Interstats statistically and just about any other way you'd care to look at it will be safer per mile than any other type of roadway assuming you are travelling with the flow of traffic and paying attention. The one thing I didn't see mentioned was the flow of traffic issue. If you are riding appreciably slower than surrounding traffic that can put you at increased risk even out in the middle of nowhere.

The one time and place I do try to avoid slabs is in metro areas during rush hours.

 

A friend of a friend was killed by a retread flying off. He was beheaded. On i75 going to florida so yeah... Those carry a lot of force.

 

THIS... I am much more scared to be behind someone's pickup truck and not knowing what is sitting in the bed unsecured than I am of a tire blowing on a big rig. I've almost been decapitated by a piece of plywood flying out of the bed of a pickup.

 

I think it was mentioned in the context of riding in the left lane a little faster than the traffic, but yes you are certainly right that being appreciably slower than the surrounding traffic is very dangerous.

Its difficult trying to get used to riding in traffic on a highway. I know it took me a while. I am now riding with a friend who just got a bike and I cringe everytime we get on the highway because he just goes too slow. Another experienced buddy of mine rode with us the other day and he was pretty hot after a day following my slower buddy and watching the traffic dart around us. Yet how do you get someone used to that kind of riding?

Beary

 

Where I live it seems to be ladders or mattresses and I don't particularly want to hit either one.

 

Those landscaper trailers are a pain too, the open ones, had a weed eater come flyin off one spinnin down the lane... yeeehaw!

 

Beary, my wife started riding her own bike a year ago this month. After she took her MSF course and plenty of parking lot practice, I took her on some good straight roads, but not interstate! And let her get comfortable riding at speed limits and slightly above. Now she don't mind jumping on the Interstate. Problem is, you can run 70 on the interstate's around here and almost get run over. I don't know why folks are in such a hurry???

your buddy should understand this guy is new and needs some time to adjust.