Today was a beautiful day for riding, and minutes into my ride I had two close calls. One would have been just some damage, one might have cost me my life. And I certainly know better but let myself get careless. The first was as I getting on to the highway. Several cars in front me where it technically is a "right turn on red" but in reality, there is almost never a reason to more than slow down. The first few cars did just that, sort of rolled through and then accelerated to merge onto the highway. The car right in front of me started to move, so I glanced left just to be sure no one was coming and started to accelerate. A fraction of a second later I had to slam on my brakes (glad I have ABS). For some reason the car in front of me, after starting to move, came to a full stop and was just waiting there for a couple of seconds even though there was no need to do so. I knew it was my fault for ASSUMING the car would continue to accelerate rather than watching and making sure he did before I turned the throttle. I stopped just inches from his back bumper with my heart pounding. Moments later I merged onto the highway but this close call was still filling my brain and focus. I looked in my left mirror, saw the left lane was clear and without a real headcheck started to move over, now moving at about 65 or 70. Suddenly I saw that there had been a car in my blind spot that I would have seen with a real head check, but in my distraction over the earlier incident, got careless again.
I must admit that for the rest of my ride, about 3 hours total, I was really, really focused on not missing anything. I realized how lucky I was that the two incidents did not result in any damage or injury, but I certainly didn't want to have to count on luck for a third one. I've been riding about 36 years, and spent 10 years as an MSF Instructor. The only accident that I have ever had on a motorcycle was due to a mechanical issue out of my control. But today reminded me that experience does nothing to make up for carelessness.
I'm just glad that this ride today was not my last. I don't think I'll forget today's ride for a long, long time.
I must admit that for the rest of my ride, about 3 hours total, I was really, really focused on not missing anything. I realized how lucky I was that the two incidents did not result in any damage or injury, but I certainly didn't want to have to count on luck for a third one. I've been riding about 36 years, and spent 10 years as an MSF Instructor. The only accident that I have ever had on a motorcycle was due to a mechanical issue out of my control. But today reminded me that experience does nothing to make up for carelessness.
I'm just glad that this ride today was not my last. I don't think I'll forget today's ride for a long, long time.