Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Two rules to always keep in mind:

1 - You are 100% invisible. No one ever, ever, ever, ever, ever sees you. Never. No matter what. Doesn't matter what you wear or how loud your pipes or your horn are. No one sees you. Ever.

2 - If they do see you, they are trying to kill you.

Great topic. I agree about the being prepared idea. I know I have saved my butt several times by slowing for inconsistant drivers. I like to do what I can to stay in a place where I have escape routes myself. I had two in the past week where someone approaching turned left in front of me even though they should have seen me. I was only saved by not trusting the other driver. The bad side was I slowed traffic behind me and could have technically gotten rear-ended by someone not paying attention behind me. But we do what we can.

Would have been a shame to wreck that new bike you have haha

I was on my motorcycle stopped on a 2 lane highway waiting for an oncoming cager to go by so I could turn left onto a sideroad. At the stop sign on the side road (facing me) is a car full of teenage girls, waiting on that same car to go by. My motorcycle is right in front of their car, I mean right in front with one lane separating my left leg and their front bumper. How could they not see me, right? Wrong!

The oncoming car goes by. I start to turn and notice the teenagers pulling out at me, fast. I lay on the horn, the driver screams and brakes, accident barely avoided. This happens in a matter of seconds. The invisible part really hit home that day.

Any time there are teenagers in a car, assume they will be total idiots. Teenage girls are the worst because they tend to be EXTREMELY aggressive drivers without really realizing it.

It will only get worse as people use cellphones more and the phones become more connected to media/entertainment options.

CNF2002 wrote:It will only get worse as people use cellphones more and the phones become more connected to media/entertainment options.

I feel this is a bad reasoning. I can talk on the cell phone and drive without any issues but then again I am good at multi tasking so assuming those with cellphones cause accidents is a wrong assumption. its those that cant multitask that cause accidents.

ofblong wrote:

CNF2002 wrote:It will only get worse as people use cellphones more and the phones become more connected to media/entertainment options.

I feel this is a bad reasoning. I can talk on the cell phone and drive without any issues but then again I am good at multi tasking so assuming those with cellphones cause accidents is a wrong assumption. its those that cant multitask that cause accidents.

My opinion - anyone driving and using a cellphone is a much greater risk to me. I consider someone with a phone to their ear to be a big reason for my concern on a bike. They might not hear me. They might not be able to turn their head to look around and see me. How you use your phone when you drive is not my concern. My concern is that when I have had people almost run me over, many times they were on the phone. If you were on your phone near me, I would consider you a large risk. So I guess that isn't really your problem.

People at the University of Utah Published a study on June 29th demonstrating this.

Abstract:
Objective: The objective of this research was to determine the relative impairment associated with conversing on a cellular telephone while driving. Background: Epidemiological evidence suggests that the relative risk of being in a traffic accident while using a cell phone is similar to the hazard associated with driving with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit. The purpose of this research was to provide a direct comparison of the driving performance of a cell phone driver and a drunk driver in a controlled laboratory setting. Method: We used a high-fidelity driving simulator to compare the performance of cell phone drivers with drivers who were intoxicated from ethanol (i.e., blood alcohol concentration at 0.08% weight/volume). Results: When drivers were conversing on either a handheld or hands-free cell phone, their braking reactions were delayed and they were involved in more traffic accidents than when they were not conversing on a cell phone. By contrast, when drivers were intoxicated from ethanol they exhibited a more aggressive driving style, following closer to the vehicle immediately in front of them and applying more force while braking. Conclusion: When driving conditions and time on task were controlled for, the impairments associated with using a cell phone while driving can be as profound as those associated with driving while drunk. Application: This research may help to provide guidance for regulation addressing driver distraction caused by cell phone conversations.

ofblong wrote:

CNF2002 wrote:It will only get worse as people use cellphones more and the phones become more connected to media/entertainment options.

I feel this is a bad reasoning. I can talk on the cell phone and drive without any issues but then again I am good at multi tasking so assuming those with cellphones cause accidents is a wrong assumption. its those that cant multitask that cause accidents.

You may be good at multi-tasking but your common sense sucks. The attention you're paying to your phone call is a distraction from your driving. 'Nuf said.