traffic awareness

[ekap1200]

Just a reminder to all that may not have years of riding experience to be extra aware of whats going on. While en-route to pick up my grandchildren yesterday morning, one of our Williamstown NJ riders lost his life. Apx 3 tenths of a mile ahead of me on a four lane with 55 mph limit he did not slow down and back off of traffic to make himself be seen by others at an intersection known to all to be bad. We were all doing apx 65 which is slow by usual standards.The car in front of him , signaling late in the game to make a right turn , made the biker switch lanes causing him to t-bone the front end of a pick up making a turn into a Wawa store. No tickets where issued to the driver of the pick-up as several of us witnesses reported to the state police that there was really now way of seeing the motorcycle. It was a very awakening scene and as we tried to keep this man alive until EMT's arrived 16 minuets later.
TRUST NO INTERSECTION, Be aware, Be seen , And think the worst of every possible thing that can go bad. It can go bad in a heart beat and be your last heart beat.
And forget the ( stay in right lane rule ) Make yourself be seen at all costs. I myself had been stopped by police for riding the passing lane at night and when I told the officer about the many deer in the area and that I may need that extra 8 to 10 feet of road from the shoulder, it made him become more informed of bikers special needs.

Be Safe, Gene Kap

[debron]

Thanks for the reminder Gene. It's alway sad to hear about these things but it must be really hard to witness them. . . .

[Lucasind]

ride safe,

[VoyKimmer]

And forget the (stay in right lane rule ) Make yourself be seen at all costs. I myself had been stopped by police for riding the passing lane at night and when I told the officer about the many deer in the area and that I may need that extra 8 to 10 feet of road from the shoulder, it made him become more informed of bikers special needs.

Well said Gene. I was in an accident a little over a month ago (In My Car) driving speed limit (55) in the right lane minding my own business coming home from work on a Sunday night. Only 2 cars on the hwy near me were me and a taxi. Well the taxi was in the far left lane and came across 2 lanes and sideswiped me off the road then took off. State police figured he missed the exit and aggressively tried to make it and didn’t see me. I don’t know how he couldn’t have.
Anyway on the bike like others I have been cut off so many times. I find that I feel safer on the bike driving faster in the left lane more aggressively in a defensive role.

If I tool around in the right lane I feel I have nowhere to go if cut off.

[Bill O]

Gene and everyone else. You all make good points for us to follow. Here are a couple of my habits.

1st. If in town or a more congested area, I too pick the left lane. Too many cagers not watching what they are doing in the right lane. I'm also riding with my left thumb on the horn button.

2nd. If there are three lanes, I'm always in the center lane, unless it is safe to be otherwise.

3rd. I back off in traffic. Give yourself some options. If some DH pull in front of you, back off again. Those extra few seconds of travel to your destination are not worth the trouble or aggravation. Don't get angry!!!!! Even if you have to lay into your air horns to wake up a jerk, not paying attention. Anger will let you make stupid decisions. (Special note: If you have not upgraded your bike to replace those VeeWee horns, do so. There are alot of good set-ups out there.) Me, I like my air horns. Wakes them up real good.

4th. Not to seem overly pessimistic, but when riding in any type of traffic, continuously scan your environment for any and all escape routes. ie: can you survive the ditch route to miss the car turning into your path.... Always look for your way out scenario as you're cruising...... Be keenly aware of your environment at any given time.... If something happens, you will be better prepared to react without thinking about it.

Bill O

[Dion]

That's why I try to ride back roads as much as I can so Im out there all by myself maybe a tractor once in awhile

[sir old dirt]

Bill O just gave a quick course in MSF, Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The awareness he mentioned is SEE (Seek information from the surroundings, Evaluate the situation, Execute an action to escape or prevent a happening). Very good advice considering today's drivers with all the interferences everyone is now exposed too.

[HMB Don]

Sir Old Dirt

Is it alright to use your last post in the VV

[Mr Jensee]

Much of the time a rider loses his life because a car or truck never sees him. However from experience I have learned that it is just as important to not presume that the vehicle you are following is going to do the predictable thing. How often do we pass a car on the right on a two lane believing they are just slowing down or will take a left turn only to be surprised when they suddenly go right instead? Best thing I can teach people is to provide a good following distance and NEVER assume anything. If you do that, trying NOT to be first vehicle through a busy intersection and expect car drivers to be distracted and not remembering to signal, you stand a better chance of getting where you want to go.

[sir old dirt]

Mr. Don Medina.
By all means use the post. I remember it well because I just took the MSF course once again. Here in Illinois when a person reaches the 75th birthday the driving portion of the test must be taken again using each vehicle one drives. The MSF course satisfies the requirement.

[NSASarge]

Lights, Action, Camera. I have found that one of the best safety devices ever invented for motorcycles is a headlight modulator. I have always had one for as long as I can remember. I have stopped to fill up and people will stop and ask ... "Did you know your headlight is flashing?" I usually respond with ... "Yep! It's a safety device that helps people notice me." The are impressed and usually say all bikes should have them. It is the lights action of flickering that really makes you stand out from any vehicle that has Daytime Running Lights. My wife and I have Scorpion Neon Green EXO-900 Transformer Modular Helmets that look like they are running on batteries. We have yellow jackets for warm and cold weather. If I have my way, I will paint my bike a metal-flake yellow when I have the time and money. I plan to invest in an HD helmet camera before the AVA Rally. You want to get some insiders as to what mistakes riders make? Just go to YouTube and look for Motorcycle Accidents and try to determine who was at fault. Most times it is the bike rider, but, not always.

[SgtSlag]

I agree with NSASarge! I have had a headlight modulator since 2006; I actually built one in tech school, for a project, in 1986, but I never was able to get it on a bike -- I just collected the necessary credits, then didn't get onto a bike for 20 years.

I also have a brake modulator; I wear a hi-vis jacket; I have reflective decals on my black helmet... Making myself super-conspicuous is not the be-all/do-all, but it helps -- a very great deal. I realize that some folks laugh at me, and they think that I look like some sort of clown, but...

I would rather be laughed at, than cried over.

YMMV. Cheers!

[FBT]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who frequents the left lane, particularly in city traffic. I also create a buffer between myself and the vehicle in front of me. When I went through the MSF training, SEE was one thing, but the instructors also stressed spatial awareness, particularly in hte 4, 8, and 12 second range in front of you so that you can anticipate the stupid things people do.

I've had enough close calls in traffic to create a halo around me. I know I've become a better driver as a result of riding my motorcycle for years. I pay attention to what people are doing, and I'm always plotting my escape route if they do the stupid things people tend to do when they're not paying attention.

I've had people driving beside me while texting with one hand, and holding a cigarette with the other, steering with their knees. I've seen women doing their hair or makeup as they drive down the road. I've seen people watching video on their phones as they drive. I've seen book and map readers, and people more focused on the lunch they're chowing down on than the road in front of them. The roads are one hazard after another where the cages are out to get you, and that's the mindset you have to take when riding if you want to get from point A to point B in one piece.

RIP to the rider who passed away. It's another one of those lessons learned to ride safely and arrive alive.