shove there phone up there *** just so they can't text and drive either....OK Rant over!

 

I've never heard it put so well. Nicely done. I agree, 100%.