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Beware of the inattentive driver
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I saw the problem: None of those motorcyclist were yielding to the cars. In Saint Louis had a lady make an illegal left turn across a double yellow line less than 20 feet from an intersection into my path of travel, no one cared because there was no injuries and it was rush hour. One half a second less reaction time the entire senario could have been different.
Be careful out there, anticipate stupidity, and inattentive drivers. No one cares if you die out there on the road, until your dead, except you.
Be careful out there, anticipate stupidity, and inattentive drivers. No one cares if you die out there on the road, until your dead, except you.
I've been riding but only for about 35 years. In that time I have seen things get significantly worse in terms of distracted drivers and unskilled drivers. I just try to compensate by being extra vigilant in situations where I think a car driver will possibly not see me. Even if I have the right of way, if I can see that cars awaiting making a left turn who are going in my direction are blocking the visibility of cars facing in the opposite direction who are waiting to turn left, then I move all the way to the right and slow down. And while some might disagree, I think that having modulating headlights makes a big difference in increasing my visibility to distracted car and truck drivers. I do my best to avoid ever riding in the blind spot of cars and trucks, assuming that the driver might be less than attentive to what is going on around him or her as well. And most of my riding is on roads that are not heavily traveled. I have a few favorite routes that I ride over and over. I get to these routes by getting out of the city as soon as possible, and from where I live, that means about 5 minutes or less on city streets. When I can, I use the Interstate rather than city streets because the Interstate is clearly a safer environment for motorcycles (I never quite understood why many motorcyclists hesitate to use the Interstates where there is no cross traffic, no parked cars for doors to open in front of you, less chance of animals, kids or other things to suddenly be in your path, plus the fun of high speed riding).
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This bad situation has grown exponentially since the advent of Cell Phones, GPS and advanced stereo systems :surprise:
Every time I see a driver swerving back and forth on a road or Interstate, the driver inevitably has a Cell phone super glued to their ear:sad:
An amazing number of 'Big rig' drivers are as guilty as most as it is explicitly illegal for them to use a Cell phones while moving unless it's a hands off system.
lain:
BEWARE and remember, Paranoia is your friend when riding:grin:
Sam:nerd:
Every time I see a driver swerving back and forth on a road or Interstate, the driver inevitably has a Cell phone super glued to their ear:sad:
An amazing number of 'Big rig' drivers are as guilty as most as it is explicitly illegal for them to use a Cell phones while moving unless it's a hands off system.
lain:BEWARE and remember, Paranoia is your friend when riding:grin:
Sam:nerd:
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4,192 Posts
Another big problem is all these cars that have touch screens on the dash.
With the older cars, you could feel for the radio controls, or the heater controls.
With the damned touch screens, you HAVE TO take your eyes off of the road to use them.
Worst idea ever!!!
With the older cars, you could feel for the radio controls, or the heater controls.
With the damned touch screens, you HAVE TO take your eyes off of the road to use them.
Worst idea ever!!!
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25,916 Posts
I have said for years that they are all trying to kill us so ride like that. Bad thing is, it's even more true today. These cell phones are more addicting than some drugs. They should be deactivated for sending messages while moving. That won't happen though until some Senator loses a family member due to a texter.
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5,255 Posts
Amen to that!
I ALWAYS choose the Interstate over local streets unless I specifically need to ride that road for a reason. The Interstate is such a better controlled, organized place to ride, I feel 10X safer riding at 85 with everyone going more or less in the same direction there than 35 on a street with driveways, left turns, intersections, kids chasing balls, car doors, etc. I too don't understand why a lot of bikers avoid the highway at all costs, it's my first choice if I'm going somewhere.
I ALWAYS choose the Interstate over local streets unless I specifically need to ride that road for a reason. The Interstate is such a better controlled, organized place to ride, I feel 10X safer riding at 85 with everyone going more or less in the same direction there than 35 on a street with driveways, left turns, intersections, kids chasing balls, car doors, etc. I too don't understand why a lot of bikers avoid the highway at all costs, it's my first choice if I'm going somewhere.
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5,255 Posts
That's so true, you can't adjust anything on today's cars without staring at the screen and maybe working through 3 or 4 menus to get there! Bad idea..Nothing wrong with digital but instead of a screen down there in the console how about a Heads Up Display projected on the windshield, blink and voice activated or maybe a touch pad or thumb stick (not a screen) on the dash or wheel that you could use to move a cursor on the HUD without looking down.
That would be a step forward instead of backwards.
That would be a step forward instead of backwards.
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32 Posts
This is the one thing I worry about. In cities be more worried where most of my riding would be. A Star Trek Force Field would be a great accessory. Probably require too much power though if there was something like that.
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