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I've had A LOT of near misses, and I think I didn't go down because of predicting a problem when I didn't realize I was even thinking about it. It all came from the MSF course I took, that SIPDE(scan, identify, predict, decide, execute) rule- it really stuck, and so far so good on being able to avoid stuff. On my hubby's first day out on his permit, we were behind a flatbed and off tumbles a 2x4 board right in front of us! EEK! I went over it and he swerved. We were quite happy with the result.

I don't believe that having an accident is inevitable if you ride smart.
I have picked up a lot of bad habits from my job (I am a postman on a CT110) that requires me to ride up to five hours a day delivering mail. I ride along, one hand controlling the bike, reading mail for the next delivery point and my head in the clouds. When I jump on my bike after work I tend to stay in that frame of mind.
I have had several accidents, to which all but one I can blame myself completely. But there are those occasions where no amount of training or attention is going to help.

Mintbread wrote:I don't believe that having an accident is inevitable if you ride smart.

Well said!! I agree!!

Have you ever been in an automobile accident?
It's not inevitable, but it is very likely to happen at some piont. Riding smart sure helps your chances though....

"If you plan to fail, you will succeed"

Likewise, if you plan to go down, you will.

I plan on staying on two wheels, I plan on doing everything I can to see that I follow up on that plan. I also plan to not ride with those that interfer with those above stated plans.

Safety is a mind set, it's a habit that you have to develop. I drive for a living, if I carry my habits of professional driving with me when I ride, I stand a lot better odds of keeping to those plans....

BuzZz wrote:Have you ever been in an automobile accident?
It's not inevitable, but it is very likely to happen at some piont. Riding smart sure helps your chances though....

I have been in several car accidents and likewise several bike accidents. I also know riders that have been on bikes for 20 years and have never come off.
I believe that if you ride wisely you greatly reduce the chances of having an accident. I also dress for the crash, not the ride.

Sometimes it's just a blink of the eye and some cager who didn't see you drives right into you without directionals or anything. I learned that the hard way.

There isn't a doubt in my mind that I'll have another crash someday. But, I love to ride-so it's worth it to me.

Why no doubt? Because the roads are filled with idiots in minivans.

I've set my bike down at low and no speed several times. Every time it was inattention to detail. I can say every mistake had a lesson attached to it and never again have I faced the same mistake twice. Again, these are not moving accidents. Once I was fiddling with the shifter while I was off the bike with it was running - dumb. Another time I was backing the bike up and didn't realize I'd let the kick stand pop back up - dumb. Another I was turning in some muddy sand in a parking lot and used too much front brake - dumb. Next I used too much front brake while turning a corner and lost balance - dumb. Now I never mess with my running bike, I always check my kick stand before I assume it is down, I check the ground carefully before I apply my brakes, and I always make sure I'm able to straighten the bike before a full stop.

Now as far as crashing while moving. It hasn't happened to me yet, and I use as much caution as I can when moving. I can tell you there have been some close calls. One day I'm behind this guy and he turns on his left blinker and slows, as I begin to pass on the right, he turns right. I almost t-boned him. I didn't even have time to brake, only almost hit his bumper. I now wait until I see a turn execution before I move past cars. I almost got hit coming over a hill by someone in my lane, but had been looking ahead enough to see them coming. I think caution is the key word. But you never know what can happen - wear good gear, and be extra careful at dusk and at night. Visual cues can save you butt, but not if your moving too fast to see them around a corner, over a hill, or obscured by darkness. Be aware.

I've been down many a time. There was a week that i would go down at least once per ride. I will probably go down again. I'm HOPING that when i get a road bike, that i never go down, but the chance is always there. That's why i always dress for the crash. Can't put your gear on when you're lying in the ground bleeding from the face.