Ultimate Fear
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 141
Likes: 1
From: Germany
Ultimate Fear
Long story short...
I live in Germany! Roads are narrow and was returning from picking up my teenage boy. Riding through a village and from a side road (right side) I see a bumper start to emerge. I start to slow and cover my levers...driver looks at me, then to his right as to check for traffic. I'm 300 meters from him at this time. He looks left in my direction, makes eye contact, I relax (mistake #1). 150 meters he looks right again as if speaking with the passenger...thought about rapping the throttle for a sound check (mistake #2). My son and I are talking over the com and I didn't mention my expectations of this driver (mistake #3). 60 meters seperation from the car at which time driver is still looking right (away from me) starts pulling out turning left across my lane....pucker factor 10.0, instant reaction steady full squeeze back and rear...ABS activates...full stop as the drivers door is now with in kicking distance of my left foot. We make eye contact "again" and he simply puts up his hand as to say "huh, oops?" my son is like WTF dude... Well, thank God for ABS or that driver would've had two extra passengers...
Be safe..be seen, be heard...scan every 12 secs, and expect the unexpected!
I live in Germany! Roads are narrow and was returning from picking up my teenage boy. Riding through a village and from a side road (right side) I see a bumper start to emerge. I start to slow and cover my levers...driver looks at me, then to his right as to check for traffic. I'm 300 meters from him at this time. He looks left in my direction, makes eye contact, I relax (mistake #1). 150 meters he looks right again as if speaking with the passenger...thought about rapping the throttle for a sound check (mistake #2). My son and I are talking over the com and I didn't mention my expectations of this driver (mistake #3). 60 meters seperation from the car at which time driver is still looking right (away from me) starts pulling out turning left across my lane....pucker factor 10.0, instant reaction steady full squeeze back and rear...ABS activates...full stop as the drivers door is now with in kicking distance of my left foot. We make eye contact "again" and he simply puts up his hand as to say "huh, oops?" my son is like WTF dude... Well, thank God for ABS or that driver would've had two extra passengers...
Be safe..be seen, be heard...scan every 12 secs, and expect the unexpected!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,435
Likes: 28
From: Living in open carry state :D
Have to ask, what type of road were you on? Was it the priority road? If not then the driver on the right had right of way. Spent 9 years in Germany and we had an intersection near the housing area that was not a priority road. The cross traffic had right of way of the traffic heading straight. Can not count the number of times I was almost hit there, and almost always it was an American.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 141
Likes: 1
From: Germany
Have to ask, what type of road were you on? Was it the priority road? If not then the driver on the right had right of way. Spent 9 years in Germany and we had an intersection near the housing area that was not a priority road. The cross traffic had right of way of the traffic heading straight. Can not count the number of times I was almost hit there, and almost always it was an American.
Great question! In fact I was on the priority road, I had the right away. Been here since 2009, first time that has happened...sure it's not the last. Europeans cagers typically look out for motorcyclists, American cagers...as you stated and I agree, not so much.
Fellow Americans, I still love ya...but 99.9% of these folks over here have respect for two wheels...it all started with bicycles.
Last edited by HarleyLew; Sep 24, 2012 at 01:00 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: Southwest Arizona & Europe
Glad you're safe! I've only had good experiences in Germany. The worst I've seen are the drivers in the Balkans (Bosnia, Montenegro, etc.), Italy, followed closely by drivers in Paris (France).
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
The important thing is that you both are OK. Unfortunately these sorts of things are going to happen. I activated my ABS “on base” once; sitting at a four way stop, my turn to go, making eye contact, start to go and half way through the intersection the bone head from my right starts to go…. You would think that being on base and around military you would be safe. Around here some of the military (as well as civilians) are crapy drivers, I see it every day. BTW, I’ve lived in Germany 3 times (7 years total) and was lucky enough to never experience an accident. I have always thought that the Germans drove fast but carful, for the most part. BL, you can and will run into situations like you did, just be careful and watch out for the zombies.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
From: MI
Glad to hear that you and your son are OK.
Had a woman the other day step out of a gas station and was texting on the way to her car. Even after I goosed the throttle she still didn't look up! I had to swerve around her to avoid hitting her. Then she had the nerve to give me the look!
Common sense ain't common any more!
Had a woman the other day step out of a gas station and was texting on the way to her car. Even after I goosed the throttle she still didn't look up! I had to swerve around her to avoid hitting her. Then she had the nerve to give me the look!
Common sense ain't common any more!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 6
From: Spokane, WA.
I travel a two lane hwy near me to visit my brother at his lake home 20 miles from me, and we sometimes go on a ride together. The hwy has no turn lane except for major intersections.
I have had cars turn (on coming ) right in front of me ( speed is 50 ) with less than two semi truck lengths distance ...... And they dont give a rip. Just dumb **** cagers out there.
I have had cars turn (on coming ) right in front of me ( speed is 50 ) with less than two semi truck lengths distance ...... And they dont give a rip. Just dumb **** cagers out there.