Distracted Driving Close Call

[BrownBear]

When my wife was doing her clinicals for her RN, she worked a few weekends at the hospital ERs in the north GA mountains.

Every weekend they had cyclists with road rash, either from their own stupidity (winding mountain roads are apparently a hoot on a sport bike) or from someone crossing the centerline (winding mountain roads are apparently a handful when you're driving a land barge SUV and expected to stay in one lane).

They also had a couple of organ donors.

A friend of mine lost his left leg because a lady in a Suburban decided that she needed his lane more than he did.

I had a fast bike years ago. Had many close calls from distracted drivers.

Nowadays I would not even consider one.

Way too many brain dead and distracted idiots on the road now.

To both jeepguy03 and rangerTJ,
I agree.
I have been riding for 30 years. Never was a “shiny biker” as I rode mine all over, never trailered. I have ridden HDs (mostly Electra-Glides) 20k-30k miles per year.
Rode to Sturgis many times, used to lead big charity rides,
been to most states on bike, got married on bike in Gatlinburg then out west for honeymoon ride. Rode to Maine a few times. It was nothing for my wife and I to leave here (Cordele Ga) around 7am and ride 4 hours to Appalachiacola bay for a fresh caught oyster lunch and then home for the night.
With all that said…the week a few years ago really made me pause in my riding. 3 cars coming over the line toward me.
I have not ridden much since. My wife says she is done riding... I am seriously considering giving it up but not quite ready to sell the bike.
Im not concerned about my skill level but these distracted drivers really concern me.
I’m hoping the TJ might fill that need, you know top down and all. We will see. The gladiator surely did NOT.

 

[tworley]

With all that said…the week a few years ago really made me pause in my riding. 3 cars coming over the line toward me.
I have not ridden much since. My wife says she is done riding... I am seriously considering giving it up but not quite ready to sell the bike.
Im not concerned about my skill level but these distracted drivers really concern me.
I’m hoping the TJ might fill that need, you know top down and all. We will see. The gladiator surely did NOT.

My riding has decreased significantly since moving to CO. Similar stories--people not paying attention and drifting into my lane, or cutting me off. I am always checking my mirrors when I am stopped because one of these days I expect someone to rearend me.

This year, I have only ridden my bike once to Ace Hardware to get some bolts, so 6 miles total in 2025? It costs nothing to register/insure the bike though so similarly, I am not quite ready to get rid of it. But 6 miles a year certainly isn't worth hanging onto it...

 

[jeepguy03]

It is not only the distraction, but the entitlement. One of my dirtbiking friends rode an enduro for a year, then said never again. He hit two deer, not to mention the insanity of other drivers pulling out in front of him knowing he would stop, distracted drivers, people "not seeing" him even though he had multiple lights on at all times and a fluorescent green vest. Just not worth it.


I'll always remember one insurance claim I had. This middle aged woman ran over a teenage girl in a cross walk. The girl that got hit was in intensive care, the middle aged woman, who was later charged, stated in her recorded statement to insurance "she didn't get out of the way fast enough, not my fault, so I shouldn't be liable". Zero remorse for almost killing another person.

 

[Chris]

It is not only the distraction, but the entitlement. One of my dirtbiking friends rode an enduro for a year, then said never again. He hit two deer, not to mention the insanity of other drivers pulling out in front of him knowing he would stop, distracted drivers, people "not seeing" him even though he had multiple lights on at all times and a fluorescent green vest. Just not worth it.


I'll always remember one insurance claim I had. This middle aged woman ran over a teenage girl in a cross walk. The girl that got hit was in intensive care, the middle aged woman, who was later charged, stated in her recorded statement to insurance "she didn't get out of the way fast enough, not my fault, so I shouldn't be liable". Zero remorse for almost killing another person.

I gave up riding street bikes for this very reason. It's simply too unsafe anymore to ride. Far too many distracted drivers to put my life at risk.

I'd probably be fine out here in rural Wyoming, but I'd stay far away from any population centers.

 

[jeepguy03]

I gave up riding street bikes for this very reason. It's simply too unsafe anymore to ride. Far too many distracted drivers to put my life at risk.

I'd probably be fine out here in rural Wyoming, but I'd stay far away from any population centers.

An area like rural Wyoming would likely be much safer. For now, my Jeep is my motorcycle.

 

[MtPockets]

I ride as well but I refuse to use the 3 foot wide bike lanes at the edge of the right lane on major streets, I see way too many people driving in it. Instead I use our local bikeways and side streets.

I recently got back on a pedal bike, and I face traffic when I ride. I've been told thats dangerous but it seems to me not seeing traffic is way more dangerous.

I also ride a Shovelhead Harley, and yeah it's absolutely amazing how many people look at their phones while driving.

 

[KennethS]

The Europeans are actually trying to do something about it, now docking a car's safety rating if it has a touch screen.

That can't happen fast enough.

 

[BrownBear]

I recently got back on a pedal bike, and I face traffic when I ride. I've been told thats dangerous but it seems to me not seeing traffic is way more dangerous.

I also ride a Shovelhead Harley, and yeah it's absolutely amazing how many people look at their phones while driving.

Nothing sounds as good as a shovel…
I used to ride a 77 FLH with dual open Pacho fishtails. Sounded like a Jake brake when I backed off the throttle.

 

[Zorba]

I recently got back on a pedal bike, and I face traffic when I ride. I've been told thats dangerous but it seems to me not seeing traffic is way more dangerous.

I also ride a Shovelhead Harley, and yeah it's absolutely amazing how many people look at their phones while driving.

Its far more dangerous to ride facing traffic - UNLESS - you completely realize that nobody is going to see you when they're pulling out of driveways or cross streets. They're going to look to the left for oncoming traffic, not right so they won't see you. I don't know how many "salmon" bicyclists I've "encountered" because they assumed that I'd see them. Never mind the "ninjas" who wear dark clothing and don't even have reflectors, much less lights, at night...

As long as you take responsibility for wrong way riding, it can be done. Indeed, sometimes I'll do it but only for short distances and I don't expect anyone to see me. My granddaughter got creamed a couple of months ago doing exactly this.

 

[MtPockets]

Its far more dangerous to ride facing traffic - UNLESS - you completely realize that nobody is going to see you when they're pulling out of driveways or cross streets. They're going to look to the left for oncoming traffic, not right so they won't see you. I don't know how many "salmon" bicyclists I've "encountered" because they assumed that I'd see them. Never mind the "ninjas" who wear dark clothing and don't even have reflectors, much less lights, at night...

As long as you take responsibility for wrong way riding, it can be done. Indeed, sometimes I'll do it but only for short distances and I don't expect anyone to see me. My granddaughter got creamed a couple of months ago doing exactly this.

I hope your Granddaughter got through her ordeal.
I realize it's not a popular way to ride, but to me- with all the drivers looking at their phones, me seeing THEM is way more important than the other way around.
They're not going to see me, anyway, with their nose in their phone.

 

[Zorba]

I hope your Granddaughter got through her ordeal.
I realize it's not a popular way to ride, but to me- with all the drivers looking at their phones, me seeing THEM is way more important than the other way around.
They're not going to see me, anyway, with their nose in their phone.

I hear you - if you ride like nobody sees you and watch out for people pulling out of driveways and side streets, you'll probably be fine.

Yet another way those Gods-damned PHOOOOOONNEs have ruined the world {INSERT RANT HERE}!