Close call with a idiot motorcyclist this morning

[JulesMaximus]

I know you've got that motorcycle bias going and all, but you can't really believe that. Right?

For the most part, if a motorcycle hits a car, the motorcyclist loses.

 

[Wuzup101]

For the most part, if a motorcycle hits a car, the motorcyclist loses.

Yeah, but a 600+lb (bike+rider) abruptly hitting a car at highway speeds can easily cause that car (and other surrounding cars / motorcycles) to get into a high speed secondary accident. Deer usually lose when they are hit by a car too.... doesn't mean that they can't cause accidents... and they are far smaller and far slower.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't all lookout for people on motorcycles, but I see plenty of squids all over the place. You can't tell me to check my mirrors before I make a turn if you are doing 30+ mph faster than me (which is often the case with the squids... and I'm already doing 15+ over). I ALWAYS check my mirrors before and during a lane change... but I can't be expected to cater to an insane speed differential and the fact that you were coming around the car behind me hidden from sight. It's a two way street. You want to have the enhanced maneuverability of a motorcycle without the increased danger of weaving around traffic at a high rate of speed.

 

[SSSnail]

I don't think people realize how little people pay attention to the vehicles around them and a bike just makes it worse. Even my bright red Corvette has been cut off/merged into a dozen times in the last few weeks when driving responsibly. Must be an SUV thing because they plain just don't see me.

No, they see you, that's why they did what they did. Happens to me all the time, because people are assholes.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Yeah, but a 600+lb (bike+rider) abruptly hitting a car at highway speeds can easily cause that car (and other surrounding cars / motorcycles) to get into a high speed secondary accident. Deer usually lose when they are hit by a car too.... doesn't mean that they can't cause accidents... and they are far smaller and far slower.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't all lookout for people on motorcycles, but I see plenty of squids all over the place. You can't tell me to check my mirrors before I make a turn if you are doing 30+ mph faster than me (which is often the case with the squids... and I'm already doing 15+ over). I ALWAYS check my mirrors before and during a lane change... but I can't be expected to cater to an insane speed differential and the fact that you were coming around the car behind me hidden from sight. It's a two way street. You want to have the enhanced maneuverability of a motorcycle without the increased danger of weaving around traffic at a high rate of speed.

I'd say most riders ride within 10-20mph of the flow of traffic or with the flow of traffic. Sure, you see assholes do stupid shit on bikes but I'd say they're the exception, not the norm. They probably won't be around for long anyway though.

 

[angminas]

I never cease to be amazed by the stupidity and selfishness of human beings, and I never cease to be amazed that there are people who drive regularly in rush hour traffic yet still believe people are naturally good.

 

[pauldun170]

For the most part, if a motorcycle hits a car, the motorcyclist loses.

T-bone is an example where both can lose.
Plenty of examples over the years where impact into the side of the vehicle results in death of whoever is sitting in that seat

 

[JulesMaximus]

T-bone is an example where both can lose.
Plenty of examples over the years where impact into the side of the vehicle results in death of whoever is sitting in that seat

You don't see a whole lot of accidents between cars and motorcycles where the occupants of the car come away with any injuries, especially life threatening injuries. It is fairly rare I'd say. Could it happen? Sure. Is it likely? No.

In your situation, it is more likely that the fault would lie with the car driver anyway.

 

[pauldun170]

You don't see a whole lot of accidents between cars and motorcycles where the occupants of the car come away with any injuries, especially life threatening injuries. It is fairly rare I'd say. Could it happen? Sure. Is it likely? No.

In your situation, it is more likely that the fault would lie with the car driver anyway.

While it may not be common, unfortunately it does happen. In some cases it is the riders fault (classic example is blowing a red light or stop sign and impacting drivers or passengers side door). Obviously scenario goes both way where it s the driver that causes it.

 

[Ramses]

It is unfortunate, tragic even, but it's uncommon enough that I'd call it reasonable and expected casualties for allowing the huge number of riders that do so safely to enjoy doing what they do. Emotion is a valuable and integral part of who we are as a species, but so is the ability to do math and make logical decisions. How it seems to me anyway.

 

[mvbighead]

All that really needs to be said is there are plenty of idiot drivers out there. PLENTY.

Just the other day I was driving into town from the highway where the speed limit goes from 60 to 45 to 35 over the course of a half mile. I make it a point to stay within 5 of every sign. Some chick flies by on the right well above 10 over. No biggy. She gets a short ways ahead of me and a driver in the left proceeds to cut her off. That driver does not veer back to their lane, they just finish the process of cutting her off, forcing her up to the shoulder almost. I chuckle thinking karma. A short while later, I am nearly passing her due to her being obstructed by slow drivers and she proceeds to cut me off without veering back to her lane. I laid on the horn the entire time she 'veered' but she just finished the maneuver.

No sweat of my back, but I guess turnabout to a driver unrelated to your previous mishap is fair play? Oh well.

 

[Art&Science]

Are you sure it was a Harley? Sounds more like what I would expect from the kind of fucktards who ride crotch rockets.

You should know by now this guy is completely and absolutely full of shit.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You should know by now this guy is completely and absolutely full of shit.

Who are you talking about?

 

[Brian Stirling]

Who are you talking about?

Funny how non-motorcycle guys can question the ability of a longtime motorcycle guy to differentiate between a Harley and a sport bike.


Brian

 

[Pulsar]

I'd say most riders ride within 10-20mph of the flow of traffic or with the flow of traffic. Sure, you see assholes do stupid shit on bikes but I'd say they're the exception, not the norm. They probably won't be around for long anyway though.

You need to take off the rose colored glasses when it comes to motorcycle riders. I see motorcycle riders acting like dumbasses on a daily basis. Lane splitting WAY to fast, changing lanes with high speed swerves that have their knees close to the pavement, and other driving that is just as aggressive as what people in cars do.

Yes, there's a lot of STUPID car drivers who simply aren't careful and don't drive responsibly. However, by and large that isn't an intentional act. The bikers who are driving that way are doing it intentionally - hot dogging because they can. Blipping their throttles constantly. Whipping through turns. Pulling wheelies. Etc. And they are almost universally younger guys with an obvious superman (can't get hurt) complex who are putting other people at risk.

 

[Ramses]

The death and injury statistics seem to say they are getting away with it pretty well.

 

[jagec]

Yes, there's a lot of STUPID car drivers who simply aren't careful and don't drive responsibly. However, by and large that isn't an intentional act. The bikers who are driving that way are doing it intentionally - hot dogging because they can. Blipping their throttles constantly. Whipping through turns. Pulling wheelies. Etc. And they are almost universally younger guys with an obvious superman (can't get hurt) complex who are putting other people at risk.

Who cares about intentions? If I'm going to get hit by a texting driver in an SUV or a motorcyclist pulling a wheelie, I'll take the bike every time.

Not to mention that motorcycles are only 2% of registered vehicles. Even if 100% of them were reckless idiots, you're still much more likely to get creamed by a careless car driver, regardless of how "intentional" it is.

 

[Pulsar]

Who cares about intentions? If I'm going to get hit by a texting driver in an SUV or a motorcyclist pulling a wheelie, I'll take the bike every time.

Not to mention that motorcycles are only 2% of registered vehicles. Even if 100% of them were reckless idiots, you're still much more likely to get creamed by a careless car driver, regardless of how "intentional" it is.

I don't think I ever argued about the % chance of it happening.

But intentions are quite important. Our justice system thinks so too. Killing someone because you weren't paying attention is a whole lot different than doing it in a premeditated fashion.

 

[Ramses]

Intentions only matter after the fact. Like most laws. I'd rather be hit by a bike than a car too. It's a physics thing.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You need to take off the rose colored glasses when it comes to motorcycle riders. I see motorcycle riders acting like dumbasses on a daily basis. Lane splitting WAY to fast, changing lanes with high speed swerves that have their knees close to the pavement, and other driving that is just as aggressive as what people in cars do.

Yes, there's a lot of STUPID car drivers who simply aren't careful and don't drive responsibly. However, by and large that isn't an intentional act. The bikers who are driving that way are doing it intentionally - hot dogging because they can. Blipping their throttles constantly. Whipping through turns. Pulling wheelies. Etc. And they are almost universally younger guys with an obvious superman (can't get hurt) complex who are putting other people at risk.

Most of my mileage is commuting and I'd say 1/4-1/3 of my commuting is by motorcycle so maybe I don't see the idiots you see on a daily basis as most of the guys commuting on bikes are pretty good riders and not acting like complete douchebags. I have seen some douchebaggery from motorcyclists but not to the extent you suggest.

When I see guys on bikes acting like dickheads I will call it out, be they sportbike douches or Harley douches... and I've seen equal amounts of both.

 

[Zivic]

rarely do I see a considerate person on a bike... and they all claim that whatever douche-baggery thing they do is in the name of them being "safe" and getting "space" ...

Yes I see you, and yes I would move over had you given me a chance instead of accelerating 20+ over and cutting me off. normally when I approach a slower car in the left lane I don't drop a gear or two, hammer the gas till Im doing 90+ and cut the guy off

 

[rh71]

Every time I see a motorcycle in my rear view I have to watch out for more than 1 and give it a few extra seconds before I can change lanes. With the lane splitting and riding 90mph, they're such a nuisance. I'm sure they're fun as all hell but damn if they're not being selfish riding like that...

 

[slag]

As amusing as the Russian dashcam videos are, I really don't want our country to end up like that.

It will save your ass when the time comes.

 

[Ramses]

It will save your ass when the time comes.

Nobody that's being reasonable and logical can dispute the utility and value of such, I agree. However, I've been driving for two decades and never had a need, ditto practically everyone I know.

I don't believe the utility is a fair trade for the social implications of their use.

Unlike something like seatbelts for example, which while I'm inclined to say let people dumb enough to not wear helmets and seatbelts die(and don't tell me what I have to do personally cause Merika), the reality is we end up paying for them in all manner of ways so even though it's a bit heavy handed to require them most places or be fined heavily, it's not a bad trade since they save lives pretty regular.

I forget if it was this forum or another but someone suggested that installing breathalyzer lockouts on all cars would do more for automotive safety and lifesaving than a great many of the safety measures that are currently trumpeted, but it's not going to happen (least not in the US). And much like the camera bit I don't doubt the utility, but I strongly question the moral, ethical and sociological implications. (and I effing despise drunk drivers, a lot)

As sad or infuriating as individual situations may be, a healthy society needs to be able to let people do stupid things, and get hurt, and sometimes to hurt others. Unless it becomes an epidemic of sorts, which going by the numbers to stay on topic (and I encourage any of you to go look up, it was a two minute google for NIHS and some insurance outfit stats) motorcycle deaths/injury are not, then the gov needs to stay out of it.

I sometimes think with the world being connected the way it is today it's more difficult to tell a genuine issue from something that just happens to get a lot of airtime.

 

[Topweasel]

All that really needs to be said is there are plenty of idiot drivers out there. PLENTY.

Just the other day I was driving into town from the highway where the speed limit goes from 60 to 45 to 35 over the course of a half mile. I make it a point to stay within 5 of every sign. Some chick flies by on the right well above 10 over. No biggy. She gets a short ways ahead of me and a driver in the left proceeds to cut her off. That driver does not veer back to their lane, they just finish the process of cutting her off, forcing her up to the shoulder almost. I chuckle thinking karma. A short while later, I am nearly passing her due to her being obstructed by slow drivers and she proceeds to cut me off without veering back to her lane. I laid on the horn the entire time she 'veered' but she just finished the maneuver.

No sweat of my back, but I guess turnabout to a driver unrelated to your previous mishap is fair play? Oh well.

I had that happen once. I am on Y split on the highway and had been in the right lane for awhile. The lane to the left of me becomes the "fast lane". At the last second a semi gets over to that lane. Now I am passing it on the right, but it's my original lane and it's not signalling to get over to mine (in it's defense its about .5 miles from becoming a 4 lane highway and he is already in the lane most semi's park themselves in). In comes another car behind the semi. Rather than wait the 15-20 seconds till two lanes open on the left, just starts cutting to the right, almost hitting me immediately. I slide on to the shoulder a little bit to keep her from hitting me while I laid on the horn. She looked me right in the eye and continued to try to come into the lane. I kept honking, if it wasn't for her almost running into the back of the semi, I wonder how long she would have kept it up.

I just can't contemplate what is going through their minds. It's one thing to miss a car in a blind spot and end up cutting them off (that means they are far enough back to only need to brake a little to be fully behind them). Specially on the right. But I was even with the car and completely visible to her as she got to the semi. But once you see that your entering a spot with a car, how can anyone in their right mind think that continuing to push in is an acceptable practice. It's not like the lane they are in just disappeared.

 

[Topweasel]

It will save your ass when the time comes.

Let that be your choice. Maybe it's to protect you, maybe its because an insurance agency offered a better deal. But it's waay to privacy invasive to allow it to become a legal obligation.